I’ve tried out for 2 reality tv shows,ABCs Shark Tank and made it to the 2nd round of TLCs (maybe OWNs) Homemade Millionaire. The Sharks are back for another season and I’m not sure about Homemade Millionaire, here are 6 tips to help the hopeful for their tryouts for SharkTank, Homemade Millionaire, or any other reality competition show, American Idol, Amazing Race etc… I am also calling out my fellow contestants to add their pieces of advice, along with what, and where they pitched/tried out, their products, blogs and websites. Here are my 6 tips
1) Be there early. If they say audition is at 9:00am in the ballroom, be there at 7:00am. They don’t owe you a try-out. They may run out of batteries, time, money, or patience. You may lose your nerve the longer you stew over things. Some people may think being last will be more memorable, that may be a strategy, it’s your call.
2) Practice your pitch OUT LOUD in front of people before you go to the audition. I am a more fabulous pitcher in my head than out loud. You will feel like a dork. You need to get rid of, umms, ahhhs, I’m so nervous….If you act totally nervous you make other people nervous or feel bad or pity for you….oh yuck! Be authentically you, don’t try to play a “character” you just don’t have the time and most likely not the talent to pull that off. Get books on how to pitch library or bookstore. Go to local networking events, the SBA or SCORE to have people help your pitch for FREE. Don’t make it a burden to listen to you.
3) Network with the people at the audition. Not in some smarmy way, but in a genuine information exchange way. Some of these people will become your friends. No one else can relate to this bumpy road; or analyze every word or movement of the production team like your fellow line mates. The people in line with you are not really your competition because you really don’t know what the game is with the show and the rules of this crazy tv game change. Cheer for the people who make it to the next round, even if it wasn’t you. Your time may be later. Support your inventor friends–that’s what friends do.
4) Have Fun. Enjoy the unique experience. This is not “it” for you. Out of thousands that tried out for Homemade Millionaire season 1 (six episodes) 18 inventors got some pretty great PR and only 6 lucky FRIENDS got the big Kahuna! WOW that some pretty slim odds, have fun with it. It doesn’t mean your invention wasn’t good or you weren’t good, you just will not know why you didn’t get it. If you understand that gamble then you can have fun. It’s Vegas BABY no Crying at the craps table, you didn’t bet your whole house on this anyway.
5) TV is a different product. Think of how many set-backs and twists and turns you may have developing your product. That is the same for TV. IF you are a control freak, you may not want to try out for a show. The timelines get screwy. People that pitched over a year and a half ago are just seeing the show now. The producers do not have the power of when the tv show will air. Read over your contracts and have your attorney read over them. Understand that this is a calculated risk, but still a risk. If you sign a contract that will obligate you to a time period, know that there may be some other opportunity costs and that is part of the risk. You have to ask yourself if that will work for you. Think of the worst case scenario; the tv show gets cancelled or you don’t get picked to go on air and you used up a year of time, can you handle that? You may not be wired for that risk. You may be asked to keep your mouth shut for a period of time, are you able to do that? You may get the chance to be filmed and you think you got 2 minutes of air time and then dogged, can you stomach that (perceived) diss? Think..it’s VEGAS BABY
6) “Girl don’t go away mad…girl just go away….” After you try out, LEAVE. You can talk to the other hopefuls, but if you didn’t get a golden ticket, call back, wink or whatever. DO NOT CRY, POUT WHINE or BEG. I have yet to see anyone say “oh, hey you begged so well, why sure, you’re in!” IF you cry, pout, beg after a producer, you look like a pathetic looser and no one puts their money on a pathetic looser (see Fatal Attraction). Instead, you should be proud that you did what you came to do; TRY OUT. You pitched. EVERYONE thinks their stuff is “the shit.” No one will say to you, “wow your stuff sucks”, no one in line, not the producers. No one. Take the experience for what it’s worth, EXPERIENCE. They may have put a camera in your face, hey, that might be a new experience for you. You networked, made friends and you have somewhere else to go, like another tryout, a meeting with investors, a new prototype maker, a mixer with other business people, a presser, a meeting with a manufacturer, or a lunch date. The producers will call you if they want. You left every way possible to contact you. But you have other opportunities to seize, and maybe they can catch you if they can…..best of luck!
Coming soon… “Tips for Tv Producers” ☺…. The latest tryout I heard about was on Oprah’s new network, www.oprah.com/own/casting_calls.html and Everyday Edison at www.Everdayedison.com. Check out www.productx1.blogspot.com and at www.welladjustedorsotheysay.blogspot.com/ for more great conversations. Be sure to read all of the fine print and have a lawyer go over any contracts.
