...with Joe Vencius.

How'd you do it?

In my current job of television producer for the Miami Heat broadcasts, I often get asked, “How did you get into the business…I would love to do your job.” Generally I agree with them as this is one of the more “fun” jobs that a person could have — getting paid to cover events that you love to watch just as a fan. But like any other profession, remember what it is — a job.

When people ask how they should get started, I offer some of my own personal background experiences — intern; work for places that get you exposure to people in the business; and remember that the 1st time you say “no”, is probably the last time someone will ask you.

I started as an intern for sportscaster Dick Enberg while I was in college in San Diego. He gave me the chance to learn and pick his brain while I showed him the abilities that I thought I had to try to get into the industry. By working with him, I got the opportunity to work for TNT/TBS Sports in Atlanta, GA.

But it wasn’t a job that was “given to me.” I packed up all my belongings after Enberg helped get me an interview that only promised another internship once I graduated from school. What I knew was that if I worked hard enough, I could convince the “powers that be” at Turner that I was a person they had to have on their staff. Ten years later, after climbing the ranks from intern, production assistant, associate director, and eventual producer, I left to take my current job with the Miami Heat.

Yea, yea, that’s all great, but "What about me??" I can hear you asking. All I would say is that you must give in order to get — no one is going to hire you without experience and how do you get that experience?? It’s Murphy’s Law revisited. What I would tell you is to find a place where you can intern or volunteer “just to help”—a local TV station, newspaper, radio station, professional or amateur franchise, etc. If you can fit your schedule around people’s needs, it’s great experience and access to people who can help you down the road.

Don’t expect to get rich or be hosting the 6pm sports anytime soon. Expect long hours, tasks that are sometimes as mundane as copying or taking someone to the airport, but views all those experiences as helping to round you out as you develop what you think you want to do. If you prove yourself invaluable, people will go out of their way to help you within their own organization, or recommend you to people they know.

Don’t be afraid to hear “no.” People will tell you that quite a bit as you begin your journey. Remember that as you “knock” on door after door. If it’s really what you want to do, then you have to have thick enough skin to pick yourself back up and do it again until you find someone that does want you.

Joe Vencius is in his 5th season producing telecasts for the Miami Heat. He occasionally moonlights for various other broadcasts such as college football bowl games on TNT/TBS and Washington Redskins pre-season games on WRC. The current Miami resident graduated from UC San Diego in 1998 with a double major in Communications and U.S. History.

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