Making great TV with no money
What inspired you to carve out a career in music television and journalism?
I fell into TV by accident. I loved all the performing arts as a kid and really just kept studying everything at school and university from dance, drama to media and theatre and then requested a million internships at various TV companies. Planet 24 who were big at the time and made The Big Breakfast and The Word replied and that’s where my career began.
How did you make your first start towards your career and how has music linked in with it?
At Planet 24 as the runner I raced around on 24 hour shifts happily making teas, coffees and buying lunches, gathering props, researching and then stood in for an absent auditionee when the presenter role for The Word came up. The rest, as they say, is history.
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
There are too many to only pinpoint one. Having an artist approach you or write to you to tell you that you did a great interview with them, or that a special show you made about them was brilliant, or get a number one rated show on MTV globally, or have my peers say they were mesmerised by the show I made is always fabulous.
Have you ever considered yourself to be enterprising, if so how?
I’m not an enterprising person when it comes to making cash but I’m great at creative ideas and making great shows from no money.
Before TV and journalism, were you an enterprising youngster? Selling toys, making things etc
I taught ballet and aerobics whilst I was at school to make money and pay for my own sneakers or I would never have been the flyest girl in the school playground.
In your opinion, what kind of skills do you need to do something unique and entrepreneurial in the music industry?
Have a tough skin, be a great networker and get used to working around the clock with no personal life.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurial youngsters not sure of the direction they want to go in?
Ask friends and family what your strengths are. All of us have at least one really strong unique selling point, something that we are great at. Work out what that skill is and that will lead to a relative job. So if you’re a chatterbox you’d be a great radio DJ. If you’re a nosey gossip you’d be a great journalist, if you love kids you’d be a great teacher or youth worker.
Do you have any great examples of youth enterprise that have sparked your imagination?
I love that youth now are inspired by the P Diddy’s of this world to make their own music, clothing lines, ring tones and more - that’s entrepreneurial.
What key lessons have you learnt in developing your career?
Don’t expect instant success, finance or results, be as professional as you can and always deliver better than the current best. Always ask your audience what they want and give it to them.
What advice would you give for young entrepreneurs wanting to launch a career in music now? Do still think music is a valid business?
Music is growing in so many new ways - in a way it’s easier to get in and make it in the music industry today than it ever was.
How different is the market today compared with when you started?
Very different. Then there were closed doors everywhere that you had to bang down, now the world’s open to all.
On Enterprise 
