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It's one thing to get in the room. It's a whole other strategy to stay there. Here to discuss and go deep is multi-Emmy award winning television host, producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede. Buki shares that when you get in the room it feels good and it's a cause for celebration but it's only base camp. You've still got a whole mountain to climb.  Be prepared to play the long game When the industry shuts down, you don't shut down - you hone your craft and strategize Embrace delayed gratification and know that the rewards will come later Ask yourself: and then what? Stay ready so you never have to get ready Focus on relationships Buki is the creator/host/executive producer of the Emmy award winning Table for All, which takes you into NJ restaurants and home kitchens to try new cuisines, meet the people and hear their fascinating stories behind the recipes, serving up a cinematic docu-series focusing on culture and diversity. Buki has also produced content for ABC, ESPN, Create TV, PBS, Disney and Health Magazine + has produced & hosted docu-series, talk shows, panel shows and LIVE events.  Watch Table for All with Buki Elegbede, check out Work Ethic is a Supower, Buki’s previous episode of Camera Ready & Abel and follow Buki on IG @thebukishow.

This episode of Camera, Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase, How to Know When You Are Ready for Your Big Break. It's an important question to ponder because, let's face it, the world is full of people you don't remember who flamed out because they weren't ready. And it's very hard to get a second chance, especially in the entertainment arena. But it's not impossible. My guest for this episode is Kamie Crawford - television and podcast host, content creator, genuine influencer, body positivity activist, former Miss Teen USA, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Rookie of the Year and host of Catfish on MTV - who generously opens up about how unprepared she was the first time we met at an audition for E!.  Kamie was a 19-year old college student who made an enormous impression on me that day. She had that ineffable quality, that IT factor, but she wasn't ready for her TV break yet. Unbeknownst to be, Kamie was a puddle of nerves and tears on her way to my office. With enormous candor and vulnerability, Kamie explains how she struggled to learn how to connect to herself in order to connect to the camera, the content and the audience to build her career.  By the time Kamie auditioned for Catfish on MTV, she blew them away. Her confidence was through the roof and she owned it. There was no one else who could step into that role like she could, and Kamie quickly became a fan favorite.  Key takeaways: It's okay to say I'm not ready  Learn the difference between caution and fear Focus on doing the work of developing your craft - and stick with it Build connections and find people who can help you When you are ready mentally, emotionally and physically the dots will connect and opportunities will come to you Have fun and keep up with Kamie at www.kamiecrawford.com, on Instagram, in Sports Illustrated and her check out her podcast Relationsh*t. If you want to feel confident and prepared for your big break - or your next presentation - I'd love to work with you. Shoot me a note via my website abelintermedia.com. 

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Redefining Success, a personal, perennial favorite of mine. The Berkeley Wellbeing Institute defines success as: reaching your goals, learning something new or overcoming fear. If that's what success is, why don't we all feel massively successful? My guest for this episode, Leila Sbitani, is a beloved TV host, media coach and teacher with one of the best workshops in New York City (I highly recommend). Her list of credits is a mile long. Highlights include: Entertainment Tonight, Full Frontal Fashion, FYE for E! and most recently Sit Down With the Stars for Regal Cinemas. Leila says success happened for her when she "had to get rid of that kind of rigid career plan that I had for myself and realize that if I would just let go of that and open myself up to unexpected opportunities, wonderful things can happen.”  She then had to dig deep and redefine success for herself when a cousin, at a family gathering, turned to her and said, "oh, it never really happened for you did it?" Her cousin was equating fame with success, that because Leila wasn't a household name she hadn't "made it." This is a false narrative. Fame does not equal success. Nor do followers and likes.  If you are making a living as a performer - television host, presenter, actor, voice artist etc - you are successful.  Celebrate your wins.  Learn more about Leila and her classes + private coaching (virtual and in person) at https://www.leilasbitani.com/media-training and follow @leilasbitani on all platforms.

I've wanted to explore the word permission ever since Marki Costello asked this most relevant question on her episode of Camera Ready and Abel: Are you prepared to walk in the room and kick ass? Why permission? Because after you explore all the ways to prepare to kick ass like getting your talking points and marketing assets together, plus a cute outfit and flattering makeup, the salient question is: Do you give yourself permission to walk in the room and kick ass? Permission means to grant authorization or to give formal consent and it's key to your preparation. Depending on where and when you grew up, your gender, ethnicity, and lived experience, your gremlin may be popping up to shut you down. No one can give you permission to carpe your diem except you.  Repeat after me: I give myself permission to walk in the room and kick ass! If it helps, remind yourself when you kick ass you're sharing your gifts - and that's helpful. You're providing something valuable that your audience needs. Hold onto that. Figure out the steps you need to take in order to prepare, and then give yourself permission to go after what you want.

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, How to Land Your Dream Job. It's a rebroadcast of my episode with Elizabeth Wagmeister and was originally titled, Resilient, because Elizabeth rightly believes being resilient is a key to success. It's been a joy to know and work with Elizabeth since we met when I was casting Page Six TV and she became one of the hosts. Elizabeth is a consummate professional and genuine pleasure - and makes the work look easy. But as Elizabeth points out, hard-work creates luck. As a little girl, Elizabeth dreamed of being a dancer. She tried out for the dance team but didn't make it. She tried out again - and again and again - until she made the team and went on to become nationally ranked.  As so many of my guests have shared on Camera Ready and Abel: Learn from the disappointment, make adjustments and keep going. When Elizabeth and I originally recorded this episode, she was the senior correspondent at Variety (responsible for numerous covers + breaking the Matt Lauer story with Ramin Setoodeh). Now Elizabeth is CNN's Los Angeles-based entertainment correspondent. No matter what your dream job is, Elizabeth beautifully walks you through the best practices, strategies, and steps to get it, including this gem: No matter what your ambitions are, be good at the job you were hired to do. Always have your boss's back. Follow Elizabeth at @ewagmeister.

Winners don’t wing it, they prepare for it! I believe this so much it's tip #12 in my 12 Tips for Success On-Camera (and off) Here to join me for a rollicking conversation about how preparation makes and breaks careers is the legendary talent manager, casting director, media trainer and CEO of Become A Host, the premier TV hosting Academy, Marki Costello. Marki pulls back the curtain on how TV really gets made, what executives are really looking for, how and why one of the secrets to billionaires' success is they prepare (!) and how that mindset is what sets talent with sustainable careers apart from everybody else.  She pulls no punches: Are you prepared to walk in the room and kick ass? Are you prepared for the constant changes in the industry?  Oh, and she's hilarious.  Her 3 Rs: Reveal - Relatable - Ratings are GOLD. Marki is the granddaughter of Hollywood royalty, the great comedic talent, Lou Costello, and got her start in the industry working on Chuck Barris', The Gong Show. She has media trained dozens of a-listers like Kelly Clarkson, Ceelo Green, and Michael Strahan. She is the author of Become a Host: the Insight Secrets used by every successful television host and was the star of her own reality series, the Drama Queen on E! Follow Marki on instagram https://www.instagram.com/markicostello/ and learn about classes and bootcamps at becomeahost.com.

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Kim Rittberg’s The Exit Interview podcast, where we discussed how to craft an amazing speech or presentation. In our conversation I offer practical tips for delivering a powerful and clear message while mining the G.A.P. (Goal Audience Platform), which is a shorthand reminder to adapt your delivery based on the audience and the platform. Kim is a digital marketing strategist, social media and video expert, an on-camera media coach and public speaker with a proven track record and 500 million video views. Kim formerly launched and ran the video unit for US Weekly and is now the Founder & Principal at Henry Street Media which helps companies, individuals and publishers of all sizes expand their brand and maximize revenue through unforgettable content and communications. Learn more about Kim and her services at www.kimrittberg.com and check out her previous appearance on Camera Ready & Abel titled, The Secrets to Creating Social Video that Gets Noticed.

Knowing your worth and believing you are worthy is essential for happiness and wellbeing according to Psychology Today.  When your self-worth depends on external situations it can get unstable, especially in the Camera Ready & Abel space. Knowing your value in the marketplace and having the confidence to ask for what you're worth are also key. Joining me to dive deep and discuss is Health & Wellness Expert and TV/Digital Host, Bianca Jade, who advocates for female empowerment and transformation as the visionary founder and CEO of mizzfit.com. Bianca delivers forecasts and insights on emerging trends within the beauty, health, and fashion domains for various national syndications, local news programs and HSN where she serves as a brand ambassador and guest host and her valuable takeaways are an on-camera career blueprint: Be strategic, be patient and play the long game Seize opportunities Be willing to take lower pay in exchange for gaining experience, developing skills & confidence and building relationships Take inventory of your strengths and be persistent (Bianca auditioned for HSN over 60 times before being hired by a brand) Be discoverable and broadcast your wins Know your brand, know the trends and be able to speak to them Start niche then expand  Provide consistent value to your clients and your audience Bianca consistently produces inspirational and captivating content for her hundreds of thousands of followers (including me) with the aim of boosting confidence, morale, and purpose.  Visit Bianca at mizzfit.com and follow her on instagram.  Learn more tips on How to Get Discovered with Vinnie Potestivo. Submit to be an HSN host here.

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, How to Manage Your Stress and Anxiety- a Camera Ready evergreen topic featuring actionable advice from Podcast guests Marta Ravin, Dr. Heather Hans, and Patricia Stark. The World Health Organization defines stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Anxiety is defined by Oxford Languages as a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease typically about an imminent event with an uncertain outcome and can produce physical symptoms like increased heart rate and muscle tension.  Stop and read the room with Marta Ravin. Marta is an Emmy nominated executive producer and showrunner and sought after keynote speaker who started her career in standup comedy. She has been sharing compelling stories, producing iconic content and making people laugh for her entire career. You can learn more at www.martaravinproductions.com and be sure to check out Marta's previous episode on Camera Ready and Abel, How to Read the Room. Switch your thoughts like you switch your tv channels with Dr. Heather Hans. Heather is a licensed clinical social worker & psychotherapist, Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, Certified Intuitive Coach & Holistic Healer, and recovering CPA. She empowers individuals and organizations to perform at their highest  potential. Learn more about overcoming anxiety naturally in Heather's online course, Create Profitable Relationships by Mastering Anxiety and other great resources via her website www.heatherhans.com. You can check out Heather’s full episode on Camera Ready & Abel titled, Love You Anxiety.  And finally, keep calm and carry on with Patricia Stark and her hot tips on calming product must-haves. Patricia Stark works on both sides of the camera and stage as a Media Trainer, Public Speaking Trainer, Certified Body Language Specialist and Calmfidence® Coach. After helping thousands of students and clients find their own voices and abilities, she made her methods available in CALMFIDENCE: How to Trust Yourself, Tame Your Inner Critic, and Shine in Any Spotlight—a comprehensive guide to improving self-talk and outward communication skills in any social interaction with calm and confidence. For more about Patricia hop on over to PatriciaStark.com and listen to our full conversation in her episode titled, Calmfidence®.

This encore episode of Camera Ready and Abel is brought to you by the phrase It Gets Greater Later, which is the signature mantra of the divine Bevy Smith who first came on the podcast in late 2021.  Quintessential Harlem girl, Gracie Award winner, and life-long New Yorker, Bevy is the host of Sirius XM’s “Bevelations” on Radio Andy and the author of “Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie,” where she generously lays out, step-by-step, how she successfully transitioned from a highly lucrative career as a fashion advertising executive to on-camera personality and media mogul, proving you can manifest your most bodacious dreams. Bevy is also a beloved motivational speaker, brand ambassador, businesswoman and generous mentor. Her signature quote, “It gets greater later!”  lives above my desk. Get more Bevy at www.bevysmith.com and check out her impactful talk on the TED mainstage  titled, How To Discover Your Authentic Self At Any Age, at the link below: https://www.ted.com/talks/bevy_smith_how_to_discover_your_authentic_self_at_any_age?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Life Coach Nicole Baker's Imperfect Success podcast, discussing one of my favorite topics, stop shoulding yourself. We all have an inner critic that likes to should on us. Your shoulds are a list of false rules you tell yourself that feed your narrative but ultimately hold you back, such as, I should be more productive, thinner, disciplined, etc. My shoulds are often a loud discussion inside my head and I’ve finally learned to turn down the volume. Break free from the trap of unrealistic expectations and learn how to stand out amongst the crowd in this reboardcasted conversation with me and Life Coach Baker. Get more Imperfect Success podcast at www.lifecoachbaker.com/podcast.

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, how to read the room, an essential skill for everyone whether you're giving a presentation or a speech, going to a meeting or job interview or audition, leading your team or asking your boss for a raise... Here to discuss is returning champion Marta Ravin. Marta is an Emmy nominated executive producer and showrunner and sought after keynote speaker who started her career in standup comedy, which is where we first met, and where Marta honed her exceptional skills in how to read the room. The Cambridge Dictionary defines reading the room as to be or become aware of the opinions and attitudes of a group of people that you are talking to. How do you do this? It’s a sensory experience, explains Marta, and requires you to be present in the moment and attuned to the energy of the space, taking in information with all 5 senses. 3 key takeaways: You have the power to shift the mood of the room and can pivot at any time by engaging the audience with questions. When possible, study up on who your audience is. Take to social media, review websites, Google them so you are prepared with talking points that they will connect to. Reading the Zoom is harder than reading the room. Put your best foot forward and leave your camera on, let people know you are present and engaged…besides, you are Camera Ready! Marta has been sharing compelling stories, producing iconic content and making people laugh for her entire career. You can learn more at www.martaravinproductions.com and be sure to check out Marta's previous episode on Camera Ready and Abel focused on timing.