So you wanna know how Fuzzy landed her sweet job at Video Hits? DOLLY tracked the TV presenter down and made her tell us exactly how she got the job of a super-cool TV host!
What did you want to be when you were at school?
I wanted to be so many different things. I wanted to be an architect, a landscape designer, a town planner, a teacher, a geographer, and I also loved media! And, of course, I wanted to be a TV producer or a presenter. But I didn't know how possible that was, and it wasn't 'til I got to uni that it became a bit more of a reality that I could work in TV and entertainment media.
Where did you go to uni and has it helped your career?
I moved around a lot; I went to Macquarie, RMIT and Melbourne Uni. RMIT was very vocational and hands on, and I learned how to edit and about techniques, such as lighting, which was really helpful for my job now.
What made you want to work as a TV presenter?
I love that you can entertain and educate people at the same time! I grew up listening to the Hot 30 radio show, calling up requesting songs to Ugly Phil and Jackie O. I watched Rage and Video Hits and figured, why not work in an industry that makes you happy?
Work experience is notoriously hard to get in TV. How did you manage to nab some?
At the end of a TV show, look at the credit rolls and write down the name of the producer or assistant producer, then call up their station and ask for work experience. It worked for me!
Also, make sure your university or school provides insurance. And don't make a big fuss out of photocopying or having to get coffee, once they can see you can do the small things they'll probably give you bigger tasks.
Who are the coolest celebs you've met working in music TV?
At the Big Day Out this year I met the Prodigy, the Ting Tings and the Black Kids. I've also interviewed Alicia Keys. She was so nice and I had admired her for so long, especially during my high school years; I was beside myself!
Tell us the best thing about your job
Getting to research artists and bands and then having a conversation with them. Also meeting new people, trying to get stuff out of celebs that people haven't heard before is a great challenge.
What's a typical day in the life of Fuzzy like?
I get up at about 5 o'clock in the morning, get on to my e-mail, do some script writing and research. I researched Alicia Keys for a week and a half! I then jump into make-up and chat with Hayden [Guppy], my co-host. Today I worked on our first interview, which was with Short Stack, compiled info, had a meeting with Sony BMG then headed back to the studio for voice over. I'm about to start researching Fall Out Boy who I'm interviewing in a couple of days.
Have you got some gold career advice for us?
I've been mentoring a guy called David Murray, he won the HP Go Live competition to present at this year's Big Day Out and now he's an up-and-coming TV reporter. I hope by mentoring him I've helped him a lot, but you don't necessarily need to win a Hewlett Packard competition to be mentored! You can learn from the people around you. I look up to producers on the shows I've worked on and by watching other presenters and radio hosts.
But my best advice? Keep on trying — if you keep at it, you will go places. Work experience is a great place to start and get your foot in the door. Make sure to use technology to your advantage, broadcast yourself on YouTube or start a blog or podcast!
