Key Career Lesson From a Story Associate Producer at Pilgrim Media Group
Dannia, a Story Associate Producer, emphasizes the crucial lesson of self-advocacy in negotiating rates, stating that "they're always gonna lowball you." This is especially important for entry-level positions like PAs, who often face demanding work and should "ask for the most" to ensure fair compensation for "freaking hard work."
Negotiation, Salary, Compensation, Industry Realities, Advocacy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dannia Alfonso
Story Associate Producer
Pilgrim Media Group
NYU - Tisch School of the Arts
UCLA Anderson - MBA
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Negotiate your rates and advocate for yourself. The entertainment industry often lowballs, especially entry-level employees. Research going rates and don't be afraid to ask for what you deserve.
2. Don't just negotiate pay; consider negotiating other benefits like vacation time, if possible. These are often overlooked.
3. The PA role involves hard work and can be demanding. Recognize the value of your contributions and stand up for fair compensation and treatment.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven to be really significant for you throughout your career?
Advocate for yourself. Unfortunately, in this industry, because of how it works when we negotiate our rates, it sucks. We only negotiate a rate. We don't negotiate bonus days or vacation time off. That doesn't exist in this world, the entertainment industry, right?
Especially when you're starting off, all you're going to be able to negotiate is either your day rate or your weekly rate. That's it. So advocate for yourself, look up what the actual going rates are, and ask for the most. It doesn't matter if you don't have experience.
Look within that range and ask for it because they're always going to lowball you, always, no matter what. And if they give you what you ask for at the beginning, they could give you more next time. But they are going to lowball you. So advocate for yourself because no one's just going to give you more money, right?
You did one PA job, you're going to go to the next, they might even offer you less money. You need to make sure you're getting what you deserve and what you should be making because you worked hard for it. It's time you advocate for your money.
The PA gets a lot of abuse on set. Yeah, there's a lot of downtime when they're shooting and you're just waiting around, but the PA gets a lot of [unclear] on set. Advocate for your money.
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