• The Sought After

The Sought After

  • Start Here!
  • Escapes
    • Stylish Stays
    • Hotels
    • Weekending
    • Spas
    • London
    • Los Angeles
    • New York City
    • Paris
    • San Francisco
    • Sunday Edition
    • Travel Guides
  • Spaces
    • Before + After
    • Entertain
    • Cocktail Bars + Sought After Sips
  • Style
    • Carry-On
  • Stories
    • PR Tips from a Los Angeles PR Firm Owner
    • Entrepreneur Stories
  • Work with Me
    • My Los Angeles PR Firm
    • Buy My Ebook
    • PR for Hotels
Biz Talk•Eat + Drink•Los Angeles

Movers & Shakers – Q&A with Tricia Durrant from E! Entertainment

April 3, 2013

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down for cocktails at the recently opened Sassafras with my friend Tricia Durrant, a Talent Executive at E!, who I work with just about every day of my life, (or so it seems lately). She books on-air talent for the network and I thought it would be fun to get some insider info from a publicity standpoint. Being that we are both Southern (sort of…Tricia calls Northern Virginia home), we got down and dirty over their Pimm’s No 1933 and a Sassafras Royale.

Molly and Tricia

Ok, I know you are a Talent Executive, but for those not in the biz, can you explain what that means?

I pursue and book on-air talent for the network…celebrities and experts that are promoting something (movie, TV show, book, etc).  The difference in what I do and the casting department is that the guests I book are non-paid…it’s strictly for their promotion. Whether it’s a celebrity for an E! special, E! News or for our Countown to Oscar show, I have my hands in pretty much everything here.

So, what’s the difference between a Talent Executive (also sometimes called a Talent Booker) and a Producer? As a publicist, we pitch them both, so I’d love to hear the ‘official’ difference.

A producer’s main job is to coordinate their entire show, so their focus is more broad than a talent booker. Their role is to coordinate the guest booking from start to finish. AT E!, I am always thinking bigger picture because I work on numerous shows. A booker will take suggestions and ideas related to talent to producers, but the producer is the ultimate decision-maker.

So who has the final say in who gets booked? Does one person make that decision?

No, many people have to sign off on every booking and often talent is approved by a head executive.

Sassafrass

Bar

So say I am an actor and want to get booked on E! News…can you give me any advice for bettering my chances?

We are obviously really about pop culture–so say for example you are on a TV show that may not exactly be our demo, if you have an upcoming project that is, that could be a way to get a booking (in other words, having mutliple projects). Or, if you’re dating Justin Bieber, haha. Also, we would rarely book anyone that didn’t have tape…meaning a past on-camera interview we can review.

What about for experts?

Having celebrity clients is first and foremost. And obviously credibility. We take great care in the experts that we use are really and truly experts in their field. We would also want to tape…it is very rare that we would book anyone without any on camera experience.

What is your advice for anyone looking to do what you do? And speaking of…how did you get your start?

I got really lucky…though I do work really hard. In college, I majored in broadcasting and started booking guests for our school’s late night comedy show. I had no idea at the time that it would be the start of my career! I moved to LA and gave myself a month to find a job and that job was a Talent Coodinator at E!. But…we were also in very differernt economic times. As for advice…relationships, especially with publicists are the most important thing in this business. Since I’m not working on a daily show, about 25% of talent bookings come from being pitched. The rest is from my seeking them out through publicists.

Tricia

And now a few unrelated questions…since you know I love restaurants and hotels…

Favorite place for work drinks in LA?

The Roof on Wilshire

Favorite LA restaurant 

Pink Taco 

Favorite hotel?

The Montage Laguna Beach

And since you do work in television…Favorite TV show?

Parks & Recreation and Happy Endings

Sassafras Saloon.  1233 Vine St.  Los Angeles, CA 90038.  323- 467-2800

Cool jobs E! E! Entertainment Entertainment Jobs Hollywood jobs Montage Laguna Beach Pink Taco PR PR Advice public relations talent bookers Tricia Durrant

0
2 Comments
Previous Shutters at Sunset
Next La Terrazza dell’Eden

You may also like...

Super Bloom

7 key ways to know if it is time for you to hire a publicist.

How to Know When it’s Time to Hire a Pu...

Are you ever met with that doom and gloom notion of not feeling good enough. You aren't alone!

Good Enough

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Camille says

    April 3, 2013 at 9:38 am

    Love Sassafras! And I totally consider Northern Virginia the South… But not West Virgjnia 🙂

  2. William Reuben says

    April 10, 2015 at 7:26 am

    Dear Tricia Durrant:
    I would like to know how I would go about getting an audition to be booked on
    your TV shows. I am a SAGAFTRA member. Please let me know.

    William Reuben

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

As Seen on Style Me Pretty: A Glamorous Fall Dinner Party Under the Stars

PR for Interior Designers including why to hire a publicist and free ways to get your own publicity.

As Seen in Lonny Magazine: From Rundown Rental to Starter Chic

Sign up for The Short Story

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
Rain in Paris isn't quite the same as rain in LA w Rain in Paris isn't quite the same as rain in LA when you have to drive your kitty to the dentist and they tell you you have to take him to the cardiologist and you're reminded that he's older and we're all older and he's yelping and I'm sobbing and the rain is pouring. Guys it's been a morning.
Hiking is walking. Free parking before 10am. ✨#m Hiking is walking. Free parking before 10am. ✨#mydayinLA
My funny Valentine @agentfx 💘💘💘 📸 @eli My funny Valentine @agentfx 💘💘💘
📸 @elizabethmessina
We're basically in Mexico 🌵 @agentfx We're basically in Mexico 🌵 @agentfx
My friend and personal photographer (ha!) @ashleyb My friend and personal photographer (ha!) @ashleyburnsphotography finally has her own presets available so you too can get her light + airy aesthetic! Ashley has traveled with me shooting hotels for my #StylishStays series on my blog  and shot for so many client projects. Link in bio ✨✨✨
I bought a brownie smothered in icing, a cream fil I bought a brownie smothered in icing, a cream filled oatmeal raisin cookie, and a strawberry fonut. IT'S GONNA BE A RAGER!
Oh my gah, a day with friends. Never been so grate Oh my gah, a day with friends. Never been so grateful. @imamandafeld
Copyright © 2021 The Sought After
Theme by SheShoppes