How to pitch The Martha Stewart Show
People don’t realize that the Average Joe or Josephine has a decent chance of being featured on The Martha Stewart Show. Although it’s usually famous chefs or celebrities, producers at the show sometimes like to find guests that are relevant, interesting, articulate and perhaps just aren’t quite famous yet. So it’s a great venue if you have a special talent for crafts, food, pets or any kind of homemaking topic. Here’s how to pitch the show:
1. If you just want to get your idea to them, you can use the guest submission form on the show site. The blurb on the site also reads You can email a producer of the show with a short description of your idea, a picture of your project, and your contact information. You may also review the topics for which our producers are currently seeking guests and send them an email message. If our staff has interest in sharing your story with the viewing audience, a producer will be in touch with you. Read more at Marthastewart.com: Television Questions
2. If you don’t watch the show religiously, review the show archives on the website to get an idea of things they’ve done before. You can’t pitch the same story, and they won’t want to do something on a similar topic too soon but it will help you get an idea of the types of things they like to do.
3. When you prepare your submittal, remember that you need a good hook, great visuals, a well thought-out segment idea and a fun back story. (For tips on building your pitch and a sample pitch that worked, visit the post on pitching a TV talk show) Most people don’t really understand that producers are looking for UNIQUE stories. There has to be a twist to your pitch that no one has heard before. And believe me, that’s hard to do.
4. Have good video. That doesn’t mean video you shot on your HD iPhone, it means if you’re serious, you need to hire a professional to shoot some b-roll. Also, if you’ve done TV appearances in the past, have that editor also create a “reel” for you. This helps producers see that you perform well on camera. If you can’t do a reel, invest in a professional clip from your latest TV appearance – buy it from Cision or a local clip service.
5. If you want to email a producer directly, just watch the credits at the end of the show. You’ll want to pitch a segment producer – sometimes if you call the talent booker they can point you in the right direction, depending on their mood that day and how fast you are on the phone.
6. Email the producer with your pitch and then follow up with some materials snail mail. This should be your press kit, book, segment idea in a letter format, DVD of your appearances, pertinent news articles, anything that will show the producer that YOU would make a great guest and your topic is relevant.
7. Assuming the producer hasn’t emailed you back or called (which they usually won’t) wait about a week or so and call them. NEVER send an email that says “hey did you get my pitch” it’s terribly annoying for them. Always call, leave a message, and then sit on your hands. And remember, you HAVE to call. Sending email after email is not a good idea.
8. If they turn you down, accept the no and realize that a gracious response to a refusal will get you farther than being pushy. Ask to be in their database of experts, and find out if they are open to a new pitch later. Be sure to make it a completely new idea though. Some publicists pitch a show 9-10 even 20 times before they get a hit. Don’t expect to be so lucky.
9. Be well-timed in your pitch. Many of these shows plan segments months ahead of time. It may be National Hamburger Month right now and you make a mean patty, but it’s WAY too late to pitch it. Look further down the road to find a timely event to pitch against.
10. Remember that she has a radio show as well. If they like you on radio, you may have a better shot at the TV show and it’s much easier to get on. Go read my 10 Steps to Pitching Radio and try that angle first.
Martha is moving to the Hallmark Channel and her show starts back up Sept. 19. Don’t know how things will change for them but we wish her team great luck with the new season!
Tags: celebrity, How to Pitch, how to pitch Martha Stewart, how to pitch tv shows, pitching the Martha Stewart Show, worst pr pitches
August 9th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
It’s really hard to deal with that many rejections when you feel like the idea is perfect for the segment. I’d love to break into TV, but at times it seems like small businesses have a bit of a disadvantage. We seem to have better manners, and are more considerate of others, though.
August 12th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Believe me I know. There are just too many other parameters…shows’ producers likes and dislikes, what competitive shows are doing, network bias, breaking news…those are all constantly changing so you can’t get discouraged!
May 5th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Speaking of Walt Disney, was the man himself cremated or frozen in a cryonics chamber? I have read both. Which one is the rumor?