Television Host Evelyn Vaccaro:

Interview with Actress & Television Host Evelyn Vaccaro: Part 2/9

In part 1 of this exclusive interview Evelyn Vaccaro, she tells "where it all started" for her.

How Evelyn Vaccaro Got Started In Television Hosting: Part 2

Tony: So Evelyn, how did you get started hosting?

Evelyn: Sal Mesakala , who is a very big host in the entertainment industry today and who at that time was a host for the X-Games when the X-Games came to Vermont. Back then when I met him, I had a job working as an assistant editor. After a while we got to talking and became friends and one day he said: “Evelyn you are ill misplaced!  You should really be doing what I’m doing.” So I thought:  “OK, well how did you get started?”  He then said:
“I started as a television host on a really small show, built up my reel and then little by little got to where I am today.

Sal is a very successful and well-liked guy in the industry.  He’s also very sincere so there was no way I wasn’t going to take his advice. With that said, that was six years ago and little does he know that I took his advice step-by-step and have been hosting ever since.  I’m on the Red Carpet quite a bit these days in Hollywood so it’s only a matter of time before we bump into each other.  And I can’t wait to tell him that I took his advice,  how well it worked out for me, and thank you!” Knowing the nice guy that he is, I think he’ll be quite psyched for me. 

Tony: That’s a great story Evelyn, but now you have made me really curious. You said that you followed his advice step-by-step to become a television host. What were some of the things he told you to do?

Evelyn: Well his biggest tip was to get on a local show.  When you go to a big city, there is so much competition and it can be hard to get your first gig, get noticed. But if you go outside the big city, like I did, it can be a lot easier.  After I was done with the X Games, I learned that a station was starting up right in the same town and that they were looking for a host.  I couldn’t believe it!  This was my one shot at starting a career in hosting which Sal was adamant I’d be great at.  So without skipping a beat, I immediately applied and somehow convinced them to give me a shot at it. That they did, and kept me for 5 years.  I gained on-camera skills, learned the ropes, learned what worked and didn’t work, learned to direct myself, helped with set design, and just enjoyed entertaining my viewers.  Because it was also LIVE- to- AIR, I was able to improve on my improvisation skills and have become super quick on my feet.  When it’s live, there’s no room for error.  When you make a mistake, you just poke fun at yourself, which the viewers can really relate to or even have a good giggle over and you move on.  RSN also awarded me 2 RSN ARC AWARDS for BEST HOST while I was there.

Tony: Evelyn that story makes me think about some aspiring actors I have heard say: “I really want to be an actor.” And then the next thing they say is: “How can I get an agent?” or even: “ How can I get discovered?” The whole need for training doesn’t seem to be very important, because they feel that it is possible to get discovered. Plus it’s easier than going through all the work. That makes me think that people who read this story might think: “See! It happened to her too! So it is possible.” What would you say to someone who might think that it is really all about getting discovered and that you don’t have to work hard? Do you look at what happened to you at the start of your career as having been discovered?

Evelyn: I don’t look at it as being discovered, it was rather a good and solid piece of advice that I took from someone who is very knowledgeable of the industry. But there is no doubt that I really had to bust my backside at first. You can get your foot in the door, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to go anywhere. You have to bring your part to the table or you won’t go very far.  Time is money and directors and producers want to spend it well.  That is why training is absolute key if you want to become a television host. You have to get the training.

With that said, I really credit my coach, television host Patricia Stark for all that she has taught me.

Tony: As a matter of fact that is where we met, in one of Patricia’s hosting classes and even though that was two years ago, at that point you had already had a wealth of experience, which was evident by some of the things you did in that class.

As I mentioned in part 1 of this interview, Evelyn is also an actress. In part 3 she talks about how she got started acting. In the remaining 8 parts to this interview, she talks about everything from hosting auditions and what to expect, tips for the television host, hosting reels and how to make them and more.

Visit television host and actress Evelyn Vaccaro at her official website.

 

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What you’re doing is great Anthony. Whenever I read the things on your site, the interviews and even your book, I feel like if only everybody got to read this before they got started, they would be so much better off and everybody else (casting directors, agents, directors, etc.) would be so much better off too.
Personal Manager, Ingrid French

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Tony,
I want to say you changed my life. I want to be an actress so bad, but i began losing motivation when I couldn't figure out what to do. And then I found you! Thanks to you, I'm taking my first acting classes next month! Yippee!
Sara, Pasadena, CA

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Hi Tony
I would like to thank you for helping me with the monologue question I asked you. I went to the auditions for a Drama course and I am happy to say that I have been accepted as a first-year student at the Tshwane University of Technology. Please keep on sending me those newsletters and let me know where I can find books that will help me in my acting career. Thank you once more. Have a blessed day.
Sincerely
Edward Thaba -South Africa

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Dear Anthony,
Just wanted to thank you for bringing me in to [audition for the video], meet you and chat this Saturday. I was really excited to hear about your working on actingcareerstartup.com and even took a look at it today - it's awesome! You are very well-spoken, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and it shows through the work that you do! I hope our paths in the industry will cross again and really enjoyed meeting you. Thanks, again and best wishes with your very important work!
Warmly,
Gretchen, NY, NY

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Hey Tony, thanks for the info, yours by far is the most useful, I am 30 years old, and I myself always (secretly) wanted to be an actress, but I never knew where to begin, so thank you. You have given me hope!
Ana C., Tampa, FL