Floor Director Career Outlook
Updated Oct. 11, 2022
Working as a Floor Director in the broadcasting field is an intense role that is ideal for broadcasting professionals who thrive in an action-oriented position. Floor Managers work to ensure that every aspect of production is perfectly coordinated and that everything goes as planned, which can mean making changes on the fly and working quickly to meet tight deadlines. This career can be challenging; however, it offers the satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off in the form of a flawlessly executed production.
Responsibilities
Floor Directors have a range of duties and are essentially responsible for nearly every physical aspect of a production. Floor Specialists test equipment to ensure it is functioning properly, communicate with the control room to coordinate various aspects of production, oversee lighting and sound, manage rehearsals, ensure that props are ready and correctly placed, manage studio staff, and more. There is truly never a dull moment in this role, making it perfect for those who enjoy a fast-paced work environment in a leadership position.
Earnings
Earnings can be quite a lucrative career for the right candidates, and the hard work can be gratifying in both the success of a production and the competitive pay offered for this position. According to Glassdoor, the average Floor Director salary is nearly $90,000 per year, with some individuals working in this career earning over $100K. The earning potential for Floor Specialists lies in their own experience, ability to self-motivate, the markets they operate in, and their employers. With that being said, those who do not possess adequate levels of experience are not able to become a Floor Director. Instead, entry level job seekers may instead be a better fit for a Floor Manager, where in accordance to Glassdoor, make an average earning of approximately $52,000 per year. As director roles are much more senior to manager roles, the earnings differ as well. Though Floor Director salaries are much higher than that of a Floor Manager, individuals typically start out as a manager role where they then grow into a director position.
Work Environment
The work environment for Floor Managers can vary depending on the type of production they are working on. Floor Specialists may find themselves working in a theatre environment, for live productions or broadcasts with live audiences, they may work in traditional broadcasting and television studios, and even out in the world at filming locations and other live broadcasting venues. The possible work environments for this role are nearly limitless, as they work to coordinate broadcasts and productions in numerous sites, and the settings for certain scenes may even be shot in remote locales. While a majority of the work may be done in a studio environment, this job is not for those who prefer to be stuck in a cubicle all day as it requires you to be on your feet, planning and coordinating productions no matter what location they may be shot in.
Career Requirements
While a degree is not required to become a Floor Director, various skills are necessary for the job. These skills can be attained through a traditional degree program, and this is often a good career choice for those with degrees in media, film, or theatre. Alternatively, these skills can be developed through training programs at media schools such as Be On Air. Typically, this position is not for entry-level candidates, so it is important to build experience in related broadcasting roles as to employers, real-world experience is often preferred over educational experience. For this reason, it is important to choose an educational program that will provide real-world studio experience, as this will help to build the necessary skills to compete in the job market, and ultimately land a job.
Ideal Skills and Characteristics
Working in this role can be fast-paced and challenging; therefore, it is the perfect career for someone who is on-the-go and action-oriented. Floor Specialists jobs typically involve managing and coordinating multiple teams, therefore leadership and communication skills are a must. Additionally, a passion for the industry can make this one of the most rewarding roles in the broadcasting industry, as the efforts of the Floor Manager are crucial to ensuring that a broadcast or production goes as planned, and the fruits of their labor can be seen in every expertly executed production. A knowledge of the different roles in the industry and their responsibilities is also necessary, as this will better equip a Floor Specialist to understand the roles of the team members they work with as well as how to utilize resources best when planning a production. Ultimately, this is an excellent career choice for self-motivators, as in a prominent role such as this, the stakes can be high, the responsibilities numerous, and the efforts of a floor manager can make or break the success of a production.
Job Outlook
In today’s digital age, media and broadcasting are not going anywhere. Wherever there is demand for broadcasting and productions, there is going to be demand for individuals that specialize in coordinating and otherwise ensuring that these broadcasts and productions go as planned. This is a growing field, and although it can be difficult to break into, this is not due to a lack of opportunities but a specific set of required skills for the job. Building the essential skills for this role is the most critical aspect of finding Floor Director jobs, and the right candidate with the right experience should have no issue finding employment in this field.
How to Get Started
Many who wish to work in the broadcast industry, or who already work in the industry in a junior role find themselves wondering how to become a floor director. However, the most important step to landing a job in this position is the initial dedication and passion for the industry. Candidates should have an interest in the broadcast or television industry and should be able to motivate themselves to build the skills necessary for the role. The first step is to improve communication and leadership skills. Various programs and clubs can help with this, and a good choice is to take some classes on communication and public speaking or to join a club or organization such as Toastmasters. Next, it is crucial to become well-versed in the industry itself, as well as the different roles involved, as understanding all of the moving parts to a production and the team members involved is critical to a production’s success.
Once a background knowledge of the industry and responsibilities is built, the next step is to complete an education in a media or broadcasting related program. While traditional degree programs are an option, it is important to build real-world experience as this is often more important to employers than education alone. At Be On Air, we partner with major broadcasting and television studios to offer our students exclusive internship opportunities, allowing them to gain experience in a real broadcast environment. With locations across the United States and programs focused on a range of broadcasting roles, our expert instructors can help you to gain the knowledge and experience you need to begin working as a Floor Director. Apply today and start working towards your broadcasting career.
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