David Gray, CTV

About CTV:
CTV is Canada's largest private broadcaster. It has the #1 national newscast seen by over 25 million viewers each week. It's also the #1 choice for prime-time viewing.

About David Gray:

David Gray has been a Digital Sales Producer at CTV News & Entertainment since November 2011. A student from Sheridan, he first made his debut as an interactive designer with Publicist.

Notes:

-pitch yourself as much as you can.

Digital sales producer at CTV

-If you get into an agency you will work long and hard. there were some nights i was doing 15 hour days. Some people slept in the office. In this industry you either love it or hate it.

history

-started out as an interactive designer with Publicist. Worked often at banners. He became a sort of a producer, part of his job being to educate the creatives and proof final products. Title: Acting Production manager.

-Some people think banners are a waste of time. Some people think it's a boring job, but I loved it. You got to do a new project sometimes daily and you pushed out a lot of work."

-Flash is dying, there is no doubt about it. a lot of banners are starting to convert over to

HTML5. But right now, banners are mostly flash. Flash will die shortly."

- during the economic decline David was laid off as were many others in related fields.

- After this, David got into freelancing. This is where your contacts come in handy.

- Try to stay on the good side of others because you need good contacts for freelancing.

- While freelancing David got into the media side of things. He became involved with Q Media. At the time he was with Q media there were three people working for the company. 6-8 months - it just wasn't for him, so he went back to freelancing and did it for almost a year.

- if you're good and you don't mind working long hours or weird hours, then the money is great." - David on freelancing.

-landed a position with TBWA. It was a great company. For instance, every wednesday they would have guest speakers.

- budget cut again - moved on from TBWA

-one thing you have to realize, don't take things personally. Business is business. At some point it's just a big chess game.

- Now he is at CTV Bell media, once again, through a contact.

- A lot of jobs are gone before they're even out. A friend's resume gets put right to the top.

- linkedin is a very valuable resource. David found a lot of connections/ opportunities through linkedin.

Working at CTV

- David is happiest at CTV

-Publishing- he has made a 360 in his career and is not sure if he will go back to an agency.

- I'm now a delegator. My job is now to delegate work.

-Producing is a lot like project management. looking after flow of work, deadlines, production. It is project manager plus more.

- learn all you can about mobile. don't let anyone tell you that something is mobile friendly - it's either mobile or not.

-My first year I was pushing 60, 70 hours a week, working 13, 14 hour days. You've got to love it.

Final Advice

Put in the hours. Be prepared for it and push through it. I now prefer being a producer to a designer.

-Young and single is really the life of an agency

- whatever field you get into, know it.

- theFWA.com - go get your daily inspiration.

Contacting David Gray

LinkedIn: davidjjgray

Phone: 647 297 4707

email: davidgraydesign@gmail.com