Consider Moving to L.A. or New York

The TV business is located predominantly in Los Angeles and New York. But as we mentioned earlier, chances are, your salary will barely cover your cost of living in these two wallet-draining cities. If you're too short on cash to make the trek right now, take heart: Most towns and smaller cities have at least one or two local networks. You can also often find small production companies, PBS stations, commercial/advertising production companies, and even industry-support facilities (post-production or special-effects houses) where you can get your start. Just because you don't live in L.A. or N.Y.C. doesn't mean you won't be able to find P.A. work; it just means that you will have fewer opportunities.

The opportunities you do find, though, might not be as shabby as you'd think. Many people underestimate the power of a small-town gig. Large media companies often have strict hierarchies that are clearly divided by function, making it difficult for an office P.A. to learn anything about what is going on on the set. A P.A. at a smaller company, however, may be given the opportunity to work closely with a director, editor or producer in the matter of 1 week.

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