Marta Tracy, Television Strategist & Author
| (0 Comments) | Send to a Friend |
September 01, 2007 @ 07:32 pm
Why Marta Tracy Is An “It Girl”:
As an Executive Producer, Marta Tracy, she creates content on TV and across multiple media platforms. She is the co-author of STARRING YOU! The Insiders’Guide To Using Television and Media To Launch Your Brand, Your Business and Your Life.
What Inspires Her?
Television is a medium based on ideas, so I have been a student of creativity for most of my life. Watching movies, reading magazines, browsing the internet and even shopping inspires me. Things that take us out of our routine create new thoughts and perspectives or ways of thinking. I believe creativity comes when you are feeling peaceful and positive. Pressure, stress and fear are creativity killers. So, “think good thoughts” and be sure to put “action steps” behind your very best ideas.
My most inspiring moments come when I am at the beach enjoying the sand and surf or on a ski slope appreciating the beauty of snow covered mountains. Music is also a great source of inspiration to me. My favorite thing to do is to listen to music on my ipod and rollerblade along the West Side Highway in Manhattan. Ideas often come to me when I skate along the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty is a very symbolic icon for me personally. She reminds me to be free to be me, not a carbon copy of everyone else.
I also love collaborating and brainstorming with people. The best ideas often come from creative minds thinking together and bouncing ideas off one another. However, many creative people and ideas are” nipped in the bud” by someone else’s judgement. So be careful of your ideas and nuture them a while before throwing them out into the world.
Having survived the tragic death of my husband four years ago, son, Christian, continues to inspire me by maintaining his positive and mature nature. I tell him every chance I get that “he is the best thing that ever happened to me.” Within 24 hours of my husband’s death, we both made a commitment to each other continue to have a fabulous life. I hope this inspires everyone reading this now.
I’ve been collecting quotes since high school and I often refer to them for inspiration. One of my favorite quotes is: “Where your gift meets the world’s need, there lies your success”. This quote inspired me to write STARRING YOU! Having been a TV executive in talent and development for many years, everyone would always ask me “how do I get on TV” and I always loved giving them great advice that I knew would work. Then, one day it occurred to me to write a book about what I knew best. My co-author, Terence Noonan, shared this belief and together
we made a commitment to put all our ideas together in a book to share what we knew how to do best with others. We also invited our VIP friends and contacts in front of the camera and behind the scenes to share their stories about how to get on TV as well. What makes this book different is the real life stories and compelling anecdotes from people who actually work in the TV industry.
One of the underlying messages of “STARRING YOU!” is to keep showing up for your own life to become the star that you are. Whether you want to be on an expert on TV or the president of your local PTA, life is too short to blend into the background. Make a commitment to do what you feel passionate about and show up for it every day, every week, every month consistently. Most stars I know did not become so with a wave of a magic wand. Stars are born from a combination of passion, hard work, discipline and most importantly, staying true to your authentic self – what makes you unique.
Her It Girl picks: [beauty products, things she cannot do without]
Favorite New Product: BELLETRESSE Hair Care With Style. The shampoo
and conditioner come in the shape of a shoe and the styling cream comes
in the shape of a handbag. Everytime I take a shower, just looking at them makes
me smile.
Favorite Cleanser: YUNKA Gel Nettoyant for all skin types. It’s a bit of a splurge,
but leaves your face feeling naturally clean and fresh.
Favorite Affordable Beauty Brand: WELEDA’s products are all natural and
inexpensive. These products give you “great bang for your buck.” All of the products are fabulous, but I especially love the “wild rose” cleansing lotion, toner and gel capsules.
Favorite Affordable Scrub: I’ve tried them all and TRADER JOE’s Lavender Salt
Scrub is quite fabulous. It exfoliates all the rough spots and leaves a layer
of light lavender oil on your skin. Try it, you’ll love it.
Favorite Body Wash: JASON Lavender Satin Shower Body Wash for a “do it yourself” aromatherapy session first thing in the morning.
Favorite Face Product: LA BELLA DONNA Co Exist Gel Crème. It is one of the best new products I’ve tried and I think it works better than plastic surgery!
Favorite Tanning Product: BIOTHERM Sunfitness Autobronzant Self Tanner
is a cream that goes on smooth and protects as well. It is really easy to use and gives
you a really natural glow. It also washes off your hands easily after applying and
doesn’t stain your clothes.
Favorite Hair Volumizer: CHI Cationic Hydration Interlink. Somehow it “magically” adds body and fullness to wimpy and thin hair.
Favorite Razor: The INTUITION razor dispenses a cream while you’re shaving for the ultimate stub-free finish.
Favorite Body Product: BEST OF NATURE “Sweet Almond Oil”. A massage
therapist turned me onto this product which penetrates immediately into your skin
to keep your entire body feeling ultra smooth. I actually buy it by the “gallon” and
pour it into smaller bottles with a pump top.
Who does she consider an “It Girl”?
WCBS’s Tamsen Fadal because she is a smart, talented and beautiful journalist. Her research, writing and computer tech skills inspire me to continue to learn and be creative with both style and professional integrity. She is so smart… I can’t stand it!
Most all of the female morning TV anchors from Diane Sawyer to Meredith Viera to Anne Curry are all “it Girls” in my book. They get up at the crack of dawn and still manage to look great every day. Granted, they have help behind the scenes from amazing TV stylists, but their daily commitment to their craft and personal style is inspiring.
I also admire the female talent on the entertainment news show from ET to EXTRA! To E! These ladies work really hard in front of the camera and behind the scenes and always look stylish, neat and together. They brilliantly cover trends on their shows and manage to set fashion and style trends in front of the camera as well.
Katrina Szish who just became the national TV correspondent for InStyle magazine.
She is also a contributing correspondent for ABC NEWS. Besides style and fashion, she also covers pop culture and entertainment. She is a perfect example of someone who was committed to appearing on TV as a style expert and made it happen for herself. She is not just another pretty face, Katrina is always on top of her content.
Tara Kraft, Beauty and Fashion Director and on-camera spokesperson at STAR magazine always looks naturally stylish and together. She puts in supergirl hours always wearing a supergirl smile.
Jacqui Stafford, Editorial Style Director and on-camera correspondent at SHAPE magazine for teaching women of all sizes and shape how to look good. And more importantly, she impresses me most by having the courage to adopt a baby as single mother.
Rachel Ashwell, the creator of Shabby Chic and author of several books on the
style on practical living inspired the design in my home. I was Executive Producer
of her 65 episode series, which aired on Style and E! Rachel taught me to appreciate
“comfort, the beauty of imperfection and the allure of time worn objects.” I loved
getting up early mornings with her to visit flea markets for inspiration. Watching
her select time worn treasures was always inspirational to me.
Karen Bussen is an floral and event planner in NYC and author of several “Simple Stunning” books on weddings, showers, flowers and etiquette. Her work appears on a growing number of TV outlets and her personal style and creative energy is contagious.
Helen Ficalora is a celebrity jewelry designer with stores in Soho and Beverly Hils. She is also one of my clients. Her TV reel has grown from her appearances on
Martha Stewart to Ellen to The Tyra Banks Show. Helen’s mission is to inspire
beauty, love and peace and everything she creates relates back to her personal
philosophy. She is always coming up with new jewelry designs, charms and chains often inspired by her work near the sea in Montauk.
Jane Buckingham, the founder and on-camera spokesperson for trendcentral.com
and ig The Intelligence Group, a market research and trend consulting firm. Her work was so amazing, her companies were acquired by uber talent agency, CAA. I was first to put Jane on camera at the STYLE NETWORK and she continues to appear on camera reporting on trends. I admire Jane for dedicating herself to keeping “It Girls” everywhere “in the know.”
In addition to the “It Girls” on TV, I am also lucky to have close friends and family on both coasts. My close friends and family are champions of my dreams,so they are all “It Girls” in my life. On the west coast; Fran, Patti, Robin and Lisa.
On the east coast: Gitta, Andrea, Chris, Marilyn, Angel and Gina. I don’t know where I would be today without my “It Girl Girlfriends”.
Hey, can I mention an “It Guy?” That would have to be Lloyd Boston, NBC
Today Fashion correspondent and spokesperson for Jones of New York.
Lloyd is the most stylish man I know --- inside and out!
For more information on Marta Tracy and her book, “Starring You!,” go to www.starring-you.com
