Blogs

QVC: In the Studio After hours

by on

Turning on QVC in the earliest of hours, it’s easy to forget that our studio runs twenty four hours a day, seven days a week! Nothing is prerecorded; it’s all very much Live! This is what makes our studio so much fun. We don’t have trial runs, re-do’s, or time for another take if something goes wrong. Whatever happens happens, and it all goes out to millions of televisions live, even at three in the morning! After I started working backstage in the QVC studio, I came to fully realize what it feels like to work these odd hours. I now have a greater appreciation for all those who endure these unusual working hours on a daily basis - well, a nightly basis. I spent a few days documenting for you what exactly goes on in the middle of the night here at the Q! Enjoy!

It’s 5 a.m. here on a Wednesday morning in West Chester, PA. The sound of coffee whirring in the Keurig, a dash out of the corner of my eye, I see a host running to the salon to finish meeting with guests while getting her hair coiffed for an on air appearance. Many of us work standard nine to five shifts; however, those of us who do not, those of us awake and busy at the earliest of hours, know both the challenges and the fun to be had working while the rest of the world sleeps. Here at the Q, it is anything but a “graveyard shift”. Guests hustling and bustling around, setting up iPads and pressure washers, applying makeup to gorgeous models - why are all of these people awake at this hour? They are awake to present to you, our viewers, quality products no matter what time you watch!

Working backstage as a Studio Coordinator, I know firsthand what it takes to stay awake in the middle of the night: coffee (lots of it!), a little sleep, and some extra makeup as motivation. The real miracle workers though, are the hosts! They not only have to be lively, energetic, and awake, but to be able to roll with the punches, and present detailed product info while their bodies are telling them to roll back under the covers.

Here Nancy and guest, Craig Smith, enjoy a cup of coffee after Nancy’s early morning jewelry show. Both have been awake and active on air for the past few hours, and still manage to smile for the camera!

Meanwhile, as I make my rounds in the studio, I catch up with host Jonathan Redford and a few of the guests that will be presenting on air. Even though the presentation may only be 8 minutes long, every guest has to arrive at QVC hours before their airing in order to properly prepare and be available to discuss product details with the hosts. Electronics expert, Oscar, is always willing to pose for a picture - no matter what time of day!

With Jonathan’s three hour show schedule and countless guests to meet with, he certainly knows what it feels like to be up early! Here is a clip of how Jonathan balances his life working these late night hours.

Over at the operations desk, guests check in, salon appointments are made, and the host/guest meet and greets take place here before the host hits the air.

Brandt and Hollie are the two lovely faces you will see early in the morning greeting our hosts and guests, facilitating salon appointments, micing up guests, and getting people to the right places before their show starts! The desk is the hub of activity - especially on overnights!

The atmosphere at this time of day is more casual; guests mingle with hosts over coffee, trading stories about products but also their personal lives. Its always fun to watch the many outfits and hairstyles of guests still yawning and getting ready before their early morning airing!

Amongst other responsibilities, our Studio Coordinators are entrusted with helping our guests set up. They put in full ten hour shifts starting from 10:45 at night till 9:15 the next morning, working nonstop on a wide variety of shows.

Most other shifts and departments have left the building hours ago. So if questions need answers, or an extra set of hands are needed, they have less people to rely on. Teamwork and trust in one another is essential - even more so than on other shifts! Here Studio Coordinators, Kealey and Jessica, always look fresh and bright eyed - even after being awake all night!

Our Associate Producers rotate handling phone calls and assisting the Line Producers, while also being the eyes and ears on the studio floor

As the day is starting to wind down for our overnight crew, the Mornings Made Easy show is about to start.

This is the last show of the day for the late night crew. New producers arrive to meet with a fresh set of guests and hosts

The whole building starts to swarm with buyers, marketing interns, and TV sales managers, who soon will infiltrate the offices and studio.

Now it’s nearly 9 a.m., and the day is finally coming to an end. The crew and hosts get ready to leave to get some rest before arriving back at the studio later at night.

The shows have been put away, the hosts have traded heels and suits for comfort clothes, and they all make their way out of the increasingly busy daytime studio. As for me, my day is just about to start as a Studio Coordinator, and it’s time for more caffeine!