Ben Cameron's Keynote

For those of you church goers out there you know what I mean when I refer to the Zone. It's when you've settled into your pew and the service and as the officiant launches into a homily (in my case) either my eyelids close or I enter the Zone whereby I mentally check out for a few minutes. It's not that all speeches or stories are boring. It's that too often I've heard the same stuff regurgitated. By force of habit I drift to the Zone. Here and there though are incredible inspired charismatic people that not only speak intelligently with so much emotion one can't help but get pulled into the excitement, but they also have something important to say.

Such was the case a few weeks ago. I attended the PA Presenters Conference in Bethlehem. I've sat through tons of "all conference seminars" and "keynote speaker luncheons" and so many have been dry and/or lacking in any substantial information. Ben Cameron, Program Director for the Arts at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, was our speaker and man, not only did this guy give a dynamite energetic presentation but he also did what he called all of us in the arts to do -- engage our audiences. I couldn't even be bothered with taking frantic notes. I hung on his every word (literally, I was draped over the back of my chair). I was that emotionally involved.

So many of his points still swim through my head but my favorite analogy was his quoting Wayne Gretzky: "I skate where the puck will be." Look ahead. Anticipate. Engage. I'll dissect the speech in bits over the coming weeks with new posts, but for now, do yourself a service and spend 15 minutes over a cup of 'jo and read his moving speech here. You'll be glad you did.

Networking Tips (& Mistakes)

I saw these tips posted on Monster and I wanted to share them.

Let me say for the record that I have shamelessly fallen victim to at least 2 of these mistakes: forgetting business cards (he always gave me the Look)...and having the crazy email address (at least it was a conversation starter?!)...But over the years I've pulled myself together and I'm proud to say that now I know all of these and follow all of these tips and tricks religiously.

We live and learn.

The Art of the Thank You

I've come to the conclusion that after one is married the amount of money spent at Hallmark on cards increases 5 fold. It used to be I'd buy a pack of thank yous, a birthday or graduation card here and there and $20 later, be done with it. Now I have a whole other family to wish happy birthday, congratulate, celebrate, and thank, coupled with 20-something friends getting married and having babies. There's simply too many of these celebrations occurring simultaneously that I don't have the time to handcraft cards the way I want. So I contribute to Hallmark's profit with another $80. In the words of Kurt: So it goes.

Of course I'm always drawn to the cute cards that retail for $5.99. I wind up ranking the importance of people and occasions - is this worth $5.99? Honestly, besides mom and dad, the only time I don't cut a corner is with a thank you note. I mean this literally and figuratively. If I can do it, I'll buy the nice card. Sometimes time is scarce so a quick email does the job, but whatever the method of choice, spend the time crafting the note. I can't tell you how many thank yous I've received over the years that are lifeless and written simply because "I have to." Get over yourself. Someone did something nice, went out of his or her way to help you, mentor you, gave of his time, bought you something - whatever - the least you can do is acknowledge it. Trust me - People don't forget it...and they tell you so you never forget how important the thank you is to them. After an event I found a ridiculously cute and appropriate card to thank my boss for the new learning experience (seriously, I'm not a kiss ass...I just really enjoyed my role at this event) and I'll never forget the email: "I wish everyone had your manners." My wedding was a year ago and one of my relatives kept the thank you I sent her because "It was one of the nicest well written notes I ever received!" I mean, she kept it?!

So what do you do? Grab a card, make a card, buy a card.

Say thanks. Thank the person for the gift, gesture, time, etc. Don't just say thanks for "the gift." It's too vague and impersonal. Reiterate it. Monetary gift? Writing "Thanks for your generous gift/donation" is the quintessential line.

Talk it up. What's so great about the gift? What makes the gift/gesture/donation so special? Will it go toward anything particular? People like knowing these things. Write 2-3 short sentences describing why that iPod Nano is wonderful or what that donation will fund.

Wrap it up. "Again, many thanks for your - insert appropriate adjective here - gift. Think words like generous, thoughtful, kind, etc. Then sign.

By the way, old school style gets you the most points here -- handwriting the thank you. But email or a typed letter is still good.

Here are examples of a few I've written:

Dear Aunt Denise,
Thank you so much for your generous wedding gift. (The dear husband) and I are looking forward to putting this toward furnishing our new abode with hardwood floors and fabulous new furniture. It was wonderful that everyone could be with us on our wedding day; it truly meant so much to us to have our friends and family celebrating with us. Again many thanks for everything.
Love, Chrissie

Dear Presenter,
Thanks so much for the opportunity to work with you and your staff this past week on marketing projects. It was a valuable experience and I look forward to seeing how the season brochure turns out. It was a pleasure to work with you and your staff - everyone was so welcoming and helpful. You have a terrific team and I hope you'll consider me for future consulting projects.
Sincerely, Chrissie

So there you go. Maybe you've gleaned some ideas...or not. Regardless, I thank you for reading this post :)

Cheerleaders

I was one way back in the day...6th grade. I could use an entire squad right now.

I am on the heels of a networking conference and overall I had a terrific time, met a lot of new artists and reconnected with many other industry professionals and even have some solid leads. Like trade shows and conferences of days gone by, I am caught up in the excitement of the moment: doing tons of stuff, spewing out my elevator pitch, dressing the part, attending opening and closing receptions...I could go on. If you've been to such events, you know how all consuming it is and how by Day 3 you crash and burn. Day 4 is when you stare at all the work before you and panic.

The panic creeps in ever so slowly and I don't even realize it until I find myself at Cold Stone Creamery on a rainy Sunday night "not dealing." Besides all my follow ups, I am also considering adding some web services to my marketing list. Lots of research, lots of thinking. But I was in a similar mental state some time ago and I return to some enlightening thoughts to pull me out of this temporary road block.

When I panic, stress, worry and essentially feel my self confidence wavering (and Cold Stone Creamery becomes a distraction), I recall a good friend's words: "These moments are part of any job...but compounded when you start a new business..." She continues by reminding me of all my positive traits and characteristics and the magic words that it'll all work out in time.

It's true. We all get overwhelmed. We all need that friend to remind us of who we are, why we make these seemingly crazy decisions to start businesses, to follow dreams, and to tell us it'll all be OK. Let's surround ourselves with cheerleaders. Let's remember those who have guided us in our studies of yesteryear and apply those same strategies.

My head swims with ideas while I drive home with my Cake Batter Lite ice cream. But I remind myself of why I am doing this...remind myself of my high school time management course and to chunk my tasks. I am feeling better (and back in control) already. I've had my down time...my time to momentarily freak out, get my ice cream and not deal. Now it's back to work.

Youth

I started to write about this topic back in April, but I was distracted and unable to formulate my thoughts. But thoughts are boomerangs. Here I am on the heels of a meeting with a terrific Brazilian jazz ensemble wondering if I can take my company to another level and provide them with a quality service. It all boils down to being young. How many of us would love to say that? Love to tout being carded every where we go and at 30, be mistaken for a 22 year old. Except this wasn't cool when I was in college (and trying to get into Pitcher's Pub), when I liked a guy a few years older than me (and he continuously teased me for looking like a teen) and it still ruffles my feathers.

It's also why I'm fascinated that it has become a running theme of the last few months and not just personally but across the arts boards, blogs, and papers. There's been a lot of conversations about involving young professionals in the arts.

Ann Daly of Ann Daly Consulting posted her thoughts on recent conversations about involving the youth and young adults in the arts.

http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2007/05/blogback_words_of_wisdom_from.html

Ask

Sometimes we build our network and find mentors in the most unexpected places...or in my case, in a most unexpected person. Sometimes people are too busy working to always be the mentors we want or need. Fast forward 3-4 years. Once I made the decision to start Piccadilly Arts this past December, a creative strategy firm, I knew the performing arts was a vertical industry I wanted to serve. I understood a great deal, but I still needed input, guidance, and direction preferably from a seasoned professional. Half expecting an old colleague to say he didn't have the time, (the other half aware of my vulnerability and hoping he'd help), I sought out this person and his 20 years of knowledge. He graciously offered to take me to lunch and chat. In the last six weeks, he has surprised me over and over with his willingness to share his time, thoughts, and knowledge. As a newbie to the small business world, these pow wows enlighten me, guide me, refocus me, and inspire me.

Building a valuable network is crucial not just for someone like me getting a business off the ground, but for anyone in any profession or industry. Some people will be mentors, others will schlep your rez around their company or to friends of theirs, some will listen and build your confidence when you're despairing...some will be that go to person in your sector when you have a question...and so forth.

Networking and seeking out mentors is something we should always be doing...I didn't understand its necessity and power until I was laid off at 23. During this time, I'd make myself lists and write down every person I knew, personal and professional. Then I'd think of people they knew (or might know through an association). I'd also make the "ideal" list - the list of people that via researching an opportunity seemed interesting, well connected, and worth the cold email or phone call. After I completed all my lists, I'd follow it up with emails, phone calls, even visits. I'd also research industry events where creative types were likely to attend and go to as many as possible. It's all about opening your mouth and letting some words out...make friends.

To this day, I use this strategy. Many of my initial emails are introductions and express my passion for the arts, communication, and design. I offer a bit of my background, links to my web site and portfolio, why I am reaching out to him or her. I'll name drop if it's relevant. Maybe the agent has a terrific roster of artists...maybe the shop or organization is local and involved in some noteworthy causes, maybe someone mentioned the firm to me because of stellar work. Whatever the reason I've found that tons of people are just like me - everyday people who love being complimented. That's really what we are doing when we network and reach out to others. Finally, I close my introduction with some call to action - what is it that I want from this person?

I can't tell you how excited I get when someone replies to me...While it's terrific when there's work involved, just establishing the connection equals success to me. One more person in my network...one more person I can ask a question, approach at a conference and say, "Hey, I'm Chrissie and we spoke briefly a few months ago..." Blah Blah Blah. I get more praise from people I don't know because of my ability to persevere, to remember, to follow up. People appreciate it.

Even if someone doesn't reply or respond favorably, I don't throw in the towel. Relationships are like sales cycles - sometimes the timing is right and other times it just isn't. In my case, it made more sense for my friend and colleague to be the mentor now vs. then. While working with someone can often be the best scenario for mentoring and networking to thrive, it can also be tricky. It's about balancing expectations.

There are TONS of people in our industries, so many who do want to help. Keep asking. Give those people a chance to say yes or no. Just don't forget about those unexpected people and places...they are the ones who surprise you and literally take you under their wing and pat you on the back and ask when you're visiting again. Who doesn't love that?!

Photography

The Auction Houses

Little Dolls...they get to me every time. What is their history, I wonder? What are their names and where have they lived? The ones with the matted hair I want to comb. The ones without clothing, I want to dress. Even the scariest of dolls were once loved (usually so much so that their hair is matted and clothes are worn). It takes great self control to not rescue them.

And I am also compelled to pick them up from the hap hazard way they are strewn about at an auction or yard sale. It's more than visual merchandising. They have cute as well as sad, neglected faces that seem to say - sit me up and make me look pretty! So when I finish photographing them, I group them.

I had a hobby horse as a child and it made the rounds as four kids grew up. I'm sure I could find a 1982 vintage photo of my sister and me rocking to and fro on it. At some point the seat cracked and it became uncomfortable to ride the horse. But nonetheless, I cried when the parents kicked it to the curb on bulk trash pick up. Like the dolls, the horse (and all our toys) have personalities. He didn't want to be hanging out at the top of the driveway like that...next to actual garbage?!

This truck was sitting next to a slew of old trains that were raking in the dough. It amazes me what a market there is out there for vintage transportation paraphenelia.



This reminds me of stories my parents and grandparents would share...sledding in the local park in West Philadelphia or taking over a neighbor's strench of property (when they moved to the 'burbs in the 60s) and spending the entire winter day bundeled up, sledding with brothers, friends, cousins, the entire neighborhood!

I did a double take with this. Clearly this contraption is older than my parents. Possibly older than the grandparents. Maybe my great grandmother used it to make her homeade pizzelles :)