One Producer in the City

3rd Popular old post: A card is like a kiss

And here is my take on how to use those business cards: 

A card is like a kiss

 

So the past few days I have been out at a number of events with networking opportunities and in each of them people have exchanged business cards. As I observed these interactions and was part of them myself, I came to the conclusion that giving someone your card is a lot like giving someone a kiss.

1. No one kisses anybody else without some sort of interaction, because it's rude- The same goes for giving out your business card. I was at one event where literally right after someone was introduced, they shoved their card in the other person's face. It was like that moment in the 80's movies when you hear the record skip. The person took the card as if it were covered in excrement. Gee, I wonder if there will be follow up there?

2. A kiss is something that should be mutual- There should be some kind of connection and a genuine interest in business before the idea of exchanging cards is introduced. You wouldn't just walk up to someone and kiss them, you'd take the time to get to know them and only when it was time, would you kiss them. The same goes for cards.

3. If someone really wants a kiss, they'll let you know- Just like someone who wants to be kissed will drop hints and lean in expectantly, your business contact will show an interest in what you are saying. They will also lean in and contribute to the conversation and most likely they will let you know. Sometimes, they will even ask for your card. This is the best of scenarios because it means they are interested in following up and you are just complying by giving out your card.

4. Kisses are special and reserved for someone special- A person's card provides the information to contact them and to follow up. If someone has a limited number of cards, they aren't going to give them up easily. They are putting trust in you that you will take that information and use it in respectful way. Recognize that and respect those who are giving you their card.

5. Kisses deserve follow up- If you kiss someone and never speak to them again, let's face it: That's pretty lousy and you're kind of a jerk. The same goes for a business card. If someone has given you the opportunity to contact them and you snub it, that's like never calling after the kiss. It's a lousy way to keep relationships intact and you may end up needing that relationship later on. Our industry is small and you do not want to be known as the person who never follows up. This is one of my pet peeves when I give out my card.

6. Never kiss and tell- Once someone gives you their card, you need to keep that information private and only share it when someone gives you permission. Otherwise, you risk damaging the relationship. Always take the time to find out what information people are comfortable with sharing and go with that.

So next time you're out networking, think about these six kiss rules before you take out that card. I'm willing to bet it will lead to more meaningful relationships in your business.

Of course you can also ignore these things and kiss some of those jobs and opportunities goodbye.

Excelsior!

 

2nd Popular old post: Make the water rise

This was one of the favorites for my readers and deserves repeating. I also often use this one in many of my talks. Enjoy.

Excelsior! 

 

Make the water rise

Yesterday I sat down for a meeting with an aspiring playwright. These are the meetings that I love the most, because the level of passion someone starting out has is something that really can't be matched. As is often the case with new playwrights, we talked about the hope of having the play produced and the steps to make that happen. It occurred to me while I was chatting with this individual about possible avenues to move his piece forward, that there was a very specific lesson about networking that I haven't really been able to articulate until now. And of course...

I'm going to use a metaphor.

Your career in the arts is a glass that is half full of water. The water represents what you have currently. It could be money, talent, your own space, etc. Right now, each of those things is limited in some way. There are people that you cannot reach, there are things you cannot afford, there a spaces you cannot rent.  So you have just enough water to reach the half way mark on your glass. 

So what if I told you that in order to be a success, you had to have the glass overflow

BUT

You cannot add any more water?

How do you make this work? Come on, Science people.

The explanation's here. 

Pretty cool right?

Back to the metaphor. The artists who you meet and work with every day give you the pebbles. Every person has something to offer that will help you and you have something to offer them, so if you take the time to get to know more people doing the same thing as you, and you work together to help each other reach your goals, your each metaphorically dropping pebbles into each others' glasses. That means eventually both of you will make the water rise.

Now imagine the industry as one giant glass and each of us are pebbles, the more we jump in and help each other, the faster the water will rise and when that happens..

None of us will go thirsty.

So look around and start reaching out to people in your field. Build a tribe and support each other.

I'll see you all at the top of the glass.

Excelsior!

 

This is post #....

Hard to believe I know, but this post marks my 500th blog post! When I started this blog a while back, I had no idea how long it would last. But it has yielded some incredible programs, reviews, and musings that I am very proud of. 

A special thanks to those of you who have been reading since the beginning and to those of you who came on a bit late in the game, feel free to read the archives and to tell your friends! I plan on continuing to write this until I run out of things to say, so thanks for sticking with me on the journey.

Remember that there are a few more days to sign up for Fixing what's broke! 

Thanks again for reading and for the 500th time...

Excelsior!

 

Take my blog for a spin

Recently I've been finding it very challenging to get a blog post done on Fridays. Once I finish my weekly Broadwayworld column, I'm pretty much out of free time.

So I thought that it might be fun to offer you my readers the chance to write guest blog posts for Fridays and I'll post them.

Here's the way it would work:

Comment or email me that you'd like to be a guest blogger. Submit your post by Thursday. If all is good, I will set it to past by 10:30am Friday.

Here's hoping some of you will take me up on my offer.

The keys are yours. 

Go ahead...

Take her for a spin.

Excelsior!

P.S.- Tonight is the Last Day On Earth! Make sure you reserve your seats!

Why I've been out

Apologies to those of you who read the blog every day! I have been feeling under the weather since last Thursday and yesterday was one of my first days where I felt somewhat better. 

This was a blessing because it was my birthday and I really would have hated to be in bed sick on my birthday!

One thing I was reminded of though in all of this is the importance of rest. When I first got sick, I pushed really hard trying to get everything done and stayed up late. I got worse and worse, until finally I had to make the conscious choice to let my work go for a bit and just get some sleep.

It would figure it would take something like getting sick to crystallize this for me, but here it is:

Whatever deadline you're under, whoever you're trying to beat to market, and whatever deal you're trying to close will not matter if you can't make the meeting because you've made yourself sick. I'm going to tell all of you the same thing people have been telling me for years, but am often too stubborn to listen to:

Take time for yourself and rest. You'd be amazed at what it can do. My little hiatus has yielded four new job offers for consulting based on word of mouth from others. If you put the pieces in place, the machine will still work when you're not there. Trust me.

So if you're feeling harried today, take a second to think about where you can get a moment to yourself. I highly recommend them.

Excelsior!

With great bloggers comes great responsibility

I know, I couldn't resist the Spiderman reference.

On a serious note. Bloggers have become a force in this industry. We are starting to be seen as "taste makers" in marketing terms, and now that the ITBA has been formed, we are starting to be invited to shows.

As people who may have influence over folks who are deciding what to see, I think we also have a responsibility to recognize that this business is very small and that what we say will be heard and sometimes taken very seriously.

This can be an amazing thing and encourage change and growth in our industry, but this can also be damaging as well and it's our job as bloggers to do our best to strike a balance.

When I blog about a show, I start off by telling everyone that I am NOT a reviewer. I do not have the skill set, I was not trained to review shows, and I do not write reviews regularly.

That said, if I like something, I will blog about it. This doesn't make me a reviewer and that is not my goal in writing about the show. I write about shows that I think other producers should be aware of and that's my position because that IS my skill set.

Blogs are a place where we can express ourselves, but often I have read blog posts that have been damaging to shows because they hit before the press hits, or they spread a rumor that may or may not be true, or they roast somebody who they don't know etc.

Personally, I think it's irresponsible and just as I would not curse in front of my students, I will not say things with the whole community listening that intentionally damage other people.

That, of course, is just MY take

What's yours?

Excelsior!

Staying Regular

So I missed a chance to post yesterday and I again got frustrated about that. But here's what did happen yesterday:

• I taught 5 classes
• I pitched 4 different investors
• I had a mentoring session with my student teacher
• I did some coaching for an actress friend
• I saw 2 great shows.

Might I have been able to do all of those things and do a blog post? Perhaps, but it probably wouldn't be a very good one.

So now, I have some time this afternoon and for those of you who are loyal readers (I am so grateful for those who read this blog, by the by) I am doing two posts.

The lesson of this post is a simple one. We all would like to stay regular in regards to our work, but sometimes, life will happen and we'll skip a beat.

Let yourself skip a beat.

It's ok.

As long as you get up tomorrow and pick up where you left off.

I often compare what I do to those plate spinners in the circus. I put a lot of plates on sticks and keep spinning. Sometimes, one falls. But I grab another and just keep spinning.

So on to another blog post.

Spin on my friends.

Excelsior!