A Field Guide to Networking for Emerging Artists

Episode Transcript:

[00:00:00] Hello. And welcome back to the Art Is… a podcast for artists. This is episode eight. On season five. And I'm your cohost Lauren Hill. today's topic. Is, uh, Very exciting. One, something that. Both is oughta and I have both struggled with.

[00:00:47] And that is networking. From my experience. Coaching all kinds of creatives. Musicians actors fine. Artists designers. There's always this sticking point that comes up repetitively.

[00:01:08] And I think. Part of this concept of putting ourselves out there into the world to socialize and connect with other people. Has become even harder. Since the pandemic. And since technology. You know, we're so able to hide behind our computer screens and our phones. And even thinking back 10 to 15 years, you know, waiting in a doctor's office.

[00:01:40] No one was on their phones. Uh, you would interact with people, maybe it's, you're waiting for a taxi. Back then now it's Uber. But. The socializing aspect is quite different. And I wonder sometimes If this has to do with the fear that goes into. Networking. That I've seen a lot of my clients struggle with.

[00:02:06] today I wanted to talk about. Something that I've learned from my coach. she is a business coach for life coaches. And

[00:02:17] Something that she created was the three simple steps to making money as a life coach. That I've transformed into the three simple steps to making money as a creative.

[00:02:30] And it's very simple. Number one, meet people.

[00:02:36] Tell them what you do. And make offers to work together.

[00:02:41] And. Literally that's how you make money and get your artwork out there in the world. All you need is one person.

[00:02:52] So when you think about those simple steps, the first step of meeting people. Well, where are you going to meet people?

[00:03:04] And that's why today we're talking about this topic. Of getting out into the world and the benefits that it has to

[00:03:13] Not only your business, but your personal life as well.

[00:03:18] So Lauren, why do you think it is such a challenge for creatives? To share those things. Yeah, I think a lot of us love. Doing the work. You know, being in the studio. And I find that a lot of creatives are visual performing artists, even performing artists. You would think that they would be extroverts.

[00:03:45] But a lot of them are more introverted and need that quiet time to perfect their craft. And that's there. They're cozy little zone.

[00:03:58] With that.

[00:03:59] There, there can be so many benefits to getting out and meeting people.

[00:04:05] And creating more relationships and friendships. Out on the world to inspire. Your artwork and also become a healthier human being. There's been a lot of research done of the health benefits. Of having social connections and relationships, not only do you strengthen your immune system. But it's been proven that a lot of people who have more relationships.

[00:04:33] And socialize live longer lives.

[00:04:36] I also think something.

[00:04:38] That's really interesting here. That we've addressed in past episodes. Is this concept of like stereotypes and stigma. That you know, artists are bad business people. Or that. Artists need galleries to explain their work to the world or to sell their work or show up, or, you know, all these different stereotypes. And I wonder like how much.

[00:05:06] Those play into our own self narratives of what we can and cannot do. Um, And it makes me think a lot about this whole idea of the elevator pitch. You know, what are the. 10, 20 30 words that describe what you do and who you are. You know, To an impatient person, we're always talking about.

[00:05:30] Our short attention spans. Millennials and gen Z is, you know, you only have a few seconds to, to capture their attention. And it makes me think a lot about how, uh, How much music has changed as well. You used to hear songs all the time, that would have an intro. That would be totally different to how the song sounded. And nowadays. The first 10 seconds of the song has to sound like the rest of the song, because otherwise someone's just going to skip it. They're not going to wait to hear what the actual song has.

[00:06:00] And, you know, I struggled with that for a really long time that I didn't actually share my work with anybody. I just, wasn't comfortable talking about it with myself, I guess. And so I just didn't share it with anyone else. And I didn't know how to explain it.

[00:06:17] In 10 words or a hundred words or, you know, a thousand words. So I wasn't capable of sharing it in short or in long. So I just didn't. Um, but I guess what I've been waking up to is the reality that.

[00:06:32] There's so many versions of myself that I choose to share or not to share publicly or privately. Um, that I'm not actually like cheapening my image or my practice or anything. By explaining things in simple terms. And I found. That it's been really great and meaningful to me. To even share my work with people. I meet.

[00:07:00] Maybe even in an elevator or in a waiting room or on an airplane or whatever people who don't care about contemporary art or not in the art world, people who. You know, just. Ask me about why my pants have stains on them. Or why my hands are dirty or something like that. And or what, you know, why I'm in the hardware store.

[00:07:23] Um, And I found it to be really meaningful to get to share. Um, whether or not people resonate with the work I do or not. Um, And start to separate my own identity with other people's opinion of my work and myself. Um, And so, you know, this idea of networking is really. Profound. Um, and I found it really interesting that.

[00:07:49] Lauren commented on how COVID changed networking as well, because I think I really began networking for reals. In COVID. Online. I was in a few different like online communities and fellowship programs and it was the first time I actually was doing. Like zoom, networking as well. And I found it funny that, you know, you actually had a few seconds to meet somebody that, you know, the zoom room would count down how many seconds you had. So I literally only had a few seconds to explain.

[00:08:22] Um, versus being like at a party or something, when you can tell someone's getting bored by what you're saying, and they'll eventually walk away, but in this case, the window would actually close and they'd be gone. So. I think it's interesting to think about like, Technology's influence, but at the end of the day, whether it's online or offline,

[00:08:42] Getting to share is important. You know, removing fear around that. Is helpful. Yeah. And. Bridging the gap. Between friendship and business.

[00:08:57] You know, taking the pressure off. And going. You know, again, coming with that experimental mindset. Of. You know, how can I get to know this person? On a friendship level first. To see the common interests. And when does it feel like the right time? To make the pitch. You know, so it does take some awareness.

[00:09:27] And. Body language feedback from the interaction. And a lot of these conversations happen over time, too. They don't happen. All at once. So it's kind of like planting the seeds as you meet people. Time and time again.

[00:09:49] And Lauren, I wanted to ask. You know, for those who are maybe. Just experimenting with this kind of professional networking. Could you define what you mean by friendship? Because. You know, we all have different kinds of friends, you know, work, friends, family, friends, home friends, and those are all different relationships. And so.

[00:10:16] How can you. Help explain to someone who is just figuring that out with themself. How to share, you know, how to show up to those kinds of interactions. Yeah, one of my mentors. Actually gave me the concept of. Labeling. Your friendships as you're a friends, your B friends, your a C friends, your deep friends, and almost thinking of them.

[00:10:45] As if. Like a community. So you have your friends that live in your house. So those are your really close friends that like know everything about you, that you could call an emergency and. You know, That. Like would be there if you were throwing up and you'd feel comfortable.

[00:11:05] And then you have your be friends, which are your neighbors. Like, this is just, you know, a visualization. That's not actually your neighbor, but. If you were to conceptualize. The different compartments to put these people in. So you have your neighbors that you can call on when you, um, you know, need some furniture moved or, um,

[00:11:32] A cup of sugar. Right. Um, And then you have your C friends that live. Maybe they live down the street or, um, in the same. Kind of area that you live in and then your dear friends live in the same city. And so you can think of. In relationship you can think of. You know, not everyone has to be your best friend.

[00:11:58] And you don't even have to like all of your friends. But some people might have certain things to bring to your life that. Can. Be really. Beneficial. That maybe you don't relate to them on the same level that you would relate to as your AMB friends. And so I'd like to use that. Uh, example sometimes when I think about friendship,

[00:12:27] And networking. In general.

[00:12:30] It's interesting because it makes me think about this idea of, you know, playing a role. And.

[00:12:38] Showing up. As like slightly different versions of yourself in different scenarios.

[00:12:44] But at the end of the day, Regardless of which version you're being. One of the things that I have. Found to be so true. As you always have to be your own advocate. And you always have to be your own biggest fan. You know, not in an arrogant or Shelley way. But if you don't believe in yourself and what you're doing.

[00:13:07] How is anybody else going to be doing that for you?

[00:13:12] And.

[00:13:15] That means you're now relying. I didn't. You know, maybe your D friends. To be being your biggest fans when you, yourself aren't even showing up for you. And supporting you in the best way that you can. And so.

[00:13:32] It makes me think a lot about how you go about. Sharing. And introducing yourself. So I would ask you Lauren.

[00:13:44] For someone who's. Really, maybe just.

[00:13:48] Putting their art practice in the public domain for the first time. How could they go about introducing themselves? Yeah. And I think a big part of that, which is a topic that we've.

[00:14:03] Covered. Quite a bit is asking the right questions. You know, reading the room as well.

[00:14:12] Because.

[00:14:15] It's kind of like a, the balancing act between the two of like the self inquiry process of really getting to know yourself and. Believing in what you have to offer and sharing that. And also. Asking the right questions. To find common ground with another person. And see if they're even interested in.

[00:14:40] You know, furthering a conversation with you. Because there are going to be some people that you meet that. Maybe you want nothing to do with, or they want nothing to do with you. So it's kind of the combination of really strengthening that self-concept feeling. And, you know, Understanding what your strengths and your accomplishments and.

[00:15:07] Your passions are so that you can then voice them out loud in these types of conversations. When you're asking the same questions, you know, what are you interested in? Where do you live? What. You know, how did you grow up? What. Do you do for work? All of these.

[00:15:27] Networking. Essential questions.

[00:15:31] And just for example, The elevator pitch. For my business is very simple.

[00:15:41] I help creatives make money doing work. They love.

[00:15:45] And I've thought about many different ways on how to share this same vision. With different words. So sometimes I'll say. I help introverted visual and performing artists Uplevel. They're creative business.

[00:16:08] It's important to. Create this kind of statement for yourself and it does evolve over time, depending on what you do. But I think it can really help you.

[00:16:21] Feel confident.

[00:16:24] When sharing.

[00:16:26] because I do multiple things. I don't always just lead with that. You know, people ask what I do and I'll say I'm a career coach for creatives. And a lot of times, especially older generations. They don't even understand what the term creatives means, which I find very funny.

[00:16:48] But it is kind of a newer, like a creative entrepreneur in general. I feel like it's a newer term. And so. Even me saying I'm a career. Coach for creatives. People are like, oh, you're a coach. Well, what does that mean? You know, they know. A coach. In relationship to sports. But not everyone understands even what a coach is in relationship to business, or specifically an artist like what's an artist coach.

[00:17:18] So having that. Intrigue. Something that you share that stimulates the interest that can lead to deeper conversation as well. And.

[00:17:33] That's really going to help connect you with other people. And really just sharing your vision of what you see, what you want to create in the world. I do have multiple areas. You know, I not only am a career coach. Aye. Also work. Part-time for Tasha and. As a sales associate. I also sell my designs. Online and my friend's business. Or a sugar. Who she creates beads and phone charms and necklaces. And she actually partnered, speaking of collaboration. during COVID she ended up creating a relationship online with Corrine Olympus, who was. On. One of the seasons of the bachelor.

[00:18:25] And they started a beating company together and started selling. Bracelets and necklaces and I've designed. Part of their logo, I've designed different.

[00:18:37] Blankets and journals and mugs. That I sell on their website. So that's like another facet of what I do.

[00:18:46] And. It's all about. You know, creating that interest with the person that you're talking to and seeing like, Did there. Eyes light up when you say a certain word and then going more into that. To create a deeper bond.

[00:19:00] It's interesting how, So many of the things that we're intimidated by and these kinds of networking interactions. We label as like professional insecurities. He like, oh, that's a really. You know, famous curator or gallerist or, you know, network exac or, you know, whatever. But actually they're just like communication.

[00:19:25] Things. And so I loved. How you said. You know, to pay attention to someone who gets excited,whose eyes light up. When you say. Something or, you know, We've all had those moments where maybe you're sharing images of your work and the piece that you resonate the least with is the one that, you know, they're most excited about or something. And just not to kind of stand in your own way with that.

[00:19:55] And just to be open. Two. The improbable happening.

[00:20:01] So bringing it back just to reiterate. The three simplest steps that you can take right now. Like as soon as you press pause or end this podcast. Number one is meet people.

[00:20:19] Number two. Tell them what you do.

[00:20:24] Uh, number three. Make offers to work together.

[00:20:29] Literally the three simplest steps that you can do today. To make money as a creative. Or an artist. And it's really important to note that.

[00:20:41] Working together can mean all sorts of things. It can be collaboration. It can be short, lived, long lived. It can just be another meeting, you know? Just make an offer. Just propose a concept who knows what could come with that. You know, Just returning to when I first met Lauren back in the Summer of 2021.

[00:21:09] I felt so excited and energized by our conversation. And I knew that it wasn't going to end there. Did I know what would come of it, of course not. And now here I am. With her in person in Beverly Hills and Natasha and store. Having an incredible enriching conversation. But.

[00:21:30] I had no idea then that this would come out of that. And so, This is just an invitation from us. Unlikely collaborators. Who found each other online and now in person. To just. Make it proposal.

[00:21:45] And see what happens.

[00:21:47] So highly relevant to the topic of networking and collaboration. Is this clip from. Season four. Of our is a podcast for artists. With Lauria king. And.

[00:22:02] Avril Z speaks. Director and executive producers of the film. Black America is.

[00:22:12] Isotta: you give, um, any maybe like tips or advice for a younger creative who's maybe at the beginning of their journey, seeking out creative collaborators, like the relationship that you guys have.it's often hard to find someone who understands the creative vision that you have, and especially now with COVID changing everything

[00:22:37] Isotta: I was just wondering if you had any thoughts to share for younger creatives.

[00:22:43] Avril: we talked about sort of our relationship starting with a friendship, you know, and in our case we were in film school together. but I mean, I think that those types of relationships and those types of friendships can be. Born out of, you know, any situation, whether you're in a lab with someone, whether you just, you know, meet someone online.

[00:23:04] Avril: Um, but I think for me, I think that those collaborations start with friendship because I really do believe that, um, and this is just my opinion and, and my feeling. These projects take a long time to develop. They take a long time to do. And you know, it just really helps when you know, the people and, and kind of are just on the same page, not just in term, not just in terms of like, oh, we get along, but even artistically and, you know,

[00:23:37] Avril: especially when it comes to director, producer collaborations, I just feel like

[00:23:41] Avril: when you have those fundamental sort of shared ideals and shared values, it helps with the collaboration. So I just always say if you're looking for a true collaboration. it's about getting to know people first. I know sometimes, you know, in art it's like, we just wanna find someone who will, do it or who will take our call or, you know, whatever, but it's.

[00:24:04] Avril: do you even like the same things? Do you even have the same taste when it comes to and not everything is gonna be identical? You know, there are definitely times where Laurie and I see things differently. We don't necessarily see eye to eye artistically on things, but I think the core of what we, um, believe in and what we're looking for in terms of content is there's an alignment.

[00:24:27] Loria: I was just gonna add, I think that's very good advice. And I also wanna stress. Yes, we did meet in, um, graduate school for film. And I can recall other opportunities where I had a chance to, as a said, be become someone's friend that maybe I want to collaborate with. And I was a little, um, You know, resistant to doing that because I had this idea that if not really liking networking, but I think able the way in which you approach it is the way that I've learned to approach extent.

[00:25:05] Loria: And that's entering into it as a friendship as getting to know someone and then developing a relationship and then collaborating.

[00:25:18] Isotta: Yeah, that that's really interesting. That's definitely been a recurring. Thought that others have also shared, um, on the podcast, the kind of discomfort with networking and feeling like you need someone from somebody, but by coming at it from like a friendship perspective, um, is really great advice. I really appreciate that.

[00:25:40] I really resonated with how Lauria and Avril discussed. Their discomfort with networking. And how each of them came to their own realization that. Networking. I can just be forming friendships. So I really hope you enjoyed this clip.

[00:26:00] I resonate so much with what they shared, because like I shared earlier, my friend. Lindsey Montgomery who owns aura sugar. With Corena Olympus. I actually met Lindsay and college and. You know, we've collaborated on so many different things because of our own common shared interests. And ideals. And vision.

[00:26:29] And so I really think that.

[00:26:32] Suggestion of forming friendships first. And then leading to collaboration is really a beautiful idea to share.

[00:26:46] And it's so interesting to think about. What can come out of networking? Um, in this case, collaboration, but in this next clip that we wanted to share with you. It's something new altogether.

[00:27:00] Going to markets, like I love interacting with people. Like that's where we, you and I met. I love just being able to like chat with people and like that's a very inspiring thing for me too, is just to be able to like see what other people, like, other people's interests and um, and just know what other people are doing.

[00:27:20] Like I met this really cool guy last week and he's a musician and he's like very deep and meaningful and we've been like connecting and stuff. And then like, I meet other people who are more like, um, you know, free flowing and happy. Like, not that he is not happy, but like, you know, bubbly and whatnot is the better word.

[00:27:38] Um, it's just like personality. I don't know.

[00:27:41] I love interacting with people and networking and just seeing like what's going on in the world, basically. Yeah. And I think that's such an important part of like, especially if you're. You own your own business solely, like getting out and meeting people is so important because like you can be, you can be amazing at your craft all day long, right?

[00:28:05] Yeah. But in order for it, you to make a living from it. You have to be able to meet people for sure. Like that is the first thing, like especially since the majority of this has been during the pandemic, it's like the second I was able to do markets, I'm like, what is this world like? This is phenomenal. I love it so much.

[00:28:27] Like. This is what my soul has been missing because I've been at home, even though it's been delightful, I've been at home not being able to like interact with other people or even have like, Exchange of thoughts like with somebody else in person is just so different than like being online or anything like that.

[00:28:49] Like I met so many amazing people through Instagram throughout this whole period, um, who I like continuously chat to now, but it's like, Oh, that physical of just, okay, oh wow, 30 minutes has just flown by and we bonded over X, Y, and Z. Like, it's so, I don't know. It's, yeah. Very fulfilling to me. I really enjoy it.

[00:29:13] Um, and like, just knowing like how to, how my art too, like. What story, what drew you to my art? Like is there a story behind it? Is there some sort of a connection that you've made? I've heard people be like, oh my gosh. So one time when I was in Mexico I saw blah, blah, blah, blah. And that like, it's just like all of these cool things where I'm like, oh, great.

[00:29:36] Like I'm so happy that I can be there to like fill that or a few week. Uh, I was at Mellow's trading post a few weeks ago. And there were so many like beautiful pregnant women, like coming and looking at my artwork and like loving the, you know, more neutral like paste, like the light muted colors, like all of that stuff.

[00:29:56] And like talking about, you know, their nursery and like all of that stuff. It's like I wouldn't have had that experience if I was just like at home. Like, I love hearing that, oh, this is gonna go over the crib, or this is gonna go next to the door. You know, it's just like as simple as that. Yeah. 'cause I'm sure too then it's like when you're making the artwork, you're having this cre, this bigger vision for it too.

[00:30:22] You're not just looking at it and being like, okay, here it is. It's like, oh, I can picture this in different spaces. And like that probably infuses more, you know, like other creations that wouldn't be there without. That experience. Oh yeah. Like the pop sockets would not have been there if I was like, I was at literally again at Melrose Trading Post and a bunch of like teens and stuff kept coming by my booth and they loved like the brainiac collection that I have, and I was like, What do kids like that age enjoy?

[00:30:58] And I'm like, oh my gosh. They all have like something for their phone or like they are all into like the fidgets or the squishies or the, whatever it might be. I have beats on my phone too, and I was like, oh, wow. I, I literally turned to my husband and I was like, Pop. 'cause he's like, oh my gosh. Yeah. So it is, I have so much, that's what I'm saying, like, going to these markets is one of my biggest inspirations.

[00:31:24] Like really chatting with people and getting ideas from them, um, keeps me going.

[00:31:31] So that was just Alivia, Brighton from creative, native. That's creative. With two eyes and native with two eyes. She is a handmade polymer clay artist. who I met at a market here in Los Angeles, and

[00:31:52] I just love her enthusiasm around networking and how being out in the world and interacting with other humans has inspired her own creative practice and the artwork that she makes.

[00:32:05] Yeah, I really resonated with the story she told about how. By meeting her customers face to face and seeing what they resonated with. She took those. You know, comments and positive vibes and, developed a new found work. Based off of that feedback. And I really thought that that loop was just so cool.

[00:32:31] in terms of how the networking that she did at these. Events that she had invested time and effort and money to go to were really already paying off in terms of new work and new ideas that she was developing for her business. So just with these two examples, you can really see how. Whether it's creative collaboration or directly.

[00:32:54] You know, new products and business streams in your creative practice. networking for creatives. Isn't endless pool of resources.

[00:33:06] Not to mention. It extends your life.