| Some people will tell you that it's all about who | | | | yourself fresh in their mind, or to further build and |
| you know, others will say it's all about what you | | | | maintain that contact. Above all use common |
| know. In actuality, it's both. So just how do you | | | | sense. Don't go harassing people, don't hound |
| know the "right" people? How do you make | | | | them, but do be persistent where it's appropriate. |
| contacts? It's best to start with an understanding | | | | When Making Contacts.... |
| of the basics of why contacts are important. | | | | When you are making new contacts be |
| The Importance of Who You Know | | | | personable, approachable, polite, and friendly. |
| Just how important is it? Well you certainly can't | | | | (Remember talk doesn't have to be all about |
| do everything on your own, no matter how | | | | business all the time! Small talk can be a good |
| talented and resourceful you are. At some point | | | | thing!) Be on time where relevant. You don't want |
| something will come up that is outside of your | | | | your first impression that you give to be that of |
| expertise, or you simply won't have time to do | | | | an unorganized or unreliable person. Be consistent: |
| everything yourself. Not only that, but there will | | | | and by this it's meant that your words should |
| always be some one out there who knows more | | | | match your actions. Speak in a manner that best |
| about something than you, and vice versa. Call it a | | | | suites you and who you are working with; BE |
| trade if you will, but everyone needs something, | | | | ARTICULATE. |
| and wants to go somewhere. | | | | All of this ties in with being self aware. Do you |
| Contacts are important in so many ways, be it as | | | | know what you look and sound like when you are |
| a resource, collaborators, or sometimes as mere | | | | speaking?? If that terrifies you then try doing |
| support. Contacts are a way of networking and | | | | some practice. Record yourself talking and see if |
| finding people who a) need a skill you posses, b) | | | | you have favorite stutter words like: um, like, |
| have a skill you need, c) know what you do and | | | | "know what I mean", "ya know", any possible |
| can recommend you or employ you in some | | | | slang you often repeat. |
| way, or d) a person who you will likely network | | | | Along with being self aware, know what you can |
| through to reach other contacts later on. | | | | and can't do. This sounds simpler than you might |
| Contacts are important, make no mistake about | | | | think. Say you are suddenly called in to work on a |
| it. The most often overlooked aspect of making | | | | project. The tasks of the project are completely |
| contacts is this: BE SOME ONE TO KNOW. This is | | | | with in your skill set, only the time budget is much |
| why contacts are who they are. They are some | | | | narrower than you are used to. It is here |
| one to know. So all the more reason for you to | | | | important to assess and know ahead of time if |
| become some one who can also be regarded in | | | | you can or can't do something. This is important in |
| this context. Before anything is said and done; in | | | | building and maintaining contacts because if you |
| any sort of relationship, business or otherwise, | | | | don't know what you are capable of, how can |
| there is usually an element of give and take. So, | | | | some one else? |
| to that end, finding contacts will be difficult if you | | | | Lastly, don't come across as needy or desperate. |
| don't at least have something to offer. Now, this | | | | Although its common to be desperate for |
| is not to say that you can't make contacts with | | | | work,try not to appear desperate to make a |
| out some sort of skill, but as it stands, as an | | | | contact with some one. No one wants to board a |
| economic principle, it's really all about supply and | | | | sinking ship. If you come across as pushy, |
| demand. So what if you are new? Fledgling? A | | | | chances are you may put the contact off from |
| hobby? A Student? Even if you are just starting | | | | wanting to work with you entirely. Remember |
| out, at very least you can offer help, cheap labor, | | | | that there is a fine line between desperate and |
| or any other skills that you might have to offer, | | | | eager, and between needy and enthusiastic. |
| like free time. | | | | The "Gift of Gab" |
| Where To Find Them | | | | So once you've made or found a contact, what |
| Contacts can most obviously be found through | | | | needs to happen? Firstly it needs to be clear what |
| friends, co-workers, family (if you are lucky), | | | | you do, and what you can offer. Are you a |
| colleagues, or even mentors. Often times | | | | singer? Are you good with a few key pieces of |
| contacts are people we might not even consider | | | | software? Are you a multi-instrumentalist who |
| contacts because we are too familiar with them. | | | | can do things in no more than three takes? You |
| Do you have a friend who is great with web | | | | get the point. Be able to clearly define what it is |
| design? How about the friend who works at that | | | | that you do, or what it is that you aim to do if |
| trendy cafe/bar? They aren't often the | | | | you aren't yet doing it. If you can't chances are |
| glamorous industry contacts that you might be | | | | people will have a hard time finding a use for you. |
| seeking, but they are invaluable in your early | | | | Second, when speaking with a potentially new |
| stages, and later on as well. What's more is that | | | | contact be interested in what they do, |
| they are more likely than anyone else to help you | | | | genuinely.Remember you are both hoping to be |
| because you already know them, and hopefully | | | | useful to each other at some point. (Even in the |
| are your friends. | | | | case of an already established contact, they may |
| If you've exhausted your Rolodex at that rate, | | | | be looking for some one with potential who can |
| and still come up wanting, it's time to make some | | | | help them later if possible.) Again, knowing what |
| new contacts. So where can you meet and make | | | | you do is key, and in this scenario knowing how |
| new contacts? C'mon folks! There's a whole | | | | you work is very important. Everyone has |
| damnindustry dedicated around it now: | | | | different ways of working. Are you an organized |
| NETWORKING SITES! It might not be often that | | | | worker? Do you like mornings? Do you tend to |
| you'll meet people from this sort of endeavor, | | | | do everything in one sitting, or do you chip away |
| and be careful if you do (that's a given), but it's a | | | | at things gradually? Knowing these things about |
| starting point. | | | | yourself not only helps you communicate this to |
| How about gigs? If you go to see live music, | | | | people you want to work with, but it also helps |
| chances are, you will be surrounded by people | | | | you figure out who you will be most compatible |
| somehow involved in what is going on. Here's a | | | | with. Sometimes it is a yin-yang balance, and |
| scenario: The live sound engineer toils away night | | | | sometimes it's a two people sharing a brain |
| after night, sometimes mixing great bands, | | | | partnership. Figuring out your limits early on is also |
| sometimes mixing stuff they'd never wished to | | | | important when making contacts. What are you |
| hear. After the band, the groupies, and the | | | | willing to do? And for how much and for how |
| roadies have packed up, chances are the engineer | | | | long? |
| might still be around (unless they have some sort | | | | Again if you aren't clear about what you want |
| of union gig going on). If you were a person | | | | and how you operate, contacts will have a difficult |
| interested in live sound, for example, go ask them | | | | time knowing how you operate, and often the |
| questions. Chances are, if they aren't too busy, | | | | way you work is what is most important when |
| tired, or in a rush to leave, they'll be likely to be | | | | people are deciding whether or not to work with |
| happy to tell you a little bit about what they do. In | | | | you. (This is not to say that the way you work |
| that simple scenario there are a million ways | | | | might change over time, or that you might be |
| things could go, but if you're lucky, by the end of | | | | flexible in some areas for certain cases.) People |
| the conversation you will have made a contact. | | | | will want to work with some one who they know |
| When you meet new people it's a good idea to | | | | they can get along with and work with, just the |
| have a business card, where relevant. If you | | | | same as you would. No matter how great a |
| exchange contact information be sure to follow | | | | contact , if you don't mesh well then there's really |
| up and follow through. People are busy, so drop | | | | no point. |
| them a line a day or two later, just to keep | | | | |