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Tips on How to Navigate Networking Events

March 28, 2017 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Related imageSo, today, let’s talk about networking. Some people love it. Some people dread it. Some people think it’s a waste of time. But it can be a useful tool if you do it right.

First of all, what is networking exactly? Well, in its essence, networking involves people in related fields connecting with each other with the intention of forming professional partnerships. I’m going to discuss it here in terms of actual networking events rather than random encounters.

These events can arise in various ways. An organization, such as a film group, may have regular gathering for those involved in the film industry – everything from writers, to DOPs to animal wranglers. There may be networking events associated with a specific conference or festival, like NXNE or Canada Music Week or TIFF.

So, let’s say you’re a screenwriter and there’s a monthly gathering of film people coming up. Before the day even arrives, you might want to practice a little spiel about you and your work. Just a few sentences – something you might have time to reveal during a ride in an elevator – in case someone asks what you do. And they will. It never hurts to be prepared because you probably don’t want a potential collaborator asking, “So, what do you do?” just to respond with, “Oh, I don’t know. Stuff, I guess.” You’d be surprised at how easily you can get stumped with such a question, especially when you’re dealing with what you do all day long. You would think it would be easy enough to talk about but when you’re put on the spot words can fail you.

So, the day of the event arrives.  You may be going by yourself or with friends or colleagues, which gives you a bit of a leg up because you have a home base of people to talk to. Sure, this can provide a level of comfort but be careful that you don’t stick with the same people the whole time. You need to be able to branch out and make new connections eventually. That’s really why your there, isn’t it?

If you’re a social butterfly, you may be comfortable with approaching people you don’t know and that’s definitely part of the battle because many people are not okay with talking to strangers. But even if you are open to it, you may find that, like I just advised against, people in these situations tend to congregate in groups of familiar faces (because they aren’t hip to what it means to network like you are 😉 ). This can leave you feeling like the odd man out, especially if you’re new to the whole thing. On one hand, it’s kind of a loss for them because they could be missing out on meeting folks like your fabulous self but fear not! These clique dwellers don’t have to remain entirely out of reach.

When I have experienced insecurity around networking events, a feeling which comes and goes for me depending on my mood and the environment, I like to rely on an old trick – the food table. If there is a table of appetizers etc. at the event, which there often is, attendees will periodically show up to grab a little something, sometimes in pairs but often as individuals. In this scenario, they have been removed from their group and you can strike up a conversation, like a predator going after the prey that has separated from the herd.

So, now you are at the food table and a pleasant looking person is heading your way. You have finally mustered up the cajones and have the opportunity to start a conversation. What the heck do you do then? Regale them with a detailed account of your morning hygiene routine? Ask them why on earth 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?

Well, you can start by commenting on something about the food – hopefully positive because people don’t like complainers unless, of course, they’re hilariously funny. “These spring rolls are amazing! Have you tried one yet?” or “Someone should throw this shrimp back in the ocean because they aren’t doing anybody any good up here” might be fun openers. You could also exchange names while complimenting the other person – maybe on something they’re wearing. “Hi, I’m Tiffany. Those are great shoes.” Then you can ask them what brings them to the event – that will lead into a discussion of what you both do in the industry. This is where your practiced speech comes into play. You don’t necessarily need to spill all the beans at once. Start off with, “I’m a screenwriter.” Then let them ask, “What kinds of scripts have you done?”  Let the conversation evolve piece by piece. You might want to avoid being overly aggressive. “I’m a screenwriter. Wanna produce my script about a lizard man who discovers he is a cow having a dream?” I’ve seen people do that and it smacks of self-centeredness and desperation.

Here’s the thing to remember as the conversation progresses. The person you are talking to may be the answer to all your prayers, the one who finally helps your career take off. And maybe they aren’t. But regardless, they are still a person. Have a real conversation, ask questions, get to know them, and detach from expectations of possible outcomes. I have too often witnessed and experienced the beginning of a networking conversation and, when one party discovers that the other party isn’t “important enough”, isn’t worthy of talking to, they lose interest and just walk away.

Don’t be that guy.

Some people may take this approach as a way of saving time and energy but, even if the other party understands this on a logical level, they might still feel put off and be unwilling to work with or help you in the future should such an occasion arise. There’s no need to go burning any bridges.

Here’s the thing.  You don’t know where the conversation is going to lead. If you are a screenwriter, your intention may be to pitch your latest script to all the producers in the room but you might find yourself inspired by an unexpected conversation with a composer or a horse wrangler.  You might be meeting your new BFF or romantic partner.  Even if you are going to think of it strictly in terms of making business connections, you never know who the other person might know. That horse wrangler might be the brother of Steven Spielberg – if he has a brother. I don’t know.

Anyway, don’t dismiss someone just because they don’t seem to be the type of person you were hoping to speak to.

That being said, you also don’t want to keep the conversation going for too long, unless you both are totally vibing on each other somehow and are ready to go off and get a proverbial or literal room together. The goal for you, and likely everyone else in attendance, is to meet several new people during the course of the event, not just one. And once you start a conversation, a polite person may not be able to remove themselves if there is someone else they want to talk to.

I would say ten minutes is a good length of time – long enough to learn a bit about each other and see if there is potential in the relationship but not so long as to be dominating.  You can close the conversation off with, “It’s been great talking to you. I should probably let you continue working the room.” Awe! Aren’t you considerate? Then you can exchange cards or agree to meet again over coffee or something if you have some actual business to discuss.

Now, let’s say there is no food table or, God forbid, all the food is gone! What happens then? Well, I know it’s a scary thought but you can simply stand in with an existing discussion – provided it doesn’t appear to be private. You don’t want to barge in on two people talking about a recent break-up or anything. You might get the stink eye for doing that.

If it’s a decent size group and they seem good-natured enough, just stand there with them and they will likely widen the circle to accommodate you. Don’t feel the need to talk right away, unless of course you’re addressed. Listen for a little while, click in with the vibe, and then feel free to share and take part!

A final thing I will say is that if you discover that you’re not feeling it that day, if you’ve given it a good attempt but you’re just too tired or too nervous or you’ve met a couple of people and your sociability account is maxed out, that’s alright. Don’t be hard on yourself. We all have times when we’re feeling more or less willing to be around others and maybe it’s better to step back and try again on another day than to put yourself out there when you’re not up to it and end up making a bad impression. Have you ever been at a party where there was a guest who was just not in a good frame of mind and you figured it might have been better if they had just stayed home?

Don’t be that guy.

So, think of networking as a chance to build some confidence, practice talking about what you do, and you just might meet someone who will be in your life for years to come in some way or other. If nothing else, you’ll probably have some good laughs. There are always entertaining conversations to have so enjoy and don’t worry about it. It gets easier with practice!

 

Now, in Swimming Tigress news,  Swimming Tigress Music has now listed much of its catalog on Sheet Music Plus!  You can visit the publisher page here. Of course, you can also access the entire catalog here on our site at the Swimming Tigress Shop , including the songbooks Bad Moods and Seven Other Super Reasons to Sing a Silly Song and Brain Freezes and Seven More Super Reasons To Sing A Silly Song.

Have a great day!

 

 

Filed Under: blogs about music, Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, brain freezes, canadian composer, creative inspiration, creative living, download music for singers, manitoba music, networking, social confidence, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tools to create

Broadway’s Hamilton, The US Currency and the Power of Fandom

May 26, 2016 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hey all!

Today I want to talk about the power of art and how it can reach way beyond the work itself. More specifically, I’d like to touch on the power of fandom.

Now, as artists we all love and appreciate our fans. When someone enjoys our work and supports our endeavours, it can really help us keep on creating when times get tough and we feel discouraged for some reason. But did you ever think that a piece of art, specifically a hit Broadway musical, could impact a country’s financial system? Crazy, isn’t it? But it may well be happening as we speak!

The musical I’m talking about is, of course, the über-brilliant Hamilton, the hip-hop infused telling of the story of the American political figure, Alexander Hamilton, created by the genius, and recently Pulitzer Prize-crowned, Lin-Manuel Miranda. If you haven’t heard of Hamilton, I must say I’m surprised at the strength of the internet connection underneath your rock that’s allowing you to read this blog post right now. Just kidding – but not. 🙂 This show is taking the world by storm. Tickets are essentially impossible to get, it received a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations, and Miranda, who also stars as Hamilton, has thousands of people liking his tweets within minutes of posting. There are even those who literally will not go to sleep until he has shared his daily “G’night” tweets!

So, this is the first part of the equation –the crazy popular show. Now, to the financial bit.

In the States right now, for those of you who aren’t from the US or privy to their news – I’m from Canada but, being neighbors, we’re pretty much aware of all American goings on – there has been great discussion of what figures appear on the US currency. There is a fabulous campaign to finally have a woman represented on the bills and it appears that the abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, is the winner. A woman highly deserving of the honour, to be sure!

But what bill should Tubman be on and who, then, would be kicked off? The plot thickens. Many have been suggesting she should be on the $20, an honour currently held by Andrew Jackson, a slave owner. That would be quite the touché! The US Treasury Secretary, Jacob Lew, had proposed the $10 bill but seems to have changed his mind. Can you guess why? Who do you think is on the $10 bill now? None other than America’s founding father without a father, Alexander Hamilton! So, the sneaking suspicion is that the response from Hamilton fans has prompted the change of heart! Pretty cool, eh?

As we know, art can be incredibly influential but this it certainly kicking it up a notch. How would it feel to have fans who are that devoted to your work, to be able to have that kind of influence and really make a difference beyond the art itself? I certainly strive to inspire people – that’s totally my m.o. – and knowing that I have affected someone’s life in even a small way is such a blessing. I couldn’t imagine starting an outright movement!

If you did desired such a thing -and I’m not saying you do necessarily – but if you desired that kind of impact even on a smaller scale, what would it take?

Well, it takes 1) a work that is undeniably great. It takes honing your craft so that you can create something that connects with audiences on a number of levels. Seriously, I don’t think I have been affected emotionally by a work of art as much as I have with Hamilton – and I’ve only been listening to the soundtrack!

And 2) you need to communicate with your people! You can have an absolute masterpiece on your hands but if nobody knows about it it’s just a bunch of boxes of stuff sitting in your apartment. Seriously, I’ve totally been there! Miranda, is so engaged online – so supportive and encouraging of fans and other artists and always sharing fun behind-the-scenes stuff. Now, I don’t know what came first, the chicken or the egg. You might be thinking, well, he’s a big deal (he also wrote and starred in the incredibly successful In The Heights). Of course, people would care about what he has to say . But maybe that’s what he’s always done. Maybe that’s how people started to become aware of his shows in the first place – through his reaching out and connecting with those who might appreciate what he has to offer.

So, I would invite you to keep working on your projects until they are the best you can make them. No, they’re probably not going to be perfect but keep learning and striving to make things that you’re really, really proud of, things you will be excited to release out into the world. And try interacting with your fans, and future fans, like you’re already a big deal. Let them know you’re there. Create fun things to share. Don’t just shove your CD or your book in their faces all day, every day. Give them something of added value – maybe a fun video series, behind-the-scenes shots – stuff that will keep them coming back for more. And they will!

That’s how you get your work out into the world so you can really make a difference. And if you haven’t heard Hamilton yet or seen the show, get on it already! It’s so full of infectious earworms it will keep you up at night and it made my momma cry but that’s a small price to pay to witness awesomeness!

Okay, onto some Swimming Tigress news!

Ladybug Crossings, my album for kids under the name Tofaru, is up on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and all your favourite digital services. It will get the whole family singing along so get your copy today!

Recently, I’ve provided the voices for a couple of video games and an episode of an animated series, which was a hoot! When they’re actually available, I’ll tell you more.

I wanted to do something to inspire positivity online so I started the Twitter hashtag #MyGoodNews so people can share the good things going on in their lives. I thought it would be fun. Join me, won’t you? Get on Twitter, use the hashtag and share your good news!

In addition to “Tabitha’s Magical Voice”, “Mocha And The Moon”, and A Candle At Both Ends, I’m going to be placing my catalog of sheet music onto Amazon in Kindle form and in the original paperback. I’m in process right now but I’ll let you know when it’s done. In the meantime, you can still get the music in paperback and PDF format from the Swimming Tigress Shopify Store. You can visit the store here! And of course, check out “Tabitha”, “Mocha”, and Candle while you’re at it! As you may know, I’m rather new to the Amazon e-book thing so if you see something amiss, be a peach and give me a heads up, will you?

Okay, that’s all for today folks! Make it a great one!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Amazon, american $20, bad moods, blogs about music, brain freezes, canadian composer, candle at both ends, children's music, creative inspiration, ebook downloads, fandom, fans, Hamilton musical, Harriet Tubman, iTunes, ladybug crossings, Lin-Manuel Miranda, manitoba music, music blog, music for kids, Shopify, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists

Ladybug Crossings Has Arrived!

April 12, 2016 by tprochera Leave a Comment

ladybugcrossings cd cover

Hey Guys!

 

So, usually, I will post about a book I was inspired by or offer some tips to aid in your creativity. And there’s absolutely more of that to come!

But I’m going to kind of forego that today because I have some exciting news!

Ladybug Crossings is here!!!!

 

I’m so excited! The album is full of songs kids can relate to with catchy melodies that will have the whole family singing along. Trust me, there are some serious earworms in there! And some songs, like Doodley Do and Mr. Willywallywolowitz, come straight from my Bad Moods and Brain Freezes collections so you can get the books and learn to sing them too!


 
 
The album is now available on all you favourite digital streaming services – iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, Apple Music and more! Feel free to take a moment to buy your copy before you continue reading… 🙂

ladybugcrossings cd cover

BUY ON ITUNES         BUY ON CD BABY     BUY ON AMAZON

 

Welcome back!

So,I guess here’s a tidbit, a nugget of advice, to take away from this – other than the music, of course, which I really hope you enjoy!

A few years ago – and you may already know this story – I was at my computer and tried to type my name. I can’t remember what I was working on exactly but my fingers happened to be in the wrong position on the keyboard and Tofaru is what came out. I could have ignored it as just a blip but I looked at the combination of letters and thought, You know, that’s a cool name. If I was ever to put out a children’s album, that’s the name I would use.

Fast forward to a year or so later. It was a lovely spring day –or was it fall? I was walking along the sidewalk close to my home and I almost stepped on a ladybug– Heaven forbid! – who I can only assume was busy running her daily errands. Being a lover of ladybugs – they really have impeccable fashion sense – I was concerned for the welfare of my new friend and immediately thought to myself, You know, they should have ladybug crossings.“ It occurred to me that that concept might make for an interesting song so I kind of kept that thought in the back of my mind but didn’t really do anything about it at the time.

Then, about a year after that, I was getting out of the car in front of a movie theatre, looked down at the ground and there was a another ladybug right by my feet. Of course, ladybugs are rather ubiquitous in the appropriate season but this ladybug seemed to be telling me, in her polka-dotted fashion, to get a move on it already and start making the album.

So, I did!

And the point of telling you all of this? The moral of this story?

Don’t take any moment for granted. There is a saying that suggests there are no coincidences and I pretty much believe that’s true. If I had just ignored all of the little hints and serendipities, Ladybug Crossings would not exist.

So, be aware. If something pops into your mind, don’t toss it off. It could be the inspiration for your next film, your next novel. It came to you for a reason. And, like Elizabeth Gilbert says, if you don’t do something about it, if you don’t act on that inspiration and create, the idea will just leave you and find someone else.

I hope you enjoy Ladybug Crossings as much as I enjoyed making it! And spread the word if you like what you hear. Music is such a beautiful thing to share and, well, watching kids dance around the house is always fun, isn’t it? 

Have a fabulous day!

ladybugcrossings cd cover

BUY ON ITUNES         BUY ON CD BABY     BUY ON AMAZON

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Amazon, bad moods, blogs about music, brain freezes, canadian composer, canadian music, CD Baby, children's music, composer blogs, creative inspiration, creative living, Elizabeth Gilbert, Elizs, iTunes, ladybug crossings, ladybugs, manitoba music, music for kids, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tofaru, tools to create

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