Contacting professionals
John Watters 05 Session 2
November 2013
Why would you want to! contact professionals? You are on this course, hopefully to become a professional within our industry, To become a key player within the industry one needs to be in communication with our peers. This communication reinforces your position as a student and a new potential creative in the industry.
Planning and documenting Like undertaking any brief, we need to undertake relevant research that we record and utilise. This is where your PPP blog comes in, showing your personal investigations with reference to seeing a ‘synergy’ in the work of others that may become worthy of investigation.
Above all remember it is ALL ! ABOUT YOU! You will only get out of this what you put in. Careful dissemination of studios, individuals and agencies that ‘float your boat’ for recognisable reasons.
Once identified, as an ongoing ! investigation, HOW can you ! make contacts? EMAIL? TELEPHONE? TWITTER? POST? OTHER?
If it’s a Studio, check out their website.! Give them a call and ask who the! Creative Director is, as you want to! send him some files. They will probably be reluctant to divulge, but try and get a name and an email address‌
If no details, ask if you can be put! through?
HOWEVER.! Before you do anything, have a few ! questions to ask.! Consider WHY you are contacting?! !
A visit would be good?
BUT this will be unto YOU
“I HATE USING THE PHONE…” We usually do, but consider what it may do for you, It’s a bit like asking someone new out on a date? !
If you are prepared and have decided on what you wish to ask, consider the benefits.
YOU are a valuable asset and they! WILL want to speak to you! so go for it, it gets easier the more! you do it.
WAHAT do YOU want to tell them? Quite simply, that you exist and are looking for advice. Could you arrange a visit for advice and maybe feedback? A look at a professional Studio? DO NOT ASK FOR A PLACEMENT!
WHAT will THEY want to know! about YOU? WHY you chose them to contact? WHAT kind of creative are you? WHAT kind of work do you see as synergetic to you?
WHAT can YOU show THEM? Anything at all, a brief you are working on or one you feel happy about, Maybe a creative CV that you can leave with all of your contact details? YOU do not have a portfolio YET so do don’t STRESS. You could even invite them to College?
So, maybe a ‘Creative CV’ might be! useful?
What is a ‘Creative’ CV? It’s all about YOU and what is GREAT about you upto now. !
A shop window in essence.
This is not just a CV, but! is a reference they may keep on file.! if it’s good enough?
What should you aim to ! take away from a meeting? Experience and a practice run. An insight into how a professional studio operates. A contact to go back to for feedback and advice. The opportunity to get two more potential visits from their colleagues/peers.
Now what? We will disuse next session, in the meantime why not get a friend to write a Plus and negative list about YOU?