The Social Club
The Social Club
“I’ve only truly seen social media engagement when I stepped into a room and —well— introduced myself - @cynlagos”
"What If I practiced the social of Social Media?" I mused while enjoying a morning bite at one of the latest boutique breakfast spots in the urban-hip neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
Too tricky, too involved, I thought at first, considering that the “Like” button is the quintessential method of “engaging” nowadays 😔 .
Except that—as artists—we have much more curiosity than that.
In fact we thrive in the invigorating stimuli that other creative brains bring to the table.
And so, with several meet-ups in mind, I ventured New York City.
Brooklyn, New York
“There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless”
- Simone Beauvoir
The Adobe Creative Residency often encourages us to network and that was a big reason why I chose New York. The people here are a talented bunch and are hard-workers at their craft. Adobe facilitates the opportunity to build your social skills, but it really is up to us to turn on the charm and follow through with a good conversation.
Today I will share tips on my favorite methods of networking.
The Intro
“You had me at hello”
- Jerry Maguire
The dreaded intro, the invisible wall that halts our curiosity to uncover the stories of artists we admire.
It may seem daunting but there are ways to ease your fears.
📲 DIGITAL: Digital outlets can be useful to start the conversation. Think of it as the kickstart. Say “Hi I admire your work ethic in [specific work description that you honestly admire] because it has impacted the way I think about my work in [describe your current pursuits] and think we should meet up to chat some more.” Of course in your own words, but it’s that simple.
🤝 REAL LIFE: Think about the benefits of meeting people face to face. Take them out for coffee, to museums, for a walk-about photographing along the way. The focus is to maintain a mind-nourishing conversation.
It makes all the difference to meet in person, and you might find a real-life friend by the end of it.
The Convo
“The single greatest ‘people skill’ is a highly developed & authentic interest in the *other* person”
- Bob Burg
Ok, now you’ve got a creative mind sitting across from you. What to say?
At times you feel mesmerized and a bit star-struck because let’s face it, you’re gonna go after artists whose work have influenced you in some type of way. But keep in mind, it's not an interview, you are there to have a humble conversation.
👋 LEAD THE WAY: Introduce yourself, your accomplishments, your current focus and how you wish to grow. Any of these bits of information will guide the conversation along to mutual storytelling.
💭 HONESTY: Express your struggles, we all have them. Explain your admiration for the types of work for which you wanted to connect. Don’t be afraid to talk about the industry, money, and secrets of the craft. The conversation will be honest if you give honesty.
Q TIME 🤔: Ask productive questions about their career path, questions that you may not have the answers to, based on your research. Remember, don’t play it safe trying to know every bit of information to make an impression. At times the best dialogue arises from the unknown, when you allow the other person to take on the role of mentor and teach you a thing or two 😊 .
Till’ next time
“You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality”
- Walt Disney
This industry is about continuously thinking not just about the happenings of today, but also about those who will partake in your future. Here are a few ways to further the creative connection.
👋Invite: Maybe there’s a project in the near future to which you can encourage a collaboration. Or perhaps there’s a corporate event that relates to your art, invite your new guest!
👏Evolution: Ask if you can continue to share your progress for feedback. This can be a very valuable resource to have during your creative journey.
Thanks
Hope these tips get you a little closer to building your Social Club with ease 😊. Below I leave you with some of my favorite quotes from my networking encounters.
-CYN
CultivatE your own personal story
- Jeremy Perez-Cruz
As designers,We are orchestrating, conducting feelings.
-Helena Rouz
Failure is important in any craft
-Karen Doolittle
PUBLIC Speaking is one of the best ways to arrive at a creative hypothesis.
-Tina Essmaker
IN Virtual reality, We are using our senses
Sebastien Perez
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