As an artist, you cannot do without connections. Especially when your hobby has turned into what you prefer to earn your living with, your connections are the determining factor for opportunities and success.
It can therefore be frustrating if you have few or no people in your environment who can and will mean something for you, and, more importantly, for whom you can mean something.
- 1. Networking with the right mindset
- 2. Finding the RIGHT person who can potentially mean something for you
- 3. Only one person can completely change everything
- 4. Where should you network as an artist?
- 6. Building connections takes time
- 7. Not unimportant: be good at what you do
- 8. The downside of social media
- 9. Persistence pays off!
Intentionally networking as an artist can be exciting for many people because you put yourself in a vulnerable position, where you are essentially asking another person to collaborate with you. In this article, you will learn how to approach this best and that it can actually be quite easy and often even very fast.
1. Networking with the right mindset
Before you send out a hundred emails, it’s important to thoroughly investigate the right approach with which you do this. Firstly, networking is making contact with others, as the word suggests. But to turn these contacts into something real, a WIN-WIN situation must be presented.
This means that you can articulate your value as a photographer, painter, or writer, whatever you do, and be of service to someone else with it. A proposal like ‘I am a musician and I am looking for a new band’ will not do much for the other person.
But: ‘The films you make have touched me. I believe that my vision and style can be a very good addition to that.‘
This way, you make it personal and immediately give someone a compliment. This works much better than immediately diving into your own plans and talents.
If you are ready to help others in their dreams, you will be able to network effectively.
This also brings the following with it:
2. Finding the RIGHT person who can potentially mean something for you
You probably know some people you’d rather not get in touch with for a possible collaboration. This can be due to the person themselves or because what they do is not entirely your thing. And that’s fine, too. Because if you know what you don’t like, you also know which people you do want to consider.
You could send these people an email with a proposal, but the best is to call them. Hereby, the other person sees that someone is genuinely interested, and the conversation is much easier.
If it is not possible to reach someone by phone, sending an email is also an option. But there is something even better than effectively reaching someone. Emails are somewhat superficial and can sometimes get lost in the crowd.
What should you do best?
– Get in touch with people in the environment of the person you want to reach. Think of colleagues, partners, or other artists. These are often easier to approach, and they can sometimes even make a proposal for you with the person concerned. This is much more effective because the person you want to connect with is approached from within their own network and therefore feels more trustworthy.
3. Only one person can completely change everything
Sometimes you only need a chance from the right person, which ultimately leads to that breakthrough. How and when this chance comes is almost unpredictable. It is therefore really important that, if you really want something, you are open to contact with others.
‘I have a friend that also does something in that area. Do you want his number? You could have a nice collaboration.’
- For example, this is how it went with Ed Sheeran, who in 2011 was invited to perform in Los Angeles. There he met producer Benny Blanco, which led to a crucial connection in his career. After this, he released his debut album ‘x’ under the Atlantic Records label.
These kinds of things happen more often than you think, as soon as you openly share what you’re working on as an artist. This is because creative professions and passions are often seen as special by people, and they connect this to individuals in their own circle.
Knowing that you can truly deliver value is very important. Not that you have to boast about it, but you can stand for it and be proud of it. If you just enjoy doing something, sooner or later, you will be overtaken by people who would rather die than not live their passion.
4. Where should you network as an artist?
This is, of course, a very broad question. Because everyone who calls themselves an artist does something different: painting, acting, dancing, songwriting, designing…
It is therefore important that you know where to look and where people physically (BOLD) come together with whom you might be able to do something. Think of:
- film festivals
- premieres
- art galleries
- workshops
- masterclasses
- events and fairs
- art associations
- and of course, ordinary networking events.
There is a whole list of options, but the crucial question is actually whether you dare to do this. The opportunities are there, but for many people, it’s just scary to walk up to someone out of the blue and ask, ‘I saw you and wondered if you would be interested in…’
The right approach for lasting contacts
Getting a no or hearing that they already know enough people who do something for them can feel like rejection. To handle this well, social skills also play a significant role.
- Approach someone: If you have not approached yourself, it is an art to tap someone on the shoulder. It can be someone you already know from somewhere, but it doesn’t have to be necessarily.
- How you present yourself: Start with something else first. For example, give a compliment about what someone has created before getting straight to the point. A normal conversation is a much better foundation than a direct question.
- Building trust: Because a potential collaboration only happens with mutual trust, it is important to get to know each other well first. You do this by making small talk and seeing if there is a ‘click.’
- They will ask what you do: In a normal conversation where you don’t know the other person, it’s expected that someone will ask about you. What do you actually do? Now is your chance to talk about what you do.
- Make a proposal: If you feel that it’s going well, you can make a proposal to see if you can do something for each other. This is also the moment to see if you can exchange contact information.
- They need you: Don’t forget that many artists and clients are eager for new talent. Therefore, don’t feel hesitant to inquire about opportunities.
6. Building connections takes time
As mentioned earlier, making good connections takes some time. This is also because people want to work together for a longer period in any sector.
Especially when people are operating at a ‘higher’ level, such as in large productions, they will not just collaborate with anyone. Therefore, it’s not a problem if not much comes out of a connection; you can always decide to follow up with a call or send an email like:
Hey, I enjoyed talking to you again recently! At the moment, I am open to a new project/collaboration/job.
Or something similar…
Networking is about daring where you will also make mistakes.
It is indeed more unpleasant to have a connection where you regret it later because you, out of desperation for an opportunity, went into business with someone who doesn’t quite suit your preferences.
Learn to dare to approach people, and never be afraid to ask if you can do something for them. People actually enjoy this because they have been in that position themselves. And yes, sometimes the people you would have liked to collaborate with don’t have the time or space, but that’s also something you can learn from.
7. Not unimportant: be good at what you do
It may not sound very surprising, but people want to collaborate with those who are good at what they do. Having a portfolio or website is often enough to give someone a clear idea of what you can do and where your personal qualities lie.
Having your own style and approach plays a big role, especially as an artist. Developing good communication skills is something you can work on and will also be decisive for the continuation of future collaborations.
That you are good at what you do has nothing to do with the success you will have. How good your network is determines a breakthrough.
The art of selling yourself
First and foremost, the main thing is that you are a pleasant person to work with. What is pleasant? Someone who is social, can articulate things well, and gets excited about someone’s vision and ideas.
Selling yourself actually means letting the other person know that they are missing out on an opportunity if they don’t collaborate with you.
8. The downside of social media
When you open Instagram, you see many artists who post their art and music as influencers, growing their fan base. What is often not mentioned is that a certain mindset and approach are needed to truly reap the benefits of these platforms. Creating good content can be very time-consuming, and the outward charm also plays a role in how much audience you attract.
- The point is that if you want to make connections via social media, you need a considerably large audience, which can take a lot of time and energy.
It is good to ask yourself whether you want this and whether there is another way to get where you want to go. That doesn’t mean that Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat are not great tools to share your creative process and style with others, especially as an artist.
- There are plenty of artists who can make a living and make connections solely through Instagram or YouTube.
9. Persistence pays off!
Whether you send 10 emails a day or scour every networking event to connect with people, it can sometimes be a long-term project to find the right people to benefit from as an artist.
Therefore, never forget that persistence pays off, even if it takes a while to find someone who can take the next step in your career. If someone has ever said, ‘Maybe at another time,’ that does not mean no. You can stay in touch with people and come back later with a proposal.
Your network works like a seed
As soon as you become skilled at making connections with people for collaborations, your network will also grow. And you will see that if you provide value to someone, they will always come back. A good collaboration is therefore worth its weight in gold because, in the long term, you build trust, and you will need each other again.
Success? You have to become a networker.
Having connections as a creative can help you land significant projects or do what you love every day. So, attend that premiere or networking event and dare to approach people. The more you commit yourself, the more others will recognize your talents.
Good luck!
