Anyone have any tips on techniques of schmoozing in order to get into the business?

john threat

john threat

Carbonite Member
They say in this business it is who you know - any guys here have any tips on techniques of schmoozing your way into the business? Or stories how it worked or didnt work for them?
 
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it's not worth the headache. there's a difference between being a suckup/brownnoser and being tactful, polite, and political in how you interact with clients (potential or current) in order to obtain work. sucking up only begets more sucking up (compare it to a liar, who needs to lie more and more to maintain the lies). preface: small rant ahead - one of my biggest issues with our industry (and you'll see this in most industries that you come across), is that when asked what they want to do people immediately just tell you a title - "I wanna be a director" - to me this means they want the fame, notoriety, paycheck, and title of a director. if you simply want this then sucking up might be the way to go. whereas someone who, when asked what they want to do, answers with no regard to a title, but rather an act such as "I want to direct films" or "I want to shoot videos" etc etc. so first, maybe ask yourself this question and answer honestly. if you simply want a title then I'm sure you can get advice on how to brown nose and ass kiss and suck d to get ahead in this industry, otherwise use your answer to that question to do what you want. if you want to shoot video, simply find people who need video work, if you want to direct, find people who need a director. my last experience sucking up turned into an absolute effing nightmare and ended with a lot of stress and me making < $2/hr on a job, since then I've just been myself and been up front with people about my goals, skills, abilities, faults, etc, and both my clients, and me, are happy.
sorry to blast on with a rant, but I kissing ass is one of my biggest pet peeves. just be yourself :)

cheers,
Adam
 
I still feel the same way. I'm not saying be a brash-asshole-wannabe-cowboy that just does what he wants, because there is a HUGE amount of politics in every workplace/industry/job/career/etc, so you do need to conduct yourself in a manor that won't ruin your reputation/burn bridges, but schmoozing to me just seems like a lesser version of brown-nosing - for example I have a client right now (whom I really really dislike) that I could really suck up to in order to get more work, but guess what, that simply gets me more work (and face time) with a person I dislike - so I don't do it. does that mean I miss out on future jobs? maybe. but does that mean I'm happier in the long run and have less stress in my life? absolutely. just be GENUINELY interested in work and people that you admire and enjoy. Schmoozing people you have no respect for will simply put you on their level. Read "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand for an amazing (albeit fictional) look at being yourself, staying true to your values, and not worrying about what other people think. I'm honestly not trying to sound rude or harsh here but I really don't think sucking up and schmoozing people is the way to go about business. Focus on whatever it is you want to focus on and you'll go so much further in life than trying to just get ahead by schmoozing. Unless you want to focus on schmoozing, then disregard this post.

Best,
Adam
 
It's a combo of "who you know", and "who knows you". Act like a pro and be on your game. Be active in the industry and make people stand up and take notice of your expertise. This will help to attract the people you want to work with. :)
 
Consider this, when you start down that road, there really is no coming back, unless, you happen to get lucky, 9 of 10 attempts will most likely leave you looking like a smuck that has to schmooze in order to supplement a lack of talent, build up your client base, your skills, and the doors will open, take the short cut and you will most likely find out what a lot of people already know, it really does not work. We are not lawyers this is not legal advise...
 
In this industry, it's as much about what you can deliver as about who you know. So Schmooze as much as possible, but also be able to deliver.
 
schmoozing is a very valuable skill. not that i possess it. but anyone that tells you it isn't valuable doesn't have it either. frequently schmoozing takes the place of other skills, but there's nothing to say that a good schmoozer is nothing more.

there's the doing of the work, and then there's the being seen doing the work. they aren't the same thing. but in the end the person that gets the work is the one people want to work with.
 
Schmoozing is probably too strong a word and has a negative ring to it.

However in this industry you need to be able to talk to people, be persuasive, sell your ideas, network and make connections, be approachable in social work related events, and promote yourself and your projects by whatever means necessary. How you do it may come off as tactful, or downright obvious, so how you go about it is the key factor. People doing it wrong might be seen 'schmoozing', people doing it right will be seen networking in a friendly manner. Film festivals are great for watching people work, getting it right and getting it wrong.

I used to work in TV, and there were a lot of big egos in the same room at the same time. Even the most famous people in the room were not above a bit of schmoozing if they thought they could benefit from it down the line.
 
the word is def not schmoozing - it's kissing butt - you know - doing your due diligence - then flattering them to death and be aware of their work so you can reference it so that there is an extra layer of awareness so that they dig you even more.

you think people like you if you look them in the eye and tell them their work is ****?
 
if their work actually is **** I could really care less whether or not they like me, since I try to not work with people who can't produce good results. you don't have to tell them their work is **** if it really is (you can always just keep that to yourself and worry about your own work), but lying about it so you can get a gig or job is up to you. now if their work is good, or great, then by all means tell people that, compliment them on the hard work they've done or the amazing XYZ they've made, because which one of us in this industry doesn't like the recognition for the work we do - but to me that isn't schmoozing it's (to reiterate what has been said already) a great way to be friendly and network.
 
lwright84 said:
It is "all about who you know", not "all about who you schmooze". ;)
Click to expand...

It is who you know who wants to help you. You know those people who name drop and say they know everyone, but the people they say they know wouldn't help those name droppers.
 
hang on... the purpose of dropping the name isn't to get the help of the person named, but that of the person being schmoozed.

dude, you're worse at this than i am.
 
see!

thats why we kinda need to put some tips together for this!
I know some people say "hey! im a regular person who is earnest and honest and steadfast!"
It seems to me thats not how human networks work when it comes to media.
I get it - its nice to be a straight shooter 24/7 - but what does that mean when working in media?
 
There's the doing of the work, and the being seen doing the work. And then there's the getting of the work. They're related, but not always in the most ideal or direct sense. So they are separate tasks, and skills, in some ways, each requiring attention.Insofar as they are related, the schmooze is a necessary consideration in each aspect. And that need not be a matter of insincerity. But a part of the doing must be informed by the other aspects, nez pas?But still, I suck at the schmooze, so what do I know? It's the doing that excites me.
 
Successful business people don't think of schmoozing (great word!) as schmoozing. They think of it as connecting. Clients become friends. Favors are returned. etc. And as someone said, this is not a trick people use to move to a certain point. The best schmoozers/connecters do it at the highest levels. Only we artists think of this as groveling or beneath us... people on the way up know there's always someone above you you need to connect with.
 
everyone i talked to seems to think its a trick and they hate doing it. hmm.
I guess its different depending on what you are doing - you dont really have to kiss butt for wedding videos or projects that come to you - just schmooze
 
Take a sincere interest in helping your customer solve their problem. Be aware of the specific needs of your particular client. Responses keep referring to "this industry", but there are many industries. Doesn't matter. Could apply to wedding videographers who have someone on staff whose job it is to maintain friendly communication with customers. Basically, make sure your customer is aware that everything is in good hands. Read The Art of Selling to the Affluent.
 
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