I spent yesterday evening with local San Diego photographers at a casual APA event. Somewhere between a roundtable and a bunch of comrades meeting in a bar, I think it was a successful experiment for how to encourage dialogue between photographers.
There was a loose agenda and gentle moderating/leading by Greg Lambert, but mostly it was good, naturally-evolving discussion. The topics last night were very much about marketing, so I ended up talking way too much of course (as I have a tendency to do–seems to go with the lawyer-thing too, btw), but everyone contributed. People listened and took notes and asked questions and offered their perspectives. I think it went quite well.
I have only one complaint about the event (okay, 1.5–the .5 was that venue was a tad loud): not enough photographers showed up. The event was free (buy your own drinks–it was in a bar after all) and it was promoted appropriately. And yet, only about 10-12 people showed up. This drives me nuts. Photographers everywhere are clamoring about how they are struggling. Here is this wonderful opportunity to do something positive for one’s business, and only a few people showed up.
What do you want people? A magic business fairy to appear and tap you with her wand and make you successful? Won’t happen, of course. This is work! It can be joyful work, if you choose to make it so, but don’t let anyone fool you–it is work. You have to do your end of it to make it. Sitting back and complaining or burying your head in the sand won’t do any good. You need to get out there and keep learning everything you can to find your own best path.
Meetings like the one in SD are great. Meetings with other creatives are great too. Tony Blei from Arizona wrote me recently and I wanted to share part of his email (he gave me permission):
So I’m a member of a creative group that is so creative that there really isn’t a membership. We just know the secret handshake and know where to show up on the second Tuesday of each month. Last night the place was packed with designers and photographers.
I’ve been working to get to know as many designers as I can and last night I handed my card to a guy who had just gotten laid off. He said, “Oh! I just got your postcard.” The art director let him come in to use the company computer and check his mail. Poor guy. I bought him a beer and told him about Agency Access.
How much you want to bet that offering that helpful info and the beer will result in a gig once that AD gets a new job? This is the kind of thing that can happen when you reach out. Talk to people. Colleagues and targets. Open up. Good things will happen.
I wonder if the reason more photographers don’t show up at these types of events is that they aren’t sure what to say when they are there. It’s not for want of opportunity,as you point out, I suspect that it goes back to third grade in Mrs. Greenstein’s class and you don’t want to be the one who holds up your hand and says “I don’t understand.”
It’s much easier (though not more effective) to just not show up. As someone or other said: Winners make a habit of doing the things losers are uncomfortable doing.
By the way, did you say there was beer being served?
What has become of photographers?
I’ve also been to several events where few photographers show. I don’t understand it either.
Taking the liberty of speaking for many Australian photographers, we would all be there just for the beers, and everything else would have naturally evolved as it should; pity it was bit far to make it for the night..
I have got to get to Australia one of these days!
🙂
-Leslie
Leslie, I too am in the Phoenix scene, friend of Tony’s and also know the secret handshake. Our group here has taken time to develop to the huge gathering it is (even in the blazing summer)/ Time and word of mouth, will cause more people to make this a priority and cause it to grow.
Leslie,
I can relate to your point about photographers not showing up to these types of events, that if a level of time and effort is invested in, could help them get more clients and grow their business. After all, who doesn’t want that?
I’m in Vancouver BC (Canada!) and am on the Vancouver Chapter Board of a Canadian organization called CAPIC.org. We volunteer our time to sit on the Board, and all year long not only plan events for our photo + illustrator members with exactly these points in mind (how to get more clients, grow your business AND increase communication and knowledge sharing between photographers and illustrators), but also work on building membership, copyright issues, insurance, etc etc. We often have a very small number of people show up to the events we plan, and then others get a great turn out; there is little to no consistency in attendance no matter what we’ve tried to date.
My point is that I think (a) I think this is an issue not specific to any one city or geographic area, and (b) there will always be the people that feel being part of a community, talking, sharing insight, will only open them up to being vulnerable, especially in their business, and thus choose to not participate.
Speaking as a photographer, I am of the mindset that if we all ignore one another, keep our systems and processes and knowledge to ourselves, and don’t teach the newest people in our industry, how on earth will things grow in a positive direction? They won’t. Period. We must be open, we must share experiences, and in doing so we will strengthen the creative community.
Phew, ok that’s enough of me blathering on…apologies, I just feel very strongly about this issue!
Cheers,
~ j