It's Not What You Know...

Advertising and Music are both entertainment industries. They are professions in which your success is based on your creativity and talent, and if there is one thing I've realized, its that there are a ridiculous number of extremely talented people in the world.

Now, this phrase has been used to describe just about every job in the world, but I feel it gets used in particular with the glamor positions in life : Actors, musicians, CEO's, politicians, etc.

"It's not what you know, its who you know."

I couldn't agree more. The reality is that no one does it alone and you have to have a circle of people (a "network" if you will") to help get you where you want to be. HOWEVER I think way too many people use this as an excuse to not work as hard as they could or give up altogether.

So what if you don't get anything purely on your abilities? Get out there and meet people! It's not selling out, it's not sucking up, and its not cheating. It's building a safety net, a ladder, or whatever other metaphor you want to use. If you are a musician, go out and meet some producers, talk to some songwriters. Actor? Find people who make music videos, get involved with student films, befriend a key grip on some crappy B movie.

If you are in advertising, find out who did your favorite ads, and CALL THEM. Thats the beauty of what we do. No one is so famous that they won't take a call to speak with someone who truly admires their work. We're an insecure lot, and any ego-stroking is greatly appreciated.

You never know when you are going to make a friend who knows a guy who knows a guy who MIGHT get you a job. It's called opportunity people, and it doesn't just fall into your lap. Everything doesn't happen for a reason. Everything happens, and then its up to you to make some reason out of it.

Ok, rant over. See ya Tuesday.