As I slip further and further away from "miss" and into "ma'am", I am more keenly aware of how I am treated in public by the opposite sex. I've come to the realization that I'm not the sweet young thing (subjective opinion) that I once was.
The men who shamelessly flirt with me these days are guys in some sort of service industry (or crazy guys, I get that too). I was finding this surprising and even flattering, but now I know they do it because they are paid to. You get more flies with honey, right? Sometimes, if done well, it still is flattering, but sometimes it's just ridiculously disingenuous and creepy, like wearing too much cologne.
I checked into my hotel in New York this week, and the guy at the desk was just dripping with flirtery. On first glance, he was a young, probably gay, Hispanic guy so he caught me off guard when he batted his eyes and said "Is this your first stay? I do hope you come back again". My mind said, "what was that?". I turned to my co-worker to see if he heard it too. He did, but he did not betray it.
Then, he said "Here is your key, please stop by if you need a map...or just to say hi." Uh huh. Come on, dude, just be polite. You are not convincing or endearing. I'm a responsible consumer. I would have tipped you anyway.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Word for Freelancers of the World
I've been thinking about this subject for a long time. Part of my job as a producer is to hire teams of creative and production people to create media for events, websites, curriculum, etc. Many times, and with varying success, I will hire freelancers who are new to being in business for themselves.
I'm always rooting for people who dare to be in business for themselves in this tough economy and this industry in particular. Secretly, I wish I wasn't so attached to my company so that I could do this myself, and take vacations whenever I wanted, and make twice as much money. But it's a trade-off, and I love the place I work and it's benefits.
Over the years I've seen new freelancers make professional mistakes, not career-ending, but mistakes that make me not want to hire them again. I have been told by my peers that I am too nice, too patient and too forgiving, but I believe in giving people a chance. The more experience I have, the more I know how this needs to be managed so that I don't put my projects and my client relationships at risk.
Here is some advice that could be useful to a freelancer or contractor when first starting out. If you follow this advice, you will make yourself very valuable in a competitive market:
1. Work your contacts, but don't pester people. It's great to check in once a month or every couple of months to let someone know you want to work with them. Don't call them or email them every week. We know you're there, and if we like you and need your skills, we'll call.
2. Be very clear about what you offer. Have confidence in your skills and talents, and communicate those so that we know exactly how it is you could fit into a project. If you don't know what it is that you want, we can't help you. We often need someone to take a project and run with it. Uncertainty is a risk we can't afford to take.
3. Do some research and price yourself for the market. It's always good to negotiate for the first job with a new company, but know what your skills are worth. Whatever you do, don't ask us what you should be paid. If we haven't worked with you, we have no idea what your work is worth.
4. Research the company you are trying to work with. Know what they do and have some idea of how you can be of service.
5. Be honest and realistic about your capabilities, but also about your availability. The biggest mistake I see people make is taking on every job that comes along, and then running into a time crunch getting them all done. We do not want to hear about how many other projects you have going on. We want to know that our project is a priority for you, and that you have enough time to do a great job and deliver on time.
6. Don't tell me how great you are, show me. If you've gotten as far as a meeting or a phone call, I am impressed. Let your work speak for itself. Sales pitches are annoying.
7. Be responsive. If I do have a project and I call you, it is go-time. Things move so quickly in this world that I might not have two days to wait for you to get back to me. If I call you more than once, and response is slow, I will assume that you are busy and will probably put someone else at the top of the list for future projects.
8. Be professional, even when working with friends. I have a casual rapport with people, but I'm serious about the work. We can be friendly and joke around, but I need to know that you are as serious as I am, and that you're going to give it 100%. If you do, I will definitely refer you to my peers.
9. Treat every project like it's the most important thing you have going on, because it is. Repeat business and recommendations are what make your freelance career successful!
10. Don't be high maintenance. Make sure you have all the tools to do your job. Don't assume we will loan you a computer or give you a ride to a location shoot. Don't assume that we will be able to spend a lot of time training. We hire experts in their fields because we don't have the time or the skills to do what you do in-house.
11. Do what you say you're going to do, but if you run into challenges, tell me. If the scope expands beyond the budget we agreed upon, beyond your skills or beyond the timeline, tell me. I see this mistake all the time. Rather than raise a flag, people will get frustrated or feel resentful that they are doing more than they bargained for. I never want to take advantage of your time or make you do more work than I'm paying for, but I don't know what your limits are unless you tell me. I'm happy to push back for more time or more budget if there is a legitimate case for it.
12. This industry is in constant flux. A project very rarely hits every milestone and deliverable exactly as expected. There needs to be flexibility of mind on both sides to be successful.
13. Meet your deadlines to the best of your ability. If you consistently delay or miss deadlines, or don't communicate, it doesn't matter how talented you are, we won't ask you back for another project. And word gets around.
14. Leave a positive impression. A good attitude is the key to doing exactly what you want to do in the world. I will hire someone who has a great attitude and is resourceful over the most talented person with an entitled attitude any day.
15. And if you work with me and you don't have a good experience, for whatever reason, don't blog about me or my company by name. It's a smaller town than you think.
I'm often juggling multiple projects at a time, and I always need help with something. If you are freelancing - the work is out there, go for it! It's not easy to get started or to know the right way to handle things, so I hope these guidelines are helpful. Good luck and see you out there!
I'm always rooting for people who dare to be in business for themselves in this tough economy and this industry in particular. Secretly, I wish I wasn't so attached to my company so that I could do this myself, and take vacations whenever I wanted, and make twice as much money. But it's a trade-off, and I love the place I work and it's benefits.
Over the years I've seen new freelancers make professional mistakes, not career-ending, but mistakes that make me not want to hire them again. I have been told by my peers that I am too nice, too patient and too forgiving, but I believe in giving people a chance. The more experience I have, the more I know how this needs to be managed so that I don't put my projects and my client relationships at risk.
Here is some advice that could be useful to a freelancer or contractor when first starting out. If you follow this advice, you will make yourself very valuable in a competitive market:
1. Work your contacts, but don't pester people. It's great to check in once a month or every couple of months to let someone know you want to work with them. Don't call them or email them every week. We know you're there, and if we like you and need your skills, we'll call.
2. Be very clear about what you offer. Have confidence in your skills and talents, and communicate those so that we know exactly how it is you could fit into a project. If you don't know what it is that you want, we can't help you. We often need someone to take a project and run with it. Uncertainty is a risk we can't afford to take.
3. Do some research and price yourself for the market. It's always good to negotiate for the first job with a new company, but know what your skills are worth. Whatever you do, don't ask us what you should be paid. If we haven't worked with you, we have no idea what your work is worth.
4. Research the company you are trying to work with. Know what they do and have some idea of how you can be of service.
5. Be honest and realistic about your capabilities, but also about your availability. The biggest mistake I see people make is taking on every job that comes along, and then running into a time crunch getting them all done. We do not want to hear about how many other projects you have going on. We want to know that our project is a priority for you, and that you have enough time to do a great job and deliver on time.
6. Don't tell me how great you are, show me. If you've gotten as far as a meeting or a phone call, I am impressed. Let your work speak for itself. Sales pitches are annoying.
7. Be responsive. If I do have a project and I call you, it is go-time. Things move so quickly in this world that I might not have two days to wait for you to get back to me. If I call you more than once, and response is slow, I will assume that you are busy and will probably put someone else at the top of the list for future projects.
8. Be professional, even when working with friends. I have a casual rapport with people, but I'm serious about the work. We can be friendly and joke around, but I need to know that you are as serious as I am, and that you're going to give it 100%. If you do, I will definitely refer you to my peers.
9. Treat every project like it's the most important thing you have going on, because it is. Repeat business and recommendations are what make your freelance career successful!
10. Don't be high maintenance. Make sure you have all the tools to do your job. Don't assume we will loan you a computer or give you a ride to a location shoot. Don't assume that we will be able to spend a lot of time training. We hire experts in their fields because we don't have the time or the skills to do what you do in-house.
11. Do what you say you're going to do, but if you run into challenges, tell me. If the scope expands beyond the budget we agreed upon, beyond your skills or beyond the timeline, tell me. I see this mistake all the time. Rather than raise a flag, people will get frustrated or feel resentful that they are doing more than they bargained for. I never want to take advantage of your time or make you do more work than I'm paying for, but I don't know what your limits are unless you tell me. I'm happy to push back for more time or more budget if there is a legitimate case for it.
12. This industry is in constant flux. A project very rarely hits every milestone and deliverable exactly as expected. There needs to be flexibility of mind on both sides to be successful.
13. Meet your deadlines to the best of your ability. If you consistently delay or miss deadlines, or don't communicate, it doesn't matter how talented you are, we won't ask you back for another project. And word gets around.
14. Leave a positive impression. A good attitude is the key to doing exactly what you want to do in the world. I will hire someone who has a great attitude and is resourceful over the most talented person with an entitled attitude any day.
15. And if you work with me and you don't have a good experience, for whatever reason, don't blog about me or my company by name. It's a smaller town than you think.
I'm often juggling multiple projects at a time, and I always need help with something. If you are freelancing - the work is out there, go for it! It's not easy to get started or to know the right way to handle things, so I hope these guidelines are helpful. Good luck and see you out there!
Epilogue
Look, I thought we could be friends, and I tried, but I was wrong. It’s not for lack of connection or affection, it’s just not going to work out. I’d love to crawl inside your mind, just for a quick visit, to find the answer to this question – What the hell are you thinking?
Seriously, I don’t see what you see when you make the requests that you do. I can’t fathom why you think I would bargain for that. Is it an inability to step back from the situation and see it for what it is? Or do you want what you want so badly that feedback from the other party doesn’t matter? Is it desperation or arrogance? I’m not sure what it is but believe me when I say I don’t want any part of it.
I don’t even think you want what you think you want, or that you have a grasp on what you’re asking for. I think you have an alternate reality going on in your mind, one that you believe is completely true and attainable. What’s sad is that you will never get it, because it doesn’t exist. No one is going to come in and take that pain away for you, or reverse what has already begun to destroy your sanity. No one can fulfill that fantasy, even if they wanted to. It’s tragic, but it’s true.
I don’t mean to say that you deserve to suffer, that you should suffer, or that you should suffer alone. You have to find the love in the world where it is. You can’t demand that it come to you in a certain gift-wrapped package, ready to sacrifice itself to give you everything you need RIGHT NOW. If you insist on this and this only, you will suffer more, and end up lonely.
You have to find the love in the world where it is. It’s there, but it’s destroyed by desperation. Love often doesn’t look like we expect it to, and most of the great love I’ve known in this life had nothing to do with romance, urgency or possession. You’re going about it all wrong, my friend, but it is there. I hope you recognize it when you see it.
Seriously, I don’t see what you see when you make the requests that you do. I can’t fathom why you think I would bargain for that. Is it an inability to step back from the situation and see it for what it is? Or do you want what you want so badly that feedback from the other party doesn’t matter? Is it desperation or arrogance? I’m not sure what it is but believe me when I say I don’t want any part of it.
I don’t even think you want what you think you want, or that you have a grasp on what you’re asking for. I think you have an alternate reality going on in your mind, one that you believe is completely true and attainable. What’s sad is that you will never get it, because it doesn’t exist. No one is going to come in and take that pain away for you, or reverse what has already begun to destroy your sanity. No one can fulfill that fantasy, even if they wanted to. It’s tragic, but it’s true.
I don’t mean to say that you deserve to suffer, that you should suffer, or that you should suffer alone. You have to find the love in the world where it is. You can’t demand that it come to you in a certain gift-wrapped package, ready to sacrifice itself to give you everything you need RIGHT NOW. If you insist on this and this only, you will suffer more, and end up lonely.
You have to find the love in the world where it is. It’s there, but it’s destroyed by desperation. Love often doesn’t look like we expect it to, and most of the great love I’ve known in this life had nothing to do with romance, urgency or possession. You’re going about it all wrong, my friend, but it is there. I hope you recognize it when you see it.
Monday, October 5, 2009
What Lies Beneath
Seriously, I think I'm on my last legs with working so many events in a row. I had the anxiety dream to beat all anxiety dreams last night. It was the first of three very vivid and symbolic (?) dreams.
Dream #1
Marty and I were doing an event (this is nothing new) with Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. The crew was sparse, so I had to be the tape op and roll the video on Mr. Ballmer's cue. The trick is that the tape decks were on stage for some reason, so when the time came, I would have to go on stage and push play on the right tape in the right deck. I had extreme anxiety about this. I didn't want to go on stage, especially with Steve Ballmer! I'm not a tape op anymore and don't they have a department handling this anyway?
The show got underway and I realized that I didn't really pay enough attention to the instructions and the chance of me getting it right was slim. I tried to explain to Marty that it would be better to somehow sneak up on stage when the exec wasn't looking, take the tape and bring it to the truck where they could roll it no problem. Marty was not sympathetic to my problem and had the attitude of "just handle it". I felt that even though this was not my job, if I screwed it up it could be career-ending.
But by the time I got to the stage, it was too late. He had already called the cue and there I was, back to the audience facing the tape deck, sweating bullets, trying to figure out which tape to push play on. The whole world waited. I knew I was going to do it wrong.
Dream #2
I was on my way to work and my car started to slow down and pull to the left. I managed to get it into the parking lot of a gas station, where I discovered that I had a flat tire. I was contemplating whether I could fix it myself or if I had to call AAA. I thought it better that I call someone.
Dream #3
I moved to Bothell and I was ok with it. I was contemplating what the effect on my commute and social life would be. This one seems kind of unconsequential, doesn't it? Still, I remember it so it must have some significance.
Sometimes it just doesn't pay to sleep too long...
Dream #1
Marty and I were doing an event (this is nothing new) with Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. The crew was sparse, so I had to be the tape op and roll the video on Mr. Ballmer's cue. The trick is that the tape decks were on stage for some reason, so when the time came, I would have to go on stage and push play on the right tape in the right deck. I had extreme anxiety about this. I didn't want to go on stage, especially with Steve Ballmer! I'm not a tape op anymore and don't they have a department handling this anyway?
The show got underway and I realized that I didn't really pay enough attention to the instructions and the chance of me getting it right was slim. I tried to explain to Marty that it would be better to somehow sneak up on stage when the exec wasn't looking, take the tape and bring it to the truck where they could roll it no problem. Marty was not sympathetic to my problem and had the attitude of "just handle it". I felt that even though this was not my job, if I screwed it up it could be career-ending.
But by the time I got to the stage, it was too late. He had already called the cue and there I was, back to the audience facing the tape deck, sweating bullets, trying to figure out which tape to push play on. The whole world waited. I knew I was going to do it wrong.
Dream #2
I was on my way to work and my car started to slow down and pull to the left. I managed to get it into the parking lot of a gas station, where I discovered that I had a flat tire. I was contemplating whether I could fix it myself or if I had to call AAA. I thought it better that I call someone.
Dream #3
I moved to Bothell and I was ok with it. I was contemplating what the effect on my commute and social life would be. This one seems kind of unconsequential, doesn't it? Still, I remember it so it must have some significance.
Sometimes it just doesn't pay to sleep too long...
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