Breaking into the media industry wasn’t easy. It’s not what you know, but who you know. I’m sharing 3 tips on how to network when you’re at an event. These tips will help any producer, crew member, and even aspiring actors.
What are networking tips that help you at an event?
I hate starting from scratch! But it is necessary to growth. For instance, I started a non profit when I was 22, to mentor high school students and expose them to college. By 23, I had to step away. Too much drama between the board members. However, my experience at 22, prepared me to start both of my businesses at 30.
It’s terrifying letting go of what you know for the unknown. So when I had to let go of my relationship of 7 years, I was scared and devastated.
Letting go of my relationship, also meant letting go of my photographer. It took me forever to build up my confidence in front the camera and now I had to start from scratch. My first photo shoot outside my relationship was nerve wrecking. Could I really do this without my ex? But God! God sent me a photographer, a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul, to remind me of who I am. She directed me to laugh, smile, sing when all I wanted to do was cry. I felt silly. But she captured the true me. The me who was buried beneath years of emotional abuse and insecurities. The me who knew what I wanted, but was willing to settle to please a man. The me who knew her worth, but compromised her beliefs for a man who had no vision. The camera reflected who God created me to be. And it takes a true photographer to bring that out.
Truth is, I knew my relationship wasn’t working and I wanted out, but I feared starting from scratch. It was either stay and suffer or leave and flourish. Now, I feel so confident in front the camera and my content has improved. Starting from scratch gave me the opportunity to grow, explore new possibilities, and embrace me.
I had a plan to take the perfect picture of me walking, singing and enjoying the scenery. With my head held high, I walked. Confident, right? But my heal got caught in a deep crack. I caught myself before I fell and the photographer caught me in the midst of my trip. I was so embarrassed, but when I saw the photo I laughed. Sometimes, we get so caught up with making things perfect that we forget to live in the moment. In the moment, I was happy. I was joyful. I was free. I had a rough couple of months, but you couldn’t tell by looking at this photo.
When I let go of trying to get the perfect picture I was able to embrace the real me. The photographer captured the beauty in my trip.