Preparing for a meeting, any meeting
Guest Post by Michele Wallerstein
Author of:
“MIND YOUR BUSINESS: A Hollywood Literary Agent’s Guide To Your Writing Career”
Lately I’ve noticed that clients don’t seem to know what they want in their career conferences with me. I offer these conferences to help writers and other would-be filmmaking professionals to help them define and achieve their goals. They pay me a fee and we set up a time and place. Once we have our coffees in front of us and are seated comfortably, there is often a short silence. I wait for their outpouring of questions. They are not forthcoming. “What is it you want me to help you with?” I ask. There is a bit of stammering accompanied by a small grimace. It seems that they just want me to miraculously know what they need and to tell them the brilliant bits of knowledge that will open the magic doors of Hollywood.
Once I see what is happening I explain the procedure to them and try to find out what they need to ask and, more importantly, what they need to know. Often the client doesn’t really know how to get the right information. I have to figure it out for them.
All of this leads me to understanding why some folks get ahead in their fields and why some don’t. You have to know the questions. Take heed people, all meetings are important. They tell who you are. Even silences send out information like arrows to the recipient. Be prepared for your meetings, whether you are paying for them, asking for them, or are asked to be in attendance at them. Think through what the agenda will be or needs to be. Ask friends about their meetings. Figure out what you want to accomplish.
OK, now, dress nicely and go to that meeting.
Michele Wallerstein is a Screenplay & Novel & Career Consultant and author of “MIND YOUR BUSINESS: A Hollywood Literary Agent’s Guide To Your Writing Career“.
Email: novelconsult@yahoo.com
Web site: www.novelconsultant.com
I think you just nailed every wannabe creative type languishing in a day job that’s unrelated to their other ‘x’ writing ambition … when faced with the reality of what they might want best just bang on with the creating and avoid all sense of the people you need to convince and collaborate with to actually succeed in a commercial sense … I say they … I really mean me … always a start to know your problem … I’m working on it … slowly but surely … thanks
Imo – people who dress nice and smell nice to pitches got “simple , go no where” scripts.;)
And if you come to a pitch – trim and proper and trying to flirt with the business, it means your script is too prim and proper and you are interested in the art. As an artist.
A producer looks for an artist. Who cares what he or she wears, just dress simple but conservative and pricey and take a shower and get a nice haircut and learn to talk like professional with brains and good management skills. The trick is to dress simple but with pricey simple attires. And practice taking like a trained actor or businessmen. Take some acting lessons and learn to mingle with businessmen and executives. Get job in office and learn the art of office politics.