SHAMELESS ACTS OF SELF PROMOTION AND DIVING INTO THE SOCIAL MEDIA POOL.

So this is my first blog. Like so many other bloggers out there, I have a lot to say about a lot of things. But I honestly don't know how people have the time to read the seemingly endless stream of information that's put out there, but I've been told they do read it, and that I should be part of it.

Coincidentally (not really), it just so happens that I think I have an interesting story to pass along. It's about social media, self-promotion and how I came full circle to design this web site. I am by no means a social media guru- just a guy trying really hard to find work/a job. So in some ways I've been thrown into the social media pool kicking and screaming, and without a life jacket. It's old school sink or swim baby- no arm floaties for you.

Yeah yeah, the STORY. Well, I've been a self-employed/freelance art director/designer for a long time. I've really been trying to get out there over the last few months, networking like crazy, going to events, shaking hands, passing out my biz cards. Eating (or preferably, not eating) a lot of bad bar food. Since when did stale cheese and crackers and yellow-tinged broccoli crowns w/dip become our national meal? Blecch.

Networking is all well and good, and I was adding people to my LinkedIn (I'm not a total social mediaphobe), but I can honestly say in the last several months of doing this, I think I had only picked up one concrete job, and possibly a pound or two. It's been tougher getting my butt out of bed at 5:30am to hit the gym when I'm getting home late from "an event" the night before. But when my wife told me she was going to the Hatch Awards a couple of weeks ago through work (her boss couldn't go and gave her his ticket-thanks Sean), I asked if she thought she could score one for me as well, since an extra $100+ is hard for me to come by these days (thank you Anand). I have to say, kudos to the Ad Club- they still do a great job after all these years.

So the night before Hatch, I sat in my office, looking over a pile of bills, overdue notices and other heart-achingly warm correspondences, and looked hard into the mirror. OK, so that's not true- no mirror, but I really did "reflect" on my situation and where the hell was I headed? It certainly didn't seem like I was going in the direction I wanted- no yellow brick road- more like a urine soaked alley if I didn't do something, and fast. (Did I mention I'm already working 3 jobs? That's another sob blog.)

Well, I thought about what this economic downturn has done to people/families. Foreclosures, savings wiped out, rampant unemployment; locusts, hail and days of darkness. Not pretty. And I realized I felt "homeless", not literally (not yet, but a real possibility), but in the fact that despite years of good experience, I couldn't seem to find a job/work where I could hang my hat, have a "home", contribute (note my "Homeless biz card" on the front of my site). Now don't get on me about being tasteless in my approach. Well, I guess you can- everyone's entitled to their opinion. But try walking in my shoes for awhile- I'll bet you find them damn uncomfortable.

About those "Homeless biz cards". I shot a pic of some corrugated cardboard, hand-lettered the front copy, scanned it in, printed them out 8 to a page at Staples (my color printer has taken a leave of absence). I then glued them onto actual corrugated cardboard which I had purposely peeled and scuffed the backs for a bit more "authenticity". And then I cut, and cut, and cut. And I built a big corrugated "biz card box" as well, to hold my new downscale cards. I decided against hanging a sign around my neck- overkill, and I think my marriage may have ended that night if I walked into Hatch wearing one: my wife, who has been nothing but a rock of support for me (thanks Ab), was very "unsure" about my new cards. Honestly, I was too. But I figured Hatch being Hatch, with lots of creative people mingling, drinking, drinking while mingling, and drinking a bit more, it would be a good place to hand them out. This was pretty far outside of my comfort zone, but I decided if I ended looking like a buffoon, oh well. And it gave me an excuse to wear my one good black (what else?) suit. At least I'd be a well-dressed buffoon.

We met a few people beforehand for drinks, and much to my relief, the cards were a big hit, and more importantly, the color actually came back into my wife's face. A woman my wife used to work with thought the cards were so great, she was going to blog about it (thanks again, Meg) on her company's job/blog site.

So walking into Hatch, I had a bit of confidence that I hadn't totally made an arse of myself. People were very responsive (all positively, at least to my face). Otherwise, I suppose they just steered clear of me. When the Awards portion of the evening actually started, I was standing in the back of the room with several people, trying to listen over the din. Don't get me wrong- Hatch is fun, but when you don't have anything entered, the natives can get kind of restless. A series of speakers, presenters, and winners whirled and blurred across the stage. I was about to use the rest room, when Edward Boches (CD of Mullen), took the stage. He was poking fun at Gary Greenberg, another very well known ad guy, who wasn't there that night. But it caught my attention, because I know Gary, and we both teach at Emerson. A minute later though, Edward Boches began to discuss a story from 25 years ago- that of the writer Jonathan Plazonja, and his best of show Hatch “campaign” he did for himself, just out of school, to get a job. And I was at the Hatch Awards that year so I remembered it clearly; I was working for Steve Cosmopulos at the time, and a lot of people were bull that some out-of-work kid without a job won, and that none of the so-called "big agencies" took home the “grand prize”. So I made a quick decision that I was going to walk up to the stage and hand this guy (who I did not know) my new "card"; I first apologized for interrupting him, (which I realize does not mean it’s OK), and I said “in the spirit of Jonathan Plazonja, I wanted to give you this”. I then high-tailed it to the back of the room. Luckily it was rather dark, so my embarrassed and horrified expression and out-of-body experience wasn't clearly visible to anyone except my friends. What the hell had I just done? Who WAS that guy. Did I really do that at Hatch. Yes, I did.

Would Edward Boches slam me- yes, kind of. Would he ever speak to me- yes, eventually. When you do something renegade, you can't really predict the results, and have to be prepared for what comes next. Ahh, but there's the rub- you don't know what's going to come next. But you can try and control it- I sent the story out to some local media, along with a truly horrific ex-con-like shot of me holding my card (the "nice" head shot I had didn't seem to fit the storyline). A good friend of mine wanted to know who the "old woman" was holding up my card (thanks Bob).

I got some good press. Then came Edward Boches' blog about what I did. He titled it “Hey stage crasher, you remind me of a bad TV commercial” (here's the link:http://edwardboches.com/hey-stage-crasher-you-remind-me-of-a-bad-tv-commercial). Nice. So I started to follow his blog, and honestly, the comments were mixed. But I came forward and defended myself. I didn't know if he would even allow my post to show, but he did, and better than that, he was fair and started a dialog with me. And emailed me privately. Of course, I also think it was also good fodder for his blog. But he met with me, sincerely tried to help me, took photos with me, was a real stand-up guy. I'm not delusional-I don't think I'll be invited to his house for dinner or anything, but I think I've made an ally out of him- maybe a networking friend- but at least I know I'm not on his sh_t list. So here's the end of it- a link to Edward's last blog where he says really nice things about me: http://edwardboches.com/engagement-works-better-than-interruptio

Did I get a job? Nope, not yet- still looking. So make sure you check out my web site. But I have a greater understanding about the power of social media to connect people. And it inspired me and energized me to create this site, this blog, and keep pushing it all forward. I wish I knew where this would all lead, but there are life experiences you just can't predict, and the roller coaster ride has been pretty interesting so far.

Craig

craiggrant@comcast.net

Comments

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