Hey Girls,
Deadline: 2/23/2011
Be Your Own Best Publicist is full of insightful and useful tips for landing a job, getting a promotion and being all you are capable of being on the job and getting noticed for it. And it's written in an inspiring style.
It reads like a friend chatting with you, sharing with you their lived-through tips. I know you will find the book helpful and handy for all types of pursuits, whether you are just out of college, starting out job hunting, or trying to get a promotion and noticed for the hard work you put in...or an aspiring model. The PR techniques are for all pursuits in life to grasp and use to get ahead and get where they want to be.
Hard work is something I believe in. I think working hard is a good thing, not something to cringe about, the journey of striving to do something is about not giving up, it takes work, and journey is the best part.
The Journey is where all the networking and self-growth happens and where accomplishments are made, and like Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper have mentioned in their book, and during our podcast segment, during that journey there is great importance in, "Being resourceful and flexible and having a plan B," while building your reputation, promoting your skills and making yourself indispensable. The book shares the three P's. Prepare, Project and Protect.
- Prepare by developing your personal story.
- Project your personality, image and key messages.
- Protect the image you've created.
I always say in modeling to:
Do your research and be prepared for what you are walking in to. A model is also a marketer.
So, you should know: What is that casting for? What have their previous campaigns looked like? What is the image of the brand/company, magazine, etc., so you can go prepared, and look the part and have a better chance of booking that job and getting that opportunity. To show you can do something and that you are good for the job, you often have to first prove you can, whether it be in the professional photos you've crafted or the words you choose, presentation matters, present yourself- first impressions matter, yes, in modeling too.
The better you are at selling yourself, skills and assets in all different situations the more of a chance that you will get that chance. And you know I talk non-stop talk about believing in yourself, and knowing yourself and assets. The same message can be said within an office job or any job really.
Also cmmunication skills are so important to not take for granted, and knowing how to communicate and being able to talk to anyone is an important asset when it comes to networking and build contacts and striving. I don't just mean talking through social media, although social media, facebook, twitter are self branding and communication tools, knowing how to spark up conversation is not something to dismay. It is important, yes even in this Internet and Digital-Age.
And Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper mention in
Be Your Own Best Publicist, and also on my podcast, that when you’re going to an event, meeting or corporate get together you can relax by, "Being prepared to talk about a news event," and to be prepared with topics to chat about ahead of time. I have started conversations by asking a person I didn't not know, "How do you know the host of the event, or so and so," or "Where did you hear of this event?" And when I was at a romance reading recently I asked someone I didn't know, "When did you start reading romance novels?"
Remember for modeling it's about if your look fits what the art director, editor or casting director is looking for, but everyone loves a person with some personality, someone who brings a smile. Even as a model, sometimes you have a few minutes or seconds to make a little extra impression to an editor, casting director or photographer during a casting. It's so important to have a good attitude and smiling is always a good idea. And if you can bring a compliment that is always nice. Sometimes I've complimented on the clients last campaign, or if it was a shoe modeling casting sometimes I have said sweetly, "This is such a cute shoe" "This is a great heel," or "great color!" etc. Showing interest in the brand, client, magazine, casting that you are attending, can make you memorable. When I am complimented on my own modeling comp card, I have taken a quick moment to share a little more detail of the images, "Oh that was for an Easy Spirit campaign," or "I loved that shoot, it was for___." Bring your professionalism and some personality.
I mention on this blog that models, especially shorter models, have to really work to build their network: know hair stylists, know stylists, know photographers, and even knowing editors at magazines can be of benefit. I got my first tearsheets myself, my first tearsheet actually came from a photographer thinking of me after we met, and he needed someone last minute, someone who was easy to work with and had pep/personality. Me! Another time, I worked with a photographer who pulled jewelry from a boutique store and had networked with local brands and stores, and after our shoot he pitched the editor of a local Miami magazine the editorial photo story and it got published. I've learned the importance of networking, bringing more to the job than just your face, etc., bringing your ability to be "a part of the project" can also be important. Once on the job shooting a shoe campaign, I suggested some ideas for the next shot when the art director was stumped.
During our chat Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper
mentioned how being resourceful and having a positive attitude, being a problem solver is a skill that is a big asset. They shared an experience when the Internet got turned off before a major press release had to go out, so instead of settling on saying, "Oh well, this sucks" or "I guess we can't do this now,"--they suggested to get resourceful--by packing up and heading to an Internet cafe and getting the press release out anyways. Make it happen, make it work, find a way, think fast, and be willing to be innovative and resourceful.
Models can also be resourceful too.
Photos are an aspiring models major marketing tool, so when working on your photos for your comp card and portfolio, the ability to pull a handbag from your friend's collect, use your friends coffee shop as a location, or know a hairstylist at a local hair salon who might want to be a part of your own photo shoot could lead to building relationships and even getting modeling jobs. Let's say you are a new aspiring model, without much experience and you want to approach a professional photographer who has a lot of experience and has shot for magazines and campaigns, or even a photographer for just a headshot,--if you can at least offer a location, a stylist, a makeup artist, an idea,- you might get a chance to work with them, by being more than just "another model" it shows your professionalism, even if you are new to the game.
Also as an aspiring model you should be networking with those who are also ambitious and aspiring, I met one of my best friends at an accessories trade show and ended up modeling for her aspiring handbag line, now her handbags have been seen in magazines and also on the show Gossip Girl, but I knew her when she was starting out and was one of her first models. Later, I helped her get some buzz for her brand and when an article ran on her, obviously I was the model in the photo that was used. It helped me build experience when I was starting out to work with a growing brand and I also gained a great friend.
When I asked Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper about how a newbie at the interview process can prepare, and how to celebrate their strengths during the job interview and handle the question: Tell me about yourself?
The ladies suggested before the interview to: "
Write down how they would describe themselves, write down a list adjectives, what makes you unique, what makes you different, what makes you, you?" and "Ask your mom, best friend, boyfriend and also someone you don't know quite well. And see how they line up," because "it's a good way to whittle down what your key assets are." And think about the job description and why you are good for the job.
Be Your Own Best Publicist also shares quotes and stories of professionals and career coaches, I like the one from Maggie Mistal, "Soul search before the job search."
If you missed the show today with Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper, you can listen to the segment here or download it on iTunes to your iPod/iPhone and carry it with you throughout your pursuits:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2011/02/16/being-your-own-best-publicist-with-jessica-kleiman-and-meryl-weinsaft-cooper
Aim high and strive,
~Isobella Jade
P.s: I have had a lot of coffee today!
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