I hate talking to people. Especially about me.
So...I'm an introvert, which is one of the hardest things to be as a performer and teacher. I prefer teaching one student at a time, and students who are more talkative stress me out because I feel like they run the lesson for me. I hate public speaking, especially about myself, and sometimes getting up on stage for a solo unaccompanied piece is the hardest thing I think I've ever done.
The old adage, "It's not about what you know - it's about who you know," applies in many instances in this business. I get more students, gigs, and job offers through word of mouth and meeting in person than all my advertising, web marketing, and promotions combined - which I am totally OK with!
The hard part is getting yourself, as they say, "out there." I find that if I click on an extrovert switch inside myself for twenty or thirty minutes at a time, I can meet people and talk about the things I do without blushing or feeling too braggy.
The most important thing to remember is that you know what you're doing, and it's your job to show people that.
Often, you'll be surprised how happy people are to hear about what you're doing, and how much more they will want to know about it. I truly enjoy playing my instrument(s), playing my instrument(s), talking about them, listening to them, and researching them. I love explaining how awesome the Alexander Technique is and sharing some of the cool tidbits I learned during my thesis research on healthy musicianship.
If you just start by talking about what you like, it can easily lead to a referral: "Why don't you set up a lesson with me and we can talk some more about ____?" "If you like that, you should check out ____!" "Here is my card - it has a link to my website, where you can find out more about ___" etc.
The old adage, "It's not about what you know - it's about who you know," applies in many instances in this business. I get more students, gigs, and job offers through word of mouth and meeting in person than all my advertising, web marketing, and promotions combined - which I am totally OK with!
The hard part is getting yourself, as they say, "out there." I find that if I click on an extrovert switch inside myself for twenty or thirty minutes at a time, I can meet people and talk about the things I do without blushing or feeling too braggy.
The most important thing to remember is that you know what you're doing, and it's your job to show people that.
Often, you'll be surprised how happy people are to hear about what you're doing, and how much more they will want to know about it. I truly enjoy playing my instrument(s), playing my instrument(s), talking about them, listening to them, and researching them. I love explaining how awesome the Alexander Technique is and sharing some of the cool tidbits I learned during my thesis research on healthy musicianship.
If you just start by talking about what you like, it can easily lead to a referral: "Why don't you set up a lesson with me and we can talk some more about ____?" "If you like that, you should check out ____!" "Here is my card - it has a link to my website, where you can find out more about ___" etc.
But you have to leave the house.
The other part of networking is actually getting "out there," by which I mean - out of the house! Go to workshops, concerts, masterclasses, and lectures. You will start to recognize people who frequent events focused around your specialty, and you will start to learn things about each other. You might even see a colleague perform, teach, or speak, and it can give you insight into your field - or your competition, as it were.
You don't have to be a social butterfly when you do go out - being visible to your colleagues and clientele is half of the battle.
You don't have to be a social butterfly when you do go out - being visible to your colleagues and clientele is half of the battle.
Try it. you'll be surprised at how well it goes.
Or you might hate it, but you will certainly get more students out of your comfort zone than you would by sitting on facebook and waiting for the phone to ring!
RSS Feed