how to get a dream job for creatives

1.suit up ....show up ....don't give up
no matter what


2.stop when you see a job site ask if there are opportunities for you to bid


3 20 calls a day 100 calls a week


4 informative emails...show photos of current work


5 blog... show work


6 use facebook.
set up a page
add photos of work
ask questions
find new FB friends in your biz
publish your website
share info about your friends small biz... they might share YOU back
answer questions


7 use twitter
you need followers... the best content twittered to nobody is twittered to nobody
you need followers IN YOUR BUSINESS
following competitors doesn't bring biz... always ask
can this person buy from me
help somebody
RT good content
thank people
notice people
and
TWITTER IS ABOUT THE LINKS... link photos, blogs and interesting articles


8.blog write often. short articles... link it


9 linkenin. yup it's like homework but that's how you find people who are doing something.
call them tell them you saw their website and are impressed with their work ( if you are) and
ask to be considered for their bid list


10 suit up .... show up... don't give up... no matter what
there is opportunity for everyone who hasn't given up

postcard

I prospect for work ALL THE TIME.

i have a 30+ year career as an artist, designer, and finisher. I have always been way busier than I can handle. The econami has changed some of the elements. Many design firms that ALWAYS used me are slow and some out of biz. Some of my contacts are layed off or had to find work in other fields. 

I've created a postcard that i use.

1  empty spaces

I put one in EVERY for rent for lease or empty space. regardless of if it is going to be a restaurant, salon, retail or unknown. The cards are often picked up by prospective lessees...perhaps not even of that space.

I know that sooner or later somebody is going to do something and it's my best shot at a chance to bid.

2 restaurants

I give 50 or a 100 postcards to restaurants we have done work in. i ask the manager or owner for their approval and ask the servers or hostesses to hand them out if people compliment any of the work. i don't want a tip dependent server to have to go in the office scramble for my number and lose momentum. people often ask who did this floor.

3business cards

I keep them with me and hand them out instead of business cards as I go through my day.

4  job sites 

i ask other tradespeople for THEIR CARD. i say it's been a pleasure to get to know them and I look forward to working with them again...in fact i'd reccomend them to my future clients...at that point they always ask for my card. the best place for a tradesman to have my card is in his truck. fabulous source of leads

5  tradeshows 

i am an exibitor at one tradeshow a year. of course I give them out at the hospitalikty design show in las vegas. but I always get their card and follow up.

6 attending tradeshows

as an attendee. i take my postcards because you never know what small company will be opening a showroom and need stained concrete or finishes

7 contact i use them as mail peices to jog old customers memory...we are still here, I sent them to prospective clients and after I've made an intro phone call

yogurthaven a new yogurt concept

here are just a couple photos from the new yogurt concept we've been working on for a couple weeks. it's just beautiful and the client is thrilled. i have several more amazing concepts up my sleeve...thanks for taking a look

looking for work 3

I almost lost it.

 i just thought this work, prospecting recreating a client list business was not going to work but i am have some success and breakthroughs when i least except it.

I've had a speciality painting and finishing business for many years. i've had long running design clients whjose work I've always done and have been busier than i could handle.

econami

many of our designers have slowed down and even have had jobs cancel or delay.

so late last summer I began reassembling a client list.

It's been almost impossible to even get a meeting with a design firm. although most of them are painfully slow. the premium on their time is more because the company's income is less.

I start by sending a hello intro email, then phone with a hello and ask if they would be willing to check out our website and if they had any interest save it to favorites for future use, i'm then calling back to see if I may have a brief appointment to present my portfollio.

Tomorrow we hav e a luncheon at a major la architectural firm, i met a contractor downtown LA who is doing garment district tenant improvements, i met a developer who is considering us for a sales office interior, we are quoting an exterior faux aged finish on an italina restaurant and yesterday i successfully pitched a yogurt store interior....to a guy i met while walking in his store.

it's the same thing. i can phone email, send make post cards... but showing up is 80%

celestekorthasestudio.com

cookies

oh boy! today we are going to berbere to the recession pot luck.

It should be fun.

Berbere is a huge warehouse of world furniture...imports from 17+ countries.

designers and architects use it as an amazing in stock warehouse for furniture and accessories.

Today they are having a big open house and recession pot luck every one is bringing a dish.

we made cookies

oatmeal cookies with pineapple, coconut and macademia nuts

oatmeal cookies with cranberries,pomegranete ,cherries,and berries

oatmeal cookies with simi and white swirl chips...

a plate piled high

I went with something oldfashioned with a unique twist.

It seems that everyone is bringing world food every ethnic possibility.

we are looking forward to a good time fun and some meet and greet

and not alergic to new business possibilities.

If you are a designer on the westside of LA...it's an open house stop by and enjoy