Four
days ago I moderated a discussion group for a group of fifteen new
writers. The guests we interviewed were
agents and managers from very prestigious companies. The event was held in an elegant room at a
gorgeous hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills.
We took a lunch break at a nearby restaurant where I sat with the group
and answered questions and gave advice to them on their writing careers. The day lasted four and a half hours and I
was not paid to do this. It was
exhausting and draining for me. I had to
be “on” all day. It’s like a
performance.
If you
are wondering why I am rambling on about this I will explain. New screenwriters everywhere are dying to get
into the business of the Hollywood studio system and to sell their movies. They constantly complain that the doors are
closed to them and that they can’t get past the gatekeepers. After having been introduced to my group as a
former agent and current script consultant these folks asked all kinds of
questions and got honest, down-to-earth answers from me. I brought my business cards as well as some
of my book; “MIND YOUR BUSINESS: A
Hollywood Literary Agent’s Guide To Your Writing Career”. Four people bought my book and a few took my
cards. As I mentioned, it is now four
days later and not one of the group has sent a thank you note to me. Perhaps it sounds silly or egotistical to you……but
it is an egregious error on their part. They had spent those hours with someone who
was open to them, who has spent thirty years in the business of Hollywood and
who could and would willingly help them with their careers. A thank you note is a way to insure a new
contact, continue a connection, form a friendship and get a way into the
business they need. This is the heart of networking.
I
even explained this to them by way of suggesting they write to the guest speakers.
It couldn’t have been made clearer to them.
The
world is speeding along. Days fly
by. People connect via email and FB and
Twitter. In Hollywood the connections
are much more personal. There are
breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks meetings.
It is face time. There are
Hollywood parties and gatherings. Every
deal is based on relationships.
When
someone extends a hand, grab it with all you’ve got. It may be the life and career saver that you
need.
