Networking & Connections

Networking

Networking for me has been working jobs, meeting people on those jobs, and staying in touch with those people. I really should go to more meet-ups, and trade shows, but I lean introvert and prefer the occasional dinner hang instead. 

That said, networking for me has also included staying active in the internet community. Gear and software forums, listservs, discord channels, etc. 

Connections

Connections are everything. Don’t be afraid to use them. But remember: it’s a two way street! 

I have an amazing group of colleagues that I’ve worked with in various capacities for over a decade. This has kept me employed. What hasn’t kept me employed are cold job interviews or cold applications via email or web form. I’ve got a few jobs and projects that way, but those were never the right match. 

Not included in this breakout are the failed branches of my career; dead-ends and time-sucks. It’s a rosier picture than reality, but it’s kind of cool to think about. 

I’m pretty good at what I do, and I think people like working with me, but how did I start? In college, I worked as a scene shop and technical assistant for the theater department. Basically building scenery, playing with computers. The summer after my freshman year (2006), I applied to be a production assistant for a summer stock theater on Cape Cod (you know which one if you know the scene). In a follow up phone call to that application, I did something that I still regret and feel weird about – and I’m paraphrasing here – “My grandmother is super active in your community, do you know her?” I’d like to think I got the gig on my own merits, but this almost certainly got me in the door. 

On Cape Cod, one of the show stage managers and I got along quite well, and I asked to use him as a reference on my resume. A couple of years later, I declined a position at Williamstown, but somehow my resume was forwarded and ended up in the hands at Powerhouse, where the education director knew that reference. I interviewed and got the job. This led to a lot of other projects and jobs until the Production Manager at Powerhouse, gave my information to 3-Legged Dog. I had tried to apply cold for jobs at 3LD in the past and never got an interview. The PM’s encouragement got me an interview and I was hired on the spot (2012). On my first day there, I met a multimedia designer who was one of my references for my current primary client (2022-2024). Thanks, Grandma!