Goin' to L.A.

Tomorrow I will be a-leavin' on a jet plane (although I do know when I'll be back again), heading out to Adobe's annual design/development conference, MAX. This will be the second year that MAX will be in Los Angeles, so while I know what to expect for the most part, there are sure to be many surprises in store. I'll be assisting with two classes as well; one is on After Effects and Rotoscoping, the other on After Effects and Flash. Sensing a theme? I'll also be hanging out in the Community Lounge as much as possible, so if you'll be there, that's the most likely place to find me. Hope to see you there, and I'll have a full review and pictures when I get back!

Silos

One issue creative clients run into frequently is an inability to get out of their silos. That is, they remain stuck in their microcosms of similar people, and therefore limit their networking to those who are not part of their target audience. Writers at writer's conferences are looking for their own book deals, not to buy the books of the competition. Same with other industries. While that doesn't mean that you should completely ignore making connections within your own industry, it does mean that you should branch out.


So where to begin? First, look at who is buying the product (always remember, creative work IS a product). Are buyers mostly male? Mostly female? Younger, older? Are they local, or are they dispersed geographically? It's not necessary to have a full run-down of every demographic, but at least have a basic idea of who might want to buy. Where do people like that go? What hobbies and interests do they have (other than the product's area)? Do they watch TV, play games, read books, go to concerts or sporting events? What kind of jobs might they have? Make a quick list and then look online to see what sort of events (online or real-world) are geared towards those things. Talk to friends and family members who are part of the target audience and who aren't. Where do they buy your type of product? A little research and a lot of cross-promotion goes a long way towards increasing awareness--and sales.

Introduction

Welcome to Entertainmgmt, a resource for those who manage creatives and entertainment-related projects. This blog is designed for creatives trying to manage business aspects of their own careers, as well as for professional managers who are handling others. We’ll discuss topics that are relevant to everyone in the entertainment industry; legal issues, finances, hiring and staffing, collaborating with others, conflict resolution, promotion, networking, and much more. We will also highlight issues that are important to women and minorities in the creative services/entertainment industry as well. The information here comes from real world experience, and will hopefully help you avoid any pitfalls while becoming successful in your careers. 

As a creative professional, managing your work is probably not an intuitive or easy process. There are tons of scammers waiting to take advantage of that, which only compounds the problem. In the upcoming months, we'll address topics to help you navigate through the seas of scam, the hills of hype, and the mountains of mumbo jumbo. We’ll interview creative professionals to get their tips and words of wisdom. We'll also provide a community forum to ask questions and get advice from others, as well as resources to help you network (and barter) with other creatives. Be sure to add this site to your RSS reader, and follow us on Twitter (@entertainmgmt) as well.