They’re Talking About You
A funny thing happened on the way to marketing my web series.
Well, maybe not so funny.
With my team, I reached out to journalists and bloggers about my series — about a woman who has the power to send Black people back in time to the days of slavery. In my press release (and in interviews) I talked about how the series came about because I wanted to mirror my own obsession with issues of race and how I intend to invite an audience into that same space. An article got published online and I was thrilled. I read the piece, was pleased with it, and kept marketing.
When I came back to the article a few days later I was shocked to find out I was being trashed in the comments section. People were making assumptions about my series that it was somehow disrespectful to the ancestors. They were calling me out. On the one hand, this is what happens today — this is what comment threads are about. On the other hand they were trashing me!
I chose to participate in the discussion and over the course of several days actually convinced one detractor to donate to my campaign. His change of heart was so complete he even offered to match donations up to a certain amount. I felt good about that — I told the truth about my project and I was heard.
My point is it’s important to put forth YOUR OWN NARRATIVE about who you are and what you do. Whether you’re crowd funding or not, people are making assumptions about you all the time. It’s essential for artists of all kinds to be able to articulate a context for their work. Having a clear story to tell about you and your creative work is an essential element in job interviews, website copy and bios.
In a recent PBS documentary about the career of the late film and theatre director Mike Nichols they ran footage of Nichols saying this: “The people who describe our work often don’t know what they’re talking about.” We need to own and tell our own stories. Those narratives need to be sharp and compelling.
Most artists don’t know how to do that. Sure, you have some sense of what you’re up to in the world. But are you ready to articulate it at the drop of a hat? That’s absolutely what’s required in interviews when someone says: “Tell me about yourself.” What do you say when that happens? What’s your elevator pitch?
In my work as a coach, I’m determined to help artists prep and own their best personal story about what they’re up to on the planet. It can function not only as a way to communicate, but also as a way to guide the work in moments of artistic confusion about where to go next. I’m teaching an online class to help artists build those storytelling muscles and create a compelling vision of who they are in the world. I’m excited to share some methods to get to the juiciest version of your creative story. It’s a tool that I think will always be useful.