Entrepreneurship and the Artist: with Marsha Shandur

Marsha Shandur is a networking professional, meaning she helps people make unforgettable impressions and interactions with bigger/more powerful business owners so that they can later on benefit from them as a friend. She gives presentations, speaks in huge conferences, and is a full time Storytelling coach. From listening to MotionHatch’s podcast, episode Marsha Shandur, I learned many aspects of networking.

1. Go to conferences or presentations that pertain to your field or star speakers that are successful in your field. Clearly if someone is talking about their success, they know how they did it. Try to talk to them and inquire about resources they used when they were a budding artist.
2. Be friendly, but most importantly, ask questions to signal to obtain information and show interest in their work. Be aware of their body language and try to make them feel comfortable with you. Small talk is scary but inevitable, so at least try to initiate the first small talk before delving into a real conversation.
3. Ask awkward as it might be, always ask for their email. Having their contact after making a good impression is a great way to start a networking relationship.
4. Faking confidence to break the ice is 100% ok! Some people aren’t comfortable approaching strangers and starting conversations, but this is how you make friends in the industry.
5. If you act comfortable, it will make the other person feel comfortable as well. People are painfully aware if you are extremely uncomfortable talking to them or forcing small talk. Relax a bit, take a breath, and put yourself in your happy place. Comfort is key.
6. Don’t think of it as networking, think of it as making business friends who help you out and you help them out.

These tips personally helped me rethink networking and i’ll keep this advice in the back of my mind next time I’m at an artist talk or conference.