Your Key Connection Could be Right Next to You (So Beware)

For privacy reasons and since this is currently an active discussion that’s happening, I need to withhold names and specifics, but it won’t take away from the impact and importance.

You see, I don’t feel I can encourage you enough to believe in the fact that you never know who might be in the crowd anywhere at all that you’re performing.  I have my own first-hand accounts where I’ve witnessed someone influential coming forward and I know it’s happening all around.  I believe that I’ve even gone on the record before about a musician who was judging a talent contest with me one time even sharing his story.  (He was performing at a tiki bar and felt like there was next to no one there or listening.  At the end of his show someone came forward to ask him about his music.  When they talked about the next album he was trying to put out and how he was having trouble funding it, the patron wrote him a check on the spot to cover all the recording costs!)

I was even recently heard on Episode 159 of “Now Hear This Entertainment” asking singer Jessica Jolia how she got pulled up onstage in Hollywood by Chico DeBarge and what that turned into for her!  So there’s an instance where someone wasn’t even plying their trade, but a door still opened.  Just like the latest one that was shared with me, as alluded to at the outset of this blog.

Recently I was with someone (I’m even going to leave the gender out so as to not reveal – or jinx – the person) who told me about their being at a local spot, having a meal with an acquaintance.  Someone at the next table eventually leaned over and admitted that they’d overheard some of the conversation and acknowledged what this person does.  Not having heard everything word for word, though, this person wanted the individual that I know to give them a brief synopsis.  After a one or two minute briefing, they wanted more, so out came the 5-10 minute version.

After all that the inquiring party revealed that the questions were being asked because of their significant other holding a key role with a major entertainment company in one of the three big U.S. markets for such.  (How am I doing at protecting the identities/project here?)

Of course the next and very important step in a situation like this is the follow up.  It doesn’t matter who you meet if you don’t contact them back.  And rest assured, yes, you are the one that should be calling and/or emailing them.  Remember, you need them more than they need you so don’t sit back and wait to hear from them.  Plus, the “I don’t want to look too eager, so I’m going to let some time go by first” excuse is only valid for, say, 24-48 hours.  Don’t wait any longer than that, otherwise the party you’re going to contact will say, “Really?  He/she is excited about the discussion we had?  Then why are they waiting until only now to finally get back in touch with me to follow up?”

If it turns into nothing and the person isn’t able to help you out after all, still walk away knowing that you did everything you could and be sure that you’re confident that you’ve left a good impression.  Maybe they or someone they refer will come back around at some point.

Remember the Jessica Jolia example and now this one that someone shared with me.  In both cases these individuals weren’t doing what they’re known for.  Use that as a reminder that you’re always “on the job,” so to speak, representing yourself as a brand and a business, so be on your best behavior and ready to talk about what you actually do in case someone nearby connects with you.  Yours could turn into the next “you never know who” success story!

What story do you have of someone being in the audience at one of your shows where it turned out to be a key connection?  Talk about it in the Facebook group here.