Loaded Bow

Today I was featured on Ofifteen, a blog by a lovely lady named Olan whose focus is on design, DIY and trendcasts and so forth.  There are two thing I want to mention about inerviews. 

Focus on the task at hand

One, is that to secure an interview you must propose your business or article idea to many publications or blogs.  If you look very closely at who would sincerely be interested, you will have much more success.  Time is most valuable to people these days.  To send a mass email to too many non-related publications or blogs is not only a waste of your time, but is considered amongst professionals to be rude.  I was once applying to galleries in Calgary and got a reply back from a lady that said “If you look at our site, you will see that we only show photography.  Please only apply to that for which you are relevant or eligible.”  Cold, yes. Fair, hell yes.  Had I looked at her site?  No, not really….but I had bbc’ed her to a list i was compiling without respecting her by even looking at her SITE!  How rude!

I spend about 15 minutes per day looking up information, applications or grants.  I apply to things like blogs, Western Living, radio programs and home design TV shows with my paintings regularly, but especially when I have a new bosy of work or an upcoming show.  In an average week I may apply for about 6-10 things.  This takes time and sorting, but has proven well worth it!  Authentically networking online is a great way to promote your business, it is free (apart from your time) and can reap some worthwhile rewards!

The second piece of information I wanted to mention was that when you do get interviewed for something special, but sure to be yourself.  Pre-prepared answers don’t always fly and people want to hear about your STORY.  Focus on what sets your business apart.  Leave them something memorable and before you get interviewed remind yourself what the business was founded one, the spark that ignites it and something funny or wild to mention about your business that makes you approachabel and real.  Also, read interviews that strike you as fantastic and ask yourself why this interview spoke to you.  There you will find your authentic voice.  Remember your rights and don’t ever let the interviewer manipulate your word.  If they are trying to corner you just keep repeating the same truth. 

(Example:  I was interviewed about my controversial show Profession of Hurt and a nasty lady from the Prov_n_e newspaper (not shown here) tried to get me to say some really harsh things about why I had done the portraits of the women killed by Pickton.  I just kept repeating that “My focus for the work is commentary on how media presents us with one set of beliefs or ideas about types of people in society.  The show is largely about how the marginalized poor often bear the brunt of these stereotypes.”  She twisted my words and when the article was printed, she had quoted me on much of what we had talked about ‘casually’ after the formal interview had ended.  Don’t be afraid, but just be aware and confident.  Less is more if you are suspicious of the interviewer or afraid of being misquoted.)

zoe+loadedbow