The Fine Art of Self-Promotion
Posted on July 9, 2009
Filed Under Natalie Bovis | 1 Comment
Natalie Bovis-Nelsen is the author of “Preggatinis™: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be;” host of The Liquid Muse Podcasts (filmed throughout Tales of the Cocktail); teaching the Virgin Mixology seminar; and unabashed by the fine art of self-promotion.
Tales of the Cocktail may be full of parties and seminars, good times and cocktails. It is also an incredible opportunity to connect with liquor companies, magazines, bloggers, mixologists and salespeople. Here are a few basic tips to help you maximize your time at Tales and increase your professional potential:
1) Business Cards: Hand them out like candy. Collect them like they’re gold coins. While you’re caught in the flurry of festivities, its easy to overlook the valuable assets the people you are meeting could be later on… or your could be for them.
2) Think “Collaboration, not Competition”: This is my mantra. Sure, there are other cocktail bloggers, mixologists, educators, freelance writers and beverage consultants out there. And, thank goodness! If I were the only person doing the things I do, it would mean that there is not a lot of demand for those services. Don’t be afraid of “competition.” Make friends, create alliances. We all go farther when we find ways to work together.
3) Don’t be shy: When I first started The Liquid Muse, I remember feeling a little tongue-tied around some of big-wigs in our industry. Dale DeGroff, for example, still leaves me a little star-struck. However, muster up the courage to go over to your mentors and say “hello.” Ask question in the seminars. Exchange cards with the people you admire. They won’t bite and – usually – they are happy to meet you, as well. Most importantly, you won’t kick yourself when you get home for not taking that opportunity.
4) Follow up: Speaking of going home… Don’t think that Tales of the Cocktail ends when you get on your plane back to wherever you came from. Send “nice to meet you” notes to the people you met. Remind someone of the conversations you had about that project coming down the pipeline. Being professional goes a long way in promoting your services, media outlet or products.
Although we are all in New Orleans to have a good time, at the end of the day, this is a business conference. Treat is as such and you will be amazed at the new opportunities coming down the pipeline for the rest of the year.
A very quick comment about Dale DeGroff… I’m a friend of a gentleman who’s currently kicking some behind in the mixology scene, and a couple of weeks ago he and a host of other bar-folks came to roost in my town for an event. After a good dinner by ourselves, we joined up with the crew.
They were incredibly welcoming, and despite a gauntlet of warm, laughing introductions, one stood out – a gentleman who took my hand with both of his when we shook, and said, What’s your name again, dear? and A real pleasure to meet you. I agreed with him. Of course, I had no idea who *he* was until my friend pointed him out again later… Brass tacks? The man’s got class.