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DVD vs. internet for demos
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Perhaps more effective is a personal introduction or recommendation by some mutual acquaintance. Which is I guess why these various networking systems like Linked-In are gaining popularity. Your colleagues act as the first-stage filter.
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[Scott Davis] “if they are busy would they be more likely to look at an e-mail than take the time to take a phone call.”
Maybe, if done properly…
I tend to agree with all the others, however I received an email from a colleague today that made me think of you and this thread.
The email was very tastefully produced by the same professional website designer who also created their company’s website. It exhibited three or four exciting recent productions my colleague had been involved in, with links to clips of their well-produced video, and other than that it was fairly low-key and soft-sell.
I was excited for my colleague, as the email made his projects look like things I wish I were doing now. And above all, I found myself thinking, “heck, I’d like to work with him again.”
BINGO!!! Pay the line!!! Success!!! What that email did is about the best you could ever hope for. No email is ever going to close a sale for you, but it certainly shows that, if you can create the right email, it just might open a door or two for you if you’re lucky.
Hope this helps…
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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It always amazes me how a simple and thoughtful comment from someone can shift my whole paradigm. After reading Ron’s above response I am in the midst of reworking my whole approach. I am going to take the focus off of what/who I am and shift it to how I can help the person I am contacting.
In a way I find this so much easier in that I have always felt like a jerk when tooting my own horn.
Thanks again Ron and everybody else.
Scott
Scott Davis
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I hate getting cold calls, even if it is regarding employment. I am busy 10-12 hours a day and can barely spare the time to eat lunch (in fact, I rarely eat lunch), much less take calls. To make matters worse, people (understandably) want to get personable and friendly, chat it up etc. and I just don’t have time for that.
I know that sounds a bit grumpy, but it’s just the reality of running a studio. I would WAY prefer a simple introductory email with a link to an online demo reel. This way I can not only read the letter when I have the time, but when I need to hire it is much easier to pull up links than dig through the dreaded demo reel bin and load DVDs.
As always, just my 2 cents…
Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com -
I agree, Ron. If I have to read another email from someone using the same old generic self promotion/marketing puffery/classic resume language I’m gonna keel over.
I guess that comes with the territory. I must admit I remember how tough it is to craft a unique pitch that will cut through the resume clutter EVERY TIME you are looking for work, but people really need to try harder. I think most people out there forget that they are competing against other applicants and need to stand out from the crowd if they want to get noticed.
Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com -
Personally, I don’t take cold calls. Not to be a grump, either… but like Brendan, I’m usually just too busy to deal with them. If I happen to answer the phone myself and find myself with a cold caller, I’m polite, but they usually don’t get too much of my time. Those at my place who normally are the first to answer the phones usually do a pretty good job of screening the calls for me.
When I get emails, sometimes I click on the links, sometimes I don’t… largely depends on the tone and professionalism of the email and what I’m doing at the time.
However… if someone mails in or drops off a reel… I always watch it. Maybe not right away, but within a day or two. They took the effort to get their actual reel in my hands, so I give them the courtesy of a viewing. And you ever know when it might be good (or have an idea thats inspiring).
This is not a hard-and-fast rule or even a company policy or anything… it’s just sort of the way that it works out and the method that we have fallen into.
T2
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Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com
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I will chime in about cold calling and cold e-mailing.
Outside sales is a tough job and I feel sorry for people who have to make cold calls all day long.
But I agree, the internet lets you do free research on almost any company, so a cold caller should never ask “so what does your company do?”
I on the other hand often ask cold callers “so what does your company do?”
I get the occasional call with the following scenario:
Receptionist over PA: Mike, you have a call on line 2.
Me: Who is it?
Receptionist: I didn’t ask.
Me: Ask.
Receptionist: It’s Bob.
Me: I don’t know a Bob, but whatever.
Caller: Is this Mike?
Me: Yes. Do I know you?
Caller: Hi this is Bob from ABCXYZ Inc. I’d like to take a few minutes…
Me: What do you do, or what are you selling?
Caller: Well, can you tell me about your IT needs?
Me: We have no IT needs.
Caller: Are you the person who makes computer purchasing decisions?
Me: What’s a computer? I don’t have time, can you send me something?Or Alternatively, I get a follow-up call from someone I hung up on previously:
Caller: Mike? Hi this is Bob Smith.
Mike: Do I know you?
Caller: Yes, we spoke a few months back. I own XYZ Fish Hook Repair company.
Mike: Oh yeah. I told you before, we repair our own fish hooks.
Caller: Well can you allow me to quote you a rate?
Mike: What is your rate?
Caller: Well, if I could direct you to our website you can view our rate card.
Mike: You know what, no. Don’t call me ever again.
Caller: But…
clickWell that is a bit extreme, but as others have said, a cold call need not be ice cold.
As for cold e-mails, I usually delete these unless it is a newsletter I have signed up for.
More often I get e-mails as a response to a classified ad I have posted. I have several criteria for weeding through the dozens of responses:
1. A typo in the e-mail – trash.
2. A dead link – trash
3. Poor grammar, ie “I present to you myself for excellent work on the behalf of yourself” – trash
4. Form e-mail “Dear Sirs…” move to the Bad responses folder.
5. If none of the above happen and the links are good, this is a good e-mail to pursue contact.Our time is precious, and so is our money.
Mike
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Oh, yeah, I’ve had those conversations.
It’s just amazing to me that callers (whether they be sales people, job applicants, or whatever) don’t remotely seem to listen…
Case in point from last week:
I received a cold-call email from a lady (actress) inquiring about our casting process, and what she would need to do for consideration. She didn’t email me directly, she emailed via a feedback form from our website. The form that is on the SAME PAGE as the link to all the info she would ever need about casting here.
I wrote her back and gave her the link directly.
Next thing I know she has dropped off in our lobby a giant leather-bound portfolio stuffed with her pictures…. DESPITE the fact that we CLEARLY say do NOT hand deliver materials and do NOT give us anything that you expect returned.
I didn’t even look at it, because she didn’t listen. I don’t care if she looks like Halle Berry and can act like Meryl Streep, she’d be nothing but trouble on the set.
Sheesh…..
T2
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Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com
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as a hirer, I admit I’d rather get the email. It’s jst a delete away whereas the call is an interuption.
That said, as a job-seeker, I do know i’ll have to interupt somebody to get their attention. Standing in line for it will just make ya stand in line.
I’m saying if yu want… ask or demand. I woundt mess around with emails to do either of those.
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