Full Transcript for Episode 7 | Networking

00:03:36.879 That's what you just did. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:37.439 No, I won't. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:42.639 I went five and yeah, five and one. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:44.400 I was just giving it a speed countdown. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.199 So um today we're gonna talk about networking. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:53.599 Let's talk about networking. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:55.840 Let's talk about you and me. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.800 Talk about mostly you, barely me. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:03.439 You have strategically placed yourself to be the introvert of the two. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:05.840 The introverted hide in the cave, yes. 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:08.159 Um is that cave white or is it black? 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:09.599 Because this is very white. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:11.599 A white void. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:16.160 We'll be back in the regular podcast studio, I think next time. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:23.680 Um we we come to our for them, you know, but um we come to the Red Creative Studios. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:24.240 Who? 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:24.639 What? 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:25.279 How? 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:26.720 When, where, why? 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:27.600 William. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.040 My brain is like barely braining today. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:32.879 Take it easy on me. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.720 Um, our videographer friend Justin opened a really freaking sick studio in Wiley. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:40.480 It's called Red Creative Studios. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.319 Um, he's got like podcast suite and this awesome. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:47.839 I can't remember if it's sick or psych, or you pronounce it one way. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:49.759 I I Googled it and it's another way. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:50.480 I don't know. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:51.759 Um Psych Wall. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:52.240 Psych. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:53.279 Okay, cool. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:54.879 Is that right? 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:57.680 Sure, it's one of the two for sure. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:12.079 Um anyways, so we're trying out this space today, giving Justin some BTS of people using this as a podcast space, but he's also had some like really freaking cool like music videos and all kinds of stuff in the space. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:20.319 So if you're looking for a podcast studio, I'm gonna give Justin a plug because this has been just really nice to be able to just show up. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.600 Drop a link in the description and link in bio. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:28.879 No, it has been really nice to just like show up and have lights and cameras ready. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:30.079 Everything, yeah. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:38.639 That way we can keep every tiny morsel of of thought about my last functioning brain cell gets to think of other things. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:40.879 Very few going on right now. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:48.079 Anyways, so we are talking about networking, and I am kind of excited because we've been networking. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:57.759 We have we we have, I know I do a lot of it more recently, but we have been networking for like quite a while, yeah, like eight, ten years almost. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.720 Um, and it kind of it's evolved, it's changed. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.040 If you yawn, I swear to god, I'm gonna yawn and hold it back. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:04.000 Hold it back. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:06.240 I yawned through my nose. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:08.639 It's a special talent. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:10.079 It's really weird. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:11.519 I yawn through my ears. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:12.639 That's basically what you said. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:18.800 I mean, it looks like I'm having a seizure in the middle of it, but just yawning. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:20.560 Networking has evolved. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.639 William, we gotta keep me here. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:24.079 She's really maybe cheaper. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.160 I'm really bad about it too. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.600 If you're not healthy at all. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:27.920 Yes. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:29.759 So networking has evolved. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:42.160 We started with like um, there was like a local, a very small like local industry group that was was kind of building um um in McKinney. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:43.680 And they're still around, I think. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:44.800 They are still around, absolutely. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:46.560 And they've gotten a lot bigger, I feel like. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.240 Um, that's kind of where we started. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:49.920 We kind of dipped our toes in. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:58.879 We were at the time like a little more budget of a vendor, and we were just trying to meet people, you know, sponsoring events. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:06:59.920 Sponsoring events. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:15.600 We still do a lot of that, but um things have kind of evolved, and you know, the there's a a saying, you know, you boss babe too close to the sun and you look up and you're, you know, not just sponsoring and volunteering or on a committee, but you're on a board. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:23.920 Um, and so uh a few years ago, I found myself in my first industry board position. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:29.360 I had kind of served in leadership and like PTAA board of directors and stuff like that. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:35.920 But this is my first time serving in real board of director leadership for the wedding industry. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:42.240 Um, and at the time, I kind of just wanted to learn about other roles. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:54.399 Um, I just wanted to learn from all the other people who had been in leadership and kind of soak up their experience and their knowledge and pour back into a community that I felt like made me feel really welcome. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:08:00.160 Um because networking is really freaking scary, hence why you

don't do it. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:04.879 I mean scary, yes. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:06.319 Not the reason I don't do it. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:08.319 Okay, elaborate. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.439 Um personality differences. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.120 Yeah, you're pretty chill. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:20.639 Um I'm not the person to get up in front of a room and not necessarily speak to the room, right? 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:24.399 But like actually go around person to person and talk to people. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.720 Yeah, that is not who I am. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:33.679 I'll stick to my corner and I disappear into my phone in the corner because oh, there's fake emails to answer. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:37.919 It's literally the worst way to approach networking, too. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:42.559 And it's it's it's our anti-networking strategy, is what that is. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:45.279 How do I go home and let Christina do it? 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:46.559 Yeah, oh, he looks busy. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.519 We shouldn't bother him. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:49.840 And nothing gets done, nothing grows, nothing. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:53.279 I mean, um no, uh give yourself more grace than that. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.320 You do nothing gets done, is far from the truth. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:00.879 But I I hear that in networking specifically, it is very uncomfortable for you. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:08.399 And so we've been able to kind of like pivot and let you do the other administrative behind the scenes post-processing. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:09.279 Yawn again. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:10.240 Dude, I'm trying. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.120 What happened? 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.799 The coffee, I left it over there. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:13.519 Go get it. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.320 No, just kidding. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.480 Don't get off the everything's rolling. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.600 Um, dang it, not lost my thought. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.840 Okay, oh yes, there it is. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:22.480 She's back. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:27.840 So you're we've we've allowed you to kind of like lean into your strengths, and we kind of let me do mine. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.240 So yeah, I um took a little break from being on a board. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:37.279 My term had ended with the passport and I blinked, and now you're on another. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:42.159 I was on a few committees, and um, I'm actually really, really excited. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:53.679 Um, I love uh the the group that I'm gonna be serving on the board for is called NACE, uh National Association of Catering and Events, and it's uh a national organization. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:58.960 Um, I'll be with our DFW chapter, and I freaking love these people. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:08.240 They are so generous and inclusive, and um, I feel like truly pour into all of their members. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:11.759 Like um, I remember

my first time coming. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:17.600 There was this um guy who who's a DJ and does photo booth and all that, and he was in charge of membership. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:22.240 And I remember just feeling so like he just was like, come on, let's go. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:23.440 We're gonna meet people. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:28.159 And I just felt so supported to succeed, you know. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:32.080 Your your your emotional support extrovert meets you at the door. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.240 Yes, exactly. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:38.799 And so I'm actually really excited because I've now taken over his position. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:50.080 Yeah, and so I'm excited to like wrap people in and just like big old, you know, word hug, or if they allow hugs, physical hugs too, because I'm a hugger, but only with consent. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:55.679 And um, but but you mentioned standing at the corner with your phone. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:11:04.399 And I see people do this all the time when networking, it's so hard, it's so vulnerable to get out and be like, hi, I'm Christina, I'm a photographer. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:05.600 What do you do? 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.279 You know, it is awkward. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:18.240 And so if we just lean into these, the fact that everyone is feeling the same way, everyone has anxiety going into a networking meeting or a luncheon or a happy hour. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:19.120 Everyone feels it. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:24.159 Yeah, everyone overthinks their clothes, they feel nervous about looking like a doofus. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:29.200 Well, the industry puts a lot of pressure on that to begin with, because it is a very visual industry, yes. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:34.720 You yeah, yeah. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:37.360 I'm gonna stop it there just so I don't get myself in trouble. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:49.840 I mean, your your feelings about it are um it's you're just overwhelmed by all of the it becomes something else to handle. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:57.200 Yeah, especially when they throw weird themes at you and you're like, dude, I'm like neon night. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:57.679 Great. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:59.360 Yeah, I'm like, I dress like Roy Kent. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:02.639 Yeah, like I dress like Roy Kent. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.559 What am I gonna Yeah? 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:05.519 I hear you. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:06.399 I hear you. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:10.559 I do, I do love meeting people though, personally. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.679 I love it. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:18.159 I love um I'm I'm also just like not very service level when it comes to meeting people. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:26.720 I'm like, tell me what you want and how I can help you make it happen, or um tell me about your whole family, your kids, who do you hate, who do you love? 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:30.159 Like, I want to know everything about a person all the way in their core. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:39.200 And I'm also like kind of kind of chaotic, you know. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:43.120 Like I feel like, but but not like in a chaotic part. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:54.240 That was like the one time you said, you know, but like not in when it comes to work, there's there's like a switch you gotta like turn on, right? 00:12:54.399 --> 00:13:03.039 Yeah, but I think that there is still that like underlying um piece of being human that I'm willing to let people see for me. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:10.000 You know, I'm willing to let them hear me say, I feel really goofy in this outfit because I didn't have anything in my closet on theme. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.279 So this is the best I got. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.559 Or um I'm also willing to tell them like you feel weird here, don't you? 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:16.960 I do. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:21.600 And I feel like your clothes can become your brand, right? 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.720 Sure, absolutely. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:27.440 If you Sir Sergey, like Sergey has nailed that, yes. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:30.240 I the hat is his. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:30.559 Yes. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.039 Right. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:34.480 I don't think I've ever seen him in anything but his all-black. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.200 Cowboy hat everything else. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:48.399 But like even getting to that point, like if you threw at him what was like, no, I can't even say Texas sheet, because he just kind of falls into that to begin with. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.360 It's so funny though. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:57.679 So Sergei is actually the same person I was referring to earlier who kind of like brought me into NACE and just made it all feel so easy. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.519 Like he was just so friendly with it. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:09.279 And anyways, what Will's referring to is Sergei wears this black cowboy hat, all black clothes, and he's just like always you always know what you're gonna get from him. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:22.960 So but if you pulled up tropical night or something, like if you gave the theme Margaritaville, like is he going to change like how how much of his outfit changes to that theme? 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.960 Yeah, if that's what the theme of the event is. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:26.559 Yeah. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:31.919 And he would probably grab a margarita and walk around with it, and that's how he would fit that theme. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:39.679 But um, I do think that sometimes these themes are given as like guide of what to expect from the event, the speaker, the decor, whatever. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:15:10.720 And I think it puts pressure on us in an unnecessary way, and maybe we Sometimes I did for me on the Texas sheet because a majority of us will go along with it, but if it's what's on brand for you is Yeah, I think that it's the I think when when you're referring to Sergey specifically and these themes,

what you're saying, I think, and you please correct me, is that he is remaining true to who he is while still showing up and participating in whatever the theme is. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.960 Exactly, regardless of the theme. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:13.679 Yes. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:27.519 And I think that that has been the thing that for me in networking has changed the most over the last six years, is that I've been, I feel free to be myself. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.399 Now, am I still nervous about how people will receive that? 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.240 Absolutely, yes. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:48.960 But I do feel like coming to the table as anything other than who I am is not honest and not sustainable because I can only pretend to be anything other than myself for a short period of time. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.320 Eventually people will see. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.080 And I want people to see that. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:55.279 I want people to be let in because I want to see that from them. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.960 I want to see their real colors. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:10.240 I want to get to know fellow vendors at a networking event for who they are, because I can't encourage them, lead them, support them, help them grow if they're not being honest and transparent too. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:12.879 So yeah, um I hope that helps. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:13.519 Yeah. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.000 Yeah. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:14.559 Yeah. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.039 Yeah. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:15.360 Yeah. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.519 You can yawn. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.720 I'm gonna have some water. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:22.000 But I mean what do our notes say? 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.399 Go ahead. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.120 No, no, no. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:39.600 I I mean, I think you just said said it though, like the pressure to be polished and outgoing and impressive is so overwhelming sometimes that we forget that who we are and what we do can speak for that also. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:44.639 Like you watched um okay. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.759 I did it in in in New Jersey. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:58.720 Um part of the day did kind of fall out of documentary and into let's pose and do this walkie bit and kind of like have the portraits. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.440 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:00.639 Yeah, it was just stuff like that. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:03.919 But like breaking out of that, it's definitely not who I am, right? 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:10.079 I don't like to tell but but you know there's a time and a place. 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.279 To turn that on. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:11.839 Yeah. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.559 And I think it goes back to our last episode too. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:22.160 Sometimes if your battery is drained, yeah, it's hard to flip that switch because it it drains a lot faster. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.680 Um, if there's anything left to drain at that point. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.640 Yeah. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.519 Yeah. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:37.119 Um let's kind of talk about like actual strategies that I would like to give people when they're coming into a room that have helped me. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:37.680 Okay. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:49.279 Um, so as we're driving to whether it's a networking meeting or a wedding or whatever, I have to take time to like mentally let go of whatever is already running in my head. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:18:03.599 Because if I'm thinking about emails and invoices and family and what my kids are doing, and you know, if if you've gotten enough opportunity to edit, if I'm running through all those things, I'm not actually present, right? 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:07.119 So step one is to get my my brain clear so that I can be present. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:07.359 Yep. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.279 And step two is I shake it off. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:11.279 Like literally, I turn up the music. 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:13.359 Normally, like right now, it's like Noah Khan. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:16.000 Like I just really find his voice just so soothing. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:20.480 And I just yawning again, go get some cavity and I swear to God. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:21.599 Stop. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.359 You just let it roll and just keep talking. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.400 I can't. 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:36.240 Um, anyway, so going in, kind of like finding a way to have some fun and to enjoy my own presence before I'm around other people. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.799 Because if I'm not centered in myself, then I definitely can't pour into others, right? 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:42.960 And I feel like it kind of sits back. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:55.839 There's movie scenes and stuff where like the main character is about to go do X, Y, and Z, and you have like all the noise and things running around, and then all of a sudden it goes. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.200 Yes. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.039 And then goes dead quiet. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.599 Yes. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:06.000 And like the screen narrows, and you're like, okay, yeah. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.480 That's what I'm picturing for you. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.880 But it's kind of how it feels, honestly. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:15.759 You know, um, anyways, yes, that is that is how it feels. 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:22.000 And then when I get in the room, I try and greet everyone that I see. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:28.079 Like I try and make eye contact, a wave, a hello, a hug when willing. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:35.680 You know, like I try and extend intentional interactions with each person so that they feel seen by me. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:38.720 So that immediately I'm pouring into other people. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:41.519 No, I know that that is not for everyone. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.920 Sometimes just stepping into the room is hard. 00:19:44.240 -->

00:19:44.720 Yes. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:51.119 And so I encourage new networkers, people who are showing up to the rooms for the first time. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:58.319 I encourage them to put away the phone and to literally find someone else who's standing alone because it is never just one person. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.359 Yeah, it's always a couple. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.440 It's yes, there's always at least a couple. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.160 At least. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:12.160 So find someone else who's standing alone and use the time that you've set aside to be in that meeting to truly make at least one good connection. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.759 Can I make another challenge out of that? 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.400 Please, yes. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:23.039 If you're one of the people in the room that is talking to other people and you see it, help that other person else bring them into the fold too. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:28.160 Because they might be scared to come in. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.839 They don't feel important enough. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:33.599 They don't feel like they belong, they're fresh, they're new. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:40.880 Bringing them into that fold is going to help open them up to make them feel more okay with Yeah. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:21:01.119 There's a huge responsibility on leadership and people who have been in the room for a while to be the ones to initiate those conversations, to help people kind of let down their guards and find the bar or find an appetizer and um know that not only are they a fellow person in the room, but somebody has their back. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.359 Yeah. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.400 Somebody I see them. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:05.839 Come here, hang out with me and this group of people. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.160 Yeah. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:10.000 Tell us what actually ask questions about the new person in the room. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:16.960 Don't turn to the three other people you're already talking to and go, hey, do you know who this is? 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:18.079 Do you know what they do? 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.920 Go grab them and bring them over. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.000 Hey, I noticed you over there. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.759 Um what's the email you're trying to reply to? 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.000 Like, do you do be nosy? 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.759 But no, but like hey, we see you. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.880 Come be here. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.240 Let us learn about you. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.920 That's what we're all here for. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.319 Yeah. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:50.559 If we're all here just to talk to the same four people we've spoken to over and over again for the past five networking meetings, yeah, or happy hours, or whatever we're doing for the networking portion of it, like we're not actually networking at that point. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.119 That's right. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.599 We're hanging out with friends, which is, I think, also part of it. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:58.880 It's part of the form of networking, but that's sure that's a different thing down the line. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.839 Yes, for sure. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:06.319 So my role will be um a I'm a co-director of membership. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.640 I'm not really sure what that looks like yet. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:21.599 This will this will be happening, you know, in the coming months, but um I'm looking forward to being somebody who makes others feel welcome and seen and appreciated and supported. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:28.319 Um simply because I I genuinely want all of my peers to succeed. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:39.680 Um so I think that as uncomfortable as it is every single time, no matter how many years I've been doing it, it's always uncomfortable driving into the meeting. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:45.279 But um, once you're there, find one or two people that you can stand with. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:55.200 And I think when you blink, you'll be 10 years down the road and you'll have a pretty sweet community of people just by doing one person at a time, meeting one person at a time. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:55.680 Yeah. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.319 Yeah. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.359 So um it's a good way to do it. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:22:59.920 Yeah. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.480 Yeah. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.319 It says bring it back to weddings. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:02.880 Yeah, I know. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:05.759 And I just don't know how I'm already looking at it going, huh? 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.240 I don't know. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.960 Okay, oh yeah. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.319 I'm so glad we write notes. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.720 I'm so glad we pre-planned some of these things. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:14.160 Um, so for weddings, right? 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:20.319 This is not just for vendors going to to organizations and trying to network. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:28.720 This could also mean guests coming into a reception who maybe don't have a plus one or maybe aren't part of the immediate family. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.880 I can bring that back into the vendor in the room. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:34.000 So the vendor in the room that hasn't been there. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.119 Like you, yeah. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.119 To be honest, yeah, right. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:46.400 Um, when we come into weddings, the way we shoot, I definitely feel more like I belong with the group of people around, right? 00:23:46.559 --> 00:24:00.480 We get more time with the groomsman, you get to buddy around and pal around with people, we talk, there's a camera in the room the whole time, we're chatting up, yeah, normally cracking jokes with each other. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:07.440 When I come into weddings when I second shoot for people, okay, I definitely get that feeling of I don't

belong. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:15.039 I'm not as comfortable toward the end of the night when the dance floor opens up to get into people's space to photograph. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:20.880 I'm not as comfortable moving myself up to where I would at one of our weddings. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:26.400 Yeah, we get pretty pretty up in the butt, like really in between the lines, even. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.559 No, not the dance floor. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.880 Very specific. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.359 No. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:33.359 I'm like speeches. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.279 Prime example here, right? 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:35.519 Okay. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.880 Setting up for speeches. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:47.039 I'll be shooting with people, they'll have video and they'll have photo and they have all the stuff going, and you've got three people, the speeches are all happening, it's in a line. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:56.319 Not really what I would say how I would personally go, hey, let's move them, like how to set set them up. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:56.799 Yeah. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.319 But it was okay. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:04.240 Um, but everyone all the media team is all of a sudden on top of these people. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:25.599 And the only way to get a shot is to either cut other people off or get in between the guests and the speakers or the and there's not as much space to to navigate where our weddings speeches start to happen. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:34.079 I don't mind being six foot off of the guests or in between the speaker and and the couple. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:39.119 I've done that um the ceremony, the same thing. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:42.000 Like I I don't feel as comfortable. 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.599 Oh, at the ceremony. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:56.079 Yeah, like I'm comfortable because of the group we've been around, but when you put us into kind of a weird place, quick timelines, quick turnarounds. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.119 I've only known these two. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:04.480 You still feel like somebody who's other in the room, you feel like um like less like a friend with a camera, which is what we're doing. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.839 More like a creep in the corner. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:09.759 More like the not a creep in a corner, more like the hired help. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.559 Why are you up there? 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.039 Get back. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.240 Yeah. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:18.640 Um for our listeners who haven't had us as their photographers at weddings. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:32.559 Um, I typically stay at the back during the ceremonies and kind of photograph layered-in things and wide shots, and I'll come down the center aisle some and get some of the more like traditional angles. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:42.000 But Will will kind of work the front wings and then also during the ceremony, he is you're very good at doing this because I don't even notice most of the time. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.240 I'm usually so go ahead. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:52.400 I'll kind of shift between center aisle up front to in in front of the first row. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:52.960 Yeah. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:53.599 Lower. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.000 Yeah. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:27:01.440 And then working behind um the wedding party and the officiant and everything also. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:11.279 Um where our weddings, I I can get comfortable doing that, but I feel like the odd person in the room doing it other places. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:13.440 And it's just a weird observation, right? 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.400 When I was thinking about it. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.880 That's all. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.440 Okay. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.799 No, I like that. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:20.880 Um but like the guests don't know who I am at that point. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:24.480 Where are weddings, the guests do, and it opens you up a little bit more. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:36.240 Like so you're saying that by being there more, you're able to create better bonds and share um the space as how how the couple knows us going into the day. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.559 I think is where the big difference is, right? 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.039 Yeah. 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:44.480 Um and it's that same discomfort that people feel at networking events when they're walking into a room. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:49.680 They feel uncomfortable coming in, and the more time you spend around, the more comfortable you'll get. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.599 Yeah, I'll go photograph again, second shooting, right? 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:02.000 And I'll be with the groom for the couple hours in the morning, morning quotation marks, afternoon really is a lot of times what it is. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:08.000 And then the lead photographer comes up and still introduces themselves to the groom because they've never met. 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:14.480 And that doesn't that's that disconnection that makes it feel like a fresh person in the room. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.279 Yeah. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.160 I don't know. 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:18.480 I'm I've I've taken us wildly off topic again. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.200 So I know you you have, but I've that we knew this. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:24.319 We said to bring it back to weddings, and I'm trying to make it about weddings now. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.200 Why not? 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:29.599 So yeah, like it um. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:35.200 I don't know if they can hear that, but there's definitely an ice cream truck. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:40.079 That's really funny. 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:45.440 But taking it back to networking to that, it's kind of in the same vein though. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:48.079 You have to flip that switch to be some someone else. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:29:02.079 And if you're not this big, boisterous, yeah,

high-energy person in the room, yeah, which I am not, like I'm not um who are some big name photographers I can drop in there for this. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.799 I don't know. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:05.119 Uh Jerry Gionis is really good at that. 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.240 Oh, yes, he is. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:20.720 Um if you're ever needing headshots and like you look into like Peter Hurley and how he like that is a personality trait that is inherent to that person, and it's not something you can learn. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.000 It is so hard. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.559 Yep. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:30.640 You can learn bit bits of it, but to break yourself of that, you always have because you're no longer being true to yourself if you're gonna emulate them. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.279 Right. 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:45.279 Um, and so it it I feel like um I'm not actually an extrovert, and I'm definitely not an introvert, but um because because yes, I I heard this term omniv I can't. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.640 Omnivore, omnivert. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.440 Omnivert. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.960 I almost said omnivore. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.559 Um, omnivert. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:57.279 So it's like somebody who has the ability to go out and flip on the switch and be extroverted. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:00.880 Um, and I think in the moment, I do truly enjoy it. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.559 I don't think that's being fake. 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:07.279 I really do enjoy the time I'm spending with people, but I'm definitely not charged by that. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.319 And I'm definitely the same. 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:12.400 I have to go home and I am mentally exhausted. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:15.119 Like after a wedding, even there is no talking in the car. 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.720 It is so quiet. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.480 We are mentally dead. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:22.000 I'm gonna start bringing airpods to go home with so I can at least have music. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.759 Yeah, because you don't talk to me. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.799 There's nothing left in there. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:25.759 She's empty. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:32.480 Um, but yeah, it's actually the same way for me when I come home from networking and also the same way when we go home from podcasting. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:36.400 Like this is actually Oh, yeah, we're not gonna talk not on the way home. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:48.799 This is like a a lot of um, especially when we're filming multiple episodes, like it is a lot of extroverting, kind of, you know. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:51.359 Like again, we're not being unnatural. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:53.759 It's it is very real us. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:56.640 It's just we get tired. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.400 The girl is tired. 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:01.279 Um so still enjoy it. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:04.400 We love weddings, we love networking, we like podcasting. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:08.640 I think love is a strong word for this, but we like podcasting right now. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:11.920 I hope we grow to love it, just like we've it's okay. 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.279 Okay. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.440 Oh my gosh. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:18.720 And with that, I think we can go ahead and wrap up. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.599 Are we? 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.519 Yeah, you're skipping stuff again. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.160 No. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.559 No question from the group chat? 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.519 No, not for this one. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.240 Not for this one? 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:26.559 No. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:40.640 Oh, we're we uh we had quite a few that we had like backlogged, and then um yesterday I forgot to post on Instagram that we were recording today, so I used our our one extra question from the group chat last episode. 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.920 Next time we can do two. 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:47.920 All right, all right. 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.880 With that, we're out. 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.000 Yeah, we're out.