10 ways to meet other creators
I can say with confidence that I have built a great network of creative people in France and around the world : accomplished photographers, awesome designers, make up artists, stylists, costume designers, models, dancers, any talent, you name it! But as I just moved away from Paris to start a new life abroad, I am in the process of starting over, and I am looking for new connections where I am right now, in Bali. I realized along the way that I am not stressing out over meeting new people anymore and I though my experience and my process could help you get and create your own connections wherever you are!
FIRST OF ALL : WHY WOULD YOU EVEN NEED TO MEET OTHER CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS?
For me it is absolutely vitals to be surrounded daily by creative entrepreneurs : This is how I am fueling up on motivation, inspiration, and passion! No less!
It is also important to have a team of people your trust for photoshoots or any big projects you want to create : when you want to expend, you will need at some point a make up artist, another photographer to show you the best locations around, or just someone to help you discuss a business problem related to your industry. As much I love my family and my friends, they are not giving me the same insights on my work than other working professionals.
By building beautiful relationships with other creative, we support and help each others to improve and grow our work.
Plus for me, showing up and being a part of my community has always paid of for my career, it has been proven to be a much better strategy than waiting in my pyjamas at home by myself and desperately wondering why I am not a rockstar yet!
I do believe in the law of attraction in my own way, I think you have to be surrounded by a great energy of amazing inspiring people in your daily life to grow, to be understood, supported, and that you can’t become excellent just staying by yourself. My creative juice is just flowing when I am surrounded by working creatives, I can be fully myself and this is THE BEST LIFE :)
- Coworking spaces
After spending two years working at home by myself, I can tell you that I am a MASSIVE fan of coworking spaces : it help me get a better life / work balance, to connect with other humans during the day, and it just overaly keeps my sanity to a decent level! I am choosing my coworking spaces carefully, there are many of them and they attract different tribes of people. I am currently in Dojo, in Bali, and the place in filled with tech entrepreneurs, influencers, coaches, hustlers. I love this for my current « starting a new business" mood. But I am also going to another coworking that is just filled with creative people, photographers, musician, painters and artists for the days I want to create weird stuff on Photoshop. Some others are just for tech people and developers, just try them out and find your tribe!
My favorites : in Paris Station F, la Gaité Lyrique
in Bali : Hubud, Dojo, Kinship studio
- Local events
Some of the co-working spaces have weekly (even daily events!) sometimes it is just dinners, drinks, sometimes it is an open class or even a talk. This is an AMAZING place to make new connections. I just went to an event yesterday and got in touch with the speaker, a famous Youtuber, and He accepted to meet for a coffee next week to help me on my future video projects. Just go to any event that seems interesting to you, and talk to the people who inspired you. Even if it is just to say thank you! I KNOW this is scary, but it is absolutely worth the effort :) Check the events in your area on Facebook to find them!
- Do collaborations and shoot « time for prints »
Create a casting call on your social medias or online, and do shootings « time for prints » if you are a photographer. When I just moved in Sydney a few years ago, I posted a casting call on the website Modelmayhem (use book.fr in France) : It was the easy way to expend my portfolio and to get used to shoot in my new environnement. Thanks to this website, I was contacted by a fantastic professional stylist, and she became my make up artist and stylist for all my shoots in Sydney! I also shoot a model on my first week here who is still one of my best friend to this point! I shot other people that never made it into my life, but with who I went and shot in the bush or by the beach, an that was an awesome experience.
- Facebook groups in your area
Just type whatever you want to find in the search bar in facebook and you will find a group for it! When I arrived in Bali I looked for ALL the expats groups in Canggu, the town I am living in right now. I joined them all, and even found a couple of them that are just for creative people. If I ever look for a model or an advice here, this is where I will post, and I know for sure I will get 50 answers! Don’t hesitate to just ask « hey is there any creative, artist, photographer here that would like to go for a drink on friday? » For me this is the best and easiest place to start and be a part of your local community.
- Look for talks and networking in your area
My personal favorite events are happening regularly and all around the world Tedtalks, Fuckup, Pechakucha, creative mornings, Adobe events, or just anything that is interesting to you! Go there, sit next to someone and start just talking with them! You can make sure everyone in the public is probably a curious entrepreneur just like you! And your next step is to become a speaker to one of these event!
- Online Communities
Be part of an online community : I am part of the Sue Bryce education group for example, and it is very active. There are plenty, find the one you relate to! I specifically looked for all the members who are photographers in France, and I know almost all of them. We meet regularly, we support each others, and I have made great friends into this community. We even have now our own private french facebook group, where we share our questions about the specific french market, and I sold all my studio equipment there when I left Paris!
- Meetups in your area
There are hundreds of them, an depending where you are it can be a great way to start connect with new people! Just go on the Meetup website and you will probably find something for you!You can do anything from joining a meditation class, find other expats, go to the museums, and don’t hesitate to create your own! I would target specifically something that I love, but you can even try something new and crazy!
- Classes, courses
When I arrived in Bali, I noticed there are PLENTY of classes and small courses you can take afterwork : I found drawings and paintings lessons with nude models organized in a cool studio, singing and music lessons, impro and acting classes, as well as regular toastmasters for public speaking training : believe me I will try ALL of them, even just once for the fun! This is almost guaranteed that the local creative people are there :)
- workshops and big classes
Growing your knowledge and focusing on education is fantastic for many reasons. But one of them is also that going to a workshop from a photographer your admire is the absolute best place to meet people that are just like you : this is how I met Sue Bryce. I was also here at the Portrait Masters conference this year is Phoenix, and that was a fantastic networking opportunity. I was lucky enough to connect with a few speakers and we are now friends. I think being there in person, and being present is the best way to be seen and remembered, especially nowadays when everyone relies on social medias for networking. Sometimes you can even be part of the audience for free, I remember it was the case for Creative live, or some events organized by Canon, Sony, and other big names. Follow them on social medias to be informed when an opportunity comes!
- Instagram and social medias
I put it at the end of the list because for me, everyone gets a bit lazy because of social medias, and tend to forget it does not replace real life. Still this is a great great tool and I have met the best creative people, youtubers, by simply sending them a message! My secret is to follow up in real life, and to grab a drink with them if possible!
But the opposite is also true, everyone I met in real life I follow on social medias, and become an active member of their followers! This is how you keep you network alive and happy :)
I CAN ABSOLUTELY CONFIRMED THAT I HAVE TRIED ALL OF THEM AT SOME POINT THIS LAST FEW YEARS. SOME LED TO JUST A NICE FEW HOURS, SOME TO REAL FRIENDSHIPS, AND SOME EVEN CHANGED MY LIFE AND CAREER! LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE YOU ARE GOING TO TRY NEXT IN THE COMMENTS, AND IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO MEET LIKE PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE HERE!
THANK YOU AND AS ALWAYS, HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY, I AM SENDING LOVE AND COCONUTS FROM BALI!
