We interrupt this new EXERCISE FOR SUCCESS series to bring you a public service announcement:
I'm just back from a day-long seminar given by Bruce Baker and hosted by the League of NH Craftsmen in Concord, NH. You can see Bruce Baker's website here: http://www.bbakerinc.com/
Bruce presented two of his fabulous seminars, one on booth design and one on craft selling. My buds at the League were surprised when I showed up. "You've heard Bruce so many times!" they said. "What will you possibly learn today??"
A lot.
I've learned that every single time I hear Bruce speak, I have another insight into what this biz is all about.
Besides being incredibly funny and entertaining, Bruce really digs deep into the nuts and bolts of booth design--what works, what doesn't, what your booth should do, and what you should do in your booth. Same with selling. Bruce breaks it down into understandable concepts, helping you avoid the pitfalls we all fall into. His expertise can strengthen our sales presentation. He offers concrete examples of what to say and what to do, explaining what works and why. He gives good insight into what's really going on when you talk with your customers so you can use it to your advantage.
I'm in the process of changing my booth again, looking for something sophisticated and a wee bit easier to get up and down. It was good to go over the basic philosphy behind booth design, look at successful booths, and hear about new tools, tips and resources.
But the main thing I got from Bruce today was this.
I'm fired up again.
I'm realizing there are a lot of things I've done wrong with my booth, but also a heckuva lot of things I'm doing right. I realized I'm not alone in my struggle to figure all this stuff out--LOTS of people have to try a lot of things before they find what works.
And I remembered that when someone comes into my booth and falls in love with my work, and has to take it home with them--that's what makes all this hard, hard work worthwhile.
So if you are not familiar with Bruce's seminars, check out his CD series for sale at his website. I already own the one on booth design and selling, and I just bought his latest one on jury slides today. He's even funnier in person, but his CDs are chock-full of the same excellent observations about this side of our industry.
Bruce also teaches with the Arts Business Institute, which you can learn more about here: http://www.artsbusinessinstitute.org/
If you'd like Bruce to come and talk to your organization, have them contact him through his website. Same with ABI--they will set up a series of seminars in partnership with an art organization, school, guild, etc. You can even ask for Bruce specifically, and they will include him in the line-up.
(ahem...) You can also request moi, but that would be a self-plug.
No affiliation with the guy, just a happy, happy customer.
P.S. In the slide show, I recognized the booths of two of my friends, Mark Rosenbaum and Pam Corwin. Both were used as "good" examples (thank goodness!) And Bruce credited my friend Bonnie Blandford for a terrific "one-liner" he uses in his presentations. Way to go, you three!
