MY BIG FAT SHOW
I’m sure there are more students than ever out there with a cold sweat, just thinking about how they are going to get their break into one of the toughest sectors on the planet. I was lucky enough to be able to be included in the University of Salfords mybigfatshow’s portfolio surgery held in Manchester’s Hive building.
After taking my seat there was a constant influx of talented and bright eyed students, all carrying their work with pride and flourishing with personality. Meeting over 10 different students all with their own slant on the industry it was refreshing to see such a wide range of skills coming through, skills which will allow our industry to flourish and hopefully evolve. One of the major things I noticed throughout the surgery was that there was a lack of commercial knowledge, this is by no means a downfall on the student or university but more of an observation from an outsider. I noticed within my own degree not so long ago that there was a huge lack of information about the business acumen I’d need to be able to go out into the wide world and start my own freelance business or jump straight into a studio and hit the floor running. This to me now is probably one of the most fundamental platforms I’d have loved to of got my head around before leaving university, gearing me to knowing how to contact people, organise tax returns, how to plan in amends, how a website is more than a website – it’s your infinitely up-datable shop window. Apart from this, the students had some incredible work – they just needed a mechanic to allow them to ‘get it out there’!
One major thing I was mentioning was the use of social media, in terms of LinkedIn and Twitter. Absolutely important when it comes to meeting people and pro-creating business relationships. Have you ever come across a tool which would allow you to talk to the person running the Nike creative department in Portland? Fair enough he may not get back to you on Twitter, but it’s worth a try, and say he does – you’ve just got yourself a break! There’s nothing to lose! Another important piece of advice is to always plan before you contact anyone, turning up on the doorstep of an agency with your business card and nothing to say will probably entail the longest silent minute of your life – and believe me it WILL be the longest!
All in all it was a pleasure to meet such an incredulously talented bunch of creatives, all I’m sure have the talent to push themselves to pursue any goal they wish to set.
Hope the advice I’ve given has helped too!
Best of luck to all the students on the Graphic Design Degree at the University of Salford.
Big thanks to Tash Wilcocks too for being ace and allowing me to get involved and congrats for a mega successful event!
Follow mybigfatshow on Twitter – @mybigfatshow
