Do you schmooze?

[sundial]

You know, as I reread Sundial's comments, I just said the same thing. She just did it with considerable efficiency

Yes, but your reply is eloquent. And besides, you are in management so we like to hear feedback from the powers that be.

[Ciao]

yeah, i wanna know too. I'm very introverted in person and have been painting A LOT. People tell me it's very nice stuff
but clearly you have to network to find people to buy.

so tell me about how you picked Spotlightmama?

So, do you see the perfect example of networking by Mimitabby? Stating to everyone in this forum:
1. I'm a painter
2. I'm looking for venues/people to sell to

(P.S. Mimitabby... We made one of our closest friends through purchasing 3 of his paintings at an art show... about 5 years ago I helped him with some marketing / event planning and still have the spreadsheet listing all of the US art shows/ venues and their "traffic". Also have the listing of event coordinators and a form email to bulk send out to get on their mailing lists/radar. PM me if you're interested and I'll email them to you.)

Another example of effective networking is through a very talented guy that I used to work with indirectly in a global company at my first job. Years later, this colleague was the ex-CFO of a company that was acquired. He sent an email out to e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e with a brief update and letting us all know that he was looking for a specific position like "X" and provided a link to his current resume/CV. Within a very short period, he had his dream position.

Frankly, except for my first job out of school, all other positions including executive level were through people that already knew me and my value and contacted me rather than vice-versa.

So, I'd recommend getting back in touch with people... on your terms. One very good resource that aids business networking is LinkedIn*com. Sign up and start searching for people you know based on previous companies and schools. The system allows you to send a little email note to them to get them to 'accept' you as a valid colleague.... and from there it grows. You quickly have a base to announce that you're "jumping back into the frey" so that those that can help will. People that know you are now in advanced roles and may have or know of a position opening...

[shootingstar]

I don't disagree with Ciao's advice.
But somehow networking is abit organic, at least to me. But it does help to be happily part of multiple, different social groups..and for selling art --beyond the stand at the farmer's market/art show or part of an art studio tour (mimitabby, Seattle must have this, like Vancouver, etc.?)

Mimit, have you thought of turning some of your paintings into cards? Like a packet of cycling cards with different designs...maybe get TE estrogen to sell them?? I recently went to a b-day party for a friend who turned 50, a long-time cyclist and advocate. the card from both of us was a print of a painting...fish cycling a bike..we were the only friends that gave him a card that was bike-related...and he was happy to receive it.

For some of us who have hubby, partners and friends who cycle alot like ourselves, I'm always looking for a card that features a bike. of course, the latest one I'm giving to dearie, is not bike related this year which is unusual from me..but it is a card that I painted in a jiffy..abstract mountain, etc.

[Geonz]

You've had great answers~~~ what they said about selling yourself short
I think that what kind of job you're looking for matters. I got a job online because a mom I knew frm a forum about reading knew that I had gobs of phonics expertise and dashed me an email... a week later I was getting $35/hr for making up stories for a phonics series. (Paid to be cute, even!)
So... can you put your skills into words?
I found lots of good ideas and encouragement from _What Color Is Your Parachute_.