Strategies in Career Development Advising

for Creative Entrepreneurs

Ken MattssonAssistant Director, Alumni & Graduate

Student Career Services, Emerson College

Career & Professional Development Consultant, Resonare Consulting

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Welcome!

Emerson College

• Founded in 1880 as school of oratory by Charles Wesley Emerson

• Approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 900 graduate students

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Academic Departments

• Visual & Media Arts• Performing Arts• Writing, Literature and

Publishing• Marketing

Communications • Journalism• Communication

Sciences & Disorders• Communication Studies

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Who’s Ken?

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• Career & Professional Development Consulting since 1996

• Primary Populations:Creative Entrepreneurs

GLBT Community

What is a Creative Entrepreneur?

Creative Entrepreneur

•An individual who works in a field where something artistic is produced, and must manage all aspects of acquiring business opportunities.

Creative Entrepreneur

•Success is determined through skillfully managing creative and business processes.

Creative Entrepreneur

•Usually needs to work collaboratively to move projects forward.

Creative Entrepreneur

Note: Creative Expression is usually more of a motivator than money.

Types of Creative Entrepreneurs

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Career Needs

• Create interesting, innovative products and/or services

• Get other people who have influence in their fields to actually experience these products and/or services and recommend them to others.

• Develop Business and Career Management Skills

The Fallacy of the 5 Point Career Development Plan

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Creative Career vs. Career That Supports the Creative

Career • Different from a

“Day Job”• Gives not only

Financial Support, but also Time & Energy

• Can be similar or different from Creative Career

Portfolio Career

• A career that is intentionally designed to have numerous positions that have pieces that are less than full-time employment or are of a defined term of time.

Portfolio Career

•Most creative careers are project based and to be deemed professional, one must have numerous experiences with different organizations in order to be seen as credible.

•You don’t find a Creative Career on Monster.com (usually)

Filling the Bucket Analogy

• Standard Business Career is like filling a container with liquid

Filling the Bucket Analogy

• Creative Career is like filling a container with marbles

Becoming a Part of the Artistic Professional Community

• To be seen as credible in the community, you must be seen as “one of them”

• A member of the secret club

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The Password

• Need to use the correct vocabulary for the industry, including knowing the titles of the jobs in that field

• Example: Key Grip, Foley Artist

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The Handshake

• Need to demonstrate that you have completed the same trials that they have (e.g. skills, knowledge, and experiences)

Promoting Your Creative Output/Getting Noticed as an

Artist

• Online• Associations and

Conferences• Teaching

Online Promotion

• Portfolio • Online Communities• LinkedIn

Associations & Conferences

• Professional Associations

• Events

Film Festivals

Play Readings

Writers Workshops

Teaching

• Individuals

• Institutions

Universities

Community Groups

Adult Education

Artistic Retreat Centers

Case Studies

Client #1 has produced and directed three student films. Likes editing best, but also has a screenplay. Wants to pursue film industry.

Client #2 has a novel and a number of short stories. Wants to write fiction as freelancer for magazines.

Client #3 has designed sets for all plays during four years in high school and has been involved with theatre department performances. Also interested in costume design, but hasn’t had a lot of experience.

Emerson College Career Services: http://www.emerson.edu/career-services

Resonare Consulting: http://www.resonare.com

The Spirit-Work Connection Blog: http://resonare.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/spiritworkconnection

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kenmattsson

Presentation & Handout Available at

http://resonare.wordpress.com/cowc.html

Thank You!