How To Make Each Pitch Count
I receive many emails each year asking for either employment or work experience. Some are well thought out but many are not. There are a finite number of companies producing painted scenery and so each attempt should be made to count. Here are a few ideas that might help you make a better pitch for work. This is just one point of view of course rather than a definitive guide.
1) Get a name.
I get many emails addressed to "Dear Sir or Madam", "To whom it may concern" or even "Dear Whom it may concern". I think a bit more effort here is worthwhile. Two minutes on the DAP Studio site and you can find out who you need to talk to. If you can't get a name from a prospective employers site, this might give you an excuse to ring up and introduce yourself, ask if you can send some information about your work, and ask who that should be addressed to.
I get many emails addressed to "Dear Sir or Madam", "To whom it may concern" or even "Dear Whom it may concern". I think a bit more effort here is worthwhile. Two minutes on the DAP Studio site and you can find out who you need to talk to. If you can't get a name from a prospective employers site, this might give you an excuse to ring up and introduce yourself, ask if you can send some information about your work, and ask who that should be addressed to.
2) Think about who you are talking to and what you have to offer.
Once you've got a name try and anticipate what the employer might be looking for in a new painter. You may not have much experience but you might be local and available for work at short notice. Whilst working for free (other than for a short period's work experience) is best avoided, you might have to charge less than someone who is more established. You may be just out of college, eager to learn and to make headway in the industry.
Many pitches for work are written once and sent to everyone in the book. However each potential employer is different. Ask yourself what each employer might be looking for, and to think of how you might fit the bill.
For example is the employer a specialist or an all rounder?
A scenery builder might be interested in your prop making skills as well as your scenic art experience, as they also produce props, but a scenic artist won't be interested in your extensive stage management experience or your dissertation on mask making, and will go down the pile of CV's until they find one that looks like they want to be a painter.
Once you've got a name try and anticipate what the employer might be looking for in a new painter. You may not have much experience but you might be local and available for work at short notice. Whilst working for free (other than for a short period's work experience) is best avoided, you might have to charge less than someone who is more established. You may be just out of college, eager to learn and to make headway in the industry.
Many pitches for work are written once and sent to everyone in the book. However each potential employer is different. Ask yourself what each employer might be looking for, and to think of how you might fit the bill.
For example is the employer a specialist or an all rounder?
A scenery builder might be interested in your prop making skills as well as your scenic art experience, as they also produce props, but a scenic artist won't be interested in your extensive stage management experience or your dissertation on mask making, and will go down the pile of CV's until they find one that looks like they want to be a painter.
3) Be professional.
Use language that is straightforward but businesslike. There is no need to swallow a dictionary, or make your pitch an exercise in flowery language. Keep your email brief and to the point.
Use language that is straightforward but businesslike. There is no need to swallow a dictionary, or make your pitch an exercise in flowery language. Keep your email brief and to the point.
4) Pictures
If you have a portfolio online add a link to your email. It's easy to set up a slide show for free using Flickr, or even YouTube. A simple website with a gallery will make you look more professional if it's done well. Don't load up the email itself with images as you are more likely to end up in a spam filter that way.
If you have a portfolio online add a link to your email. It's easy to set up a slide show for free using Flickr, or even YouTube. A simple website with a gallery will make you look more professional if it's done well. Don't load up the email itself with images as you are more likely to end up in a spam filter that way.
5) Follow through
This email is only your opening gambit and it won't get you work on it's own so you have to follow through. Say that you will ring to find out if you can visit to show your portfolio. Ring when you say that you are going to. If the employer is too busy to see you, ask if there might be a better time in a week or two. The email is the introduction, the CV is your foot in the door, but the object of the exercise is to go and meet the employer, to discuss the possibility of working there.
This email is only your opening gambit and it won't get you work on it's own so you have to follow through. Say that you will ring to find out if you can visit to show your portfolio. Ring when you say that you are going to. If the employer is too busy to see you, ask if there might be a better time in a week or two. The email is the introduction, the CV is your foot in the door, but the object of the exercise is to go and meet the employer, to discuss the possibility of working there.
6) Be polite
This job seeker says that they can't be bothered to look for work and asks if I can do it for them. It's unprofessional, over familiar and rude. I've removed anything that might identify this aspiring painter!
This job seeker says that they can't be bothered to look for work and asks if I can do it for them. It's unprofessional, over familiar and rude. I've removed anything that might identify this aspiring painter!
Do
Keep it to one page of type, maybe one of pictures. Most scenery builders and scenic artists haven't got much spare time. Page one may be read, page three will not be.
Make it look nice. Not only will a clearly laid out document be easy to read but it shows that you have a good eye.
Use your experience. Make the most of high profile designers, venues and productions that you have been involved with. List all paid work experience first, then professional unpaid experience, then college work if you have room.
Include one really good photo of your work to grab their attention. Use it as a banner maybe or print the CV out as a A5 postcard with the picture on the back. This would be a nice thing to hand out at interviews.
Don't
Include irrelevant stuff. I have been informed about job hunters' star signs and children's names before now.
List all your GCSE's. The education section should come near the end and contain your degree and post graduate qualifcations if you have them.
Use text language, or leave spelling mistakes uncorrected
Don't send the same CV to every potential employer regardless of who they are and what they do. Make each pitch count