For the past several days I have been telling stories and doing Doc Hollen's Traveling Medicine Show at a festival. The weather has been great and the crowds receptive. More than once over the weekend as I left the stage someone stopped me and asked for a business card.
Of course I had cards each time. I had on a vest and kept dozens in the vest pockets. When someone commented on the performance I also stopped and spoke with them. I offered them a card also and several dozen folks took cards. (How many times have you seen a teller move away from the crowd and not spend time with fans?)
For many storytellers things end there. They walk away feeling pretty dad-gum good about giving out a bunch of business cards. However, the conversation didn't have to end there.
I often ask - with a bit of jest in my voice, "Now did you like the performance so much you want a souvenir or a card to pass along to someone else?" The question varies but is always an opportunity to open a dialogue and get new gigs.
Yesterday is a good example. A Mom and her 8 year old son helped Doc Hollen and afterward she told me she enjoyed being a part of the show. She asked for a card and after a similar question we had great discussion about program ideas for the school that she teaches at. The same type of conversation happened often during the day.
On Friday and Saturday I gave away maybe 25 cards or so. At Vistaprint.com 2,000 business cards are $49.99. Over two days I spent 50 cents on faces to face marketing.
The probing questions and time spent with interested folks who enjoyed the program makes that investment priceless!
For many storytellers things end there. They walk away feeling pretty dad-gum good about giving out a bunch of business cards. However, the conversation didn't have to end there.
I often ask - with a bit of jest in my voice, "Now did you like the performance so much you want a souvenir or a card to pass along to someone else?" The question varies but is always an opportunity to open a dialogue and get new gigs.
Yesterday is a good example. A Mom and her 8 year old son helped Doc Hollen and afterward she told me she enjoyed being a part of the show. She asked for a card and after a similar question we had great discussion about program ideas for the school that she teaches at. The same type of conversation happened often during the day.
On Friday and Saturday I gave away maybe 25 cards or so. At Vistaprint.com 2,000 business cards are $49.99. Over two days I spent 50 cents on faces to face marketing.
The probing questions and time spent with interested folks who enjoyed the program makes that investment priceless!
In fact your creative writing abilities have inspired me to start my own blog now. Really blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
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