progress…
last night, i attended the phatt house label launch party at katra. i got an excited text from my girl, rainah (an artist noted on flier above) asking me to be there, and i thought it to be a great opportunity to both practice my social and networking skills and reconnect with big drawz music group. so i got my ish together, and, for the first time in months, went to a party.
i got to the half-full lounge around 9:30, and after heading straight to the bar for a drink, i walked around taking in the scenery and perusing the crowd. i get really weird at straight parties. i’m not used to them. the majority, if not all, of the clubs and parties i’ve been to since moving to NY have been gay. so when walking into a straight environment, i tense up, and shrink. drink in hand, i found a spot on a couch across from the bar, and chair-danced while looking over the crowd.
while sipping and gazing, i pondered what i could possibly say to the many people standing around. how could i possibly introduce myself? what do i say? this is where i have problems- starting a conversation. usually, i’ll bounce into conversation after being introduced to someone by a friend; but i didn’t know anyone there- rainah and tenesha (of big drawz) hadn’t yet arrived. after a while, someone ended up sitting down next to me- i had to step up. he asked me which artist i was there for, and from there, i introduced myself and continued the conversation. see, i’m great once the ice is broken. i just haven’t yet learned how to break the ice. one topic of conversation led to another, which eventually led to an exchange of cards and a new contact. that felt good. liberating in a way. i was assured that hey, i can actually do this!
pretty soon rainah and tenesha arrived. there were big hugs all around, and then we headed up to the vip section. walking behind them up the stairs- to the section that held the rest of the artists and their managers, etc.- i was filled with a variety of emotions. i was incredibly excited to be there- this was, after all, my first “industry” party (as c or d-list as it might have been). there was some residual straight party anxiety, but most of it was tempered by my gold medal social performance 15 minutes before. i took a seat and settled into the crowd, smiling at people i recognized, and enjoying the moment.
throughout the rest of the night, i opened myself up to starting conversation with several people sitting near me, and partying like the rock star i am (nothing too crazy, i promise!). i got a couple of business cards and gave a few out as well. the biggest networking plus for me was when i met someone from a music website and, acting as tenesha’s assistant, made the introduction between him, tenesha and rainah. then, i started a conversation about the music contact interviewing rainah and big drawz music group. i don’t know what i was thinking with all that talk about not knowing how to network. pssshhhh!
smells like progress, people. i love it! now, i just need a breakthrough in breaking the ice…
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