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Gainsboro Seminar and Networking Across The Border
Posted by joan on 5 April 2015 - 10:17pm.
   The event was full of AMAZING speakers with whom I was honored to share the stage.  What was TRULY thrilling - was the caliber of friendliness and support that was evident amongst this group of professionals. There was a comradarey and spirit of joviality that I felt rivaled the Dean Martin Roasts in the time of Rich Little and Johnny Carson. Jokes were made about each other's shortcomings in a way that made each other laugh and join in. No one was annoyed or offended, but rather spurred on to compliment each other in return. No one wanted to get back to their hotel rooms early. Rather, everyone seemed excited to drink in the ambiance of friendship with acquaintances who shared a common goal of perfecting their craft. I met a man who told me that I reminded him of one of the worlds foremost commercial and senior photographers of the world... But his recollection was bringing to mind a man who he began working with years before I was born. As he leaned on his cane in the hospitality area, we waited in line for the fabulous complimentary hors devours. We chatted about his memory of his colleagues work, and how mine was similar. He said my seminar spoke to him of things he had heard this other photographer teach. I of course was thoroughly excited and thrilled to hear such a complimentary proclamation!..."Do tell me more" I winked and joked in encouragement. He smiled and continued. I was enthralled as I listened to him speak about the challenges of that era of photography, and the changes that have occurred in the technology. Shortly he was joined by (what I realized later) were other founding members of the professional photography alumni of the area. Young and old ( uhm.. I mean experienced*��) continued to mingle and visit with many others, to eat and network before the awards banquet. I was surprised, and yet loved to see that everyone who earlier were dressed in casual wear, were now emerging in evening gowns and suits. There was a professional reverence here, one that made you love to be included. The awards ceremony was far from pomp and circumstance, but more of a celebration of successes and recognition, for amazing variations of creativity that was both inspiring and motivating. I was a Canadian in the midst of a very entrenched group of Americans, who knew each other much better than they knew me. But by the end of the weekend I must say my husband and I have a whole lot of new friends on our contact lists. Many have reached out and "liked" Facebook posts, and have made us feel like old friends. I find that in retrospect, I hate to say, it confirms again to me that I am resolved that most Americans have a much more evolved way of networking than I am used to here at home. It's as if I am transported into a different world of business and respect for one another's power to help each other. Here we tend to worry about... "This is my pie... and if I share the recipe, well - you might steal it and take it all for yourself." But when I travel south of the border, I find the attitude to be more of... "Oh! -You want to TRY my pie?" .... "Well If you do, then maybe we can talk about it, - and maybe tweak the recipe - and collaborate on a greater, new improved kind of pie!!!" ... And thus the networking blooms and creates relationships instead of niches of deadness that begin and end in a well established but very private monopoly. ... Illuminating always, Joan Bateman, Gainsboro Studio Ltd.      
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