The funny thing about networking is that you almost never need the services the guy is qualified to perform the minute you meet him. I honestly believe that those mindful of the long term are fully aware of this trend, and as such, they know to file away the specific skill that each person introduced to them has to offer for a potential future calling-on. Although I know better than to categorize myself as a long-term thinker, I also know better than to let a flagrant opportunity go un-molested.
When I first met Louis several years ago at Conor’s house I was drunk out of my mind. I mean, to the point of blacking out. I was babbling some shit to him about a fat girl who was also at Conor’s, and he was laughing. I was probably drooling. It was eons ago. I remember he drove a white, pimped-out Acura coup with 20” rims and tinted windows, but that’s about it. Shit, it was a party, what do you want from me?
Good thing Louis doesn’t take first impressions seriously. When he later found out that Conor was managing Soul Plane’s career, he volunteered his services over the course of the winter season:
“Hey, I don’t know if Conor told you this, but right now I’m going to school... Ryerson, for film.”
“Say word.”
“Yeah, man. Photography, video, I do all that stuff. I know you got that band thing going... I was thinking if you needed any work done I’d be able to help out...”
“Wow, man, that’s big of you. I really appreciate that. No lie, though, Soul Plane’s kinda going through some shit right now, but once I have everything under control again I will give you a shout. We’ll definitely need new pictures, and some new video would be great, too.”
“No problem, homie, if you’re Conor’s boy you’re my boy. I need to add some of this to my portfolio too, so as long as you’re okay with that...”
“I don’t care if you stamp these pictures on rolls of toilet paper. Anything to get our name out there. I just need them for the new website we’re gonna have up soon as well as our EPK when our demo drops.”
It may have seemed like I was putting him off at the time, but I knew I’d need this guy’s help further down the line. If I wasn’t smart enough to know right then exactly when I’d need Louis, I was smart enough to get his number down on my phone. I called on him recently and took him up on his offer, and he was more than happy to come through. He informed me proudly that not only had he gotten much better at this media production business since we had last spoke, but also that he had started his own media company called Touch Productions. We’ve scheduled a photoshoot for the beginning of June, hopefully to be wrapped up before our first show on the 19th (which Louis will also be doing video for). If everything works out, Louis could very well become Soul Plane’s in-house media go-to guy, if he’ll so do us the honour of accepting that position.
On a related note, Soul Plane needs to go shopping. We are in serious need of some clothes that make us look together on stage. This means no more buying button-ups from K-Marts bargain bins. As focused on the musical aspect of this experience as we are, we’re not completely oblivious to the fact that we need to look good. And if not good, at least somewhat more like a band and not so much like a line-up at the local soup kitchen. The visual presentation of Soul Plane has been an issue that has needed to be addressed since last summer, but this summer I’ve got it on lock: we are stepping up our dress-to-impress game and I’ve enlisted the help of several trusted friends (mostly female) to help coordinate our wardrobe.
Once we do our rounds all over Toronto’s finest malls with money our budget is most definitely not covering, we’ll be ready for the cameras (even though they’ll only be flashing to take our mugshots). The best of Louis’ work will be put into a folder, neat little package with our demo tucked in it, along with Conor’s business card and Soul Plane’s contact information, ready to be handed out as a press kit to any label that doesn’t immediately blacklist us when Conor calls.
The bottom line is that while we still have a long way to go in tightening the screws of the starship enterprise that is Soul Plane whether it is on a musical, aesthetic, promotional/marketing or networking level, I want everyone to know we are well on our way. Remember the Power Rangers? We’re kinda like them: we know that what we’re about to take on is much bigger than the sum of our parts, so we’ve gotta make a collective effort to morph into something other than a pile of shit – preferably, a Megazord. The only issue with Soul Plane’s version of the Power Rangers, though, is that we’re currently waiting for the Pink Ranger to turn 18 so that we won’t get pimp-slapped with a lawsuit for showing her in cleavage-exposing, breast-enhancing clothing, you perverts.
That analogy could potentially have made sense, but Katherine (Soul Plane’s professional blog-reader) is rushing me to put this blog up, leaving me no time to explain myself. If you feel cheated by this, feel free to take the issue up with her.
Hint: Katherine is not our Pink Ranger.
