The Lost (and Found) Art of Schmoozing

Schmoozing is a Yiddish word that means to converse with somebody – in a friendly way but with some subtle manipulation in order to gain something in return. That sounds a little dishonest but it’s actually a good life skill to have if you’re able to do this well. There’s an art to not coming across like some pushy sleazeball. Or worse, appear needy, and desperate.

Now that in-person meetings and a request from employers to return to the office are coming back, the ability to connect with people in real life may have gotten rusty. Have you gone feral in the last couple of years? Maybe you let yourself go on personal hygiene, forgot not to fart in public (that’s what the mute button was for), or lost any other social etiquette that might have been universally abandoned during this weird time in history.

In-person events that were once a jackpot for networking opportunities are still struggling to get back to what they once were. Travel logistics, inconsistent COVID protocols, and costs are hopefully just temporary obstacles. But that doesn’t mean now shouldn’t be a good time for YOU to take the initiative to individually meet up with your old clients and new prospects - especially the ones you met on Zoom but never in person. It’s late spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the weather should be lovely. You can sit outside in case anyone is worried about being indoors without a mask. Compare notes on how you dealt with the pandemic, how your business fared, how things changed, and how you’re looking forward to all the new things you need to.

Being a good schmoozer means being a good listener and observer. It helps if you genuinely like the people. But if you don’t, just suck it up and imagine the best possible outcome from this connection. If you listen - with an open mind, you might actually end up liking them after all. Or find at least something that you can both agree on. (This is helpful common sense if you have to deal with those whose views may be philosophically opposite of yours. Look for common ground. It’s the key to harmony.)

I’m saying this from a sales perspective since I’m posting this as unsolicited business advice meaning you can take it or leave it. Schmoozing can apply to any situation where you want to bond with another human being - albeit with an ever-so-slight motive of getting something out of it. Swap out the business-y contacts that I mentioned earlier for creative collaborators, other artists, those that have been supportive of your work, and those who you want to see your work. If you’re shy or creeped out by the sliminess of it all, find your comfort zone for making the first move and schmooze with people that can do it for you. Agents, gallerists, publicists, and the like. Those professions are nothing but schmoozing. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that they see something in you. (Tadpole Salon can help you with that. Hint, hint.)

With all this buzz about the Metaverse and Web3, there still is nothing that can match the benefits of schmoozing in person. I guess that’s one difference between an avatar and a real live person.