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Even on the road I want to keep up with my regular podcasts on Creative Lube. The newest edition is online now and it discusses pricing (it’s on iTunes too). That ought to help make people think. Share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or by emailing me.

I have a few moments before getting my cab to the train station and I wanted to thank again all the wonderful people in Austin who have been so helpful to me with this visit. First off, everyone at ASMP-A/SA–most specifically Julie Farias and Matthew Lemke who organized the event, drove me, gave me fine Austin goodies, and generally treated me with kindness; the photographer who let us use his studio for the presentation, Jack Hollingsworth; the sponsors, especially Livebooks (thanks Corey for coming out and sharing!) and Modern Postcard; and finally John Langford and Kimberly (who works with John and reminds me a bit of me a few years ago) for providing the location for the individual consultations, coffee, water, lunch, and fine conversation. They know how to treat a visitor and I’m sure their clients are treated very well.

The Austin photo community is much like many other cities, but the openness and kindness I saw from just about everyone sincerely impressed me. These people seem to understand the idea that though they could all be considered competitors, they choose to be colleagues and a real community. Bravo.

Oh, and thanks to my friend Paul who managed to show me the bats (Eek!) from a safe, indoor location (with great food).

Last night I gave my first presentation of the Spring Tour, here in Austin Texas. The people have been fantastic. Everyone has been so warm and funny–it’s been a real pleasure talking with everyone.

During the social time before my presentation and afterwards, I listened to what the photographers were saying, and, like most places, the people here have the same concerns about the state of the industry and the education of the next generation of photographers and other creatives. It was good to see that one of the local photo educators was at the event and was so appreciated by the working photogs here.  There is a significant amount of contact between the school and the working pros. This is, obviously, a very good thing as it encourages the newbies to start off working with the best professional standards.

As in most things I’ve observed in Austin so far (except a rude cab company), they’re getting a lot very right here.

This will be my last post (probably) from my home base as I hit the rails this Sunday on my Spring Tour. I’m really excited about the events, presenting Beyond PMS to the various groups, but most of all, I’m excited about getting to meet so many new people.

We live and work in greater isolation than ever before. Thing is, humans are by nature a gregarious breed. We’re social creatures. We need contact with others. If we don’t get that contact, we tend to get frustrated and even depressed.

Definitely not good things for your business.

When was the last time you went to a meeting of some sort–a professional one or maybe one for your favorite hobby? MeetUp.com us a great resource to connect with others who share your interests, but your local professional groups are the best for you and your business. ASMP, APA, AIGA, ad clubs…think about the groups for your profession and for your potential clients’ professions. Go to a meeting or two, then join up and get active.

Most of these professional groups rely heavily on volunteers. For example, almost everyone I am working with in the various cities I’ll be visiting on tour are volunteers. And, more often than not, they are more successful than their non-volunteering counterparts. Why? Probably for lots of reasons but at least one of them has to be because they are connecting with other humans in a positive way.

So, my advice–get out there, get active, and go meet some people.

Speaking of my traveling (see last post), some people ask why, especially since I travel usually by train, I don’t equip my iBook to get internet via a cell network or carry a Blackberry or the like. I do this deliberately–when I travel, I use part of the time to write/work offline and part of the time for quiet meditation, reading, or simply conversing with other passengers (especially in the dining car). I unplug, most literally.

There’s a lot of stress in traveling to seven cities, giving presentations, meeting with clients and colleagues, etc., while also keeping up with things like podcasts and blogs and all my other work. And while it’s mostly good stress, it is still important to have times to come down from those stresses. My unplugging on the trains give me just that time.

That way, by the time I speak in Boston (last stop), I will still be as fresh and enthusiastic about the presentation as I will be in Austin (first stop). I will be able to give the Boston clients I meet for one-on-one consultations the best of my thoughts, not just those last floating bits of fried consciousness left at the end of a long journey.

When was the last time you unplugged? Did you know that it may help you to increase your productivity and may almost certainly help your bottom line? Check out this article about companies who are instituting “no email Fridays.” And more and more stories are hitting the presses about how taking time off is better for you and your business than you probably think.

If you feel you couldn’t possibly do it, try this as a baby-step: set your email to check every 60 minutes (or even longer). Here’s another baby-step: turn your cell phone and/or biz phone off for an hour every day…during working hours. See how productive you are without that distraction (note: clients won’t drop you because you had to return their call). Last baby-step: disconnect from the internet entirely for an hour a day–no google, no news, nada, rien, nothing. Spend that hour reading a business book or thinking up self-assignments or doing anything productive you want.

If you want to get the most benefit, do all three at once.

Oh, and take a train next time you need to travel. You can relax, unplug, and it’s a bit more eco-friendly too.

I have my Beyond PMS presentation all ready, I’ve sent the pdf of notes to the various chapters, and I have a stack of Amtrak tickets like you wouldn’t believe. Now I’m down to getting the last few things together before I hit the road for my Spring Tour.

I’m leaving on Sunday (the 15th) and, as I’m traveling by train, my postings here will most likely be coming in fits and starts for the month I’m out of the office (most trains do not have WiFi or any internet connections). But I will try to keep up.

Same goes for email; if you try to contact me from 4/15 through 5/15, some patience will be needed. I will get back to you as soon as possible, but that might not always be in the 24 hours or less I have as a professional goal. The cell phone will work in most places, probably, so if there is an urgent need to reach me, try me at 619.961.5882.

If you’re a “flaky” creative, you probably get ideas or remember things at the oddest moments. Wouldn’t it be great if you could call a number, record your brain-flash, and receive it later as text in your email?

Now you can. And do some other helpful and productive things too. Brilliant.

(hat tip to Seth Godin and his blog)

I would like to openly apologize to anyone who has been frustrated, irritated, or in any way put out by the recent series of forum flame-wars (PDN, ASMP Pro/Student, EP), particularly those on pricing issues.

In the past couple of months, for reasons unknown, a certain person and I have had a considerable number of back-and-forths. I have tried to keep things on a professional and courteous level, but I do not always succeed. For that I am very sorry.

I am also sorry that important information and ideas may be getting lost in the mess. This is what concerns me the most, to be honest. I hope that any of you who have been reading the forums continue to do so and continue to think about the issues being raised. We’re in a crucial time for our industries and these issues should be raised and discussed and considered–from all points of view.

Don’t let the nastiness put you off. Get in there and learn. Critical thought is critically needed to take creatives, especially photographers, from where they are now through this turbulent new media rights upheaval time, and into what could be a lucrative future.

Again, I’m sorry for any and all off-putting. I won’t stop posting, however, as I think we need to challenge assumptions and try new or different ideas. I will, though, try harder to keep things positive, impersonal, and on-topic.

Thank you for your patience.

Ed Greenberg, the outstanding intellectual property attorney, has posted a fantastically informative letter on why your stock agency is probably not really your agent, and why that is important.

One of Mr. Greenberg’s main points in much of his writing has been that language matters. It’s vital to say that photographers license their images, not sell them, for example. As this letter shows, he was right again–language does matter, a lot.

Mr. Greenberg is, for those of you who don’t know, a former EP contributor who has given loads of outstanding advice to photographers and other creatives. He is the person who made clear to me the importance of billing your Creative and Usage Licensing Fees separately (check out my next Creative Lube podcast later this month for more on that).

Thanks Ed, for continuing to fight the good fight.

First, the good news:
Carolyn Wright, the photographer/attorney, posted some great news on the ASMP Pro/Student forum. The Copyright office will soon be accepting electronic submissions. This will make life much easier for creatives. If you aren’t yet registering your work, start doing so today and take advantage of the new system when it becomes live.

Now, the bad news: Gannet, the publishers of USA Today, have issued a new freelance contract. As if it’s rates weren’t already abysmal, now, for an extra $100, you have to sign away any future income from any Gannet use ever in any media.  Anyone who signs this contract is committing business murder/suicide.
Hat tip to Scott Lewis (who sent me the contract) and Ed McColloch )who sent me the PDN story link).