Hi everyone!
I am home again and so excited to share with you my experience in Little Rock with Tobi Fairley.
Tobi has many great events. When I was invited to attend one of them, it was hard to choose! I’ve been wanting to attend for over a year now, but it never worked out. I have been considering Tobi’s Designer MBA, where she delves into the nitty-gritty business aspects of interior design. However, I have been hitting business courses this entire year, so my gut decided last minute I should learn another integral aspect of design: getting published. It made me scramble to adjust everything last minute, but I’m so glad I did.
{a partial view of the stunning Capital Hotel Christmas tree}
Instead of bombarding you with pages of info (I could!), I am going to share 3 reasons why every designer (and I also think architectural photographers) MUST attend Tobi’s “Getting Published” design camp.
1) Connections
While there are some great interior design firms out there that have teams, more than not, designers (including myself) are going at this alone. Not only am I the only designer in my town, I also live in an extremely isolated state. I’m double isolated! Even if you are in a city with lots of other people and designers, chances are you are still working by yourself.
Designers, you need networks. And Tobi’s events bring the best talent in the nation together. Knowing your experiences are “normal” and being able to bounce ideas off of the greatest talent the country has? You can’t put a price on that.
{with Traci Zeller}
{with Tobi & team….these girls worked their tails off for us}
2) Insider Access
Submitting our projects to publications, from blogs to online magazines to national print magazines, can seem like a great mystery. And quite frankly, we don’t do a very good job at having a dialogue with these outlets. Tobi’s event erases the fear and sets up a platform where we realize we all need each other.
We heard from the editors themselves how they need projects to arrive on their desk so they can be considered and the exact people to contact. Traditional Home, Domino, Coco + Kelly, Rizzoli…..the list goes on. We heard from their own mouths exactly what we needed to do to make being published a reality. Mystery solved. Then we were able to chat with them one-on-one during lunch breaks or night events. I’ve said it already, but guess what? You can’t put a price on that.
We also heard amazing styling and photography tips from Tobi and her personal photographer. I think if you are a photographer that would like your pictures in a magazine, you would greatly benefit from this event as well.
3) The Food
Just kidding….sort of. Look at some of the food we were fed! I considered licking my plate after each meal.
3) Watch and Learn How to Serve Clients and Colleagues in the Industry
I know that this third “must” might not be what you would expect. However, this was probably my biggest take-away from Tobi’s camp.
I am a people watcher. Human interactions intrigue me. And Tobi’s December 2013 “Getting Published” gave me an opportunity to watch service in action.
Everyone at the event, from publishers to photographers to magazine greats, had their human side on full display. They acknowledged the challenges. Opening this discussion was a huge catalyst in and of itself. Publishers, just like the rest of us, are extremely under staffed and over-worked. They are traveling constantly and have thousands (one person had about 1600 emails) that they were needing to get through….themselves. I watched how Tobi and her team made it a daily action to make a win-win for everyone they encountered, from the other professionals to all of us at the camp.
This “getting published” event may be one of Tobi’s craziest camps to-date. The weather + booking hotels around Christmas and some other major events in Little Rock made Tobi and her team jump from Plan A to Plan B, C, D, and F. I was in a hotel away from the Capital Hotel, where her event was located. I was personally treated to a shuttle or car ride every day. Many of the speakers weren’t able to make it, and they were patched in via the internet or driven personally from towns far away. Alex Papachristidis arrived late at night, and although we knew he was completely exhausted, smiled and signed books, ever the gentleman. I know he was being treated for his efforts.
Tobi was doing everything in her power to make this event work. When the weather turned really sour, she and her team made sure each one of us had the arrangements we needed. Many of us had to leave early. They worked and worked and worked, always with a smile, to make sure we were ok.
Designers, photographers, and publications, do you see why she is succeeding in each of her endeavors? Because others’ success is just as important as her own. That’s what sets this camp apart. I have personally set a goal to go above and beyond anything I ever thought I could to make others benefit just as much as I do.
All right….I need to tackle my emails and other duties after a one week absence. Happy Monday y’all (for all my new southern friends).
Brooke says
Thanks so much for your kind blog post. You all were such a pleasure to host and despite everyone’s difficulties with travel and otherwise, everyone was such a great sport!
XO,
Brooke
Kara Cox says
Tawna,
It was such a pleasure meeting you last week! So glad you made it home safely! Look forward to following all you do with your business and SO glad you picked up a Southern drawl on your trip! 😉