Have you ever fallen in creative love? Perhaps you idly chat about your favorite director, only to discover that you both love their most obscure film best. Over your first coffee date, you playfully square off about who has the worst set stories, but you share a laugh over the resiliency it takes to keep going. Now you're about to start a project, and your new creative ally is firmly entrenched in your corner. 'How in the world did I get so fortunate?' you wonder. If luck favors the prepared, then let's help you attract your own good luck charm! Or better yet, an ally in the industry.

Networking (or, in other words, “making friends”) is planting the seed of enthusiasm for a potential collaboration. Engaging your network in your goal-setting is the fertilizer to feed your bond. It’s messy work, inviting new people to participate as you strive towards a goal. You may not look as good as you once did as the stakes get higher, but it’s also the only way to earn your way up to becoming a collaborator.

Before you count your creative squad members, let’s explore how to nurture the good faith you may have earned from your network at large. Today's blog discusses ways you can invite allies to join your team - with plenty of links from the lounges to inform your own goals!

Reflect On Your Process & Make Room For Improvement

If you need help, ask for help. Receiving help from within the community is a similar proving ground to working together on set where relationships bloom. For example, this recent post in the Authoring Lounge asked for people's opinions about requiring readers to sign NDAs. The member posting was brave enough to put herself out there and ask about something she wasn't experienced in so that she could make a more informed decision and better understand the process. Imagine how much quicker we can figure things out, learn, and grow if we're brave enough to ask and problem-solve together.

Declare Your Intentions & Follow-Up

You can also take a direct approach. Step up to the plate and call your shot like Babe Ruth. Scripted, professional YouTube videos are a great example of this, whether it's one you made yourself or a video that you found that helped you. One of our Stage 32 members shared theirs in the Acting Lounge recently to bring attention to the importance of performers understanding other roles on set. The key to this kind of post is to make sure that the video you're sharing is providing the community with a resource. It should be educating, guiding, or providing wisdom on the industry and how best to navigate certain practices or processes. Your post shouldn't just provide a link, it should explain why you're sharing this information, and how it's helped you, and encourage other members to provide their thoughts and feedback in the comments. Sharing insights and starting a conversation not only shows your value as an ally, but by mentioning what you do and how people can work with you upfront, you invite collaboration every time you give back. Declaring your intentions is also less sales-y and more matter-of-fact, leaving you free to mention it early and often as an open invitation.

Be Sure Your Goals Are Within Your Control

"One Bullet, One Gun" as a friend once told me. If you ask for help from your allies, make it an impactful ask. Sharing others' work is a great way to show up and be an ally, like this very kind post in the Animation Lounge. But keep in mind, asking for time and attention away from your goals, could use up any good grace with your allies.

Be Sure Your Goals Increase Your Likelihood Of Success

Allies often graduate from fan, to associate, and may eventually become a teammate! Part of the reason allies start out as fans is because they are routing for you. They know your value and support your mission, like this super cool post about a Stage 32 member's musical. So, before you ask or invite an ally's help, consider what they are cheering you on for. That way, when you have a win, they can share in that win!

Of course, before people know your mission, you can always start a conversation with a more relatable topic, like this recent geek out post over music while you work. Once you know more about each other, you can build up to that mission statement. Much like water cooler chatting at work, getting-to-know-you icebreakers can lead to finding like-minded creatives who want to see you succeed.

Be Sure You Are Building On What You Have Already Started

It is an incredibly meaningful gesture when an ally takes the time to do something for you. Sharing a link, liking or subscribing, or even showing up for a special event demonstrates their commitment to your success. Everyone's time, however, is precious. So, having some amount of history of what you've done helps to build the initial trust of an ally. Join in this Trailer Share Post to show off what it is you do, or have done recently, and give viewers a clear call to action. Allies always want to see you succeed, and sometimes that relationship starts by celebrating a win you achieved.

Give Your Allies A Clear Way To Assist You

Anyone who cheers you on can be enlisted to help if only they knew how. By making your ask clear and attainable, allies can be called upon in a time of need. Just like producers, the better prepared you are, the more likely it is for them to say "yes". They may introduce you to someone they know, share a campaign, or attach themselves to your project, but allies do so with full knowledge of what they are signing up for. This fantastic post about a project this professional has been working on is a great example. Clear and concise instructions give your allies a sense of accomplishment and completion, which really makes everyone feel good! But note, it's not a post that's solely promoting something or asking for something, the person who posted still took the time to start a larger conversation and help educate the community. It's an example of "help me, while I also help you", which is the best way to be an ally.

Celebrate Your Victories & Give Credit To Your Active Allies

It’s no secret that everyone wants to be on the winning team. Even rebellious personalities want their team to be successful, so show off your wins! After all, sharing that victory ultimately gives back to everyone who has helped you. With so many contest placements and wins being announced in the Screenwriting Lounge, the success stories shared in the Stage 32 Success Stories Lounge, and the script and meeting requests posted in the Writer's Room Lounge, there are so many opportunities to respond to your fellow members with hearty congratulations and an offer to connect for future collaborations.

Your Follow-Up Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:

Before you double down on your goals for the second quarter of 2024, take a moment to take inventory. Post in the lounges with a recount of your victories, a reflection on your struggles, but most of all, bask in the glow of your creative, collaborative moments from this year so far. Then, step into the light by clicking "POST." Finally, as comments come in, respond to those comments and comment on at least three others' posts. What better place to start posting right now than in the Introduce Yourself Lounge****! Especially this weekend, on Introduce Yourself Weekend!

I hope this helps to keep your lucky charms close, and I'll see you in the lounges!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Emily at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .