Agreements: and the Keeping Thereof

At the beginning of pretty much any project; my creative and production teams receive a master calendar with key meeting dates and times to which each must accept and commit as part of the hiring or contracting process. If during that process certain conflicts come to light; each is assessed and resolved, going in. After that, the calendar is locked and the team are committed to honoring this schedule and booking no conflicts.

Of course, emergencies and exceptions do happen; deaths, severe illnesses, natural disasters, et cetera. Outside of those such things, though; the agreed-upon schedule is expected to take priority over any subsequent schedule-conflict opportunity. 

• emergency surgery = fine / dentist appointment = not okay

For regular meetings to be their most brief and effective; full and committed presence at the table is a requirement. All present receive and share the same information at the same time, questions are answered and information is gathered that is primary to some, secondary to others, contextual to a few … and critical to the Collective. 

The answer to the question of one principal may spark an “adjacent” question from another - the absence of which might cause a communication lapse that could cost or have saved money and time were all to have been there for the exchange. 

I believe that this process is organic and depends on the full body being present. There is no “catching up” process as thorough as direct experience; and no AI-generated meeting summary can address or incorporate questions that were unasked, or divine perspectives unheard. 

People are not their job titles; virtually all come to our various tables via myriad, disparate routes and experiences…all of which are part of their value to the team and the production or project. 

One who cannot be depended-upon to be present for this process cannot fully fulfill their functions nor best or fully support the team…and, imho, should probably be replaced. 

For freelance and contractors; this can sometimes seem to present unavoidable conflicts. Again, I believe that is a perspective and assumption that is rarely as accurate as many might think. We often give away control of our time out of assumption, not out of necessity.

—————————————————————————-

Anecdote: MANY years ago, when I was working for the White House, I was “seeing” my immediate supervisor, who was quite attractive, whip smart, and was also “seeing” two other men in the administration. More than once, when I’d ask her for a date, her response would be “…I already have plans for that night.” Period. 

Big Lesson. Nothing to argue or negotiate. All the information I could legitimately seek was already encompassed in that simple answer. She was unavailable. I’d ask for a different time. Deal done.

Consider this: your friends want to go to a movie on Friday night. You say, “I’m having dinner with my grandmother on Friday.” Your friends say, “Can’t you change that?” and everyone has suggestions for the “solutions” to your assumed dilemma…and the pressure is on you to defend or decide what to do, who to dis and how to not offend. 

So. What I learned from my experience of years before came into regular play when consulting in NYC; especially the years during which I was competing in physique. 

For example: I’m in a client meeting and we’re booking the next meeting and someone says, “How about Thursday at 4?” Everyone nods. As it happens, I have an appt with my trainer at that same time. I could say, “ah, I can’t; I work out at 4 on Thursday…,” and everyone could have an opinion on that and/or suggest I change my appointment - a suggestion that would have its own domino effect on my trainer, on his other clients, et cetera. 

OR, I could say, “…ah, I’m already booked at that time. I could do X or X time or X day. 

With the latter response; no one asks what the conflict is; all they know is that The Guy is unavailable…likely assuming it’s probably another client or meeting that is previously committed. The unavailability is readily accepted in the efficient search for a workable time slot; so nobody negotiates or judges. 

Rather, they find another time. In fact, I believe that the ultimate and subtle benefit to this approach and result is the impression that The Guy is in demand…so The Guy can probably credibly raise his rates with that impression; should that situation recur. 

Sharing too much information is an invitation for others to opine and suggest when it’s really not their business.  “I’m already booked…” is the key phrase. Use it. 

Ergo Sum.

Hence pre-agreed meeting schedules.

————————————————————————————————————-

One significant factor in the inherent value of MasterClasses is the broad, multilevel and multigenerational make up of each cohort. There is always a great mix of Executives, Producers and Creators-in-the-trenches, students of some of our favorite professors and interns with some of our respected companies…departments from Creative to Marketing to Finance and Accounting often participate (and nearly always discover something about the creative and production process that evaporates mystery and exasperation with parts of other, parallel or preemptory processes previously without appreciated rationale. 

That mix is of great value to the class…experience + aspiration + curiosity + new perspectives + questions to, from and of all makes for a crucible of creativity unique to each cohort. 

To that, the mix of each cohort is curated so that there is balance and the number of participants is kept at a maximum size so that all feel seen and heard; questions are asked, opinions shared and explored.

That being said - and coming back around to our starting topic; all students/participants are given the calendar and syllabus before the class begins and are asked to commit to the schedule. This is especially critical, as the disparate levels of experience, points of view and background make for powerful and dynamic conversations in which virtually all encounter moments of enlightenment, inspiration and often refreshed and renewed energy or passion for our work.

Our schedule is sacrosanct. Distributed weeks before the courses begin, prospective participant is asked to check with professors and jobs and family to be sure that the schedule can be met; and I’ve been impressed and inspired at the seriousness with which each member of the cohort has taken their commitment to heart. Given the ebb and flow of opinion and expectation of the panoply of generations and their respective work ethics; this group rocks. 

I don’t know anymore who or what is Generation X, Y, Z or Alpha; but virtually every person in these cohorts has been going the distance to keep their agreements with me and with the cohort body.

Yesterday, we were robbed of one person by American Airlines’ rescheduling a flight; and another was extremely ill and was willing to attend if she could keep her camera closed (open cameras being part of the ground rules)…from which she was of course excused in the name of bed rest and plenty of fluids being of priority. 

But get this. One woman had lost her voice; asking if she could type her comments and questions to drop into the chat and more fully participate in the meeting; while another guy, on his final leg of a cross-country drive, pulled into a rest stop still five hours from Orlando in order to make the meeting on schedule…and fully participate.

They all appreciate the value of being present. Certainly, of course, from having read the (amazing and riveting) material before hand; but the most effective value comes from actual participation in the class; the mixed perspective, questions and the dynamic between and amongst the cohort, itself. 

I think they appreciate that not showing up let’s down the entire team. I acknowledged them for that at the close of yesterday’s session; and then again, today, with this. 

The industry has a bright future; and thanks to the rare and nurturing talent scouts and guides such as Mk Haley, Shirley Saldamarco and Peter Weishar in academia, along with the foresightful and enthusiastic Christopher Grap, Mel McGowan, Matthew Cross, Keith Manning and the few like them who are adept at ferreting out talent in the raw from afield; some clear and auspicious minds are making their way into and through our workshops and berms. 

Buckle Up!