How to get letters of recommendation
Last week’s FAQ from J.W. was about what you’d want a client to say about you and your performance in a good letter of recommendation. I pointed out that it should be an advertisement for what you contributed to the event – and an enticement for potential clients to hire you for future gigs.
I won’t repeat all that. The post is still online, so just go to last week’s and check it out. But I did promise a couple ideas on how to get letters of recommendation, so here we go…
As a lot of comedians and humorous speakers know, getting a letter of recommendation is never a slam dunk. In other words a client may promise to send you one, but that doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen. It doesn’t (always) mean they didn’t like you or your performance, it’s just sometimes work, life and other important stuff takes up their time. They might just forget.
What I suspect is that writing a letter of recommendation – at least for some people – is like doing homework. They may look at writing as “work” or really don’t know how to put their thoughts into words. They’re not writers like most comics and speakers and will put it off until… like… forever…
We’ll deal with them in a moment. But first…
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To help jolt the memory of clients who might not realize the importance of a letter of recommendation to your career, here’s a tip I learned a long time ago from successful comedians and speakers.
And believe me – it works a LOT more times than it doesn’t…
Always take a self-addressed, stamped envelope to all your gigs.
When you’re talking with the client after your performance and they’re telling you how great you were, how the audience loved it, yadda-yadda-yadda, come right out and ask for the letter. You’re already having a positive conversation, so just throw it out there. And when they say yes – and they will if they’re heaping praise on you – hand them the envelope. Tell them you’re making it easy for them.
Seriously. I’m not joking.
Before I started doing this, it was always hit or miss on getting a letter. But once they have the SASE it apparently makes it easier for them to remember. I also suspect they would feel a bit guilty having that envelope and not following through on their promise. So for that reason alone, let’s call it the guilt factor. It works more than it doesn’t.
It also helps if you send a thank you letter, postcard or email – depending on how you’ve been communicating with the client before the gig. It’s the follow-up part of the business that you should be doing anyway. Use that opportunity to remind them about a letter of recommendation.
If you still don’t get the letter AND especially for those clients who really aren’t writers and plan to put this off forever, here’s another option. And again – I don’t make this stuff up.
I was given this advice by working pros…
If you haven’t received a letter a week after your performance, call the client. Since you’ve already worked for them, you should at least have a one more phone call relationship where you can again thank them for the gig. You can also ask for any advice or feedback about your performance.
If they have good things to say – and they should if they said it after your performance – ask again about a letter. If the client apologizes and has excuses about being busy, etc… Offer to make their life easier. Ask if you can write the letter yourself and send it to them.
Again – I don’t make this stuff up. It’s worked for me – and for the people who gave me this valuable tip in the first place.
Remind them it’s important for future bookings or that talent agents and event planners really need them to work with you. Say you’ll write something simple, will send it, (with a SASE), and they can edit or change it any way they’d like. Your request is that they copy it onto a page with company letterhead, sign and return. You can usually hear them breathe a sigh of relief on the phone. They just got someone else – you – to do their homework for them.
Okay, most working comics and speakers are probably thinking this is elementary stuff. They know about this. So my excuse is that these tips are for the newbees who don’t. I mention this to beginning comics and speakers in my workshops and can see eyes light up.
Yeah, these are good ideas and they work.
One generous reader also sent me an email about the importance today of having video letters of recommendation. Again – great idea!
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Take a video camera with you and have it set up (tripod) in the back of the room where you’re performing or speaking. If the client or audience members are giving you high praise after your program ask if they would say it into the camera.
Seriously – again – I’m not joking. Along with a lot of other comics and speakers, I’ve done this and it works.
Add their video endorsements to your promo reel. As I said last week, it’s always better when someone else is telling the world how great you are – rather than you being the only one talking yourself up.
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Dave Schwensen is the author of How To Be A Working Comic: An Insider’s Business Guide To A Career In Stand-Up Comedy, Comedy FAQs And Answers: How The Stand-Up Biz Really Works, and Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material for Comedians & Humorous Speakers.
For information about these books, upcoming comedy workshops in Chicago and Cleveland, and private coaching for comedians and speakers in person, by phone or via Skype visit www.TheComedyBook.com
Copyright 2013 – North Shore Publishing
