A “no” can almost always be turned into a “yes,” and being in the media, fashion or entertainment business, this is a mantra to live by. To get what you want and be successful, never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. This determination will set you apart from the pack and make you stand out in the industry.
A public relations agency told me “no” this week when I asked to interview a celebrity designer, but when I asked the designer directly, he was more than happy to give me a few moments of his precious time.
You have to be persistent at times to get the job done and the more professional you look to the public or industry professionals will ultimately give you more access to people and events you want to report on. Building a solid portfolio of work that can be easily accessed with a concise website and having a professional camera crew is always helpful as well.
In this case both my website and my cinematographer’s website ultimately sealed the deal on my access to the fashion designer, Ashton Michael. On his way out of town to Coachella to dress many musicians performing at the festival, he took a few minutes out of his busy day for me to ask him a few questions.
When Michael arrived at his studio/showroom in Hollywood he was more than gracious. A quality lost by some Hollywood types, but not Ashton. He offered us drinks and mini muffins while he set up shop for the day.
As I was taking some still photos of his studio I noticed a “Wall of Fame” modestly tucked away in the back part of the production room. I nonchalantly asked to take a few pictures.
“Of course you can. There are more up around the corner,” Michael said.
When I got closer I discovered photos of celebrities that Ashton has designed custom pieces for, like Janelle Monae, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez and Will.i.am.
The moral of the story is, if I had taken his agency’s “no” I would not have had the opportunity to sit down for a one-on-one interview with one of the next great designers that is already making a huge name for himself in the fashion and entertainment industry.