How to seek mentorship?

[white]

I know a very well known designer quite well I would say, but not thaaat close. I know he's a busy man, and will not be able to give me so much of time at all, plus he's all the way in LA, and I'm all the way here. But I know I have such a great contact (hate to use the word, we are friends), and I would like to seek help from him once in a while, not that it was the first thing that came to my mind when I met him.

We don't exchange alot of emails already, and I wouldn't want to surprise him with an email out of the blue for a favor.

I just want to tell him beforehand, a 'I will be seeking help from you once in a while'-kinda note. I don't want to be tooo formal, but not too casual either.

I just wonder, where and how to start? I have a few more other contacts too that I would love to ask. It's not like I'm some annoying student, I hate that stereotype.

So.. thanks in advance. :)

[seanjennin]

I just wonder, where and how to start? I have a few more other contacts too that I would love to ask. It's not like I'm some annoying student, I hate that stereotype.

So.. thanks in advance. :)

well i know how hard it is for a man to ask for help, a pride thing i guess.
but over the years i've matured and realized that everybody needs help from somebody..... hence this forum for example....

just send them an honest e-mail, be yourself, whats the worse that could happen,, ( he might say no, or block you...)

be for real, i think he would be honored to help...........

never know until you ask....

we all put our pants on one leg at a time... unless you wear dresses:eek:

hope this helped..... seanjennin

[romancing_layouts]

I think seanjennin is on the right track. Just send a quick, casual email asking if it would be okay if you picked his brain at some point. I would include that you respect the work he does, you appreciate his valuable time and that you would understand if he was too busy.

Good luck. I think it's critical to have an experienced mentor(s) in this industry; there are far too many people giving out improper/uninformed advice.

[white]

Thanks guys.. seanjennin, I'm kinda female, haha, I am def not male. :)

[budafist]

I just want to tell him beforehand, a 'I will be seeking help from you once in a while'-kinda note. I don't want to be tooo formal, but not too casual either.

Instead of telling him, you should formally ask him permission to seek help from him in the future. Sweetening him up a bit by telling why you admire him and respect his opinion will not hurt either.

[PrintDriver]

If you are going to approach a high-end, very busy designer to ask if he will be your mentor, be prepared to show your worthiness. Not to sound crass, but aside from a quick, informal informational interview, I doubt a busy designer would want to be constantly pestered by a newb asking for 'tips on the industry' or tutorials on technique.
A mentor is a teacher. Some people just aren't cut out for that.

Don't be open-ended in your polite request for info. Have specific questions that can't be answered by any other means. A lot of top designers are quite reluctant to offer the why and how of what they do. Don't be surprised if you run into this.

[morea]

I agree with buda and PD.

If you're not comfortable asking your friend (or if he really is very busy) you could still probably learn a lot from a forum like this. There are hundreds of people around here who can answer questions and who are happy to help you bounce ideas around. Even when some of us are busy, there's always someone who has time to help, and that's why we're here, so it's not imposing on us to ask. :)

[Broacher]

Some of us here are more de-mentors than mentors.

Some, just demented.

Others, a little of each.

[white]

I agree with buda and PD.

If you're not comfortable asking your friend (or if he really is very busy) you could still probably learn a lot from a forum like this. There are hundreds of people around here who can answer questions and who are happy to help you bounce ideas around. Even when some of us are busy, there's always someone who has time to help, and that's why we're here, so it's not imposing on us to ask. :)

Not that I'm not comfortable of asking, I don't know how to ask. We've talked about alot of things, but less than half is about work. I don't want him to be thinking that I'm being nice because I have a favor to ask, plus, we haven't been talking very much lately. But it's really nice to know that you at least don't feel imposed to be helping. :]

[Broacher]

^Hmm... why do I feel a strange compulsion to change my forum name to 'Chopped Liver'?

Actually, to be straight with you-- this place is excellent for production/technique/workflow/business and practical questions. For the more abstract, subjective stuff--but nonetheless very important--type, layout, conceptual strategies, etc.--it's not bad as on-line efforts can go. But that's where you'll find the most value with a one-to-one in person mentoring relationship with a real pro. Books, DVDs, on-line tutorials, all the way up to the techcentric art colleges will give you lots of production and software skills-- but it's those higher-level art-type skills that will ultimately be the ones with the longest shelf-life (mostly, equal to your own!).

If you think that you have a chance to work closely with a really good designer in a working relationship that you both can benefit from, take it. It's like learning a language: there's no substitute for total immersion.

[budafist]

Some of us here are more de-mentors than mentors.

Some, just demented.

Others, a little of each.


I'll take half a cup of each thanks :)

[white]

^Hmm... why do I feel a strange compulsion to change my forum name to 'Chopped Liver'?

Actually, to be straight with you-- this place is excellent for production/technique/workflow/business and practical questions. For the more abstract, subjective stuff--but nonetheless very important--type, layout, conceptual strategies, etc.--it's not bad as on-line efforts can go. But that's where you'll find the most value with a one-to-one in person mentoring relationship with a real pro. Books, DVDs, on-line tutorials, all the way up to the techcentric art colleges will give you lots of production and software skills-- but it's those higher-level art-type skills that will ultimately be the ones with the longest shelf-life (mostly, equal to your own!).

If you think that you have a chance to work closely with a really good designer in a working relationship that you both can benefit from, take it. It's like learning a language: there's no substitute for total immersion.

Totally. That's why I thought I should really ask him, regardless how busy he is, how much it takes in me to ask, it's hard to get, and can't be compared. The squeekiest wheel gets the most oil.

[morea]

This came up in my RSS feeds and made me think of this thread. Hope you find it helpful:

How I got my current favorite mentor (http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/05/17/how-i-got-my-current-favorite-mentor/)

[white]

This came up in my RSS feeds and made me think of this thread. Hope you find it helpful:

How I got my current favorite mentor (http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/05/17/how-i-got-my-current-favorite-mentor/)

That was helpful, thanks Morea. I felt all of a sudden a relieve that I don't need to feel bad asking for a mentor. You guys are great!