{"id":8027,"date":"2010-05-20T01:05:44","date_gmt":"2010-05-19T23:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/?p=8027"},"modified":"2010-05-20T01:05:44","modified_gmt":"2010-05-19T23:05:44","slug":"comment-worthy-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/photography\/comment-worthy-post\/","title":{"rendered":"A Comment by Bruce Jones Worthy of a Special Post"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bruce Jones, Photographer, responded to my Post “<\/strong>The Politics of Fashion Photography Part 6<\/strong><\/a>“<\/strong> with his very illuminating thoughts. I felt it was worthy of a separate post so here it is:<\/p>\n

by: Bruce Jones<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This is hardly unique to \u201cfashion photography.\u201d In my former life as a freelance corporate communications producer, I had plenty of opportunity to observe how the game is played in the executive board rooms of the Billionaire Boys Club. If you have any aspirations of climbing the management ladder of a Fortune 500 you learn the rules of communication: you don\u2019t piss people off, even when they deserve it; you don\u2019t bring your personal problems to work; you keep your personal opinions to yourself; you don\u2019t gossip about somebody else\u2019s rotten attitude in the break room; and you network network network, which means above all maintaining good relationships with the people you\u2019re already working with.<\/p>\n

Congress follows Robert\u2019s Rules of Order, not because they\u2019re a bunch of antiquated stuffed shirts, but because it provides a formula for how to vehemently disagree with somebody today in a manner that allows you to cooperate with him tomorrow.<\/p>\n

I also worked as an actor\/director in theatre for a lot of years; it\u2019s a collaborative art form, and its pecking order varies\u2013I\u2019m directing you in this show; you may be directing me tomorrow. Asserting power needlessly when I have it is likely to bite me in the ass later when I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Every major institution, particularly if it involves the generation of money, is based on a management hierarchy that gets smaller in numbers at the top in inverse proportion to the amount of influence wielded by the few who occupy the big offices. And it\u2019s pretty hard to predict today who that\u2019s going to be tomorrow, so smart ladder climbers know that getting in a snit with a peer has little present upside and huge potential downside down the road.<\/p>\n

Heck, even a functional family understands that it\u2019s best to hold your tongue when you\u2019re angry because otherwise the words that come out get sandblasted into the memories of the people you care about and can sit there for years, gunny-sacked away for ammunition in a future disagreement.<\/p>\n

The irony is that your advice is only partially and very selectively true. Your stylist was a bitch who, in spite of her rotten attitude, now works for a company you\u2019d like to do business with. Apparently your outburst didn\u2019t help you, but hers apparently had no adverse affect on her career. The fashion world is full of annoying divas, both photographers and models, who can\u2019t accommodate all of the requests they get for high-end work. Annie Leibowitz is a notorious walking disaster in her personal life, and her inability to manage her business affairs in a professional manner has her infamously in trouble with bankruptcy courts, but I just saw her starring as \u201cfamous photographer Annie Leibowitz\u201d in a Hewlett-Packard commercial yesterday. Any one of us who follows fashion photography could name a dozen lesser-known photographers with equal or greater talent who would be far less drama (and $1000s less expense) to work with than someone with this much baggage who always runs her productions massively over budget, but I\u2019m assuming her reputation\u2013both the good and the bad\u2013isn\u2019t affecting her bookings any.<\/p>\n

Take your pick of examples from the corporate world who have proven to be fabulously incompetent but who continue to shuffle from company to company, precisely because\u2013not in spite of the fact that\u2013it\u2019s a small universe at the top, and people who hire important people like to work with known commodities. You may have failed in your last stop\u2013as Carly Fiorina did spectacularly at HP\u2013but the fact that HP was willing to hire you as CEO in the first place is all the resume you need to move to the next job. I hear she\u2019s running for Congress now. Go figure.<\/p>\n

The bottom line is that notoriety and historical achievement often trump talent, disposition, and manners when the good jobs\u2013the ones people\u2019s reputations depend on\u2013are handed out. Following the common-sense networking rules of work-place decorum that you just handed out probably won\u2019t ever HARM the average guy\u2019s opportunities for advancement, but if your talent has gotten you a big enough name, bad behavior probably won\u2019t hurt you either. John McCain\u2019s reputation as a shoot-from-the-hip independent thinker didn\u2019t exactly endear him to the rank-and-file Republican flock, but once he finally secured the nomination, EVERYBODY wanted to stand next to him for the photo op.<\/p>\n

Yes, unkind words can come back to haunt you. Unless they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bruce Jones, Photographer, responded to my Post “The Politics of Fashion Photography Part 6“ with his very illuminating thoughts. I felt it was worthy of a separate post so here it is: by: Bruce Jones This is hardly unique to \u201cfashion photography.\u201d In my former life as a freelance corporate communications producer, I had plenty of opportunity to observe how the game is played in the executive board rooms of the Billionaire Boys Club. If you have any aspirations of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[37],"tags":[247,652,729],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/photo-comment.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paG8MM-25t","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11908,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/fashion-luxury-industry\/response-politics-fashion-photography-part-14-fashion-stylist\/","url_meta":{"origin":8027,"position":0},"title":"Response to the Politics of Fashion Photography Part 14 the Fashion Stylist","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"November 27, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"On occasion I get responses to my blog posts that merit their own posting.\u00a0 I felt that John Fisher's response to the Politics of Fashion Photography Part 14 the Stylist, was worthwhile in doing so.\u00a0 Thank You John. above image \u00a9 John Fisher for Red Chic (a division of Yuka-Paris)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Luxury, Fashion Industry"","block_context":{"text":"Luxury, Fashion Industry","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/fashion-luxury-industry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/redchicmaria1s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25526,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/fashion-luxury-industry\/the-politics-of-fashion-photography-part-29-did-read-you-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":8027,"position":1},"title":"The Politics of Fashion Photography Part 29 Did I Read You Right? This is MY Rant!","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"May 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Man, talk about how NOT to get a job in this business. I really think those of you who are seriously considering getting in to this business of fashion, hair, make-up, styling, set design, modelling and or photography and really wanting to make a go of it...","rel":"","context":"In "Luxury, Fashion Industry"","block_context":{"text":"Luxury, Fashion Industry","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/fashion-luxury-industry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/spam-misread-560x347.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/spam-misread-560x347.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/spam-misread-560x347.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25222,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/fashion-luxury-industry\/politics-fashion-photography-part-28bad-day-equals-life-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":8027,"position":2},"title":"The Politics Of Fashion Photography Part 28 One Bad Day Equals a Lifetime","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"April 29, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Just one very short and succinct bit of advice. At all costs try to always be on your best behavior, because as Karl Lagerfeld so aptly said...","rel":"","context":"In "Luxury, Fashion Industry"","block_context":{"text":"Luxury, Fashion Industry","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/fashion-luxury-industry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/54-t-560x830.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/54-t-560x830.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/54-t-560x830.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22482,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/photography\/being-same-new-original\/","url_meta":{"origin":8027,"position":3},"title":"Being the Same is the New Original","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"December 4, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"I would go as far as to say, that being different and original is no longer an asset, but a major hindrance to success...","rel":"","context":"In "Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Photography","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/photography\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/1030440.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24820,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/photography\/politics-fashion-photography-part-26-how-many-calls-are-too-many-calls\/","url_meta":{"origin":8027,"position":4},"title":"The Politics of Fashion Photography Part 26 How Many Calls are Too Many Calls","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"February 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"How Many Calls are Too Many Calls? I guess it all comes down to where you are and which culture you are dealing with...","rel":"","context":"In "Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Photography","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/photography\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/phone-calls-love-hate1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17147,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/bkblog\/politics-fashion-photography-part-22-dont-give-up-your-day-job\/","url_meta":{"origin":8027,"position":5},"title":"The Politics of Fashion Photography Part 22 – Do Not Give Up… Your Day Job","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"May 8, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"WestEast Magazine Benjamin Kanarek Blog Photography Contest Or a synopsis of the WestEast Magazine Benjamin Kanarek Blog Fashion Beauty Photography Contest I have had the opportunity and privilege of being allowed to participate on several photography and fashion photography forums over the last few years. The frequency of questions pertaining\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BKBlog"","block_context":{"text":"BKBlog","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/bkblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/contest.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8027"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8027\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}