The Stoneleigh Hotel in Uptown - Dallas TX - June 2013
Being an entrepreneur, meeting with clients is the life blood with for my business. I try to exceeding expectations at every step of the business development process. That starts with the first meeting with my clients. I always approch meeting a new client as if I was meeting an old friend I haven’t seen in a few years. I always pick to meet at a location in town where it feels like home. When lived in Upstate New York, I would always meet up with my friends at a local place called Pizza Jerks. It was this little pizza shop ran by some new aged hippie Italians from Vermont. I know, a strange combination, but it worked. The reason I bring up Pizza Jerks is because what I always loved about Pizza Jerks was the atmosphere. There was always something going on and it always felt like home. That’s what I love about the Ascension Coffee House, Oddfellows, and The Stoneleigh Hotel. It’s not as much about the location but the atmosphere that they provide for my clients.
Ascension Coffee House
Where do I start. I love this place. It is my go to whenever I have meetings in the Design District. They have these long wood tables near the front of the shop that I always sit at. These tables are great to layout a portfolio or an iPad. It's also the perfect to just talk to your client and make a connection. The atmosphere inside is fantastic. It reminds me of if you were transported to Seattle, started a coffee shop, then said screw it, and moved to Austin and opened up a coffee shop. The cafe is modern with lots of hard woods. It’s is a great atmosphere to get work done and have a great conversation.
Pro tip: Arrive early and buy a gift card for you client. That way when they arrive, they can get a coffee or tea on their own without you both standing in line. Also it is a great thank you just for meeting.
Oddfellows
So you have a client that lives in Oak Cliff and they won’t leave Oak Cliff. They never will leave Oak Cliff. They are Oak Cliff. Well, I guess you are going to Oak Cliff then! Not to fret, Oak Cliff has some of the best coffee in Dallas. Oddfellows is my secret hideaway from the rest of Dallas. It’s especially helpful when you have clients dislike the rest of Dallas except for Oak Cliff. What I love about Oddfellows is the people that are patrons of this fine establishment. Their is always someone interesting walking in and it sparks the creative juices. I am always scribbling down notes of what I find interesting about someone's style and try to incorporate it into my next shoot. It is great to point out a style to a client and see if that is a look they are going for in a shoot. My clients and I can bounce ideas off each other until we come up with the perfect shoot.
Pro tip: Want great BBQ without the wait of Pecan Lodge? Go to Lockhart Smokehouse right around the corner from Oddfellows. It has some of the best BBQ in town and will impress any client.
The Stoneleigh Hotel
Hotel lobbies are great to meet clients. They are semi-formal with plenty of space to spread out. Great for corporate clients or more formal meetings with personal clients. The Stoneleigh Hotel is perfect because of two things, great location and no one has heard of it. While The Stoneleigh is one of the most famous hotels in Dallas, almost no one has ever heard of it. Since it’s opening in 1923, it has been a staple in Dallas for rock stars, movie stars, and business leaders. It’s a hidden gem in the middle of Uptown. The hotel lobby is decorated immaculately. It has a very modern vibe that mixes well with the art deco and federalist style of the origional hotel. The hotel also has halls of intricately carved oak from London’s Charthouse School. These walls were imported by William Randolph Hearst and eventually made their way to Dallas. There is a nice sitting area near the entrance which is perfect for hanging out and to talk shop with your client. It is relaxing environment that lets a more corporate client let their guard down and enjoy the experience of working with you. Whenever I meet a client that is out of town or a corporate leader, we always go to The Stoneleigh.
Pro tip: During the spring and fall, sit outside and enjoy the Stoneleigh’s great patio area. It’s just as nice, if not nicer, than the lobby.