How should I ask for someone's email in face-to-face conversations?

Just ask, then shut up. When you meet someone and mention you’re an artist and they show interest by asking what kind of art you do, simply say ‘You should get on my email list. Let me get your email.’ Then be quiet and wait. Don’t overthink it or overcomplicate it. The worst that can happen is they say no. Think of it like asking someone you’re attracted to for their number - you have to take that chance or you’ll never know what could have happened. Train yourself to make this a habit in every conversation where someone shows genuine interest in your art. This works anywhere - at coffee shops, on airplanes, at your kids’ events, anywhere you have authentic interactions. An email list is built one email at a time, and you only need one email from the right person to turn a marketing campaign into a significant sale.

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Asked by synthesized from teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2026-05-29