What I Learned by Doing a Pilot Project – Nancy Burkhalter

When I started out as a personal historian, all the old pros told me, “Do a pilot project. You won’t regret it.”

So, I dutifully set out to find a willing subject. I guess I took the assignment too literally because I did find a pilot who had transitioned smoothly from being a Vietnam wartime fighter pilot to running a very successful graphic arts company.

When I asked Robert Wilkes if he would consent to being my subject, he eagerly agreed. “No charge,” I said. All he had to do was show up for interviews.

I had worked as a journalist for several years, but this kind of project had a much different focus. There were tons of family photos to choose from, a map of Vietnam I had my graphic artist create, and products he had (re)branded that he wanted to include.

We met once a week for about an hour and a half. I brought my trusty tape recorder (actually two, in case one failed), and a list of questions about that chapter’s topic. Robert was a dream client. He needed no coaxing to offer up lots of great stories.

I transcribed the tapes, worked them into engaging prose that captured his voice, captioned photos, designed the cover, chose the font, and had Robert approve the book. Now it was ready to send off to the printer.

But not just any printer. I needed a company that would do a short run – very short, like 10 copies. Not many printers accommodate such a request.

Robert ordered several more copies for his family. He busted his buttons over how it turned out.

While, miraculously, this project went off without a hitch (except for the one time he forgot to show up for our meeting), I learned three things from doing my pilot/pilot project.

1. Ask the printer to send a mockup for your and the client’s approval. With today’s electronic wizardry, it’s easy to do. Or you can get a printed copy too, which I prefer so I can, among other things, inspect the quality of the photo reproduction.
   
2. Be certain your client approves everything—in writing!—before the book goes to its final printing.
   
3. Unless you know how to do camera-ready book layouts, hire a trusty graphic artist to do that. Well worth the cost.

Then sit back and prepare yourself for your client’s look of awe at the finished product and say.  “Wow – my life really has been interesting.”

P.S. I never regretted one minute I spent on my pilot study.

Wartime Map of Vietnam

Redesigned olive oil brand

Nancy Burkhalter – Biographer, Historical Researcher, Interviewer. nancy.burkhalter@live.com, 206-679-4598