This applies to virtually any field or vocation:

1) Work your way up and get known through association and paying dues. Find apprenticeships, study under well-respected industry leaders, give back, and work hard.

2) Go rogue. Build a brand/name based on your observations and leverage your audience (once you’ve built it) to get where you’re trying to go.

No wrong answer here, but it’s helpful to decide up front how you’re going about it.