The following article is actually is several parts and I admire this author for knowing , learning and accepting her strengths and weaknesses in learning to self market. She openly confesses to all and her steps to overcome them!

Enjoy her story!

Theresa

Steve of ART CAREER EXPERTS says in response:

• Setting up a data base, and training someone to help me keep up with it.

• Printing some thank you cards to start sending out to all pet portrait clients.

• Getting back on track with sending out e-mail newsletters starting this month.

• Work harder to follow up with leads and dropped ball potential clients that for whatever reason fail to follow through with placing their portrait commissions.

• Remind myself every step of the way that having a marketing plan is not just about making more money or more sales, it is also about taking care of my clients after their portrait commission. I like my clients so much, and with the amount of repeat business I am fortunate to have I really need to take much better care of them after I deliver their artwork.

They started early in the morning, long before most of the tourists were up and about. From the balcony of my sixth floor room I saw the sellers park in the distant empty lot by the ocean and trudge through the sand with their goods. A few had  umbrellas. They needed the umbrellas on this beautiful but hot sandy strip of shoreline where the  Sea of Cortez mingled with the distant Pacific Ocean.
Cabo San Lucas resorts in Mexico are justly proud of their pristine beaches and go to unusual means to keep them beautiful, clean and safe for the huge tourist industry. There was a low rope stretched across the entire length of the beachfront property with guards posted at either end to keep the sellers from harassing the tourists. But of course if the tourists stepped over the ropes and went to the sellers, well, what could one do?
Virtually anything they thought that tourists would want from Mexico was being offered for sale. Wood carvings, scarves, woven textiles, straw hats, jewelry…some was souvenir junk.  But some of the sellers were the artists  and they had some beautiful silver jewelry and painted carvings. They would sit patiently all day behind the rope barrier and wait for curious tourists to come to them. Some would walk the beach holding up their goods and waving them to catch the attention of diners on the terraces.
When I stepped over the ropes, I was in their territory and they all saw, with certainty that I was indeed a buyer.  Their initial prices were high but they had learned that what was “too much” for one buyer, was nothing to another. They had nothing to lose so why not start high? Everything was negotiable. What I found myself admiring was not so much what they were selling, it was the persistence and perseverance that I admired.  I knew that this scene was being played out virtually everywhere, someplace, in the world. People and artists who needed the money and would tackle the public every day in the hopes of bringing in a steady income.  No embarrassment, no excuses. They all gathered around me because it was just possible that after I bought from one, I would buy from another. They did not sit quietly hoping to be noticed. They made sure that I knew they were there! The transactions were energizing, flat out fun and an inspiration to reticent artists everywhere.
There is a direct correlation between need and motivation. None of these artists had motivational issues.   Excuses did not enter into this picture. They had families to feed,  bills to pay and they were delighted to have buyers.  None of them pondered the academic world of artist angst. None of them wondered if they were “one with their art.” Or if they were feeding their souls or growing in their art.  They created their art, they sold their art, the sales paid their bills…..and for them, that meant life was good.
So why do we, as “educated” or trained artists, make the whole process so introspective and complicated?

• Show your work. If you are shy in front of the camera, you can create a slide show of sorts that shows your art, your studio, work in progress, photos, etc.

• Show yourself working. People are often interested to see “an artist at work” – can you set up a camera and draw, paint or sculpt while the film is rolling? You could speed up the video to make it look like you are working top speed and add audio or music to go along with it.

• Promote events. Are you a gallery artist looking to do more shows? Have someone take some video of you at an opening, talking with others, showing your art on the wall. Use that to promote yourself for future events. Do the same for craft fairs, commission work, public speaking, etc. Show you and your work in action to help others visualize you in action for them.

• Have some fun! Have you ever noticed that the videos people share the most are videos that make you laugh? Or videos that catch your attention by comparing unusual things? What can you do to make a viral video (meaning people keep passing it on!) related to your art? Spoof a famous commercial or skit? Stand on your head while painting? Have fun but make sure your fun is true to you, your art and your brand.

Once you have some videos, where will you put them? The first step to cash in on all this YouTube searching is to upload them to YouTube. But also consider creating a YouTube Channel – where you control the look and feel and can organize your videos as you see fit. That way people can follow you and know when you post new content. It’s a great way to build a following of people who enjoy video content.
To learn more about how to create your own channel, go to http://www.youtube.com/advertise
Pay attention to the description and keywords you use when you put your video on YouTube as well. According to YouTube, 24 hours of video are uploaded every minute so you need to make sure the right people know about your video or your efforts will be for naught. Treat your videos as you would treat your SEO for your website.
Videos can capture attention and add interest to your blog and website as well. You can link your videos to Facebook. Video is a more personal way for people to get to know, like and trust you and that is who people like to do business with.
Newer computers have video and microphone capabilities. Most digital cameras and some phones can take video as well. So don’t believe you have to have a production company create your video or huge budgets to get it done, just believe that it can help you promote your work and commit to give it a shot.
Here’s to adding video to the mix of your creative success!
Direct Link: http://artlicensingblog.com/2010/06/29/why-you-should-consider-adding-video-to-your-marketing-mix/
– Tara Reed

To NOT test a theory is to blindly accept another person’s decision concerning YOUR life!

One such theory is art shows and competitions. Many artists are paralyzed by the thought and pressure of “needing”  to compete to advance their art careers. We meet and talk with them every day. Artists with not one but two art degrees who have never “done a thing” with their art and feel they are running out of time. Artists who have won awards at shows yet their careers as artists are dead in the water. Artists who are afraid their art is not good enough. Artists living on a shoestring who do not have the money to pay the jury fees to enter a lot of shows….our list goes on and on. We hear their fears in our workshops, at art and craft shows, on our forums.

They are our ACE members who feel that they MUST enter art shows…… because
that is what they are “supposed to do.” Well,  folks, take heart, because guess what? You do not have to be an award winning artist to have a career!

In all the years that Steve and I, on our own and together have created our art for a living we have  NEVER had a client ask us what awards we have won.

We are not alone. Those ACE members who also derive either all or part of their income
from their art can also answer the same way. We’re not talking about
art shows where you are a vendor and are juried in to participate -We are talking about the shows where you pay a fee to be judged to win something such as a ribbon, an award, a trip, etc.

What does that mean to you as an artist? It means relax! Concentrate on
areas that will offer the greatest return for your efforts. Are we
saying don’t enter shows? Of course not-I just entered one and placed
first in the professional division…and won a $200.00 prize (of course I’m happy!)
When I first started “my serious art career”, I entered many shows, following that same vague advice of “needing to” that all artists fall victim to- not thinking for ourselves and being too unsure to branch out.   And it turned out to be an interesting test when I did  toss the idea.

Frankly, how many awards an artist has accumulated only matters to other artists!

Did I enter this particular art show to win an award? No I entered because I would be promoting my painting workshops in the area. It was entirely a marketing move for promotion, not for an award. Because I know in the real world of the marketing artist, that to our clients, awards mean nothing. They purchase from you because they like WHAT YOU DO!.

Just as in life, everything in moderation in your art career will get the greatest results!  But nothing will work if you don’t try. So before you dismiss the idea of awards meaning less than you were lead to believe,  open your mind and test it!   Don’t take our word for it. But don’t randomly take the word of the art community either.

We have discovered that our methods and track record for promoting and success and living the artist’s life are far better than the records of  artists who have followed the traditional route!

Enter a show if you like, but don’t do it just because you feel that  you should!   Test it. Make your own discoveries but don’t be paralyzed into inaction!

Until later!  Theresa and Steve

We are constantly advising artists that if they are  displaying work at an Art Gallery (or frankly ANYWHERE) there are THREE rules to observe:
1. Work with locations that are a comfortable day’s drive or less from you.
2. Visit the Gallery before you send anything
3.  Do an online search to see if there are any negative problems with the Gallery

The following blog has an interesting twist on an all too familiar story:

http://joannemattera.blogspot.com/2010/05/marketing-mondays-when-bad-things.html

I volunteered to be there from 3-7. I’ll be doing live sketches and will charge $20.00 a quick sketch-all proceeds going to their fundraiser…not Haiti this time-it’s being pro-active and being prepared for the  oil spill that will in time hit the NC beaches! If we are fortunate and it misses this state-it will be for those states who need the help.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ats/1757051181.html