Ten Keys to Success for Artists

1. TEN KEYS TO SUCCESS 4 ARTISTS

2. MY VISION Photo © AJ Neste That all creative people get to live the life of their dreams, and make good money doing what they love.

4. 62% of Artists are Freelancers

6. Art Marketing & Licensing Expert

7. Published author/blogger for artists

8. Business of Art Seminar Leader

10. 30 different manufacturers use his art to make their products look cool

11. Is known for his distinct style

12. Is featured in over two dozen magazines, newspapers, TV shows and books yearly

13. Lives the life of his dreamsPhoto © Jason Wallis

15. Decide Who you want to be*Decide what you want to be known for *Choose your Niche and be the best in it

16. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT “In the long run, men get only what they aim at. Therefore….they had better aim at something high.” Thoreau

17. 15 minutes of planning = 8 hours of work!

18. THE SECRET OF RICH &FAMOUS ARTISTS

19. KEY #2: BRAND YOURSELF Find your niche Have your own style Have a unique signature You want your art to be DISTINCT & easily recognized as your own

22. Artist Aileen Holmes

35. KEY #3: PROTECT YOUR COPYRIGHTS To Brand Yourself: YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER YOUR COPYRIGHTS IT’S THE SINGLE, MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT HAS LEAD TO MANY ARTISTS’ SUCCESS

37. THE COPYRIGHT OWNER: Has all rights to reproduction of the work Has rights to sell the artwork to another entity for financial gain or otherwise Has COMPLETE AUTHORITY over what happens to the artwork, forever and ever

38. SO WHAT?

39. COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976 States that copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The © in the work immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work EXCEPTION: Artist created work for their employer

40. SHOULD YOU REGISTER YOUR ART THROUGH U.S. COPYRIGHT ? It gives you added protection (your attorney’s fees are covered should there be an infringement) It’s cheap – only $35 if you file online It’s fairly simple

41. HOW © OWNERSHIP IS TRANSFERREDFROM YOU TO SOMEONE ELSE MOST COMMON WAY: by Signing a “WORK FOR HIRE” or “Assignment” Agreement Through other contracts If you are an employee and create it for your employer – it’s automatically owned by them

42. CONTRACT SMARTS BEWARE OF: The “Sneaky Contract” Beware of “Work for Hire” Agreements Don’t sign anything that you don’t completely UNDERSTAND or AGREE with For large deals, get an attorney

43. KEY #4 – BEHAVE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL Treat your art business like a business Envision yourself as a brand and develop your image “Repetition adds to Reputation” Warhol

44. NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS! You have to take 100% responsibility for your success You have to take 100% responsibility for everything that happens to you In this, you find freedom & control

45. BE PROFESSIONAL Introduce yourself as an artist - speak powerfully about who you are & what you do NETWORKING – Connect with others Have INTEGRITY / Meet Deadlines / Do what you say You’ll Do every time CONSISTENCY – Train People to see you how you want them to

46. A STRONG WORK ETHIC WILL OUT PERFORM PURE TALENT

48. NO DOESN’T MEAN NO It’s just “no” for now Don’t take it personally Happens in all industries / stores / sales

49. Getting Into Galleries RESEARCH: Only approach galleries where your art would be a fit BE RESPECTFUL OF DIRECTOR’S TIME: Don’t call or approach right before an exhibit or on a busy weekend DON’T: Walk in unannounced with portfolio in hand (or, even worse, a painting under your arm!) DON’T: Approach galleries until you’re READY with a full body of work, an artist’s statement and portfolio. DO: Call and ask for an appointment BEST: Ask one of the exhibiting artists to refer you ALWAYS: Be patient, follow up, don’t take a “no” as rejection.

50. KEY 5: SHOOT YOURSELF DOCUMENT YOUR ART & PROJECTS FOR * Media Articles * Blogs * Books * History!

51. Key 6 - PROMOTE YOURSELF SHAMELESSLY! You have to market yourself – nobody else is going to do it for you

52. BUSINESS CARDS Never leave home without ‘em Hand them out often Make them look interesting enough that they will be never end up in the trash

54. LEAVE ‘EM WITH A BUSINESS CARD THEY WON’T TRASH

55. WEBSITE Use your own name as domain so it’s easily found Update it Constantly Blogging helps keep things current Your website vibe should be consistent with your “brand” or persona

60. LABEL YOUR DIGITAL IMAGES: For better Search engine Pick up (and a google search will find your images should someone copy and paste on their site) Digital label should contain: Artist Name Title of Work and Year Medium and Size File Name Ex: SUNRISE by Drew Brophy 2006 Mixed Media 30x40 (Size is always listed as: Height x Width X Depth in inches)

61. DEVELOP A CONTACT DATABASE Start collecting names NOW Develop a database of fans/collectors Develop a database of potential clients Send out occasional newsletters / e-mail blasts and postcard mailers

62. POSTCARD MAILERS Use postcard mailers to send to potential clients and existing clients Send out quarterly or monthly Keep your art in their face, handy and put your website on FRONT of card

63. YOUTUBE VIDEOS - MEDIA

64. WHY DO SOME ARTISTS GET ALL THE PRESS? They say “YES” to most every opportunity! They make it easy by providing photos, information, etc. They ask for it

65. SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES Send a press release when you have a new license, painting or project Keep a list of relevant trade magazines, newspapers & blog contacts to send these releases to Have photos to go with the release

66. Encourage Clients to advertisewith your Artwork, Name, Face

69. TARGET MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS Make a list of magazines that have a readership that will be interested in you Send e-mails and/or letters telling WHY their READERS will be interested in you (NEVER say why it’s good for you – they don’t care) Follow up every 3-6 months and be patient RESPOND QUICKLY when they call – they are on deadline (make it easy for them)

73. KEY 7: STRUCTURE YOUR PRICES

75. Come up with a structure (per s.i.) for existing artwork and another structure for commissions

79. STAY CONSISTENT! Consider raising prices by 10% each year Charge same price regardless of where or how it’s sold (your galleries should sell your paintings for the same prices that you do) Offer a 5 – 10% discount for returning collectors If your price structure isn’t working, adjust it

80. KEY #8: MANAGE YOUR MONEY If you aren’t making a profit, than you’ve got a hobby SET YOUR POLICIES – KNOW YOUR POLICIES – MAKE IT CLEAR UP FRONT BE CONFIDENT IN WHAT YOU CHARGE

81. HELP! I DON’T HAVE A BUSINESS MIND!

82. “ “YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE RULES OF THE GAME.” Albert Einstein “BEING GOOD IN BUSINESS IS THE MOST FASCINATING KIND OF ART.” Andy Warhol

83. HOW WE NEVER GOT RIPPED OFF AGAIN… We require 50% deposit before beginning any commissioned work Balance is due upon completion/at delivery Price includes up to 3 sketches Rush Fee: Can be up to 50% more $

84. THINK BEFORE YOU GIVE YOUR WORK AWAY Giving art away can LOWER the value of your work People don’t value what’s cheap or free You have a duty to other artists to charge a fair price Charities: Ask for a % of the sale (I.R.S. doesn’t value your time)

85. KEY #9: Create Multiple Streams of Income DON’T PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS INTO THE ART GALLERY BASKET OR ANY ONE BASKET! Diversify

87. Live Events

88. License your Art

89. Design Products

90. Teach others

91. Develop DVD’s and books

95. ART LICENSING It’s like Renting your Art to a Manufacturer Licensing is everywhere! Most of what you buy is licensed, from clothing to cleaning products!

98. BENEFITS OF LICENSING Your art can be licensed for many different products You never produce or inventory – you just create the art and collect the royalties Licensing helps to market your art and thus grow your brand

101. KEY #10 – Always a Student There’s an answer for every problem and question you have – find it online Read books, blogs and take classes. Learn the business side of being an artist. Never think you know it all! There’s always more to learn…

102. ARTISTS – STICK TOGETHER Help each other succeed Share information – Keep in Touch Refer each other Link to each other on Twitter, Facebook, Etc.

103. VISION WE SEE A WORLD IN WHICH THE TERM “Starving Artist” IS A THING OF THE PAST & WHERE ALL ARTISTS ARE WELL PAID FOR THEIR TALENT AND HARD WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN