May 29, 2006

Today is Memorial Day in the U.S., a national holiday set aside to remember those who have died in our nation¹s service and first celebrated in 1868. It's an especially poignant holiday in the middle of wartime. Whether you're in the U.S. or abroad, please take a moment to remember all of those servicemen and women, firefighters, police officers, and others who have died in the line of duty.

This is my annual Memorial Day issue, the only one so far that is repeated and updated from a previous issue. These reminders are worth going over at least once a year.

REMEMBER it's easier to make a reputation locally, and then expand into other markets. Almost every artist thinks life would be easier if they just lived somewhere else. For most, it isn't the case.

REMEMBER that your contact list should be your number one asset. Get it organized, add to it, and use it! The e-book Cultivating Collectors can get you started. Find it at http://www.artbizcoach.com/books/cc.shtml

REMEMBER there is no magical person that is going to discover you and make you a star. While there will be some people who can help you in your career, you can't rely on anyone but yourself.

REMEMBER you are a visual artist and should care about visual presentation in your marketing materials and website.

REMEMBER to write a personal thank-you note to everyone who helps you get ahead.

REMEMBER to set challenging goals and figure out how you're going to achieve them. If you need help, my newly structured consulting might be of value:
http://www.artbizcoach.com/consulting

REMEMBER that good language can help you sell your art. Well-written statements, stories, and articulate conversation go a long way when trying to connect with audiences.

REMEMBER to build relationships in your community. You will hear about opportunities before they're in print. At the same time, you'll make the connections needed to get ahead. Visit http://www.artbizconnection.com and start building your own artist community.

REMEMBER to protect yourself. Have a sound financial plan; maintain health, business and life insurance; back up files from your computer; get everything in writing; and keep your anti-virus software updated. The fire two years ago in a London warehouse was devastating. Seminal artworks by the Young British Artists (YBAs) of the 1990s were lost. Of course, this was beyond their control, but it should serve as a reminder to protect your business as fully as is possible. You can read about the fire on the BBC
website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3749199.stm

See more reminders on the Art Biz Blog.