The ArtBizCoach.com Art Marketing Action Inner Circle has arrived! While preparing for another workshop in Michigan, I am bolstered by energy from the artists I met in Florida. On Saturday, it was a group of students from the Ringling School of Art and Design. About 60 of them gave up the chance to visit the beach on a beautiful Saturday to learn more about promoting their art. I had illustrators, computer animators, fine artists, and everyone in between in the audience. On Sunday, it was more my usual crowd of fine artists and craftspeople. You’d think the two groups would have been very different, but they weren’t. All artists need the same basic tools for promoting themselves. You could read a bunch of books to find out what you need. However, you’d have to read a lot of them because as far as I can tell, there’s no single book with all of the answers--particularly answers targeted just to artists. You also miss out on a lot of dynamics by reading and not interacting. The cool thing about the workshops--and about the Internet--is that they create community. A gaggle of creative minds in one place is a powerful weapon in the marketing game. That’s just why I’ve created the ArtBizCoach.com Art Marketing Action Inner Circle. The Inner Circle is where artists find ongoing support, motivation, and inspiration. It’s part of my 5-year anniversary celebration. See below for more details.

Join the Art Marketing Action Inner Circle
This is the first of five promised specials for you during my 5-year anniversary celebration. Get a premium edition of this newsletter each month, one-on-one coaching days, access to a members-only website and discussion group, and much more. Normally $24.95 a month, I’m offering it for just $5 a month for the first two months. Read the details:
http://www.artmarketingaction.com

How To Profit in the Art Print Market

Teleseminar -  Tuesday, April 24, 6 p.m. (MT)

Barney Davey, an expert in art reproductions, is my guest for this teleseminar. Fresh back from Art Expo New York, Davey will share his insights from this year’s event. He’ll talk about the market and whether or not it’s a good time for you to get into publishing your work. He’ll also give you a wish list for the publisher’s ideal artist. Just $9.95 for the call, handouts, and recording if enrolled before the teleseminar ($14.95 after). http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/davey.html

Get Organized

(This class is in progress but you can still join and catch up.)

Are your piles piling up? Is your filing drawer a wreck? If you can’t find stuff when you need it, if you aren’t meeting your deadlines, or if you’re just running around in circles, Get Organized! might be just what you need. The $99 fee includes all lessons, 30 days of emails, 6 months of follow-up reminders, and a class discussion group. Please join us and get your life back under control. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/organize.html
 

Michigan Art Marketing Workshop

Live workshop, Saturday, April 14

I’m heading back to Jackson, Michigan to follow up on the Shameless Self-Promotion workshop I led there last year. This year, we’re spending the day on marketing plans. At the end of the day, all participants will have a plan in hand. Hope you can make it.
http://www.acajc.org/workshops.php

► View all upcoming classes and events.
 

FEATURE ARTICLE

Interview Yourself

Jane Robinette, Iris, 2003. Acrylic and ink on paper with original poem by artist, 13 1/4 x 13 1/4 inches. from the "Poem Paintings" series  © The Artist. To listen to the poem, go to http://www.janerobinette.com/jane-art/iris.htm

Andi Woods-Fasimpur wrote with this dilemma:

“I was recently approached by the publisher of a small regional magazine about the possibility of being profiled either in their print publication or on their website. After exchanging a couple of email messages, he has now asked me if I would be willing to write the profile myself. I'm horribly uncomfortable with this aspect of self-promotion and I also worry that some of the impact and credibility of the profile will be lost if it was obviously written by me. Do you have any advice on this subject?”

I sure do, Andi. I think I have a solution. First, some background.

In my workshops, I beg artists to get uncomfortable. In fact, sometimes I even make them change seats and sit next to someone they don’t know. I also facilitate a session that has them practicing their introductions with total strangers. Self-promotion is all about getting out of your comfort zone. Remember my favorite quote, from James Bryant Conant: “Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.” You have to stick your neck out to further your goals.

Without knowing much about the publication or Andi’s goals, my immediate response is: Hey, someone wants to run a profile on you. Go for it! On the other hand, I understand her level of discomfort. We read with suspicion when articles appear to be obviously self-serving and written by the person being profiled. It’s wise to be cautious.
But see if you can quell the level of discomfort and use the situation to your benefit.

It’s important to remember that many publications don’t have the staff to write up a new article every time they find something of interest. That’s when you jump at the chance to play offense. This is the perfect occasion to mold your story and tell it in any way you like. Grab the bull by the horns and don’t miss the opportunity.

What if, instead of writing the profile, you approached the editor and asked if you could write the article in interview format? You’d ask the questions and provide the answers, but you obtain the editor’s permission to use his name as if he were asking the questions. You could even run the questions by him beforehand and ask him to select the ones he’s most comfortable with (always a good idea to provide options that give him ownership in the story).

Don’t miss out on an opportunity just because you’re uncomfortable with it. Look at it a different way to see if you might be able to use it to your advantage.