Thanks to everyone who wished me luck with my book deadline, which I mentioned in this space last week. I’m happy to report that I made great strides over the past seven days. However, I was tempted to neglect my goal. I got it in my mind that I needed to go to Oklahoma in May and spend some time with my nephews--before it gets too hot. I was further lured away from my goal by the fact that I found a roundtrip ticket for dirt cheap. Ah, this will be perfect, I reasoned. Then, I can be back home and enjoy the Colorado summertime. What was I thinking? A mere two hours after I got off the phone with my mother to check the dates with her, my angels were whispering “June 1” to me over and over again. “June 1: that’s the day you promised to have your book completed. Not only that, but you told 5,000 people in your newsletter. What makes you think you can leave for five days in May and still get it done?” I confess that my book was the furthest thought as I was planning this in my mind. If I were disciplined enough, I could work on the book while I was in Oklahoma, but that’s not why I’m going there. I also realized that there is “lag time” both before and after a trip, which would probably eat up my writing ritual. And I made a promise to myself that I have to honor. It’s my priority. Here’s hoping you, too, are honoring your priorities,

Anniversary Specials End May 5

$20 Off Individual Consultation
This Week’s 5-year Anniversary Special: $20 Off Individual Consultation. If you sign up for a consultation before May 5, you pay just $130. Consultations just have to be scheduled on or before June 5. Read about individual consultations and how you might benefit: http://www.artbizcoach.com/5 . 

Workshop in Evergreen, Colorado

Saturday, May 5

I take my “How to Promote Your Art with Confidence” show on the road again, but this time it’s just a short drive up the I-70 hill. This all-day workshop is highly motivating, while containing lots of practical information you can use right away. You can see sample content at http://www.artbizcoach.com/workshops/promote.html

The details are on the registration form: http://www.artbizcoach.com/workshops/eacflyer.doc

Exhibit Your Art

Online class begins Wednesday May 9

This class is for you if you have an exhibit coming up or you want to be better prepared for your next one. Everything from curating your work to installing it and getting ready for your opening is covered. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/exhibit.html

Become an Online Art Magnet:
How to Increase Traffic with Links, Keywords and Blogs

Teleseminar -  Wednesday, May 23, 6 p.m. MT

Clint Watson is back by popular demand! His last teleseminar, “How to Create a Website that Sells,” almost sold out and the recorded version has been equally popular. Clint will share the only two things you really need to know about search engines; how to build an ever-increasing amount of site traffic; simple actions you can take each day to increase your site’s popularity; and how to properly use links, keywords and blogs. Just $9.95 before the call. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/webtraffic.html

► View all upcoming classes and events.
 

FEATURE ARTICLE

Keep a Master Résumé

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone asked you for your information in the same format? In other words, that they always wanted a one-page résumé in this particular order with these particular details? Yeah. Like that’s ever going to happen. The best you can do is to keep all of your information in one place: Your master résumé.

Your master résumé, which an academician would call a curriculum vitae, or CV, is just that. It’s a document that outlines all of your accomplishments. From your first public showings at the local coffee shop to art festivals to museum exhibitions. Put it all on there.

Why ALL of your accomplishments? Because one day you might want to look back with fond memories of every success and, yes, every bumble. You’ll want to see how far you’ve come. And, when you’re famous, curators will want to know. Trust me on this. Curators dive in to the minutiae of artists’ careers. It’s in their blood from their training as art historians.

I’ll admit there are some things in your career that you might not want to be reminded of later in life, but I encourage you not to edit. Your job is simply to record. No one but you ever has to see this document. Even the curators can receive a slightly edited version. (For example, they don’t really need to know about each calendar listing that was in your town paper.)

A few tricks for updating your résumé:

• Add each accomplishment as it occurs.

• If you can’t do the above immediately, keep a file folder titled “résumé.” Plop in your announcements, articles, honors, and public collections. It will all be in one place for when you’re ready.

• Again, if you can’t add everything to your résumé as it occurs, put it on your calendar to do it quarterly. Set computer reminders so it doesn’t slide.

Get a suggested structure for your résumé on the Art Biz Blog.