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Individual Consultations Writing and Editing
Ongoing Support Marketing Plans Classes
Paving Your Career Path Setting Up
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Do This!
A weekly motivational newsletter focusing on action steps for visual
artists.
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Current Issue: May 24, 2004
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IN
THIS ISSUE
What's Going On:
Announcements /Classes >>>Do
This: Make Your Art the
Focus
Tip / Find of the Week: Art Support Artists
Respond: What They Have to Say
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Click here
to subscribe to,
unsubscribe from or change your email address for the Do This! newsletter.
WHAT'S
GOING ON
: : ONLINE
CLASSES : :
"Artists & Museums: What You Need to Know"
Class begins next Monday, May 31
Are you curious about museums and how they might fit in your career
plans? What makes some artists "museum worthy"? You'll also
find out 10 ways to get noticed by a museum, when it's the right time to
approach a museum, and how to contact with a museum.
3-week e-class. $39.95. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/museums.shtml
"A Marketing Plan That Works For You"
Class begins Monday, June 7
If you missed the earlier session this year, now's the time to catch
this popular class. And do it before the gallery season heats up in the
fall. You can't afford to take the summer off! The two-week class
includes my help honing and devising your marketing plan. $64.95 and
you'll have a better idea of the direction you should be taking and
venues you should be seeking. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/mktgplan.shtml
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FRONT RANGE SERIOUS MARKETING SALONS : :
begin Tuesday, June 15
Calling all artists in Colorado who want to focus on their art
businesses and career. We're working in a group situation to provide
support and answers for each other. Details at http://www.artbizcoach.com/colorado
: : FREE
CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTERS : :
I am always happy when someone asks to reproduce my
newsletters in their organization's newsletters. The more the merrier!
If you belong to an artist organization that needs content for a
newsletter (email or print), please let me know and I'll see what I can
dig out of my hat. I have more than 100 topics to choose from: alyson@artbizcoach.com
See the menu in the
upper left of this page to view popular topics from past
issues.
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DO THIS:
MAKE YOUR ART THE FOCUS
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When you are trying to sell your art or
build your reputation, you mustn't forget the art itself. The art is
what it's all about!
Sounds strange to even say this, doesn't
it? But how often have you watched a TV commercial or seen a magazine ad
only to wonder what in the heck they are trying to sell? Everyone who
has read this newsletter for any length of time knows how important I
think words are in helping you connect with new audiences. But even good
language must take a backseat to the work itself. Your art--the style,
the colors, the mood--must drive all of your marketing efforts. It's all
about creating an image. And the image is dictated by the art.
I have been to a number of artists'
websites lately that don't even have a picture of their art on the home
page! Or, it's on there but it's secondary to the words or website
design itself.
Nothing should compete visually with your
artwork. Nothing. Your artwork must take center stage in your marketing
efforts.
That means the designs of your website
and printed marketing materials support the message in your art rather
than carrying their own messages. On your website, watch out for color
that upstages your work (use a white background!), frou-frou design
elements, funky fonts, background music (silence, please!), and
wallpaper. Do the same with your printed materials. Use only white
paper, black ink, and standard fonts.
It's amazing what a little restraint can do for
your art!
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KNOW THIS
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If your artwork is being upstaged by someone
else's design work, you're sending out the wrong message.
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THINK ABOUT THIS
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Nothing should compete visually with the
appreciation of your artwork.
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DO THIS
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Reevaluate the message you are sending.
Better yet, ask someone else to provide an objective opinion and do it
for you. Does it reflect your art? Is it worthy of your art? Can people
get a sense of your art and style on the first page on your website? Or
on your postcard or brochure? If not, start over and build marketing
materials you can be proud of.
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If you use Internet Explorer, you can forward this page to a friend
by going up to your menu and, under "File," select
"Send" then "Page by E-mail." Or just copy and paste
the URL into a message: http://www.artbizcoach.com/dothis
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TIP
/ FIND OF THE
WEEK: Art Support
Art Support has evolved from a career
site mostly for fine-art photographers to one for all visual artists.
See the helpful articles and tips for
yourself at: http://www.art-support.com
Note: See the menu in the upper left of this page
to view popular topics from past issues.
ARTISTS
RESPOND: What They Have to Say
Susan C. Hammond |
In response to last week's newsletter on
considering all the ramifications before you make decisions that will
greatly impact your business, I received the following from Susan
Hammond in Massachusetts:
"Those in the business realm often
tell our clients, you have to spend money to make money."
Isn't it true! Read about Susan's
business at http://www.schammond.com
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Copyright © 2004 Alyson B.
Stanfield, Stanfield Art Associates. All rights reserved. I encourage you to forward all or part of this
newsletter as long as you include the above copyright information and
this link: http://www.artbizcoach.com
Please forward this to your artist-friends.
Internet
Explorer users can forward this page by selecting "File," then
"Send" then "Page by E-mail."
Click here to subscribe to,
unsubscribe from or change your email address for the Do This! newsletter.
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