Do This!
A weekly motivational newsletter focusing on action steps for visual artists.

What's Going On: Announcements /Classes

>>>Do This:  Measure Twice, Cut Once 

Tip / Find of the Week:  Vista Print 

Click here  to subscribe to, unsubscribe from or change your email address for the Do This! newsletter.

WHAT'S GOING ON

: : CLASS: CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAREER PATH : :
Confused about which direction to go? Find out more about the various opportunities available to you as an artist and learn which one will be best for you. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/path.shtml

: : BIZ TOOL: MARKETING PLAN : :
Got your plan ready to go? As you'll learn in today's newsletter, planning is key to your success. Planning will help you prioritize and decide where to spend your time and money. Get your marketing plan in place before it's too late. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/mktgplan.shtml

: : WORKSHOP: SELF-PROMOTION ESSENTIALS : :
Friday, August 13
This workshop is in conjunction with the Colorado Metalsmiths Association annual conference in Salida. It will be open to the public for a small fee. Please email me if you'd like more information.

See the menu in the upper left of this page to view popular topics from past issues. 

Judith D'Agostino, Dusk. 2004, oil on board, 48 x 48 inches. ©The Artist http://www.judithdagostino.com

Time after time, artists come to me only after they have tried everything else. They might even ask for help with their website on which they spent $2000 (yikes!) without blinking an eye. How do I tell them that if they had done a little research, they would have found they didn't need to spend that much money? They would have also discovered they certainly didn't need all of the bells and whistles, which only detract from an appreciation of the artwork. They didn't have a plan. They just had an urgent need to get their work online--and fast.

I'm often the last resort for some people who see me as a fairy godmother that can wave a wand and make their dreams come true. While I'd like to believe I could work a little magic, truth is I know better. I know it takes and there is no such thing as an easy ride. Discipline and hard work are key. The artists who are looking for a quick fix are usually those who haven't taken the time to chart their course of action.

"Measure twice, cut once," as it applies to your business and career, means taking the time to plan. Making judgments while you're in frantic mode is a very bad idea. And any effort that is less than your best leaves room for your competition. (Yes, you have competition. Don't ever forget it.)

All of these are "big picture" questions. You need the answers to them before you can react appropriately to daily concerns that arise. What will your website include? What do your marketing materials look like? What people do you need to meet? If you have a vision for your career, these everyday decisions seem to answer themselves.

Don't just do it in your head. Take time to write it out by hand on paper. Then share your vision with someone else.

Note: See the menu in the upper left of this page to view popular topics from past issues. 

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.