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

What's Going On: Announcements /Classes
>>>Do This:  Mix Politics and Art?
Tip / Find of the Week:  Flickr.Com

The Do This! newsletter is sent only to subscribers. You can subscribe using the instructions in the column at left. Instructions for unsubscribing and changing your email address are at the bottom of each issue delivered to your inbox.

WHAT'S GOING ON

: : CLASS: A MARKETING PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU: :
Begins next Monday, October 18
Have you been running your business on a wing and a prayer? If you've been selling some art, but realize it's time to get serious about selling more and building your business, you must have a plan. Understand pricing, your competition (yes, you have competition!), and the best venues for sales. Then get a promotions plan in place that will get you to where you want to be. Find out more and join us: http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/mktgplan.shtml

DON'T FORGET! 
: : TELECLASS: PUBLIC ART PROJECTS (YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED) : :
Wednesday, October 13, 8-9:30 p.m. EDT (5-7:30 p.m. PDT)
There are hundreds (probably thousands) of public art opportunities for artists each year. Are they right for you? Read more about it and how teleclasses work at http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/publicart.shtml

Francisco José de Goya, The Third of May, 1808.  Oil on canvas, 1808. A contemporary interpretation of  war and politics.

There is a business motivation expert that I have been following for quite some time. In fact, I have recommended one of his books highly through this newsletter and in my classes. I've sold lots of books for him! Granted, he doesn't need me to help him sell--he's doing just fine on his own. Nonetheless, you'd think he'd want to keep me happy. But he crossed a line on Tuesday morning.

That's when he sent me an email containing a link to a recent article he wrote about the upcoming election. Was it fair and balanced? He-- no! It was venomous. And it offended me deeply. I immediately unsubscribed to everything he had to offer. Not only that, I sent him one of my postcards (with my smiling face on it) and told him why I am no longer a subscriber. I felt that was important to do. I was getting his newsletters to help me with my business and he was telling me how to vote in the upcoming election. Not only that, it was a hateful, divisive article. I felt it had no place in a newsletter I valued for business advice.

Carrie MaKenna, Between the Firmaments. Tempera, 40 x 22" ©The Artist.  Featured artist Carrie  MaKenna holds open house parties  at her studio and donates a portion  of the sales to her favorite  political cause.    http://www.anamcaralivingarts.com

Did he do the wrong thing? Not necessarily. He obviously believes strongly in his cause and is willing to stick his neck out. And he can probably afford to take a stand. I actually admire him for taking the risk and sharing his beliefs with others.

I have to confess that I probably wouldn't have been offended at all if we were on the same page. My guess is that at least half of his list enjoyed the article. In such a close election, I'll bet the other half reacted as I did. Politics and business don't always make good bedfellows.

►You might be jeopardizing some of your sales. On the other hand, you could also be attracting others who think along the same lines.

► Be sure you believe steadfastly in your cause and are willing to stick your neck out for it.

►There is no reason to be hateful or angry (unless that's your shtick). Get someone else to read what you write to ensure you come of as thoughtful. Whatever you do, exercise your right to vote.

If you use Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, you can forward this page to a friend by going up to your menu and, under "File," select "Send"  or "Send Page."  Or just copy and paste this URL into a message: http://www.artbizcoach.com/dothis

TIP / FIND OF THE WEEK: Flickr.Com  

Brian Whisenhunt, A New Art History, Quinze. Collage. ©The Artist.

Artist Brian Whisenhunt, whose cartoons are featured on ArtBizCoach.com, wrote in to share this.

"Have you checked out www.flickr.com ? It's a beta site where people can get a free account and upload pictures/scans. . . . I was thinking that it might be useful to some of your clients who don't have the time or resources to maintain a formal web site, but have scans of their work that they want to make available to galleries/museums, etc."

You can see Brian's images there at http://www.flickr.com/photos/collage-seum/ and read his "Manic Thrift Store Shopper" blog at http://mtss.blogspot.com/

  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." 

The Do This! newsletter is sent only to subscribers. You can subscribe using the instructions in the column at left. Instructions for unsubscribing and changing your email address are at the bottom of each issue delivered to your inbox.