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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: June 14, 2004
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IN
THIS ISSUE
What's Going On:
Announcements /Classes >>>Do
This: Turn Them Down
Tip / Find of the Week: 6 Steps to Free
Publicity
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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 : :
"A Marketing Plan That Works For You"
E-class begins today
It's not too late to join. You can't afford to take the summer off! Put your
plan on paper and get busy. The two-week class includes my input. $65
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
"The Artist Statement & Beyond"
E-class begins July 5
Words sell. And finding the right words can be a boon to your marketing
efforts. $75 includes my help editing your statement. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/statement.shtml
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FRONT RANGE SERIOUS MARKETING SALONS : :
Groups begin tomorrow: June 15
Because building a career is like climbing a mountain! You have to do it
one step at a time, consistently move forward, and gain momentum and
motivation from others around you. We're working in monthly meetings to
provide support and answers for each other. Lots of free planning tools
are included in the series. Our first topic will be writing a speaking
about your art: develop your ten-second introduction and find the right
words to connect with people. Only $150 for four months. Details at http://www.artbizcoach.com/colorado
See the menu in the
upper left of this page to view popular topics from past
issues.
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DO THIS:
TURN THEM DOWN
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Someone wants something from you. Maybe it's
exactly like your latest landscape. Only they'd like it in cooler colors
to match their newly redecorated living room. Or maybe it's one of your
signature sterling necklaces, but "could you do it in gold and add
a sapphire? I know you don't like to work in gold, but all of my jewelry
is gold and I really don't wear silver."
You know you can give them what they want.
You know they'd be happy with what they get.
Here's the question you have to answer: Will it make you happy? If it
does, great. Go for it! But you might have reservations. Sure, you could
use the money. And you certainly don't want to disappoint a friend. But,
gosh, you really don't want to do it.
My advice? There is absolutely no reason in the world good enough for
you to take on projects you're so uncomfortable with. Here are three
reasons you should turn them down:
1. You will end up resenting the person
who asked you to do it.
2. You dislike the idea so much that
you procrastinate and procrastinate. Somehow, it festers and becomes
bigger than life--a monster that invades your every thought.
3. You will eventually make good on
your promise, but you'll hate the resulting work and remain angry with
yourself that you ever said "yes" in the first place.
The only solution is to turn down such
so-called opportunities. I say "so-called" because they can't
be opportunities if they lead only to frustration and disappointment.
It's not always easy to turn them down. Sometimes they come from good
customers and collectors. Other times they're from friends and family.
Of course you don't want to disappoint these people. But you have to
listen to your gut. It's usually right. And someone who wants to see you
succeed will understand your point
of view.
I know a little about this. Trust me, I can't afford to turn down
clients. I need all of them I can get. But sometimes I just have a
gnawing feeling after talking to a potential client. I know that no
matter what I do or say, it will never be enough for them. They just
don't seem satisfied with my feedback and would things really be any
different in a month or two? I either politely tell them 1) I'm not the
person they're looking for or 2) I'll think about it and get back to
them. When I do contact them again, I go back to my first option:
telling them I can't help them and, hopefully, offering an alternative
for them.
That's what you can do. If you don't like to work with gold in your
jewelry, offer your customer the name of someone who does and who would
probably be more than happy to get the commission. Ditto for the cat
portrait in a different style. You're not sending people to your
competition; you are providing an invaluable service. They'll appreciate
that.
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KNOW THIS
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Your gut is usually right.
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THINK ABOUT THIS
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It's easier to say "no" first,
then change your mind, than it is to start with a "yes."
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DO THIS
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Think of all the times you wish you had said
"no" to something that came your way. What's the worst
thing that can happen when you say no? What's the best thing that can
happen when you say no? Does it bring you peace of mind? Does it free
you to do the things you really want to do? Develop a standard rejection
line for when these chances come your way. If you don't have one ready,
always say you'll think about it before agreeing to do it. Then come up
with a list of
referrals--other artists who might be happy to work on such
opportunities.
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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: 6 Steps to Free Publicity
It's truly my new favorite book! Marcia
Yudkin provides excellent, easy-to-follow advice for sending press
releases and working with the media in her book "6 Steps to F.ree
Publicity." I can honestly say I have read it cover to cover and
refer to it
frequently. Find it on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146758/artbizcoachco-20
If you want something more specific, you can look at my own "Press
Kits for Visual Artists" at http://www.artbizcoach.com/books/pk.shtml
Note: See the menu in the upper left of this page
to view popular topics from past issues.
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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,
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