Want to learn more about How to Find Manufacturers Who License Art?
I’ll be doing a second tele-class with Aletta at Artist Career Training on Wednesday, June 9th at 4 pm Pacific. This class is based on the eBook “How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturers Who License Art“.
The class will be one hour and include Q&A at the end. We will cover why companies would choose to license art, how to figure out which ones do, strategies for getting in touch with the right people and more.
So if you prefer to listen, ask and learn, head over and sign up!*
– Tara Reed
FTC disclosure: This is an affiliate link and the only way I am compensated for the class.
I’m heading to SURTEX – will you be there?
I have piles in three rooms at the moment. Things to remember and pack for SURTEX. I leave early Friday and I’m quite excited! This is my favorite trip of the year – New York City, Times Square, hanging out with my sister and night and having her work with me during the show – fun! Fun! Fun!
I’ve been getting emails and tweets and messages on Facebook from artists I know virtually who I hope to meet in person. If you are at the show – please stop by and say hi – I’ll be in booth #613.
But do remember that I and all the other artists who are exhibiting have talking with manufacturers as priority #1.
As you know, we are investing a lot of time, money and effort to meet the manufacturers at the show so we do need to have that as our main focus. Just be aware of people coming down the aisle and graciously let the exhibitors do their work. It is nothing personal of course – we all just invest a lot of money to be there and need to maximize our manufacturer connections!
EC Stewart wrote a great blog post that I encourage anyone walking a trade show to read – she is a crack up – even the title makes me adore her: Savvy Tradeshow Tramp. Humorous title aside, there are lots of great tips in there so what are you waiting for?
GO READ and you too, can be a Savvy Tradeshow Tramp… or the male version of a Tramp, what would that be anyway?
Here’s to your creative success and if you are exhibiting – here’s to the most amazing SURTEX ever!
– Tara Reed
Beyond Silence – there are life and business lessons everywhere
Last week when I did the blog post about how the show “America – The Story of Us” related to business, I had some conversations on Twitter about it. I made a comment that I see analogies everywhere and that “I should have people name a show or movie and I could find a link and lesson to business.”
@adreanaline challenged me: she said, “OK, Beyond Silence, I’d like to see what you come up with.”
Here is a summary of the movie – I won’t give away the ending -
Beyond Silence is a film in German about a hearing girl who grows up with two deaf parents. They don’t support her going to school because they need her as translator. She is about 8 when the movie begins and has many responsibilities in her family. Her aunt gives her a clarinet for Christmas which she falls in love with and which causes problems at home. They don’t want her playing the clarinet or getting close to the aunt – the father especially wants her to stay as the caretaker of the family.
As she grows up she is torn between her role at home and wanting to make her own life. It’s teenage independence times 10 because her parents depend on her so much.
And unexpected A-Ha:
If you are deaf, there is no multi-tasking during movies! I so take for granted that I can watch, listen and sketch or paint my nails or whatever during a movie or tv show. Since this movie was in German, I had to read the subtitles to know what was going on. Complete focus required – it gave me a peek inside life without sound and the many little things that would change.
The analogy I got from the movie:
This movie was a young girl’s struggle for independence and to balance her duty to family and to herself.
How many people go into a field of study in college or profession because it is what their parents or family expected? “We become lawyers in this family” or “We go into politics” or “We are in the family business.” But what if that isn’t your passion? How do you go for what you want when your peer group is steering you in another direction?
This can apply to art as well. If you think about it, I bet you can come up with many well-meaning statements from friends and family about what you ‘should be doing’. Maybe you’ve heard that you should get a steady job with benefits and do your art as a hobby. Or you should get an agent because you won’t make it on your own. Or my favorite, “everyone knows real artists can’t make a living.”
When people are putting fear into your head or not respecting your dream and vision for your life and business, turn a deaf ear.
Tune them out, pretend you can’t hear it and you can’t even understand the sub-titles! This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen and learn how to move forward towards your dreams, but you shouldn’t let the fears and expectations of others make you so fearful that you give up on yourself.
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. I learned something interesting about Blockbuster when looking for a copy of the movie. If they don’t have the movie in a store but have it in their warehouse, you pay the normal $5 and they mail it to you. If you return it to a store, it acts as a coupon and you can get a new release for $1.99! Coolio!
Why you should channel Miss Piggy to be an even more successful artist
I remember a few obsessions from my middle school years… Scott Baio (what pre-teen girl wasn’t obsessed with Scott Baio!) and Miss Piggy from the Muppets. I had a section of the basement in my house with a big table where I could be a mess and do any art or craft I wanted. I can still picture it – there was a cabinet to the left of my chair that had a bulletin board on the front. It was covered with pictures of Miss Piggy I’d clipped out of magazines.
Why I was so enamored with Miss Piggy back then, I can’t quite recall.
I just remember watching The Muppet Show and thinking she was a hoot! Maybe I wanted to channel her energy – her zest for life, her persistence and complete loyalty to those she loved.
Today, in 2010, I can tell you why I think Miss Piggy is a great role model for artists.
Miss Piggy has many traits that will serve artists well in building their business. The best way to understand my point, is to consider Kermit as the art business and not as a frog.
Miss Piggy LOVED Kermit. She would do anything for him. Anyone or anything that seemed to be a threat to her froggy, it was “watch out for the pig!” time. Miss Piggy wasn’t afraid to go head to head for the one she loved.
When Miss Piggy was with Kermit, she sure could turn on the charm. She basked him in her love, affection, complete focus and attention.
Miss Piggy believed that Kermit loved her – no matter what. She had unwavering faith in their destiny to be very happy together.
Now, your “Kermit” art business – will hopefully return the love and not try to avoid you like Kermit did to the real Miss Piggy. But on days when inspiration isn’t flowing, it might feel the same.
Ask yourself these very important questions:
- Are you as laser-focused and attentive to your business as Miss Piggy is to Kermit?
- Are you willing to do whatever it takes to keep it safe and make it prosper? Can you channel Miss Piggy’s ‘karate chop / no holds barred’ attitude when things get tough?
- Do you have the passion in your soul for your art business, that Miss Piggy has for Kermit?
If you can say an unequivocal YES to all three questions, you are on your way to a bright, creative future!
If you ever feel down or unsure of what to do, just say to yourself, “What would Miss Piggy do?”
I promise, she won’t fail you! Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
How choosing an agent is like choosing a spouse…
I get a lot of questions about how to find agents. When to find an agent. Should I find an agent? Where can I find an agent? and finally, “Do you know this agent and would you recommend them?”
Choosing an agent is as personal as choosing a spouse.
Here are two scenarios to illustrate my point. (All 100% fictitious and names are chosen at random.)
Meet Dan. Dan was brought up in what I call a “1950′s” home. Dad went to work, mom stayed home. Mom cooked, cleaned and volunteered. Every so often dad would “let” mom have a Saturday afternoon “off” to go shopping with the girls.
Dan grows up and meets Donna. Donna wants to be taken care of. She wants nothing more than to be a homemaker and a mom. She loves to take care of those around her and is an amazing cook. Dan has a good job, brings home enough bacon to keep Donna and the kids in soccer gear. Life is good.
Dan and Donna are a good fit.
Now meet Stacy. Stacy grew up with parents who told her she could do or be anything she wanted. She grew up and found that she loved to work. She got great joy out of her career – it stimulated her and made her feel alive. She also wants a family, but the thought of giving up her job makes her stomach flip. She wants to marry a man who will be a “partner” – both contributing to the income, the home and child-rearing.
What would have happened if Dan married Stacy instead of Donna? Would they have been a good fit? No way!
Finding an agent is like find your “Dan” if you are Donna.
If Stacy jumps at the the first agent who contacts her or who says “Yes” when she contacts them, without getting a better idea of how they work, what they expect, etc. she’s going to be one unhappy girl!
So when you look at it that way, you will better understand why I can’t say what agent an artist should contact. You need to see if you “click” with them, feel like they understand and believe in your brand and think they will do a good job for you.
Here is one online resource to find people you can contact:
http://www.licensing.org/database/index.php?tab=agents
Here’s to your creative success – with or without an agent!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Maybe I should start a new service – Artist Matchmaker – I can become the “Patti” of art licensing. 
Join me on June 2, 2010 to learn about a great productivity tool: GridIron Flow
Jamie Stevens emailed me a few weeks ago to tell me about this software she had just discovered and was quite excited about. She thought I, and you, might be interested too.
The software is called GridIron Flow.
On their website, they describe it like this:
Be totally organized without organizing anything.
Flow is the world’s first Visual Workflow Manager, built from the ground up to keep creative professionals streamlined and informed. Flow gives you a total understanding of your project, visually and intuitively. In one simple interface, you’ll see all your project files, how they’re related to each other, and where they’re located – on a local drive, on a network volume, even on a DVD you burned a few months ago.
I went to the website and looked at the demo and had my doubts. I wasn’t sure it was really something I needed but figured I’d talk to Jamie’s contact and see. I talked with Dave at GridIron, was more convinced but still had a few doubts. (I’m a tough nut to crack sometimes!)
THEN Dave walked me through the software and I got to ask questions.
Now I’ve been using Flow for 2 weeks and I LOVE it!
I decided Jamie was right – this is pretty cool and needs to be shared. So I asked Dave if he could do a demo for any artists that were interested and of course he said yes. So on June 2nd, from 5:00 – 6:30 Pacific / 8 – 9:30 Eastern, you too can watch, listen and learn about the magic that is FLOW.
The demo is free with no strings attached. It is online and by phone – so you go to a web address and dial in to hear what Dave is saying. If you decide you are interested in purchasing the software, there will be a promotion of some sort but even I’m not sure what it is. (Intriguing, huh?)
Sign up below to receive the dial-in and web details. This will help us get an idea of how many people to expect so the system can be prepared.
Hope to talk to you then!
– Tara Reed
P.S. If you just can’t wait to see what this is, VISIT THE GRIDIRON FLOW WEBSITE and watch the demo. But trust me, the live event will be much more enlightening.
FTC Disclosure: In exchange for coordinating and promoting the demo, I (Tara Reed) will receive a free copy of GridIron Flow for my use. However please know that I was a tough sell and wouldn’t be organizing the demo if I didn’t believe it could help others as well.
Go ahead… GIVE UP!
… but ONLY for half a day!
On my April 2010 Ask Call, one of the questions was
“What was your biggest lesson learned when you were just getting started licensing your art?”
I gave it some thought – because the question wasn’t about advice I was given, but what I personally learned and absorbed. Interesting… and what I came up with really resonated with the artists on the line. The lesson I was inspired to share wasn’t about my business, but more of a life lesson that serves me in all areas.
“Never give up for more than half a day.”
At first glance, this might seem to fly in the face of convention and be counter to staying optimistic but stay with me for a minute. Don’t you have days where you just absolutely wonder why you bother? Days where despite your best intentions, things just seem to go wrong, things seem to be too hard and you just want to cry or throw things or drop your computer out of a 5 story building so you have a legitimate excuse to stop trying?
“Never give up!” just seems a bit too… definite. And when you find yourself in a place of complete frustration, it is very hard to swallow. NEVER is just a word to use sparingly.
I gave the artists on the call permission to give up on anything, if they thought it was necessary, for a half a day. In dire circumstances, give up for a whole day. But then get back to it.
I have found this strategy to work wonders. It’s the same as saying “Step away from the machine” when you know you are so flustered and frustrated with something your computer is doing, obviously in an effort to thwart your progress, that you will never get anywhere. (You know what I’m talking about, right?) A change of scenery is often what is needed – by stepping away and releasing the problem, you often find a solution while diverting your attention.
Maybe on your ‘half day off’ you go to the movies. Or to the gym. Or have lunch with a friend. Your brain gets distracted and calmed. You start to release the tension in your muscles and can see things in a different light. While this can apply to any situation, I think it is especially relevant to artists – without the proper frame of mind, it is hard to create our best work. Personally, I’m a terrible “tortured artist” – that’s when I do my worst work to the point it’s barely worth doing it at all!
When you need to, give yourself permission to let it go.
If whatever you were doing is really important to you, you’ll get back to it. And you’ll get back to it with news eyes, a new perspective and new energy.
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. To get a copy of the April 21st audio replay go to www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/audio-archives.html#TaraReedApr10
P.P.S. See the schedule of upcoming Art Licensing Info Ask Calls here: www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/audio-archives.html
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