I've been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY putting together a new eBook, "How to Find An Art Licensing Agent".
But first...
Have you weighed the pros and cons of promoting your own work vs. working with an agent? There is no right or wrong answer, just what is right or wrong for you and your business.
If you aren't 100% certain that finding an agent is right for you, download the questionnaire below and seriously consider the 25 statements. Answer them honestly then log onto the web page on the bottom of the questionnaire for some insights to help you make a decision. No matter what you decide, we have help for you here!
You might be interested in this 110 page guide to finding an art licensing agent is divided into the following sections:
Art Licensing Mindset Review
Do you Need an Agent?
The Basic Roles of an Agent
The Pros and Cons of Working With An Agent
Managing Expectations
Prepare to Contact An Agent
Making Contact
Review, Then Celebrate – You have a Contract
Glossary
Quick Agent Reference
Forms
It also includes interviews and contact information from 13 art licensing agents - their perspectives should prove to be helpful in your search and understanding of how no two agents are created equal. The eBook is available for the introductory price of $57 through September 30th so go read all about it right away!
Two weeks from today our newest Ask Expert, Dena of Dena Designs, will be sharing her experience and expertise in Art Licensing. Are you going to join us on Wednesday, September 15th at 5:30 pm Pacific / 8:30 pm Eastern? Have you submitted a question?
Designer, TV Host, and entrepreneur, Dena founded internationally acclaimed Dena Designs Inc., as a full service design and merchandising studio. The studio has won 17 Louie Awards including Greeting Card of the Year from the international membership Greeting Card Association. Dena has also been nominated for Best Art Brand Program of the Year at the prestigious 2008 and 2009 annual LIMA International Licensing Excellence Awards.
For more than 20 years, Dena Designs has created powerful best-sellers which have sold globally in the hottest stores, from specialty retailers to the nation’s leading chains. If you have a question for this art licensing power-house, head to www.AskDenaDesigns.com now and throw your query in the hat!
Want to see Dena in action?
Watch this video clip from an episode of "Embelish This!" on the DIY Network! I couldn't get it to embed but click the link and you can watch it on the DIY site. How to turn a simple pair of shoes into Sassy Shoes with Dena. http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/sassy-shoes/5329.html
Here's to your creative success - hope you join us on September 15th!
In order to succeed in any business, art licensing being no exception, you need to look at both the big and small picture. It is important to understand what is going on and coming up in the industry at large as well as keeping an eye on the day-to-day operations of your business.
Binoculars let you see farther than you can with your eyes alone. This would be the perspective you are looking for when you are trying to spot trends or forecast your royalty potential for the coming year, for example. This is the work of strategic thinking and planning for your business.
If you notice a new color trend emerging in clothing or furniture, then decide that you will use it in your next art collection - you have your binoculars on. You also have your binoculars on when you register to attend or exhibit at trade shows or make other forward thinking plans.
But no business can thrive with only binoculars. "Watch the big things and the little things will take care of themselves" doesn't really apply.
So now let's consider a microscope. The microscope allows scientists to see minute details that aren't visible with the naked eye. Looking at your business through a microscope is akin to watching the details. Creating your daily or weekly 'to do' list, watching cash flow, responding to emails, things like that. If a company or an artist only looks at their business through a microscope, they will miss changes in the market that could negatively affect their business. They might miss key trends on the horizon and not add them to the mix.
The key to a successful business is to use both binoculars and a microscope.
If you are the only person in your business, you need to learn to use both. Or perhaps you have several team members who take different roles. A book keeper works with a microscope with the finance guy, who forecasts and looks at money in a more long-term way, has binoculars firmly in hand. Balancing the long and short term needs of your business will help you stay in business.
– Tara Reed
P.S. If you want help in creating the long-term and short-term balance in your business, consider The Goal Wheel for Artists™. You will learn strategies for balancing the three main areas you need to focus on to build a successful, creative business. Head to www.TheGoalWheelForArtists.com for more information.
I'm often asked how to spot trends. Trends are all around us - the key is to learn to spot them when they are just starting and not when they are already big and about to jump the proverbial shark. There is no tried and true way to be sure that something is a trend - but you can develop habits of noticing things. If you start to see things multiple times - for example, all of the sudden you notice butterflies on clothing then butterflies on home decor - you can take an educated guess that butterfiles are trending.
Here's a silly video about trend spotting that I was inspired to create today because a few of my friends called me from an event in New Jersey and I felt like the grounded kid missing the slumber party. We were joking on Facebook and Twitter about NJ - and I asked if I needed to wear a Bump-It to join the fun. (Not that I could since I was sitting in my studio in Oregon!) Then inspiration hit - my friend Angela and I headed to the store to pick up a Bump-It and the rest is crazy accent history. (Please forgive my slipping into a southern accent at the very end... oops!)
Alyson Stanfield, also known as the Art Biz Coach, recently emailed me to get my opinion on this question she received from an artist. Since I've never done gallery work, I gave her my best guess and suggested she let me share her opinions with everyone over here at the Art Licensing Blog. Here is what Alyson had to say...
How does this affect the gallery and or collectors who hold the originals. As the artist we retain the right to the image, yes? So, do we have to notify the gallery that it's going into licensing? or the collector who purchased the original?
Yes, it’s true that you retain the right to the image. I encourage artists and galleries to educate collectors* of this fact at the time of sale.
No, it isn’t required that you notify a gallery or collector that their original image has gone into mass reproduction. BUT, it is a courtesy. If you want to maintain healthy relationships with people, you should look at the situation from their point of view.
Collectors of original artwork aren’t necessarily savvy about the reproduction market. They have no need to be because it’s not where their interests lie.
Imagine being a collector of originals who happens to run into a work of art you think no one else in the world owns? You and I both know that owning reproductions isn’t the same as owning the original, but it has the potential to be an unpleasant surprise to the collector.
With a little bit of effort on your part, the collector will be thrilled to own the original source of such a popular image.
Now, about those galleries.
You should always notify a gallery that your work is going to be licensed. If you think a collector might be unpleasantly surprised coming across multiples of your work, increase that unpleasantness tenfold to get a gallery’s response. Or, just say bye-bye to the gallery.
The gallery has invested time, space, and sweat into selling your work. Check your contract with the gallery first and then discuss the situation with the gallerist. I would encourage this step before signing a contract with the licensing company. I would further hope that you would discuss this in advance of joining other gallery stables.
It’s much harder to overcome damage to a relationship than it is to notify collectors and galleries in the first place.
– Alyson Stanfield, The ArtBiz Coach
Thank you for sharing your insights Alyson - helpful as always!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Alyson is the author of "I'd rather be in the studio!"* a great business reference for any artist serious about their business. I highly recommend it for your art library. She also has a wide array of audio and live class options that you can see on her site at www.ArtBizCoach.com*
* I'm proud to be an affiliate of Alyson's and the links in this post are my affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you click them an make a purchase. I appreciate your support - it helps me keep blogging!
If you are new to the art licensing business, organizing your data might seem like no big deal. You create art, you show it to manufacturers, they license it and you get paid. What's so hard about that? Nothing when you are starting out and have the mental capacity to remember everything.
But what happens as you grow?
More art… More manufacturers… More contracts… Montracts coming up for renewal… Mew people interested in the same art… Ms it available in that category? Who has licensed that collection again? Where did I jot the notes? Which contract should I look at again?
And don't forget the art collections - what are the names, are they coded, what are the codes, where is it backed up, have copyrights been submitted, have you received your registration numbers… ?
The data you need to manage and coordinate grows like a snowball rolling down hill - you want to control it as early as possible!
I'm very excited to announce that there is now a solution that is accessible to any artist serious about licensing. I've been working with Hal at CampSoftware.com to create a database for my business and from the start, wanted to design something that could work for others as well. (I honestly think he dismissed this idea with a "yeah, yeah, another one of those clients" at first, but then he came around!)
Here's a video demo of the just released Art Licensing Manager. This product is sold through CampSoftware.com but because I paid to have it developed and decided how it should function, I'll get a commission for each product sold. (Consider that the FTC disclosure, thanks!) Watch the video then get all the nitty-gritty details over at www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/data.html. You can download a free trial to see how you like it before you commit to buying the full software - what have you got to lose? Check it out today - this has been a business-changing system addition for me and I hope it can be for you as well!
Posted by Tara Reed on Aug 19, 2010 in Art Licensing
Once again, great questions were asked and helpful answers were given by Attorney Cheryl Hodgson. Last night Cheryl was my guest for the third time as part of the Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call Series - we had some technical excitement (something about Comcast and the conference call service switches maybe?) but I edited out as much of that as possible.
Here is what we covered:
Should I make my company an LLC?
How do business DBA's work if I already have an LLC?
How can I protect a product design concept that I might submit to a company with art?
How to respond to Trademark infringement concerns.
How do we determine if we can use what seem to be common sayings in our art, without having trademark issues?
How do you protect your tagline?
If we register copyrights in groups, does it limit our protection?
What recourse do I have if I see something created commercially that looks a lot like an image I posted to my website?
What are the rules about using paintings of private homes for commercial use?
Should we add copyright watermarks to everything we post to the internet?
Do I have to re-copyright art if a company slightly modifies previously registered work? Say color or layout changes?
Can I still copyright my designs if I've posted them on my blog or printed them on cards?
What should you do if you find out your images have been copied?
Do you recommend artists audit licensee accounting records regularly?
If you want a copy of the audio replay, it is $15 through 8/28 and $25 thereafter. We appreciate your support in purchasing these calls - it helps us continue to attract and create the great content artists have come to love and expect each and every month!
What's coming up next...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 - NEW EXPERT Dena Fishbein will be answering your questions. Head to www.AskDenaDesigns.com to learn why I'm so excited to have Dena join the ranks of Ask Call Expert.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010: www.AskPaulBrent.com
In addition to answering questions from artists, Paul Brent will discuss how to plan your art collections for a trade show. Planning your collections, pacing yourself to get the work done and designing for trends for the new year.
Here's to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Learn more about Cheryl Hodgson on her blog at www.BrandAideBlog.com - be sure to sign up for her ezine to continue to build your legal savvy muscle!
Posted by Tara Reed on Aug 18, 2010 in Art Licensing
Just a quick reminder that attorney Cheryl Hodgson will be answering the questions submitted by artists like you tonight. If you've signed up for a call before, you should have received the dial-in details by email.
If you've never participated, head over to www.AskCherylHodgson.com and sign up. Since we have already organized the questions, you can just put "no question" in the box then fill in your name and email and you will get the dial-in details.
The call is at 5:30 pm Pacific / 8:30 pm Eastern and will last for an hour. It's free to listen live. The audio replay will be available Thursday and cost $15 through 8/28 and $25 thereafter.
We will be covering copyright registration and enforcement questions, pros and cons of business forms (LLC, Corp, etc), trademark questions, contract questions and more.
I look forward to chatting with you tonight!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Don't forget! Let's get social on Twitter (use #ask when tweeting so we can find you!) and Facebook during the call. CLICK HERE to download all the details.
Posted by Tara Reed on Aug 17, 2010 in Art Licensing
The Art Channel is a new community for artists of all disciplines to communicate, collaborate and support others of like mind.
Created and hosted by Alissa Fereday (who I met, oh yes, on Twitter!) has weekly events featuring artists and experts to help artists of all kinds learn, grow and thrive. It's an open forum at all times for you to connect and share with each other.
I'm honored to be the guest expert this coming Saturday, 8/21/10 from 9 - 11:30 am Pacific / 11 - 12:30 pm Central / 12 - 1:30 pm Eastern. Come on over and join in the discussion!
Last Saturday I had the honor and fun of heading to Seaside, Oregon to see Paul Brent at work in the monthly Art Walk. Nestled in the Fairweather House and Garden on Broadway Paul was working on a new oil painting. Never having painted with oils - except in maybe 7th grade which I don't think counts – I was watching the process in awe. It didn't seem as scary as I'd made it out to be in my head.
I was amazed at the number of paintings - both watercolors and originals - Paul had done of local homes and seascapes. Just as in the licensing side of his business, he can produce, produce, produce for the original / gallery side of things too.
They served wine and hors d'oeuvres, people milled about and many stopped to talk with Paul while he worked.
I've never done anything like this so I found it very interesting to watch and study. How is doing an Art Walk similar or different to art licensing?
The Art Walk was similar to licensing, in that Paul was there presenting his brand. His art, style and the way he interacted with shoppers were all a part of it. Much like showing his art and interacting with manufacturers at a trade show.
A key difference was the subject matter. In licensing, art often has to have a broader appeal - the beach should look more generic so it could sell on both coasts for example. However when selling originals in a beach community - people are more apt to expect art from the local area.
This is a great example of how you need to understand your customers - during the Art Walk they were people who would potentially buy originals for their homes. (Yes, he sold a few!) For licensing, the customer is the manufacturer who doesn't want to sell one of a kinds but quantities of a product.
Thanks again Paul for letting me come and enjoy the event!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Mark your calendar now! Paul Brent will be the October 20, 2010 Ask Call expert. In addition to answering questions from artists, Paul Brent will discuss how to plan your art collections for a trade show. Planning your collections, pacing yourself to get the work done and designing for trends for the new year. Head to www.AskPaulBrent.com to submit your question at any time.
You might be interested in this 110 page guide to finding an art licensing agent is divided into the following sections:
So now let's consider a microscope. The microscope allows scientists to see minute details that aren't visible with the naked eye. Looking at your business through a microscope is akin to watching the details. Creating your daily or weekly 'to do' list, watching cash flow, responding to emails, things like that. If a company or an artist only looks at their business through a microscope, they will miss changes in the market that could negatively affect their business. They might miss key trends on the horizon and not add them to the mix.
Once again, great questions were asked and helpful answers were given by Attorney Cheryl Hodgson. Last night Cheryl was my guest for the third time as part of the Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call Series - we had some technical excitement (something about Comcast and the conference call service switches maybe?) but I edited out as much of that as possible.
If you've never participated, head over to 
The Art Channel is a new community for artists of all disciplines to communicate, collaborate and support others of like mind.
