Any artists interested in learning to earn multiple streams of income?
Who isn’t looking to recover from the past year’s volatile economy. Save for the future. Heck, save for the present. Earn an income doing what you love. That is what this blog has been about for the the year and what I try and teach people through www.ArtLicensingInfo.com – explaining the reality of art licensing and helping you navigate the business if you decide if it is a good fit for you.
Through the teaching and coaching adventure, I have helped others earn income by becoming affiliates and referring others to my sites. I am happy to ‘share the wealth’ each month with those who are helping my business grow. This is something you can do too – either as an affiliate or in many other ways.
One of my affiliates has just announced an online course called “MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME” and it begins on September 7th. I am honored to be involved as the “art licensing” expert, although that is just one piece of her puzzle.
Laura Bray, an artist with an M.B.A., will teach you how to create income by doing what you love. Specifically designed for the creative personality, this online course will teach you how to develop a successful business and how to have fun while you do it!
In this course, you will:
- Learn that creating multiple streams of income is the fastest way to reach your financial goals while making a living a doing what you love.
- Learn how to leverage your artwork and projects to make money for you over and over.
- Learn how to create passive income. You can be independently employed, go on vacation, and still make money!
- Find out the many ways an artist or crafter can make money from their art. You probably haven’t even thought of some of them!
- Learn from experts in creative income areas such as; online selling, art licensing, children’s book illustration and craft shows.
- Create a personal business plan, outlining your income choices and the steps you need to take to make your plan a reality.
To read more about it, go to: www.Katydid-Designs.com/Workshops___Classes.html
I think it’s worth a few minutes to see if it makes sense for you…
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara
Another chance to "Ask Paul Brent" is right around the corner…
Paul Brent has the right idea…
While I have been toiling away on follow up from the show, he and his wife have been relaxing on the Oregon Coast. (What a small world! He lives in Florida and has a vacation home just over an hour from me in Oregon?!?! Cool!)
Of course I’m sure he had his years of long days and nights like us but has built a very successful business. Now he has Ellen confidently handling the follow up and getting ready for the Licensing International Show while he enjoys the great weather we’ve been having. (YES, the sun does shine in Portland, Oregon)
How has he done it? How did he go from publishing prints of his work to having his art on thousands of products that sold over $67 million in retail in 2008? It’s a bit too broad of a question for our call but I want to learn from him. You can too. How fabulous that we have the opportunity to learn from such and industry veteran. (Thanks Paul for being so approachable and willing to share – we appreciate it!)
Paul so enjoyed our call in March that he is going to do another hour of answering your questions on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 pm EST. In order to keep the costs down, 94 people can listen live and if you can’t fit it in your schedule or don’t make the call – the replay will only be $10. Quite the deal for the expertise – not to mention the time / effort to organize, produce and edit.
We will have time to talk about 10-12 of the questions submitted – one could be yours! So head to www.AskPaulBrent.com and submit your question today. Talk to you soon!
– Tara
I just love a man who follows directions!
The 6th “Ask Tara Reed” call is complete… Hard to believe I’ve been doing these for that many months… time flies! I had to laugh when one of the people listening (you know who you are) emailed me this picture showing me how well he follows directions — love it! If you have read much of my blog, met me or listened to a call you know having fun is a non-negotiable with me. So this guy – I like!
Here is a list of topics covered on the May 27, 2009 call…
- How do I know that my work is suitable for licensing and who is a good fit for my work.
- Do you need a business license to license your artwork? (and discussion of legal forms of business)
- What’s the best way to learn what companies who are looking for artists to license (without going through an agent)
- Do you need to copyright your art FIRST before you start showing it to manufactures?
- What areas of Art Licensing do you feel are less saturated and easier for a newbie to get their foot in the door? (for a newbie) (WARNING: you may not like the answer!
) - Should I have a dedicated website for licensing artwork?
- Do you know many artists who are licensing who do not have an agent and/or go to the shows or are the shows very important. I ask because of the expense.
- I am curious about a comparison of this years Surtex (2009) vs previous years. Did you notice a reduction in attendance? Did it help having Surtex on one floor? Any other comments?
- At a trade show, how do you handle a company that asks you to “send them everything” and has no business cards. It is a big company so I’m interested in working with them but nervous at the same time.
Audio replays of this and any other call you may have missed are available for a whole whopping $10! Trust me, it’s a deal when you look at the time, effort and info. involved — scoop them up before I come to my senses and raise the prices.
CLICK HERE to see all the audios available and topics discussed. Put them on your iPod. Listen while you clean, workout, walk, whatever. Stay inspired!
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara
P.S. The next call is on Wednesday, June 24th at 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 pm EST and Paul Brent will be answering questions. (This is an awesome opportunity – more about it another day.) Go to www.AskPaulBrent.com and let us know what is on your mind. We’ll get to about 12 questions in the hour…
When NOT to ask, "What are you looking for?"
I have to say I never thought I’d be writing a post with that title! With a marketing and sales background, asking “What are you looking for?” is like asking a preschooler if they need to use the bathroom before heading out on a long car ride. It becomes a habit – something you do without thinking.
So 5 days after participating on a panel discussion at SURTEX (The Licensee / Licensor Relationship: an Intimate Dialog between Artists & Manufacturers) I am still shaking my head in amazement. But I get it and want you to understand this very fine nuance as well.
I can’t remember exactly how it started – I think an artist asked a question about the best and worst things manufacturers have seen and heard from artists. The main point was to figure out how best to present themselves to new prospective licensees. That is when I heard the following words come out of Linda O’Donnell’s mouth, Product Development Manager for Certified International Corp. –
“Don’t ask me what I need.” she began… (HUH? This didn’t seem right, I must have heard wrong, I thought.)
She continued… “If you are an artist I have never worked with before and you want me to consider your work, it is your job to know what I need and show me why I should consider working with you. Research my company, the style of art our customers look for, and give me something fresh that will work.” (I’m paraphrasing in these quotes since I didn’t record the class but this is the jist of what I remember.)
Linda finished by saying that if she was going to make suggestions about what she needed, she’d be doing that to artists she has worked with in the past and has an established relationship with. (OK, now I’m getting it.)
Cyndi Hershey, who works in the fabric / home textile product categories agreed.
So the skinny is this:
If you are submitting to someone you never worked with before:
- Do your homework about the company and the industry.
- Submit appropriate artwork.
- Don’t ask “What are you looking for?”
Times when “What are you looking for?” is appropriate:
- When you already have a working relationship with a manufacturer.
- If the manufacturer contacts you or if you are at a trade show – then it would be appropriate to ask the question so you can better direct them within your portfolio. If you didn’t know they were coming, you can’t be expected to have done the homework.
That is one of my big “take aways” from the class, although there was a lot more great information shared as well. If you ever have the chance to take classes or hear speakers and really listen, you will gain a lot of insights!
– Tara
P.S. Amy Cerny Vasterling did an amazing blog post / recap about the show and the classes she attended on licensing. Click here to read it.
Any Freelancers looking for a great source of information?
Two weekends ago I spent my Saturday morning talking to two very interesting and talented artists… Bob Ostrom and Chris Wilson.
They have created an amazing resource for freelance artists – an interview / podcast series called “Creative Independence!” The goal of this show is to explore and highlight the many and varied ways that intelligent and creative people are using their talents to create and run businesses that generate income in ways that are fulfilling and often do not include billing for hourly, project or any other pay per work rate.
CLICK HERE to listen to my interview about Art Licensing.
Then roam around the site and see what other information and inspiration you can find.
There are so many ways we can earn a living with our art, find the right mix for you.
Here’s to your creative success – Tara
Connect
Business Resources*
