art licensing stories

What will you do with your leap day?

Today is an extra day! We get 24 more hours to play with, work with, sleep through, catch up with… whatever will YOU DO?

If you are near Anaheim, you could go to Disneyland, which will be open for 24 hours. (Love this video – makes me feel good!)

If you are like me, you will finish packing up your house and studio and get ready for the “Big Move 2012 – Part 1″. Part 2 will be in the end of June – just call me a glutton for punishment. Not really – it’s all good, but very, very busy and more than a little overwhelming. 9 years of stuff takes a lot of boxes to move. What goes to the apartment with Kyle & I until his high school graduation – and how can it be so close?? What goes to the house that is being remodeled that we will move into in the beginning of July, before the wedding in August? (Jinkies! I’m getting married!) So I can assure you – I’ll take any extra hour – let alone day – that I can get this year.

Perhaps you will spend some of your extra time working on your portfolio, creating some collections for licensing. Learn more about how to create art licensing collections …

Will you spend some time researching agents and trying to find a good fit? There’s a list on the blog of nearly 30 agents that have requested to be there – which means they want to see what talent is out there. Click here to learn more…

Perhaps you want some inspiration. Watch a few videos from artists in licensing and learn how they got into the business and what advice they might have for others… watch artist stories here.

Maybe you want your extra day to be all about pampering yourself. Head to the movies, get a manicure, sleep all day, surf the net – whatever makes you happy and keeps you feeling refreshed and creative!

Whatever you decide to do with your 86,400 extra seconds – enjoy!

Here’s to your creative success!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Accepting all good moving vibes you care to send my way – I wish there was an “unpacking and organizing” fairy waiting to help me!

Closed Captioning now included on many Art Licensing Info videos

A few weeks ago I began posting the Art Licensing Story videos that I filmed at SURTEX. As I always do, I post the links to Facebook and Twitter. One of my Twitter friends is deaf and said it would be nice if the videos had closed captioning or a transcript, as she and others would like to know the stories as well.

That intrigued me to do some research. I am very proud to say that I did not buy any software to learn to do it myself! I’m really trying to simplify my life and outsource more – so I continue to have time to create my art.

I found someone online whose business is creating closed captioning. The first video we did was Viv’s. He created the closed caption file and I added it to YouTube. It was super easy – here’s a video that will walk you through the steps.

During my research and talking to my friend Marty Fahncke whose son is also deaf, I learned that not only is adding closed captioning a great service to those who need it, but it also has the added benefit of helping with your SEO.

By adding closed captioning, Google and other search engine robots can read the content of your video and it will help you get higher rankings for keywords. Added bonus!

While I haven’t paid to have closed captioning on all of my 74 videos yet, 27 of them now have it. All of the art licensing story videos that I filmed and uploaded to the Art Licensing Info YouTube channel are closed captioned, as well as a few others. Over time, I’ll be adding it to the rest, but I want to spread the expense out over time.

Do you want to add closed captioning to your videos, to help those who can’t hear the audio and to possibly increase your SEO?

Well it’s easy and not very expensive – a small one-time cost will have multiple benefits!

Alan Kelly of VerbatimIT.com has done a great job with my closed caption projects and can help you too. He’s running a special for the summer – it costs only $5 for a 1 to 3 minute audio or video. Who can’t afford $5?

You simply send him your audio or video file and he will create the closed caption file.

Then you can add it to your video (it’s really easy if your video is on YouTube) or you can hire him to do that part for you as well. You two can discuss those details if that is your preference.

Go to www.VerbatimIT.com to get started today! I’d love to see all the Art Licensing Stories with closed captioning…

Here’s to learning new technology, making your video accessible to more people and of course, your creative success!

– Tara Reed

P.S. I don’t earn anything if you use Alan but think he’s done a great job helping me so I wanted to let everyone know about his services!

P.P.S. Want to try it yourself? Go to http://captiontube.appspot.com/ and test your transcription skills!

P.P.S.S. Want to learn more ways to increase your SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? If you haven’t already, head to www.AskAboutSEOforArtists.com and get the free hour-long interview with Daniel Tardent – author of the eBook SEO for Artists.*

Art Licensing Story: Jennifer Brinley

Here’s another video from an established, successful and really nice artist – Jennifer Brinley. Jennifer is represented by art licensing agents at Ruth Levison Design. For several years their booth was across from mine and I got to know Jennifer when she would come to their booth. I’ve always been a huge fan and was very happy when she agreed to let me video her at SURTEX. There’s a bit of background noise but I decided a little hard to hear was better than nothing, right?

To learn more about Jennifer Brinley, visit her agent’s website at LevisonDesign.com

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/

Art Licensing Story: Brady Lovell of Fat Tabby Studio

Brady Lovell – artist and creative mind behind the newly created Fat Tabby Studio agreed to share his art licensing story at SURTEX in May 2011. (I twisted his arm a little telling him how under-represented his gender was in the videos… )

On his website, www.FatTabbyStudio.com, he describes his company like this: Founded in 2011 – Fat Tabby Studio™ is an art licensing studio creating colorful, clean and playful illustrations for all of life’s occasions. From holidays to nature, creatures and critters – our collections of creative patterns and designs are sure to delight and inspire.

Here is what he had to say live and in person…

Thank you so much for sharing and giving in to a little artistic peer pressure Brady!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/

Art Licensing Story: Sara Taylor

As I was wandering through SURTEX in May, video camera in hand and a few artists on my radar for filming, I turned the corner and saw Sara Taylor smiling at me. I introduced myself, told her what I was doing and asked if she was game. After a momentary look of “Is this woman for real?” she agreed.

So without further ado, here is another art licensing story from one of the 47 British artists represented at SURTEX.

You can learn more about Sara and her art at www.SaraTaylor.co.uk

Thanks again for sharing your story!
– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/

Art Licensing Story: Debra Jordan Bryan

Debra Jordan Bryan shares some great advice with artists in her art licensing story video, filmed at the May 2011 SURTEX show. She’s been licensing her art for over 20 years so she understands how to adapt and thrive through the changing face of the art licensing industry.

I’ll let her tell you about how she got into licensing and advice for artists herself…

You can learn more about Debra and her art at www.DebraJordanBryan.com

Thanks again for the great advice Debra!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/

Art Licensing Story: Tom Weinkle

We don’t have too many “guy videos” so I was happy that Tom agreed to let me take a video of his story at SURTEX. Here is a little bit about him and Arts Organism…

To learn more about Tom Weinkle, visit his website at ArtsOrganism.com

Thanks again – you did a fabulous job!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/

Art Licensing Story: Debra Cortese

Here’s another great art licensing video taken at SURTEX. Debra Cortese talks about how timing is everything – she considered licensing 20 years ago and decided it wasn’t a fit. 2011 was the perfect time for her! But I’ll let Debra tell you her story…

To learn more about Debra Cortese, visit her website at DebraCortese.com

Thanks again – you did a fabulous job!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

Art Licensing Story: Kate Mawdsley

More inspiring stories! This time we have Kate Mawdsley – another long-timer in the art licensing business coming to us from across the pond. Kate was one of 45 exhibitors at SURTEX from the UK and right across the aisle from me. We had a lovely time getting to know her and Phil and wished we hadn’t missed his big dance debut at the party!

Kate has great designs, a fun personality and her finger on the pulse of where she fits and what her clients want. That’s what keeps an art licensing business going strong for 20+ years. Here is Kate’s story:

Learn more about Kate and her art at www.KateMawdsley.com

Thank you so much and I’ll see you next May Kate!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/

Art Licensing Story: Viv

Just Viv… in her video Viv will tell you she believes one of the best branding moves she ever made was to go solely by her first name. Like Cher. Or Prince. (She didn’t make the comparison – that’s just me thinking out loud…)

Viv is another pioneer in the art licensing business. She’s been through the ups and downs and she’s still standing, painting and creating her business and life on her terms. (She always has the coolest chairs in her booth at SURTEX too… when I mentioned this to her, she smiled and said, “IKEA.”)

Here is Viv’s story and some great advice for artists.

Thank you so much Viv! You have been an inspiration to me since I began my art licensing journey – it was an honor to be able to capture your story and learn a little more about you.

Lear more about Viv at www.VivEisner.com

Thanks again Viv!

– Tara Reed

P.S. Anyone who submits a video will receive a $20 coupon good towards eBooks, teleseminars (live or replays) or Ask Call Replays from ArtLicensingInfo.com as a way of saying “Thank you for sharing!”

When can I expect to see your story?

For all the details or to see all the stories submitted to date, click the “Stories” tab at the top of the blog or go to http://artlicensingblog.com/stories/