Posted by Tara Reed on Apr 30, 2010 in Art Licensing
What an amazing journey this blog and website is! In case you haven't heard this before... I really had no intention of building this when I started looking at internet marketing. I had a completely different plan! Boy am I glad I was open to suggestion (sort of) and decided to change my path.
Why do I say "sort of"? Well... when I took my first weekend class to learn more about online marketing, I had a great plan. I stood up and shared my idea - expecting the instructors to agree with me and help me get on my way. Instead, they smiled, shook their heads and said, "No."
What? Why no?
"Don't you realize how much you could share with artists who want to understand art licensing and how you do what you do?" they asked.
Well... I guess. I was still unconvinced but decided to be open to new ideas. My plan, when I left Texas, was to write one eBook - "How to Get Started in Art Licensing" - and then go back to my original idea. Boy am I glad I got hooked on this path because it has been, is and continues to amaze me!
It started with me sharing what I knew about how to get started. Now, I feel like a Cruise Ship Captain and Cruise Director.
I set the course of the Good Ship Art Licensing Info.
I look for passengers. If you are reading this, you are probably one. Artists who want to learn more about licensing, network with others who are interested in the business, build community.
An artist could be intimidated by that... I was when I first realized who I was following. But since I'm very good at finding the silver lining in most things, I decided it was all good. Last month you heard from a woman who has been licensing her art for 30 years... tonight you get me - going on 7 years and much closer to the day-to-day activities of building a newer business.
I've decided that that is the beauty of what we are building with the monthly Ask Call series: a variety of perspectives and stages in the business.
During the call, add #ask to any tweets about the call.
If Mary says something quotable or that makes you go "A-HA!" - then tweet it! (don't forget to add #ask)
If you use TweetDeck, or HootSuite - set up a column to track #ask so you can see and interact with others who are on the call. You might make new friends - I always do! Just remember to set up your columns to track the hash tag (#ask) BEFORE the call starts so you aren't in a panic!
If you want to make sure I see a tweet, be sure to include @ArtistTaraReed - but I'll be checking the #ask stream after the call.
Start talking. Just like on Twitter, if you hear something that makes you go "A-HA!" - add it! Comment on what other people are saying. Get to know your fellow licensed artists.
One advantage to Facebook is that the stream stays - it doesn't limit you to 140 characters and people can go back to it later - almost like group class notes.
I hope you can make it - the call is free if you listen live. If you can't make it, don't worry. The audio replay will be a mere $15 through May 1st and $25 after that.
P.P.S. Plan ahead for May! Paul Brent will be doing the May call on Wednesday the 26th - the week after SURTEX. We'll have a short show recap and questions. Head to www.AskPaulBrent.com to submit your questions anytime.
I'm settling into my penthouse suite on Cloud 9...
How cool is it to get to interview these amazing people each month? Pinch me! It's just surreal! Last night was the much anticipated Ask Mary Engelbreit call and I have to say it was a smashing success!
We tried something new by 'getting social' and that was amazing to watch! Normally artists are in the comfort of their own home and listening... this time I proposed that those who wanted to, listen and CONNECT via Twitter or Facebook. I think it put a whole new level of community to the event and hope we recreate it each month during our ask calls. PLUS... it gave me instant access to noteworthy things covered on the call because I could copy and paste the things you felt worthy of tweeting or commenting.
So excited here in Seattle listening to Mary's info.
Greeting Card Manufacturers are still always looking for something new!
Am I the only person who can't type and listen at the same time?
To balance market trends vs staying true to yourself Mary says: if u feel like you're selling out - don't do it - but if you're just starting out, you might need to bend a little just to get in the door with a company
Artists - you have to be willing to change - advice from Mary Engelbreit
Never devalue your art... never sell yourself short. Mary is offering great advice.
Loved the call. She's so real, so fun.
And here is an example of some of the tweets on Twitter (using the #ask hash tag so artists could find each other)
when i grow up can i be just like Mary? #ask <me too me too!
Mary Engelbreit doing a project with Disney - out this fall ::has 5,000 pieces of art in database #ask via @artisttarareed
"Adaptability is the key to survival" #ask
#ask Mary Engelbreit says the internet has completely changed licensing. It makes it easier for artists 2 participate & create buzz!
any kind of change is scary, but you have to be willing to change all the time Mary Engelbreit #ask
#ask Mary Engelbreit says blogging has driven her business. She & Tara Reed think alike! (One of my personal favorites - I like to think I think like Mary! & Paul… &…)
Artists - it's important to have a website and a blog to showcase your art - the internet opens doors - advice from Mary Engelbreit #ask
ME seems so wonderfully unassuming and down to earth-just resonates with me. #ask
Mary's job: make a good drawing, think about how they feel when they read the quote
Art success takes dedication... a lot of artists work in the night hours - draw when the world is a little more quiet #ask
Mary Engelbreit reminds us that it's the art that brings us all together. #ask
#ask Mary Engelbreit: "Deadlines inspire me." I need to think more like this woman!
#ask Really enjoyed hearing how Mary does things--I learned a lot!
Really love seeing so many other creatives with similar goals/interests. I'm not the only one! #ask
Two things Mary said that really struck a chord with me were:
"I'm just grateful to be able to make a living doing this." – Mary Engelbreit
"I just want to do a good job for the people who respond to the drawings." – Mary Engelbreit
She reminded us how lucky we are to do what we do and have a passion for our work. We decided that being happy and grateful is a pretty good way to live!
If you missed the call and want a copy of the free mp3 audio replay - go to www.MaryEngelbreit.com/askme/ and click the link to register to receive your copy!
Thank you again Mary for sharing your wisdom and spreading hope and inspiration to artists everywhere!
– Tara Reed
P.S. At the end of the audio Mary talks about her upcoming Mary Engelbreit Home Companion Workshop in St Louis, April 29 - May 2nd - you even get to tour her studio! CLICK HERE for all the details!
One of my favorite things about Alex's Teleseminar Secrets class is the social interaction that goes on during the live calls. People are tweeting or posting to Facebook - it's fun and informative. So if you are up to it - let's give it a shot tonight!
Let's get social tonight!
Here's how it can work on Twitter:
During the call, add #ask to any tweets about the call.
If Mary says something quotable or that makes you go "A-HA!" - then tweet it! (don't forget to add #ask)
If you use TweetDeck, or HootSuite - set up a column to track #ask so you can see and interact with others who are on the call. You might make new friends - I always do! Just remember to set up your columns to track the hash tag (#ask) BEFORE the call starts so you aren't in a panic!
If you want to make sure I see a tweet, be sure to include @ArtistTaraReed - but I'll be checking the #ask stream after the call.
Start talking. Just like on Twitter, if you hear something that makes you go "A-HA!" - add it! Comment on what other people are saying. Get to know your fellow licensed artists.
One advantage to Facebook is that the stream stays - it doesn't limit you to 140 characters and people can go back to it later - almost like group class notes.
I won't be able to be tweeting and commenting on Facebook since we don't want typing noise on the audio and I need my full attention on Mary. But I really hope you all connect and comment - it will be interesting to see what you you have to say and share!
So let's take these calls up a notch and interact. I'm excited - are you???
You haven't forgotten have you? There have been so many amazing things going on lately that I don't want this Ask Call to fall through the cracks.
Mark your calendar: Mary Engelbreit, Wednesday, March 17, 2010, Be there or Be square!
Go to www.MaryEngelbreit.com/askME/ to submit your question and get the dial-in details. Deadline for your question to be considered is Wednesday, March 10th. We have so many already it is going to take a bit of time to go through them all and get them to Mary for review!
If you can't make the live call, still submit your info so you are on the list to be notified when the free replay is available. If you have registered for an Ask Call in the past - you'll get the details!
If you recall, I did a video proclaiming 2010 to be my year of "flow" - that's the verb I have chosen to guide me this year. I want to stop resisting and worrying and just go with the flow. The creative flow, the flow of opportunity, the flow of health and happiness... all of it.
And WOW! So far so good! We have some exciting things coming up - many of which I discovered or got a final "yes" to this year.
AskAboutSEOforArtists.com - the Ask Call for February (on Wed. the 17th) came to me via email – "I have this new product and thought it might be of interest to your audience..." Absolutely! What artist with a website doesn't want to know how to make it work more efficiently for them?
Ask Mary Engelbreit – 13 months in the 'wooing' - Mary will be the Ask Call expert on Wed, March 17th - can't wait!
And these are just the amazing things going on on the information side of my business - not the art side. But do you see a trend in these events? They are all opportunities that came from my taking the Teleseminar Secrets Class and learning to connect, teach and inspire by phone.
We're getting to the part where I need good vibes now...
The cool thing about the Teleseminar Secrets Class is that once you are a student, you are always a student and you can listen in every year to learn the new content and brush up on some review. I have 2 really cool things going on during the class again this year.
THE GOOD VIBE REQUEST: I entered the "Teleseminar Secrets Challenge" again this year (this time as a "Veteran" - if you read my blog last year you might recall I was a finalist for the "Newbie" category.) Well I am a finalist again! One of 6 Veterans who will give a 4 minute speech on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th to the other students (usually about 500 people are on the line) and tell them why I believe I deserve to be the "Highest Vote Getter" among the 6 finalists.
For some reason I was REALLY NERVOUS during my speech last year - like, crazy didn't-think-I'd-get-each-word-out nervous. The level of it surprised me! I fully intend not to repeat that feeling. (The audio sounded fine but it didn't feel good while I was talking.)
So I would love to know that I have you on my side and sending calming energy to me, OK? (Very new-age, I know!) I have so enjoyed every Ask Call I've done or facilitated since my first call in December 2008 - and it's thanks to the artists and support you give. That was part of the challenge entry that got me into the finals...
I'll let you know how it goes on Thursday, ok?
Another fun Teleseminar Secrets addition - I have been asked to be on the "Faculty" to teach about using Twitter to grow a business. I was just tweeting away during class and posting to the Facebook fan page and suddenly heard my name and ended up on the live call... if you want to hear my basic thoughts and how this came about - you hear it all below...
So remember, none of these amazing things would be happening if I wasn't ASKING (for experts to become part of the ArtLicensingInfo.com family), TRYING (entering the challenge) or LISTENING (to new ideas like the SEO for Artists.).
You don't know what is possible for you or your business unless you try. So I encourage you to take a deep breath and GO FOR IT! The worst that can happen is nothing... the best? Who knows!
Posted by Tara Reed on Jan 29, 2010 in Art Licensing
Well Leapin' Leprechauns I did it! I have talked about persistence on many of the Art Licensing Monthly Ask Calls and if this doesn't prove the power of persistence, I don't know what does!
I have been contacting and updating Mary Engelbreit Studios about the ArtLicensingInfo.com site and Ask calls since December 8, 2008. While I was in Atlanta, I met with the Studio president (who I first met in person at SURTEX, another reason I love that show!). I gave him a few more details about the website, the goals, how the Ask calls work and he said three magic words I can still hear in my head, "She'll do it!"
As I bit my tongue for about 10 days while we got the details and website ironed out, I mentioned to him that "I couldn't wait to let the cat out of the bag!" He replied that if it were a cat and he'd been in charge, the poor cat would be dead. He has also referred to me as the "Queen of Follow-Up" more than once. (I wonder if Mary would illustrate that for me?)
Two great things came out of this - another great example to inspire you to keep going after your dreams and be diligent about follow-up and of course, we get to hear from Mary, a "Queen of Art Licensing" on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. (Yes, St. Patrick's Day.)
If you have plans for St Patrick's Day that you can't change, don't despair. The audio replay will be one of the forever freebies so you won't miss anything. (Thank you Mary!)
Mary Engelbreit is known throughout the world for her distinctive illustration style, imbued with spirited wit and nostalgic warmth. Starting in 1977, Mary Engelbreit licensed her art for a greeting card line and today boasts a list that’s grown to include nearly 6,500 products in all, with more than $1 billion in lifetime retail sales.
What a resource for artists wanting to learn more about how to succeed in the art licensing industry! Mary will be the March 2010 Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call Expert... go to www.MaryEngelbreit.com/AskME/ to submit your question and get registered!
I don't know about you but the Monthly Ask Calls just energize me! Even if I have had a less than spectacular day, by the time I am done talking art licensing for an hour, I'm smiling and raring to go!
The January 20, 2010 call with attorney Cheryl Hodgson was no exception. I've known Cheryl for a year now and find her to be a source of upbeat energy and sage advice. She can put legal issues into terms anyone can understand and isn't afraid to be practical when sharing her opinions. (Any attorney that says it isn't always the best choice to sue or go to court is ok in my book.)
If you missed the live call, here is what we covered:
Is it ok to use licensee logos for links on my website or should I get permission first?
If I create art as a person (outside of my business), but then want to license it via my business, how do I set that up?
Do I need to move my business license each time I move to a different state?
We have a licensee that hasn't provided reports and after a year claims there is no revenue. Is there a way to handle this properly without exorbitant legal fees, or should we just walk away?
What if anything can I do about a company who has blatantly copied a design of mine and is selling it if I haven't registered it with the Library of Congress?
How do you work with multiple manufacturers in the same category without getting into conflicts of interest?
I've recently been told that because I do different kinds of art - I should use a pseudonym (like a stage name) to differentiate my styles. What are the legal ramifications of this?
Several questions and more details about how to register groups of art in a single submission to the Library of Congress to save time and money.
So whether you were on the live call or not, you just might want to invest in the mp3 replay and make sure you didn't miss anything. The audio is available and a mere $15 through 1/31. The cost goes up to $25 on 2/1. (Still a great deal!) Click the button below and get your copy today!
Here's to your creative and legally savvy success!
– Tara
P.S. Next up... www.AskAboutSEOforArtists.com - learn how to get the right traffic to your website so you can concentrate on your creativity.
P.P.S. Don't forget, the winner of the "Art Licensing Story" video contest will be announced on the 2/17 call, when we explain "link love" in more detail. Have you entered yet? CLICK HERE for all the details!
The guest blog post by Paul Brent, Branding: The Tiger and the Gate Crashers , on December 15th was so well received, Paul is offering more thoughts on the matter as the drama unfolds. While the situation is a mess for those personally involved, it does provide some interesting insights and talking points as we all consider our own brands... here is what Paul has to say:
If Tiger Woods would be so inclined, I would offer him this advice from someone who has been observing the branding phenomenon for the past twenty years, “Just change you image to fit reality, Tiger.”
While the golfing industry and several of Tiger’s endorsement partners need a squeaky-clean family-man image, there are plenty of products and entities that would be perfect for Tiger Woods new image. To begin with, alcoholic beverages and energy drink with caffeine and all of those other activities that promise heightened performance both on and off the golf course. A Tiger posing as the Captain or sipping malt liquor with an attractive blond on his arm would be a winning combination. The city of Las Vegas should contract with Tiger to be a spokesperson. Who better to say, “What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. I should have played in Las Vegas.” What customer of those products wouldn’t believe in his endorsement?
Brand building and brand management is a personal journey that all licensing properties and artists have to deal with, as Tiger does. Well, maybe you do not have to deal with it so dramatically and not in the eyes of the world. As you develop who you are as an artist, whether a designer of scrapbooking supplies and children’s wear, or t-shirts and surfboards you need to fit the image of someone who relates to their market and consequently the customers who buy your licensed products.
Christian Reese Lassen and Mary Engelbreit are two artists who embody their artwork and who are brands their customers and fans can relate to yet are very different. Lassen, the surfer who paints the ocean and tropical sunsets has veered from his popular under and over ocean scenes painted in exacting detail to many other subjects and a much looser palette knife style. His fans have followed along.
Mary Engelbreit has had a magazine devoted to home decorating and home style recipes. Her loving characterizations of vintage children with charming quips attract a totally different group of fans. Mary has kept true to her initial image and has not changed her style or outlook. Will she allow herself room to grow and change?
Personally, I have progressed in licensing from a watercolor style that has been called “breezy” by one reviewer in the Wall Street Journal to oil and more tightly rendered watercolors with digital enhancement, all the while keeping close to my coastal roots. I feel that my changes can be considered evolution rather than radical change. Many times a new subject matter or new media use was precipitated by a personal experience, sometimes just a wild idea or my take on an incoming trend. Each time I introduce a new collection I think of the story behind the art and how I can talk to customers about the new work. This adds to the value of the artwork and makes them understand how I relate to the art I create.
So, who are you as a brand and an artist? Does your image allow you room to grow or are you constricted into a limited market due to how you define yourself? How you change as an artist and a brand are part of the natural change of life itself. Let’s hope we all manage our changes better than Tiger.
Here's to your ever evolving brand to help you build your creative future!
– Tara
disclosure: Paul Brent nor I have any vested interest in Tiger Woods, Christian Reese Lassen or Mary Engelbreit - they are simply used as examples in the context of branding.
For the past few weeks I've been feeling a little overwhelmed. There are quite a few people wanting work in a very short time. It is all exciting and things I want to do, but a lot to juggle just the same.
art print licensed to BonArtique.com
As I sat making my 'to do' list, I got to thinking about how my business has grown.
I remember a few years ago when I would sit and wonder what I should do.
What should I paint?
How would I get any licensees?
I remember having time to read a book all day without feeling compelled to do some work.
If you aren’t at the point of overload yet, you will probably face this sooner than you think. A friend likes to tell me it’s a “high class problem” to have and I agree.
I remember, back in the days when I could read for hours on end with no guilt, wondering how I would EVER build a business that would keep me busy and keep me fed. I looked at artists who have gone (and are still going) before me -- Debbie Mumm, Mary Engelbreit, Susan Winget, Paul Brent and more -- and wondered how they did it. They must have some magic formula or secret connections and I longed to know what they were.
5 years after getting serious about this, I am now working with more than 25 companies. I'm trying to figure out how to keep up, how to prioritize, how to make the best use of my time. Work smart, not just hard.
I think I may have stumbled across the magic formula and guess what? If I'm right, it's not so magic after all! Here it is: Keep your eye on the prize, your heart in the game and take action every day towards your end goal.
Create your art. Find people who want art. Figure out how to tell them you have art. Keep a smile on your face and be pleasant to work with.
#ask
