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!
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.
Posted by Tara Reed on May 26, 2010 in Art Licensing
Once again, Paul Brent proved why he is so successful at art licensing. Not only is he a talented artist, but also very savvy about the business side of things as well. We had over 125 artists listen live - the SURTEX show and trend review was the hit of the evening!
Here is what we covered on the May 26, 2010 Ask Paul Brent call
SURTEX review
Can you show your work at a trade show without having a booth?
Is it really worth it to pay all the $ to exhibit at an art licensing trade show?
How do you decide if and when to exhibit at an art licensing trade show?
Do I have to work digitally to succeed in art licensing?
What is your opinion of allowing manufacturers to show your work around before committing to it?
How do you adapt your art to trends while maintaining your brand?
How do you approach the design process?
How do you organize your day?
Do you use the same images from collection to collection or always have all new?
What is the best licensing advice anyone ever gave you?
The mp3 audio replay will be a mere $15 through June 5th and $25 after that. As an added bonus, when you buy the mp3 you will also get a PDF of Paul's SURTEX Wrap-Up and trend review - cool, huh? 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!
Wednesday, June 9th - If you couldn't make the live class, I'll be doing a teleseminar through Artist Career Training on June 9th - CLICK HERE for all the details.* (this is my affiliate link and how I get compensated for doing the class)
Posted by Tara Reed on May 25, 2010 in Art Licensing
Paul Brent and I will be doing a recap of SURTEX on the Ask Paul Brent call tomorrow night (Wed, 5/26) - will you be listening? We have the questions all organized and will get to as many as we can in the hour. As usual, artists have submitted some great questions so it will be another info-packed call. If you don't have the dial-in details, head to www.AskPaulBrent.com to register. (Just put "no question" in the form, give us your name and email and we'll get you the details for the call.)
Here's a quick video I did if you want to see what booth setup looks like in the meantime.
Let's keep getting social!
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 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 June 5th and $25 after that.
P.P.S. Plan ahead for June! Kim Beasley, the WordPress Lady, will be doing the June call on Wednesday the 16th. Head to www.AskAboutWordPressForArtists.com to submit your questions anytime.
Posted by Tara Reed on May 24, 2010 in Art Licensing
To boil water, you have to get the temperature to 212 degrees... period. End of story. No water boils and 100, 150 or 200... you have to get to 212. But does everyone use the same method to get there? Nope!
One person might put water in a metal bowl, on top of their car in the desert sun assuming it will boil in no time it's so blasted hot. (I'd probably try that!)
Another will use the microwave. Some won't go near microwaves because it changes the molecular structure of things too much.
In this video clip, I use the analogy of a traditional tea kettle placed on a stove top and an electric kettle that plugs into the wall. No molecular difference in the water - both methods will make the water boil.
The difference is HOW LONG IT TAKES.
The tea kettle took 7 minutes to boil my water. Electric Kettle? Just under 3.
So the question I pose is this: Are you building your business with a traditional tea kettle or an electric tea kettle?
Both will get you where you want to go, but one takes twice as long.
The "Traditional Tea Kettle" route is to learn what you can and go it alone. Trial and error, you doing all the work, analyzing and strategizing.
The "Electric Kettle" method of speeding up the process involves consulting a coach. Someone who has already been where you are and has experience to guide you and make sure you are going in the right direction. Someone to give you feedback and suggestions. You might just check in with a coach once, or every few months. Others choose to work with a coach on an ongoing basis.
If you want to jump-start your business or consult an artist in the industry to see what they think of your plan, consider our coaching services. Paul Brent and Jill Seale and I (Tara Reed) all currently offer hourly and 6 hour coaching services. We each have a different background and experience in the industry. We have different personalities. (Although we believe we are all delightful!)
Here's to your creative success - however you choose to build it!
– Tara Reed
P.S.I have to say I need to get some lights! Please excuse the poor lighting in my kitchen - we did our best to avoid the light from the windows but it's still a bit dim... after several tries we went with the "done is better than perfect" philosophy - oh, and the fact that Craig said his arm was going to want overtime if I made him hold the camera any longer!
Posted by Tara Reed on May 16, 2010 in Art Licensing
A few weeks before SURTEX, I decided I wanted to do "one more collection" for the show... (I ended up doing 3 "last" collections and was laughing at myself by the end of the third!)
All day I was undecided, what theme should I choose? What style? What, what, what...
Somehow I ended up emailing Paul about something and mentioned that I was trying to figure this out and kept changing my mind.
Paul Brent's suggestion:
"Do a new collection for a theme you have done well with before rather than something new. Then manufacturers have a choice. They can say "no" to one and feel better saying "yes" to the other."
I liked it and whipped up a new wine collection. I'm loving it and time will tell how it does for licensing...
So the next time you are feeling a little stuck, consider adding to your art offering in a theme you already do well in. Don't forget to create deep and not just wide - sometimes it's better to have 5 of one theme than 1 of many...
Thanks for the advice Paul!
Here's to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Paul added more detail to his advice in a comment - but I didn't want you to miss it so here it is:
Maybe I should talk about this a little more. When you are rushed, the last thing I would recommend is to create far from your center. Pick a style and a subject that you are familiar with and give it a new twist, like a new background, new elements to go with the familiar subject, or a different perspective such as from above rather than at eye level.
For example, I always need new shell collections. The last thing we worked on at the studio before coming to Surtex was to create new backgrounds in a new color palette for some shells that I had already painted. They were "new" enough and we got a good response to them with the fresh and updated look and we wrote them for several manufacturers.
My "very new" subjects and styles, things that took a long time to research, draw and paint, I had already finished and we were only adding coordinating patterns and borders. So I had three "new" shell collections for customers to select from rather than the two we had worked on earlier.
P.P.S. Paul will be giving more sage advice on Wednesday, May 26th - have you asked your question? www.AskPaulBrent.com
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.
I admit it. I like to veg out in front of the tv on Sundays and get my share of drama. I avoid suburb drama like the plague in real life but Desperate Housewives have been a Sunday-staple for years. Of course I relate to Susan the most (the artist) even though I'm a bit less clumsy about how I go through my daily life. Bree is just a smidge too together - wound up like a coil ready to SNAP at any moment... great business she has going though! I wish I had a studio the size of her kitchen... woo-wee!
Last night, they broke their contract with me.
I realize that there had been some odd, evil things going on on Wisteria Lane and they were going to have to tie up the "who tried to strangle Julie" plot line at some point... but yikes! I think they borrowed the writers from Dexter for that hour of darkness. I didn't like it - not one bit! It was too far from what I have come to expect and if they keep it up, I'll stop watching.
I had an inspiration while explaining the situation to a friend - there is a lesson in here for us!
Are you keeping your "contract" with your clients and end consumers?
In Paul Brent's branding teleseminar he talks about building and being true to your brand. Not building an expectation and then going off and creating in left field. He should know, he's built quite a brand! To my way of seeing things, Desperate Housewives did just that - they went off into evil land and they better fix it, quick! (In this loyal viewers humble opinion of course.)
Just a little food for thought I felt compelled to share... think about your art brand like a tv show and make sure your audience is getting what they expect. THAT is the key to success!
Posted by Tara Reed on Apr 22, 2010 in Art Licensing
Another great call is completed - thanks go out to everyone who submitted questions because as I say every month - YOU create the content. So do you want to know what we talked about? Here's the run-down...
The burning art licensing questions covered...
Starting out, is it better to have an agent?
How long should it take to get feedback for art submissions?
How much art should I have on a website before trying to find an agent?
How many collections should I have before approaching a manufacturer?
Can I show past work I've done for clients to prospects or do I need my own collections to offer for licensing?
How and what do you paint each day?
What was your biggest lesson learn when you started?
Do you ever "give up" on a potential client?
How important is showing product vs art at a trade show?
Please explain "Direct to Retail" licensing
Where do you think art licensing will be in 10 years?
Should you avoid worldwide contracts at all costs?
What file formats do I save art in and do I send it to licensees on CD?
We got social again - it was fun to watch people tweet on Twitter and post on the Facebook Fan Page while I talked - interesting to see what strikes a chord! Here are some excerpts -
The personal experience about the company she has been sending post cards to since 2005 and just started working with 6 months ago is inspiring.
Listening to the Art Licensing call with artist Tara Reed and Kim the WordPress gal. WordPress is great by the way. Looking forward to her interview and will have some questions for her then.
Thanks, Tara, for a GREAT call! Fun to tweet with the group, too!
Great! As always, powerful questions and answers! I can't wait till next month!
If you missed the call, the audio replay is now available to purchase.
The cost? A mere $15 through May 1st and then it goes to a whopping $25. Have you looked at the cost of live classes? This is a deal... no, a steal! Get your copy today!
(Plus, to be honest, selling some audios helps offset the cost of creating the infrastructure and time spent on these calls so ... much appreciated!)
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.
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.
