Crafting Your Brand
  • Home
  • About the Author
  • Speaking, Consulting & Other Resources
  • Contact Matt
  • Blog
  • Coaching
Connect With Matt!

3 Questions Every Starving Artist Should Be Asking...

9/10/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
There's a reason starving artists starve.  Why?  Because they don't know where the money is.  Understanding that, there's 5 essential questions every starving artist should be asking in order to become a thriving artist.

1) What makes me so special?
Regardless of what you do creatively, you have to understand what sets you apart in the marketplace of art and ideas. Otherwise, you disappear to the consumer.  You have to stand out among the crowd.  How?  Your story.

You see, there are tons of artists out there, many who may do exactly what you do or something pretty close.  In order to succeed in the marketplace, you have to differentiate yourself.  

2) Who wants what I create?
It's so important to pay attention to who buys your work.  Do you do better one on one with the customer or in a gallery setting?  Men or women? Older or younger? Collector or casual buyer?  Understanding who buys your art allows you to develop a greater clarity on what they are looking for and how to give it to them.  This doesn't mean that you're selling out your creative process to the capitalistic machine.  It just means that you're responding to what's working while maintaining your authentic creative voice.

3) Who can help me?
The marketplace is all about relationships: who you know and who knows you.  Whatever you do, don't try to go it alone.  Make a like of people in your life right now now know you, love your work and want to help you connect with others who will do the same.  Secondly, think of other artists who are touching your target market but don't directly compete.  Thirdly, connect with professionals in your industry who are the influencers.  Influencers influence and you want to make sure that you are top of mind when it comes to their recommendation.

Ask these 3 questions regularly and act on them.  You'll start to see the money.



2 Comments
Sandra Gittleman
9/11/2013 12:55:00 am

Dear Matt, First, I so appreciate your blog. In response to this particular reading I find that it would be easier to answer these questions for another artist than it is for myself. Is there a forum, advisor, or marketing group that is out there that an artist like myself who is ready to move forward in the marketplace can go to for professional advise and feedback?

Reply
Matt
9/22/2013 10:33:42 am

Hey Sandra, marketingprofs.com is a great resource - also the Art Business Institute.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Matt Tommey

    Matt is a visual artist, musician and author of "Crafting Your Brand" and "Unlocking the Heart of the Artist".  You can see his artwork at www.matttommey.com 

    Archives

    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


Proudly powered by Weebly