marlene richey
virtual assistant . consultant
creative business solutions for creative businesses
specializing in the art, craft and jewelry markets
THOUGHTS ABOUT ART ENTREPRENEURS
Being artistic and creative is one of the great gifts a person can possess. But if you want to be able to make a living at your art, it is usually not enough to just “build it and they will come”. Running a business is also an art and takes as much patience, time, skill and effort, as producing fabulous pieces of work. The ideal combination is to be one of those genuinely lucky people who are not only creative, but just loves doing taxes and dealing with cranky clients. But those people are rare indeed.
You don’t need to settle on the “starving artist” model for your life style. You can be a successful art businessperson without giving up your ideals, vision or aesthetics, you just need to know some of the secrets that all famous artists know - mainly how to market yourself and your work.
And, that is where I come in both with my consulting/virtual assistant business or with my award winning book, “Profiting by Design” which is publsihed by the MJSA Press. I make sure that artists/craftspeople learn what they need to know or I do it for them so that they are not just surviving, but thriving, even in a difficult economy.
Being an artist is essentially being a small business owner, whether you like it or not. You are making a product you want people to buy, show, exhibit or at least acknowledge. So in some ways you are no different than the corner grocery store. You, however, are lucky because your product is a part of you, made by your own hands, tells your story, shows off your skills and talent, reflects who you are and your unique vision, taste, sense of style and history.
Decide now that you want to follow the Pablo Picasso school of business thought rather than the Vincent van Gogh school. Let me help you.
All client information remains strictly confidential, unless artist requests for me to share it.
