Business Skills for Creative Souls: The Essential Artist's Handbook - Networking Basics Sample

As a not-for-profit organization, YES (Youth Employment Services) enriches the community by providing English-language support services to help Quebecers find employment and start and grow businesses. It offers a broad range of employment-related programs, including an Entrepreneurship Program for those looking to start or grow their own business and an Artists’ Program, which is designed to help artists find work or create their own employment opportunities.

YES (Youth Employment Services) 666 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 700 Montreal, QC H3A 1E7 Tel.: 514-878-9788 Fax: 514-878-9950 www.yesmontreal.ca info@yesmontreal.ca

Business Skills for Creative Souls The Essential Artist’s Handbook Copyright © 2015 by YES (Youth Employment Services) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by YES (Youth Employment Services) 666 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 700 Montreal, QC H3A 1E7 Telephone: 514-878-9788 E-mail: info@yesmontreal.ca Business Skills for Creative Souls: The Essential Artist’s Handbook seeks to assist artists by providing information which may help them establish their artistic careers and businesses. The opinions contained herein are those of the individuals expressing them only and consequently, neither the contributors nor YES (Youth Employment Services) shall be held liable for any error therein or damages resulting from the use or transmission of said information.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Business skills for creative souls : the essential artist’s handbook / YES. -- Updated edition.

Includes bibliographical references.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-0-9681946-4-5 (pbk.).--ISBN 978-0-9681946-5-2 (epub) 1. Art--Vocational guidance--Québec (Province). 2. Art--Québec (Province)--Marketing. 3. Art--Economic aspects--Québec (Province).

4. Artists--Québec (Province)--Montréal--Interviews. I. YES Montréal, author, issuing body N8353.B88 2015

706.8

C2015-901816-1 C2015-901817-X

Printed in Canada.

Book design and typesetting by YES (Youth Employment Services)

YES acknowledges the generous support of The Counselling Foundation of Canada in the production of this book.

CHAPTERS IN THE COMPLETE ARTIST’S HANDBOOK LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF YES ........................................................9 FOREWORD

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CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..............................................................12 GETTING STARTED >> Lessons From A Career Counsellor ...................................................................17 >> Having A Game Plan – The Nuts & Bolts ...........................................................21 >> Taking Stock – Self-Assessment Exercise ........................................................33 >> Developing a Job Search Strategy ....................................................................39

MAKING IT HAPPEN MARKETING YOUR ART >> Creating Buzz with Traditional Media ................................................................51 >> Creating Buzz Online .........................................................................................65 >> Networking Basics for Artists ............................................................................77 MONEY MATTERS >> Pricing and Profit ..............................................................................................83 >> Budgeting Basics ..............................................................................................91 >> Financing Your Work ..........................................................................................97 >> Crowdfunding for Fun and Profit .....................................................................117 LEGAL BASICS FOR ARTISTS >> Artists and the Law .........................................................................................123 >> Bibliography ....................................................................................................145 ACCOUNTING FOR YOUR ART >> Accounting Basics for Artists ..........................................................................147

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CHAPTERS IN THE COMPLETE ARTIST’S HANDBOOK LESSONS FROM THE REAL WORLD FOR FASHION DESIGNERS .........................................................................................159 FOR FILMMAKERS .....................................................................................................179 >> Bonus Article: Become a Better Film and TV Networker .................................195 FOR MUSICIANS .......................................................................................................199 >> Bonus Article: 19 Ways to Make Money with Your Music ...............................220 FOR NEW MEDIA ARTISTS .........................................................................................223 FOR PERFORMERS ....................................................................................................239 >> Bonus Article: The Other Side of the Casting Couch .......................................260 FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS .............................................................................................263 FOR VISUAL ARTISTS ................................................................................................281 >> Bonus Article: Building Your Etsy Empire is about Being Social .....................300 FOR WRITERS ...........................................................................................................305 >> Bonus Article: A Publisher’s Perspective ........................................................324

RESOURCES .........................................................................................................329

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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BOOK ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dave Cool Jeanette Kelly Victoria LeBlanc Monika Majewski Guy Rodgers Linda Rutenberg Clare Schapiro Lori Schubert Ezra Soiferman Iris Unger

PRODUCTION TEAM Head Writer, Editor, and Interviewer Liz Ulin Writer (2004 Edition) Caralee Salomon Copy Editor May Antaki Director, Creative Design, and Digital Production Catherine Brisindi Graphic Design and Typesetting Marc Wrobel Yes would like to express its gratitude to the many people who have given generously of their time and expertise to help make this book and the original edition possible. They agreed to be interviewed or provided articles that inspired elements of this book.

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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTRIBUTORS Ev Adad Norma Andreu Tony Asimakopoulos Mila Aung-Thwin John Aylen Amy Blackmore Misstress Barbara Bonfiglio Patricia Chica Karen Cho Nancy Cleman Chuck Comeau Dave Cool Simon Dardick Nathalie Dion Joey Elias Bettina Forget Steve Galluccio Jennifer Gasoi Manika Gaudet Holly Gauthier-Frankel Tali Goldstein Adad Hannah Mitch Joel Elaine Kalman Naves Morgan Kennedy Andrea Kenyon Lorraine Klaasen Sam Lackman

Tristan D. Lalla Roger Lemoyne Paul Litherland G. Scott MacLeod Anissa Marcanio Monika Majewski Marisa Minicucci Susan Molnar Katie Moore Elise Moser Marcel Mueller Jill Murray Andy Nulman Heather O’Neill Monique Polak Hilary Radley Rommel Romero Linda Rutenberg Sugar Sammy Damian Siqueiros Ezra Soiferman Rachel Stephan Jacob Tierney Kevin Tierney David Usher Kerry Williams Nikki Yanofsky

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

We have attempted to acknowledge all those involved and regret any accidental omissions.

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NETWORKING BASICS FOR ARTISTS SAMPLE CHAPTER

NETWORKING BASICS FOR ARTISTS If you had it your way, we’re guessing you’d spend 95% of your time creating art and 5% of your time getting it out into the world. And likely none of that 5% would have anything to do with strategic “networking.” It’s unfortunate that networking gets such a bum rap. After all, why should you suddenly feel manipulative and inauthentic for wanting to enrich your world with new people and share your genuine enthusiasm about your art?

The problem for most people is that they confuse networking with selling. And most artists abhor selling (for reasons that could take up a whole other book). So let’s set the record straight: networking is not selling. In fact, if you expect to sell anything while you’re networking, you will most likely fail (and rightly feel manipulative and inauthentic).

We’re going to assume your art is important to you; it’s a big part of your life and who you are.

Letting people in on your art is letting people in on you; sharing yourself with the world. And there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?

Networking, while definitely not selling, can and should be strategic, however. And there are ways to make it both fruitful and fun, but you need to integrate it into your artistic life the right way. Here are some tips to make the most of your networking time, regardless of how much or how little you are willing to invest in it:

IDENTIFY KEY PEOPLE IN YOUR INDUSTRY Make it your business to know who’s who in and around your industry. Research and identify organizations, individuals, and others who you’d love to meet. People who can help you move forward. Lay the groundwork for a future meeting by informing yourself about their projects and initiatives.

BE SELECTIVE AND DILIGENT Since most of us don’t have the luxury of unlimited networking time, you must be selective about which events and activities you attend. Identify and act on the “highest-value opportunities.”

This may sound crass, but in reality you only have so many hours in a week, right? So you’ll need to focus on the events and people that are most relevant to your objectives.

JOIN GROUPS You may choose to belong to a number of groups relating to your art, your community, certain charitable pursuits, or other interests. You never know who you’ll meet out there. But remember, belonging means participating and engaging, so be prepared to do more than just “attend” events.

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NETWORKING BASICS FOR ARTISTS ALWAYS NETWORK Consider social events—a party, a ball game, a play—as opportunities to meet new acquaintances who can become part of your network. This doesn’t mean you start going to parties with an agenda; people will sniff that out in no time and avoid you like the plague! But social occasions are, by their nature, networking opportunities where people are looking to connect. Just share and share alike.

BE PURPOSEFUL YET BALANCED Plan the events you’ll attend and define your purpose for attending, but don’t get so caught up in your objectives that you get stressed out. Don’t force outcomes. Be willing to change your “game plan” as you go depending on how the event plays out.

PRESENT YOURSELF WELL First impressions are important, so make sure you present yourself as well as you can. Dress well, polish how you speak, make eye contact, smile, be courteous and attentive—all the usual social graces we expect of each other.

BE YOUR BEST SELF Don’t be fake or try to be something you’re not—people can see through that. Be natural, be open and friendly, and let your “best self” shine through. This gets easier with practice.

TAKE A ZEN APPROACH To borrow a principle from Zen Buddhism, the best way to network is to be unconscious of the fact that you are networking. Remember, think “sharing.” Don’t let your mind dwell on the purpose or mechanics of networking. Allow yourself to enjoy the moment and to fully engage with the people you meet.

FIND THE CENTRE OF INFLUENCE In the movie The Pursuit of Happiness, Will Smith plays a stockbroker who befriends an extremely important banker with dozens of clients, friends, and contacts. While the banker himself does not do business with the stockbroker, his contacts do. The lesson is that every group has a centre of influence; your networking efforts should focus on this type of individual.

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NETWORKING BASICS FOR ARTISTS DON’T BROADCAST, INTERACT If you approach networking solely as an opportunity to talk about yourself and your art, you’ll bore people. Make networking enjoyable and interactive by asking questions and engaging others in conversation. Listen carefully, contribute generously, and have fun.

HELP OTHERS While your ultimate goal may be to find people who can help you advance your artistic career, don’t forget that you may also be able to help others. Offer whatever resources you can— advice, contacts, support, or collaboration—in order to increase your value to people in your network. This kind of enlightened altruism will eventually be reciprocated.

CONSIDER FAMILY AND FRIENDS Look to your existing social network to enhance career opportunities. Chances are that your family and friends already know plenty of people who could help you in some way. Connecting with these people can be easier than pitching your art to complete strangers.

EXPLOIT DIGITAL MEDIA In addition to in-person networking, make sure to use social media platforms like Facebook and/or LinkedIn to expand and cultivate your networks. Make sure you are actively engaged on the platforms you do use. Don’t have more accounts than you can keep actively up-to-date.

FOLLOW-UP AND FOLLOW-THROUGH The day after a networking or social event, make it your practice to enter the contact info of your new acquaintances into your electronic address book. Tag them by category and note where and when you met them, along with any specifics you wish to remember. If appropriate, send a quick email letting them know how much you enjoyed meeting them, and suggest you connect on social media.

PLAY THE LONG GAME Cultivate relationships with people in your network over time, understanding that it takes a while to develop trust, respect, and consideration. Keep in touch with people, send them useful information. Like, share, comment on, or repost your contacts’ news and/or social media content, invite them to your events, help them when you can. Your engagement will, over time, earn you goodwill and pay off in kind—in due course.

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NETWORKING BASICS FOR ARTISTS COME PREPARED Carrying a few business cards in your wallet is good practice. You don’t need to fob them off on every new acquaintance, but when someone shows an interest in your art—and they will— that’s your cue to offer them a card. Make sure it has your name, website, and coordinates so they can find you. And then, of course, you should ask for theirs.

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GET THE COMPLETE ARTIST’S HANDBOOK We hope you enjoyed this chapter sample. Please visit us online at www.yesmontreal.ca or call 514-878-9788 to get a complete copy of the Business Skills for Creative Souls: The Essential Artist’s Handbook.

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