Art Marketing ~ Life on the Dark Side

7 Things Network Marketing Taught Me About Marketing Art . . . or Anything Else!

Mention Network Marketing at a party and watch the fur fly. It's an explosive subject. Folks either Love it, Hate it, or just don't understand it. I am not going to debate any of that. I simply will comment on the skills I developed while building a Network Marketing business and how it helped me to improve my art marketing.

The term Network Marketing is commonly associated with a type of home-based business opportunity like Avon, Mary Kay, SendOutCards and Tupperware. But in reality, it encompasses any business that is built on relationships.

First, What is Network Marketing? I found the most accurate definition on Investopedia.com:

A sales strategy in which a salesperson attends meetings of organizations whose members are likely to be interested in a particular product or service in order to develop a book of business. The three major components of network marketing involve prospecting (finding sources of potential customers), following up with inquiries from interested parties, and selling the good or service to the prospect. Once prospects are cultivated, the salesperson will try to use his or her relationships with the prospect to get in contact with other individuals that the prospect might know.

Yes, Dears, we are Network Marketers. We must find people that like what we do, build relationships and follow up, and sell our work to them. That is the basic 3-step plan of (any) business building model. Simple, but not easy.

Here are the seven things I learned:

1.  You need unwavering belief and commitment to yourself, your artwork, and the value of your craft in the marketplace.

• You: You need an unwavering belief & commitment to Yourself. Do I need to repeat that?
• Your Artwork: Is it any good? Technique, Skills, Uniqueness. Are you constant working to improve and grow?
• The Marketplace: Who is interested in what you do? Who already uses what you do?  There are Riches in Niches. Belief that there is a real market for what you create. Did you know DaVinci, Renoir and Warhol all did commercial work.

2.  It's a big world outside of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to explore it. Get out of the BOX and Stretch!  Network, Volunteer, Go to shows and TALK to people. Networking is critical! Meeting people, developing relationships, then staying in touch. Hundreds of books are written on this alone. I really, really like Bob Burg. Both personally and professionally. Bob Burg is truly the Master of Networking.

3.  Have your One-minute speech committed to memory. Hey, You never know who you might meet or WHO they can lead you to! Don't forget to Always ask for their card First then hand them your business card. The key is to stay in touch!

4.  Develop your listening skills. This is the one that trips me up every time. I get so excited when someone asks about my artwork, that I'll forget good manners and dominate the conversation with me, me, me, meeee. I have gotten better at catching myself - hopefully before they are lost to me. 

5.  Nothing Happens Until Something Moves. Develop an Action Plan and work it everyday. Plan, Do, Review. Then Rinse and Repeat.

6. It's all a Numbers Game. I've written about this already, but it bears repeating; You have to get a lot of NOs to get to the YESs. You just have to keep putting it out there. The more you do, the more things happen. Some things will work while most will not. Don't beat yourself up. Review Number 5.

7.  The Master is Always The Student. Never stop improving your people skills, your communication skills and most of all your creative skills. My dear friend and mentor Jim Briggs, taught me the mantra of Continuous Improvement. Never stop learning. Never stop working to be a little bit better everyday. Both your skills and your head.

Hundreds of books have been written about each of these aspects. In the months to come, I'll discuss what has worked for me and a few other artists in more detail.

One fails forward toward success. ~Charles F. Kettering

Ramblings from Rosemary

Evolving out of the Stone Age

I finally broke down and decided it was time for a smart phone. Not because I really wanted all the cool technology but because I sent my ancient flip-phone through the permanent press cycle. Four days in rice and I was able to rescue the phone enough to use, but only when plugged into the wall charger.

OK, laugh if you want to. I know a few of you have similar horror stories of destruction.

I guess its time to step out of the stone-age and get new technology. I’m not sure why I need all that crap on a phone. Sure, it would be fun to quickly take snap shots of my friends, cats and culinary treats and share them on Facebook. But really, do I need a phone for that? I’ve got a little digital camera for snap shots. I prefer working on my laptop, after all, that itsy-bitsy screen is waaay too small for this old bat.

But texting will be much easier on a smart phone. I won’t have to hit the number keys multiple times for the letter. That’s cool.

OK I guess its time

The adventure begins . . .

I checked out online specials on iPhones and found a .99 special for an iPhone 4. So, I trot down to the Verizon store and explain to the 12 year old that approached me that I really wasn’t really to step out of the stone-age but I can’t fight progress any longer.

He tells me that they don’t have the .99 special but pulls out a chart of about 300 phones and costs. Then launches into a well-rehearsed pitch. Ninety minutes later, I walk out believing I just ordered a pretty new blue iPhone 5c for $61 and my monthly bill would only go up by $20.

OK I can deal with that.

But all that day I had this awful, sinking feeling in the pit of my gut. My husband and friends tried to reassure me that I was just a little afraid of new technology and I would learn it quickly.

The next day the new phone arrived, but it was late and I just opened the box, looked at the phone and said: Oooo, Pretty Blue then promptly put it back in the box. The next morning, I grabbed my coffee and the box, pulled out the phone and thought again: Oooo, Pretty Blue. I took out the papers and saw a bill for $548.

Five Hundred and Forty-Eight Dollars!!!

*#@& &#* %#&$ 

What happened to the $61 dollar phone???

Obviously, I had no idea what I just bought. Dinosaurs should NEVER buy new technology alone. I should have asked one of my niece, Mallory, to help me. After all, Mally worked for Verizon for a while and she is constantly on that device doing who knows what.

I am not ready for new technology.


I trot back down to the Verizon store, return the phone and got full credit back.

I am not ready for new technology.

My old flip phone still works . . . only when it is plugged into the wall charger . . . but it works . . .

I am not ready for new technology . . . yet.

Now, keep in mind we are in process of selling our home in Pittsburgh and moving to North Potomac, Maryland. Paul still is working in the Burgh till at least the beginning of December.


The adventure continues

The problems with my old flip phone didn’t get any better. I held out as long as I could. I talked with family and friends, got opinions from everyone!

I went on line again and found the same .99 iPhone special on the Verizon website. So we called Verizon directly and spoke with a pleasant representative. We ordered the iPhone 4s for 99 cents.

The next day, It arrived but was programmed with Paul’s number not mine. The representative assured me that was no problem and would be corrected upon activation.

So, I trot down to a Verizon store in Maryland. I was helped by an adult. A relic about my age. Imagine that! Told him I need to activate the phone briefly explaining the numbers mistake and I would need help understanding how to work the phone.

Two hours later, I walk out of the store and rush off to the grocery store. (God, I’m starving) When I finally get home I call my husband to update him. But when I dialed him I got directly into voicemail. I plugged my pin and got Paul’s voicemail.

OMG! That means they did not activate my phone number and Paul has no Phone!!!

$#!&

So I trot back to the Verizon store (I am really starving at this point, but I remained pleasant) and they spend the next Ninety minutes correcting the phone number mistake.

Finally. It’s done. I have a new smart phone.

I first thought: Am I smart enough for a smart phone? But this auto correct feature has made many, many, many bad choices for me.

I don’t think this phone is smart enough for me!


Afterward:
Many of you know the horror stories about DC traffic and drivers. They are an understatement. It’s worse that anything you can image. Six lanes of really bad drivers. Some going really fast, others going really slow, the rest are cutting in and out really fast and really slow. It’s no wonder there are so many accidents on the Beltway.

I decided to take back roads to avoid sitting in that crap.

Anyway, my first night of driving home, I missed a turn. It was almost dark. I’m lost and alone.

$#!&

Then I remembered: Oh yeah, I’ve got maps on my phone.

It took me about five minutes to figure out how to use it but it showed me the way home from where I was.

Technology is really cool.

I’m glad I finally pulled the trigger. It was time.

Christmas Stocking Drive - Military Connections

How Important it is for us to Recognize and Celebrate our Heroes and She-roes!  

~Maya Angelou

Please Join us on Wednesday, September 18 for an Evening To Support The Troops.

Business Leads Exchange Networking group will sponsor a fundraiser to raise money for Military Connections Christmas Stocking Drive.

Military Connections ships all types of items overseas; primarily food, snacks, healthcare items, athletic socks, and entertainment items such as compact discs or magazines.  The list is really endless.
  

Every year, Summer Tissue and her merry band of volunteers, collect, package and mail over 15, 0000 Christmas Stockings to deployed troops.

All items are donated, but shipping costs are astronomical! Last year the costs topped over $8000.

Show these brave men and women there are people back home supporting them. Please don't let them to go without things such as toilet paper or Tylenol.

If you can't make the fundraiser, but still want to help our troops, you can send your Tax Deductible donations to:

Military Connections
312 Auburn Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Christmas Stocking Drive 

Date: Wednesday - September 18, 2013
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: Comfort Inn - RIDC Park Fox Chapel
Price: $15.00 before September 15th. $20.00 after or at the door, space permitting.
Price Includes: hors d’oeuvres, a door prize ticket, and exceptional networking. There will be a cash bar.
Who Can Attend? Any adult interested in supporting our troops. (Must be 18 to enter).
Tickets Can Be Purchased In Person: At the BLX Networking Lunch Meetings using cash or check.
Through The Mail: Send a check made out to BLX Networking to Northwest Savings Bank,
Attention: Beth Hastings, 905 Main Street, Sharpsburg, Pa. 15215. (Your tickets will be held at the door).
Stop In At The Following: Purchase tickets from the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce, Oakmont or
Cheswick Floral, or Northwest Savings Bank - Sharpsburg Branch.
By Credit Card: Go to BLXNetworking.com and click on the Military Connections Event Link.


Military Connections is a Non-Political, Non-Profit, all volunteer organization. Military Connections sends goodies to our deployed men & women at no charge to the family or Service Member.

My God!  How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!  

~Thomas Jefferson

Art Marketing ~ Life on the Dark Side

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Let’s be real here. Art does not Sell Itself.

Most Artists stink at marketing their own work. It’s hard to sell yourself. It’s hard to sell your baby. Not everyone thinks your baby is as cute as you do, but that’s OK. Many folks will see what you see, but sometimes you have to gently help the process along.

There are so many great books on art marketing, that I don’t want to rehash the obvious. I will provide you a few recommendations of my favorite business building books.

Over time, I’ll share with you some things I know to be important in marketing my art and developing a following and collectors. I’ll share with you the Good, the Bad and the Ugly tactics and results of my efforts.

Stay Tuned!

Joy & Laughter
~Rosemary

I'm aiming for the emotional honesty of Van Gogh and the promotional skills of Coca-Cola!

 ~Dion Archibald

Must Have Books

How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul by Caroll Michels

Guerrilla Marketing for Artists: Build a Bulletproof Art Career to Thrive in Any Economy by Barney Davey

Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat

It Only Took 18 Days

On June 9, I was offered a One-Person Show at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, PA with an (original) opening reception day of June 28.

OMG! That's ONLY 18 days away!!!

The gallery space has two separate areas and could fit around twenty-ish pieces of framed art. I had seven pieces framed. 

First Stop:  Panza Gallery!  Mark and his daughter, Jennifer worked with me to frame eighteen pieces within my practically non-existent budget and my absurd timeline.
 
Next on the list was designing an exhibit invitation. Designing the invite was easy. Agonizing over printers - well this is a post (rant) in itself.

Then comes the supporting marketing collateral for the exhibit. My Biography & Artist's Statement just needed to be printed on nice stock and framed. My dear friend and Marketer in Crime, Nadine Ostrowski, helped me whip out a Press Release. All that's left is the exhibit catalog and artwork tags.

Monkey Wrench! We found out that we had a conflict of dates with the PGA Seniors Tournament held across the street. They close the road except to PGA VIPs. So we had to change the dates for the opening reception. However, my timeline didn't really change. I was scheduled to escape to the beach and the only day I could hang the show was June 27.

On June 27 we pick up framed art. Twenty-one pieces total were framed, one of which was a triptych and two others were diptychs.  My incredibly awesome husband, Paul, helped me hang the exhibit in just a few hours.

The real work was done in just 18 days!

Now I could relax and enjoy a previously planned beach vacation

Last on my task list was promotion. I hit all the local newspapers and online calendars in a few hours then promoting the exhibit on all the social media until the opening on July 11.

Understand one very important thing here. I Could Not Have Pulled This Off WITHOUT the Help of a AWESOME Support Team. 

If you don't have a great support team, that could help you pull a rabbit out of a hat, then begin to build those relationships immediately. You Never know if someone is going to offer you a prime opportunity to showcase your work.

BTW, The opening reception was a hit!

Thank you to all who helped me pull this off and those who support my artwork

Joy and Laughter
~Rosemary