TEN KEYS TO SUCCESS 4 ARTISTS

MY VISION

That all creative people get to live the life of their dreams, and make good money doing what they love.

Photo © AJ Neste

THIS IS THE BEST TIME IN HISTORY TO BE AN ARTIST!

•According to Bureau of Labor Statistics:•62% of Artists are Freelancers•The need for artists will grow 16% through 2016 (faster than most other fields)

© Jay Alders

•Brand Manager for Drew Brophy

• Art Marketing & Licensing Expert

•Published author/blogger for artists

•Business of Art Seminar Leader

•Consultant to Artists

Photo © Jason Wallis

DREW BROPHY

• Professional Artist for over 20 Years

• 30 different manufacturers use his art to make their products look cool

• Is known for his distinct style

• Is featured in over two dozen magazines, newspapers, TV shows and books yearly

•Lives the life of his dreams

KEY #1

CHOOSE YOUR PATH

•Decide what you want

•Decide Who you want to be

*Decide what you want to be known for

*Choose your Niche and be the best in it

DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT

“In the long run, men get only what they aim at.

Therefore….they had better aim at something high.”

Thoreau

15 minutes of planning = 8 hours of work!

THE SECRET OF RICH &FAMOUS ARTISTS

KEY #2: BRAND YOURSELF

• Find your niche

• Have your own style

• Have a unique signature

• You want your art to be DISTINCT & easily recognized as your own

Artist Aileen Holmes

KEY #3: PROTECT YOUR COPYRIGHTS

To Brand Yourself:

YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER YOUR COPYRIGHTS

IT’S THE SINGLE, MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT HAS LEAD TO MANY ARTISTS’ SUCCESS

THE COPYRIGHT OWNER:

• Has all rights to reproduction of the work

• Has rights to sell the artwork to another entity for financial gain or otherwise

• Has COMPLETE AUTHORITY over what happens to the artwork, forever and ever

SO WHAT?

COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976

• States that copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form.

• The © in the work immediately becomes the

property of the author who created the work

• EXCEPTION: Artist created work for their employer

SHOULD YOU REGISTER YOUR ART THROUGH U.S. COPYRIGHT ?

• It gives you added protection (your attorney’s fees are covered should there be an infringement)

• It’s cheap – only $35 if you file online

• It’s fairly simple

HOW © OWNERSHIP IS TRANSFERREDFROM YOU TO SOMEONE ELSE

• MOST COMMON WAY: by Signing a “WORK FOR HIRE” or

“Assignment” Agreement

• Through other contracts

• If you are an employee and create it for your employer – it’s automatically owned by them

CONTRACT SMARTS

• BEWARE OF: The “Sneaky Contract”

• Beware of “Work for Hire” Agreements

• Don’t sign anything that you don’t completely UNDERSTAND or AGREE with

• For large deals, get an attorney

KEY #4 – BEHAVE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL

Treat your art businesslike a business

Envision yourself as a brand and develop your image

“Repetition adds to Reputation” Warhol

NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS!

• You have to take 100% responsibility for your success

• You have to take 100% responsibility for everything that happens to you

• In this, you find freedom & control

BE PROFESSIONAL• Introduce yourself as an artist - speak

powerfully about who you are & what you do

• NETWORKING – Connect with others

• Have INTEGRITY / Meet Deadlines / Do what you say You’ll Do every time

• CONSISTENCY – Train People to see you how you want them to

A STRONG WORK ETHIC

WILL OUT PERFORM PURE TALENT

NO DOESN’T MEAN NO

• It’s just “no” for now

• Don’t take it personally

• Happens in all industries / stores / sales

Getting Into GalleriesRESEARCH: Only approach galleries where your art would be a fit

BE RESPECTFUL OF DIRECTOR’S TIME:Don’t call or approach right before an exhibit or on a busy weekend

DON’T: Walk in unannounced with portfolio in hand (or, even worse, a painting under your arm!)

DON’T: Approach galleries until you’re READY with a full body of work, an artist’s statement and portfolio.

DO: Call and ask for an appointment

BEST: Ask one of the exhibiting artists to refer you

ALWAYS: Be patient, follow up, don’t take a “no” as rejection.

KEY 5: SHOOT YOURSELF

DOCUMENT YOUR ART &PROJECTS FOR

* Media Articles* Blogs* Books* History!

Key 6 - PROMOTE YOURSELF SHAMELESSLY!

You have to market yourself – nobody else is

going to do it for you

BUSINESS CARDS• Never leave home without ‘em

• Hand them out often

• Make them look interesting enough that they will be never end up in the trash

LEAVE ‘EM WITH A BUSINESS CARD THEY WON’T TRASH

WEBSITE

• Use your own name as domain so it’s easily found

• Update it Constantly

• Blogging helps keep things current

• Your website vibe should be consistent with your “brand” or persona

LABEL YOUR DIGITAL IMAGES:For better Search engine Pick up (and a google search will find your images should someone copy and paste on their site)

Digital label should contain:

Artist NameTitle of Work and YearMedium and Size

File Name Ex:SUNRISE by Drew Brophy 2006 Mixed Media 30x40

(Size is always listed as:Height x Width X Depth in inches)

DEVELOP A CONTACT DATABASE

• Start collecting names NOW

• Develop a database of fans/collectors

• Develop a database of potential clients

• Send out occasional newsletters / e-mail blasts and postcard mailers

POSTCARD MAILERS

• Use postcard mailers to send to potential clients and existing clients

• Send out quarterly or monthly

• Keep your art in their face, handy and put your website on FRONT of card

YOUTUBE VIDEOS - MEDIA

WHY DO SOME ARTISTS GET ALL THE PRESS?

• They say “YES” to most every opportunity!

• They make it easy by providing photos, information, etc.

• They ask for it

SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES

• Send a press release when you have a new license, painting or project

• Keep a list of relevant trade magazines, newspapers & blog contacts to send these releases to

• Have photos to go with the release

Encourage Clients to advertisewith your Artwork,

Name, Face

TARGET MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS• Make a list of magazines that have a readership that

will be interested in you

• Send e-mails and/or letters telling WHY their READERS will be interested in you (NEVER say why it’s good for you – they don’t care)

• Follow up every 3-6 months and be patient

• RESPOND QUICKLY when they call – they are on deadline (make it easy for them)

KEY 7: STRUCTURE YOUR PRICES

HOW TO PRICE YOUR ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

•See how other artists are pricing art in a similar style, medium, etc.

•Come up with a structure (per s.i.) for existing artwork and another structure

for commissions

•Add framing expenses to the per s.i. price

EXAMPLE: $1.50/s.i. + Framing Costs

CIRCLE OF LIFE72” X 48” Unframed $4,900

GOLDEN LIGHT48” X 36” Framed $2,600

SON OF THE SEA, INC.208 Calle de Los Molinos Suite D, (949) 366-5236

Contact: Maria Brophy e-mail: mariab@drewbrophy.com

DREW BROPHY MURAL PRICES

 Sample Prices per Unit Size

Minimum Price per Mural: $5,600 (Pricing begins at approx. $35/square foot and decreases with increased size of mural; at 290 sf price drops to $32/sf – at 500 sf drops to $30/sf – at 900 sf price drops to $28/sf )Required Design Fee: Non-Refundable Design Fee: $500.00 – Includes up to 2 sets of changes by clientAll Pricing Includes: Travel within South Orange County, all materials, rental equipment, assistant fees and work to completion.Pricing does NOT include:*Travel outside of So. Orange County*Liability insurance*Wall Preparation: Additional work due to adverse conditions on surface that requires extraneous labor (this will be charged extra, by the hour, at a rate of $95.00 / hour, and sometimes cannot be determined until after the job has begun).

 DIMENSIONS  ²AREA  PRICE

Any

Up to 10ft. x 16ft. 160ft. $5,600.00

11ft. x 16ft. 176ft. $6,150.00

12ft. x 20ft. 240ft. $8,400.00

13ft. x 20ft. 260ft. $9,100.00

14ft. x 21ft. 294ft. $9,410.00

15ft. x 23ft. 345ft. $11,040.00

16ft. x 24ft. 384ft. $12,290.00

17ft. x 26ft. 442ft. $14,150.00

18ft. x 28ft. 504ft. $15,100.00

19ft. x 29ft. 551ft. $16,500.00

19ft. x 30ft. 570ft. $17,100.00

20ft. x 31ft. 620ft. $18,600.00

25ft. x 39ft. 975ft. $27,300.00  

28ft. x 44ft. 1232ft. $34,500.00

Payment terms: To begin sketching process 50% non-refundable deposit due up front. Deposit due 2 weeks prior to start date of painting to allow ordering of supplies and scheduling. Balance due on the day of completion.We take MC/VISA/Checks/CashCOPYRIGHTS: All legal rights to artwork remain in the name of Drew Brophy.

STAY CONSISTENT!

• Consider raising prices by 10% each year• Charge same price regardless of where or how

it’s sold (your galleries should sell your paintings for the same prices that you do)

• Offer a 5 – 10% discount for returning collectors

• If your price structure isn’t working, adjust it

KEY #8: MANAGE YOUR MONEY

• If you aren’t making a profit, than you’ve got a hobby

• SET YOUR POLICIES – KNOW YOUR POLICIES – MAKE IT CLEAR UP FRONT

• BE CONFIDENT IN WHAT YOU CHARGE

HELP! I DON’T HAVE A BUSINESS MIND!

“

“YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE RULES OF THE GAME.”

Albert Einstein

“BEING GOOD IN BUSINESS IS THE MOST FASCINATING KIND OF ART.”

Andy Warhol

HOW WE NEVER GOT RIPPED OFF AGAIN…

• We require 50% deposit before beginning any commissioned work

• Balance is due upon completion/at delivery

• Price includes up to 3 sketches

• Rush Fee: Can be up to 50% more $

THINK BEFORE YOU GIVE YOUR WORK AWAY

• Giving art away can LOWER the value of your work

• People don’t value what’s cheap or free

• You have a duty to other artists to charge a fair price

• Charities: Ask for a % of the sale (I.R.S. doesn’t value your time)

KEY #9: Create Multiple Streams of Income

• DON’T PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS INTO THE ART GALLERY BASKET

• OR ANY ONE BASKET!

• Diversify

“LIVE BY THE PAINTBRUSH”•Paint Murals, cars, helmets

•Live Events

•License your Art

•Design Products

•Teach others

•Develop DVD’s and books

•GET CREATIVE!

GET PAID TO PAINT AT EVENTS

ART LICENSING

It’s like Renting your Art to a Manufacturer

Licensing is everywhere! Most of what you buy is licensed, from clothing to cleaning products!

BENEFITS OF LICENSING

• Your art can be licensed for many different products

• You never produce or inventory – you just create the art and collect the royalties

• Licensing helps to market your art and thus grow your brand

KEY #10 – Always a Student

• There’s an answer for every problem and question you have – find it online

• Read books, blogs and take classes. Learn the business side of being an artist.

• Never think you know it all! There’s always more to learn…

ARTISTS – STICK TOGETHER

• Help each other succeed

• Share information – Keep in Touch

• Refer each other

• Link to each other on Twitter, Facebook, Etc.

VISIONWE SEE A WORLD IN

WHICH THE TERM “Starving Artist”

IS A THING OF THE PAST &

WHERE ALL ARTISTS ARE WELL PAID FOR THEIR TALENT AND

HARD WORK

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN