It recently dawned on me that our local artists could profit from the experience of thousands of micro business owners who have harnessed technology to reach and interest prospective customers.<\/p>\n
I am using the term "artists" to include artists, sculptors, musicians, and artisans of every persuasion who create beauty which evokes an emotion in the hearer or beholder.<\/p>\n
Here are two concepts you might want to consider:<\/p>\n
\nArt is the creation of an emotional impact, whatever the medium used. <\/p>\n
Business, on the other hand, is the art<\/em> of exchanging goods or services with a customer for money, support, or viable exchange of some kind.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Marrying art and business is a difficult task and is successfully achieved only by individuals who understand both. <\/p>\n
Skilled artists who do not have a business orientation may only be
\nable to achieve economic viability when they have access to galleries
\nand other retail outlets which handle the tasks of promotion and sales
\nfor them. <\/p>\nArtists who sell their wares at craft shows and wine festivals
\nquickly learn that the commission paid to galleries and retailers is
\nquite reasonable when compared to the cost and effort of selling
\ndirectly.<\/p>\nOn the other hand, competent artists with studio showrooms have the
\neternal problem of attracting customers to their often isolated rural
\nlocations.<\/p>\nAfter observing successful and unsuccessful artists for the past
\nfour years, I see that some traits and behaviors seem to lead to viable
\nbusinesses and I feel that these behaviors can be learned without
\ncompromising artistic integrity.<\/p>\nTo give you some food for thought, an artistic micro business has a
\nbuilt-in advantage over almost every other form of small business. It
\nis unique in that it is generally newsworthy on several levels because
\nof its entertainment value.<\/p>\nI will expand on this theme in future posts because I feel strongly
\nthat a strong and healthy artistic community can infuse new life into
\nthe local and regional economy. <\/p>\n