By Stephanie Wolf, courtesy of Dance Informa.com.
A dancer’s ability to work and earn income is dependent on optimal health and physical condition. Therefore, proper healthcare is essential for longevity in the dance profession. But, unfortunately, many American dancers are under or uninsured due to the rising costs of healthcare and the complexity of applying for an insurance plan. Finding affordable health insurance is a dizzying feat, especially for freelance dancers who lack the...
Courtesy of PerformingArtsConvention.org.
We've mentioned on past blog postings how individual artists often need to operate as small business entrepreneurs. If you're just getting started with bookkeeping, free and easy-to-use resources are crucial because A) if we wanted to be accounts, we would have been accounts, and B) we're not getting paid much so free is very good.
Sounds like the creators of Billable understand this situation. Their new online invoice...
Courtesy of the Practical Art World.
Artist’s block is a beleaguering but usually inevitable reality for many creative types. It can stall progress, waste precious studio time, and is generally disheartening. Many different factors can cause artist’s block, but there are usually ways to overcome it. One difficulty is, everyone is different! There is no surefire fix or antidote, but I have compiled a few ideas that work for me and other artists that I know. Remember: the...
Courtesy of Score.org, Chapter 19.
134 MARKETING IDEAS
1. Don’t let a day pass without engaging in at least one marketing activity.
2. Determine a percentage of gross income to spend annually on marketing.
3. Set specific marketing goals every year; review and adjust quarterly.
4. Maintain a tickler file of ideas for later use.
5. Carry business cards with you (all day, everyday).
6. Create a personal nametag or pin with your company name and logo on it...
Courtesy of Art Business.com
After kicking around the art world for three decades now, and during those years talking to countless thousands of artists, gallery owners, and other artland professionals, certain facts and fictions about how everything works gradually become clear. So reflecting back on all that, here's a list of common misconceptions that many artists have, and their corresponding realities...
* Misconception: "I've got the art. Now all I need...
Courtesy of Columbia College of Chicago
So what information should you put on your business card?
Name: Definitely.
Title: Your call. Photographer’s assistant, actor, editor, publicist, etc may be very helpful in reminding people what you do. “CEO” on the other hand usually reads as “self-deluded.”
Address: Probably not- unless you have a studio or office where you would actually have an employer or client visit you....
By Lisa Anderson Shaffer, courtesy of IndieMade.
Last in a 3-part series on productivity tips for artists and crafters.
With such great productivity tips from Joshua Zerkel and Willo O’Brien, I was finally ready to tackle that oh-so-overwhelming pile of papers for my craft business. I wanted to follow Joshua’s suggestion to start small and not take on too much organization at once. After all I did want to stick with it!
I decided that the best method for...
URL: http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=175&fid=2&sid=65
Marketing is a fun and creative way to get your organization’s name out and increase your audience in both number and diversity. And it does not have to be expensive. It can range from putting up a flyer at the local grocery store to a series of newspaper ads, with a lot of room for creativity in between.
In this guide, we give you proven techniques and tips to make your organization more marketing-savvy, increase your...
By Todd Anderson at the99percent.com
Times are tough all over. Maybe you were laid off by a company you devoted years of your life to. Maybe your best clients are canceling projects because you no longer fit in their budget. Maybe you graduated with a pile of student loans and no one willing to pay you to do the work you want to do.
No one ever said being a creative was for the faint of heart, right? Even in times of un(der)employment, we must resist the...
Courtesy of The Practical Art World
In the first two posts of this series, Wrapping Artwork for Shipping Part 1 & 2, I emphasized the need to properly prepare artwork for shipping and discussed issues specific to wrapping these types of artworks. In this post, I will offer options and suggestions for wrapping unframed works on paper. Following this, my final post on this topic will cover notes on shipping and shipping options. These posts are written with a “do-it-yourself...
Courtesy of Artists Network.com
Many pundits believe that, because of their innate ability to adapt to changeable circumstances and uncertain conditions, artists will not only survive under the current economic crisis, but will thrive. Opportunities abound. Some lie in unlikely places, but selling your artwork through traditional galleries and art dealers remains a time-tested and profitable marketing option. These dealers and galleries aren’t just interested in the process of...
By Maria Guralnik, visiting Assistant Professor of Arts Management, Purchase College.
CAREERS FOR THE 21st CENTURY ARTIST:
Why Understanding the Business of the Arts will MAXIMIZE your success in the Arts Business.
Career skills for todays artists
View more presentations from Spacetaker
Courtesy of NYFA.org
This column addresses the issue of contracts between artists, galleries and collectors. A contract is the essential tool that informs both parties of their responsibilities and objectives. If you and your gallery/collector work well together, you will rarely, if ever, refer to it.
Since I am not a lawyer (I’m not even a doctor), I thought it best to cull information from the top publications in the field dealing with the business of art. I compiled the...
from Adam Metz of The Social Customer
On our quest to understand the state of social marketing dynamics, we invited author and marketing strategist Adam Metz to share his insights about what’s at the heart of social marketing – the social customer. In his book The Social Customer: How Brands Can Use Social CRM to Acquire, Monetize, and Retain Fans, Friends, and Followers, Adam explains the advantages of socially-minded companies, which proactively manage the...
Courtesy of ArtJob.com
Blogger Jorge Fiffe offers suggestions on salary negotiation and preparing for an interview:
In a few weeks I’ll be coming to the end of a full-time 9-month contract working in development and communications for a practive-based research network (PBRN). Yup, a health care nonprofit. Are all you creative types screaming with fear over the idea of working in such a corporate-like environment? I was too, so that makes two of us.
I...
The Planning Stage: According to professional art advisor Sylvia White, long before you talk to any website designers, or start to think about the colors, features and format of your site, you need to spend some time thinking about what your goals are for having a website. Building a website is like building a house. The more time you spend thinking about how the house will be used, and in planning the foundation, the more options you will have.
Who is your target market...
Courtesy of Mplans.com
This sample marketing plan has been made available to users of Marketing Plan Pro® powered by Duct Tape Marketing, marketing planning software published by Palo Alto Software, Inc. Names, locations and numbers may have been changed, and substantial portions of the original plan text may have been omitted to preserve confidentiality and proprietary information.
You are welcome to use this plan as a starting point to create your own, but you do not have...
Business Owner's Took Kit
With an emphasis on problem-solving dating back to 1995, Business Owner’s Toolkit™ (www.toolkit.com) offers more than 5,000 pages of free cost-cutting tips, step-by-step checklists, real-life case studies, startup advice, and business templates to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The site also offers a monthly newsletter, up-to-date news topics, and Ask Alice!, a column that closely follows industry trends and provides trusted advice...
By Devon Smith, Yale School of Arts Marketing Class.
Social Media Trends in the Arts in 2012
View more presentations from Devon Smith
The Small Business Resource Center is an online portal filled with discounts, resources and financial program assistance to address the needs of small businesses. This new resource has been designed to offer the kind of support a small business needs to flourish and grow.
Through GHP’s relationships with multiple organizations and agencies; we are at the forefront of knowledge on the topic of small business. We are in the unique position to provide Members and the public...
By S. Joseph Levine, Ph.D., courtesy of Learner Associates
This Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal was created to help empower people to be successful in gaining funds for projects that provide worthwhile social service. A major theme that runs throughout the Guide is a concern for the development of meaningful cooperative relationships - with funding agencies, with community organizations, and with the people you are serving - as a basis for the development of strong fundable...
Courtesy of Artonomy.
Money , So they say , Is the root of all evil today…
So wrote the majestic Pink Floyd way back in the 70′s on the troubled relationship between money, creativity and ethics, accompanied by clinking coins and ringing cash registers.
It’s pretty much true to say that many artists relationship with money could at best be described as ambivalent and at worst, downright dysfunctional.
You may feel that:
You don’t deserve money
That...
Courtesy of NYFA.org
You’re an artist, so you don’t have to worry about some of the constraints that come with running a business. Or do you? Unfortunately, concentrating solely on the process of creating your art is not always possible.
When tax time rolls around, you will probably wish you’d put some simple business and accounting rules into practice. "I don’t abide by artists being different," says Mary Fahey, a certified public accountant in...
Have you dreamed of owning and operating your own business but don’t know where to start? Do you have questions on how to turn your dream into a reality? The University of Houston Small Business Development Center can help answer key questions – the questions that every entrepreneur needs to ask before starting a new venture.
Some of the services we provide to help you get started include:
Workshops & seminars for entrepreneurs on start-up, marketing, business...
By Daniel J. Keys, Courtesy of Fine Art Views.com
Setting a standard for ourselves...
First, it’s imperative to understand that everything we do in our line of business must be completely professional, tasteful, and tactful whenever possible. There are just no excuses for unprofessionalism; the existence of so many business relationships, and whether or not they’ll remain advantageous to us, can at times depend entirely on what kind of impression is first made upon the...
Courtesy of EmptyEasel.com.
Most artists take great care of their art making tools. . . that’s a given. But whether you are naturally creative, or have developed your talents through training, it’s just as vital to care for and nurture your creativity. Here are the nine techniques that I recommend to all of my artist clients who need a creative boost:
1. Keep an art-related idea journal
Keep a spiral notebook with you at all times to capture ideas, sketches and...
Types of Life Safety Hazards
There are many different types of potential fire and other life safety hazards in theaters and other performance spaces. These hazards can be located backstage in the shops, dressing rooms, and storage areas, on stage, or in the areas occupied by audiences. The following lists common examples of such hazards. (You should consult the local codes for detailed information. ) . . . read more at ChicagoArtistsResource.org
How are today's Musician's earning money?
Artist Revenue Streams is a multi-method, cross-genre examination of how US-based musicians’ revenue streams are changing, and why. This mini-site is the home of our project’s releases and findings. We will issue multiple reports and presentations here from January-June 2012.
Learn About Revenue Streams
Through this work, FMC has organized a consolidated list of 42 revenue streams available to US-based...
By Milton Zlotnick, Courtesy of Bplans.com
Grants to for-profit businesses are virtually nonexistent. Don’t believe promoters who advertise that they will charge you a fee for a list of grants on the books. Grants are generally for nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation. They are virtually not available in the for-profit sector unless there’s some esoteric local program in your own backyard.
Many foundations provide funding in the form of grants to nonprofit...
Courtesy of SCORE.org
These downloadable templates can be your first step towards small business success.
Business Planning Templates
Use the templates below, then meet with a SCORE mentor for expert business planning advice. Templates are
Business Plan for a Start-up Business PDF | Word
Business Plan for an Established Business PDF | Word
Business Planning Tools for Nonprofit (PDF) | View
Board of Advisors (PDF) | View...
Courtesy of Studio Protector, The Artist's Guide to Emergencies
If you’re a working artist who’s in financial stress — whether from the economy, from a natural disaster, or after recovering from an accident or illness ... Get ready to get busy.
“Knowledge is power. Personal networks build community. And financial independence supports creative freedom.” Those are the key working principles of the Center for Cultural Innovation, an L.A.-based...
Courtesy of Arts Law.
Introduction
It is important that you take care to avoid damage or injury to people and property when operating a business. Most creative activity occurs without incident. However, accidents do happen and sometimes you may be legally responsible for compensating someone for an injury he/she suffered. For example, a customer could slip and fall in your gallery, a volunteer may be injured while helping you cast a mold, an employee or contractor may be injured while...
Courtesy of Art Marketing Revealed
1. Being Unsure of Your Target Market. Artists are often unsure of themselves and don’t understand their target market. To find your target audience you should ask yourself some key questions. These include: Are you able to identify the target market? What is the gender of your target market? Do you know their age group? What is the brand name you’re trying to build for yourself and how will you reach your target market.
2. ...
Courtesy of The Practical Art World
In the first post of this series, Wrapping Artwork for Shipping Part 1: Works Framed with Glass, I emphasized the need to properly prepare artwork for shipping and discussed issues specific to wrapping framed artworks. In this second installment, I will offer suggestions, options, and materials for wrapping paintings on canvas or panel. In my final two posts on this topic, I will cover methods for wrapping unframed prints, and then shipping options...
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. Offers media resources, health articles, and current health news.
URL: http://www.who.int/en/
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Sample Contract for a Commission includes the following:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT TO BE UNDERTAKEN
PAYMENTS
DELIVERY OF WORK, INSURANCE, SHIPPING AND INSTALLATION
TERMINATION OF THE WORK
OWNERSHIP, COPYRIGHT, PRIVACY
MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS
HEIRS AND NON- ASSIGNABILITY
.
NOTE: These sample contracts are for checklist purposes only. You use these contracts at your own risk. Neither Spacetaker nor GYST-ink will not be held responsible for...
How does it work?
The Pharmacy Discount Card is a FREE, pre-activated card that offers discounts on prescriptions that range from 0%-75% depending on the drug and location.
Accepted at more than 65,000 pharmacies and drug stores nationwide.
Take your card to almost ANY pharmacy in the country and present it to the pharmacist.
There are NO requirements for the card. NO name associated with the card, only a group number that is associated with the campaign.
How...
Courtesy of TALA
This book contains fundamental information concerning the employment relationship from the arts and nonprofit employer’s perspective, as well as basic legal requirements of workplace activities. (Published 2003)
By Robert Brode, courtesy of Artist House Music.org
We continue our series on artists’ assets. The series began with Artists House founder, and Grammy Award winning producer, John Snyder’s article entitled, "The Magic of Copyright". This was followed by, “Your First Asset: The Right to Reproduce,” the first in a series of articles that examine the rights an artist is granted upon creation of a copyright, and how these rights relate to licenses.
We now...
Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance...
Courtesy of Art Marketing Strategy
Today, press release marketing presents the artist with another low cost opportunity to promote their artwork. If done properly, press release marketing will bring traffic to the artist’s website, help in building and maintaining an artist’s brand and will eventually create incoming links to the artist’s website, thus, enhancing it’s SEO and gaining a higher page rank too.
There are myriad of free and paid press release and event news...
We have put together a sample profit and loss report to show you what a typical report should look like each month. If done accurately and consistently each month, you should be able to make financial business decisions based on facts instead of hunches.
Health and safety, studio hazards database compiled by the City of Tuscon's Arts District.
Database of Studio Safety
Flammables
Personal Protective
Equipment
General Information
Safety
Material Safety
Data Sheets
Storage of
Art Materials
Disposal of
Art Materials
Product Search
1. Set yearly, five year, and ultimate career goals. The goals that you plan are a road map for your career. Be realistic but at the same time don't be afraid to dream about your goals. Be prepared to change and re-prioritize your goals as different opportunities arise.
2. Be committed to realizing your goals. You have to believe in your work and yourself; you have to love what you are doing and be persistent. Sometimes the day-to-day details are the hardest ones to take care of,...
This section provides answers to frequently asked questions on several small-business tax topics, such as Employer Identification Numbers, filing and paying your business taxes, avoiding problems and links to small business resources.
Small Business Tax Calendar
Retirement Plans
Employer ID Number (EIN)
Recordkeeping
Business Name Change
Businesses with Employees
Accounting Periods and Methods
What is Taxable and Nontaxable Income?
...
Your financial life, all in one place.
Mint pulls all your financial accounts into one place. Set a budget, track your goals and do more
with your money, for free!
Makes your life easier
At Mint, we believe money is for living. So we make everything simple and streamlined. Sign up takes less than five minutes.
Then Mint automatically pulls all your financial information into one place, so you can finally get the entire picture.
Stay on top of your finances...
Courtesy of Art Explainer.
The topic today may be a little different from the common grind of discussing artists and art works but I’m sure that it’s something that concerns most young artists, especially those who are still fresh from art schools. Anything that serves the interest of art is a sound topic for the Art Explainer and so today we tackle the practicalities of writing exhibition proposals.
I am surprised to know that until now a special topics class...
Courtesy of NYFA
There’s no such thing as bad publicity, or so the adage goes. True or not, none of us can deny the power and influence of exposure—particularly in the arts. Glossy photos and eye-catching posters function like “Coming Attractions” at the movies—the perfect teaser. The arts stimulate the senses, and the opportunity to create a marketing tactic for your work can be as challenging and fun as creating the work itself.
Step One:...
As an artist or arts organization, you have to be able to market your creative offering. And, since you’ll be competing with other art professionals, as well as every other place that people spend their discretionary income; you need to make sure your efforts are targeted and compelling. Marketing Demystified is an introductory course that will explain marketing basics like market research, segmentation, positioning, pricing, distribution, promotion, and designing your creative...
Grants, Contributions, Fiscal Sponsorship, Thinking outside the box. By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson.
Identifying Resources & Funding Strategies for Artists and Arts Groups 2.0
View more PowerPoint from Spacetaker
Courtesy of The Practical Art World
Wrapping artwork for shipping is an essential skill for artists who sell or exhibit their work abroad. Since artwork is literally “out of your hands” once you send it, the best thing you can do is prepare it properly to protect it from any potential environmental or handling trauma. Below are suggestions, options, and materials for wrapping artwork framed with glass. In my next two posts, I will cover methods for wrapping and shipping paintings on...
By Robert Brode, courtesy of Artist House Music.org
We continue our series on artists’ assets. The series began with Artists House founder, and Grammy Award winning producer, John Snyder’s article entitled, "The Magic of Copyright". This was followed by, “Your First Asset: The Right to Reproduce,” the first in a series of articles that examine the rights an artist is granted upon creation of a copyright, and how these rights relate to licenses.
We...
Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com
“Knock, knock,”
“Who’s there?”
“Another artist with his portfolio under his arm.” (Sigh)
Too many artists, being an artist isn’t “real” unless you have a gallery to exhibit your work. Although there are several other options available to artists in terms of showing and selling their work, it seems, for some, there is just no substitute for getting gallery representation. To this end, many...
Prepared by Lindsay Peyton, Cadence Enterprise
1. Be a great host
a. Circulate
b. engage conversations
c. introduce guests to each other
2. Make:
a. title of event
b. theme
c. interesting space
d. good lighting
e. music or performance
3. If your budget is low, still think big
a. seek sponsors
b. try food and beverage distributors
c. be creative
4. Collaborate
a. work with other artists, if they are dedicated
b. collaborate with a nonprofit group...
PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Headline of Your Press Release Goes Here
(Your headline should follow case title capitalization rules, and generally fall in the 8 to 10 words or 80-90 character range. If you need to add more info, use a sub-head, but make sure iti adds to the news value of the story. It should give the essence of the news contained in the release, without blatantly trying to act "cute" or "catchy." A solid news angle is catchy...
To sell art you need a market to sell to. To some extent there is an existing art market that can be tapped by emerging artists – but probably the bigger piece is the art market that you create yourself. And how do you do that?. . . read more at ArtMarketingSecrets.com
TEIGIT, The Entertainment Industry Group Trust, has administered health insurance plans for Sole-Proprietors, small businesses and members of participating associations in the arts and entertainment industry since 1965. In many of our states coverage is guaranteed for members and their dependents who meet the eligibility requirements.
Golden Rule Health Insurance
TEIGIT is a broker for Golden Rule Health Insurance in Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Florida and...
Courtesy of Fionn Meade at ArtistTrust.org.
As becomes clear upon learning more about contracts within the context of the art world, agreements in the visual arts have their own distinct and peculiar tradition. Unlike Leo Castelli’s Medici-like practice of giving monthly stipends to such artists as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg or Dia Center founder Heiner Friedrich's doling out substantial quarterly sums to his artists, the expectant sculptor Donald Judd infamously among...
Courtesy of Colombia College Chicago
Journalists, arts/entertainment/media managers and marketing/PR reps should not represent themselves with papers and press releases stuffed into a manila folder. Potential clients and employers expect a professional, organized, and visually appealing representation of your best work.
The following guide will sketch out the elements and organization for a text-based print book. Samples are provided to demonstrate that text heavy...
By Brad Templeton
Note that this is an essay about copyright myths. It assumes you know at least what copyright is -- basically the legal exclusive right of the author of a creative work to control the copying of that work. If you didn't know that, check out my own brief introduction to copyright for more information.
Myth 1) "If it doesn't have a copyright notice, it's not copyrighted."
This was true in the past, but today almost all major nations follow the...
This design manifesto was first written by Bruce Mau in 1998, articulating his beliefs, strategies, and motivations. The manifesto outlines BMD's design process.
1. Allow events to change you: You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to
experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.
2. Forget about good: Good is a known quantity...
Marjane Satrapils is a person gifted with perfect charisma: she's loyal, funny, brutally honest, and she has a big, big soul that's visible from across a room. Not to mention she's one of the most original artists working today.
The Academy Award-nominated director and best-selling author of Persepolis recently visited the fifth annual Kustendorf Film and Music Festival to screen her new live action film, Chicken with Plums. A passion project of Balkan director Emir Kusturica,...
Here is a step by step walkthrough on how to create a Portfolio on Fresh Arts. The portfolio is a place to showcase a body or work, and can consist of images, music, or video. Free users only get one portfolio, and 365 members get unlimited. If you have any questions please let us know.
Email us at: beta@spacetaker.org
* Fresh Arts refers to the organization created from the merging of Spacetaker and Fresh Arts Coalition in 2012.
Presented by Dianne Debicella - Program Director, Fiscal Sponsorship.
Presentation covers:
Definition of fiscal sponsorship and crowdfunding,
Taking advantage of the fiscal sponsorship program,
Review of the leading crowdfunding platform,
Keys to crowdfunding success,
Benefits of crowdfunding,
and Crowdfunding myths.
Fiscal Sponsorship + Crowdfunding = $$ for Creative Projects
View more PowerPoint from Spacetaker
iPrint.com is a leading source for high-quality business cards, custom rubber stamps and stationery supplies. Featuring stock artwork, simple-to-use templates and a wide range of custom options, you can design and order the items you need in just minutes. Whether it's full-color or 1-2 color business cards, custom rubber stamps for your office, home or school — or even letterhead, envelopes and other stationery supplies.
Learn more at iPrint.com
In 2009, Spacetaker began developing a comprehensive series of Arts Marketing workshops providing practical marketing guides and exploring best practices. The second workshop focused on providing helpful tips for successful participation in art festivals and markets.
The corresponding PowerPoint presentation covers:-effective art presentation-pricing.-effective sales tactics
(Special thanks to Mitch Cohen, Missy Alwais, and Taft McWhorter for their contributions to this workshop...
Pretty much all artists are presented with offers to produce works of art on commission at points in their careers. Unfortunately, many have had what looked to be a golden opportunities turn into unmitigated nightmares. The following tips and pointers on expect when commissioned to do an artwork and how to approach commissions in general will not only help you avoid problems, but will help you identify situations when the best approach is to just say no.
To begin with, working on commission,...
Courtesy of Ben Davis, associate editor at Artnet Magazine
"Art and social media" -- this topic is all anyone wants to talk about these days. The discussion extends from the staid -- the National Endowment for the Arts released a report titled "Audience 2.0: How Technology Influences Arts Participation" -- to more spicy ruminations on what "social media art" offers as a new category, as in the artist An Xiao’s recent three-part series for...
Courtesy of ArtBusiness.com
Q: Why do I have to write an artist statement? It's stupid. If I wanted to write to express myself I would have been a writer. The whole idea of my art is to say things visually. Why can't people just look at my art and take away whatever experiences they will?
A: Artist statements are not stupid; they're more like essential. And you don't have to be a writer to write one. And people already look at your art and take away...
Press Releases, Media Relations, and Basic Online Promotion
Spacetaker Marketing Workshop Part 1
View more presentations from Spacetaker
Courtesy of SmashingHub.com
Creative resumes for Graphic Designers . . . view more
It seems like almost every artist does a little commission work at one time or another. Creating individual works of art for clients is a great way to earn some extra money and expand your portfolio—as long as the commission piece doesn’t turn into more trouble than it’s worth.
You see, unlike artwork you create by yourself, commissioned art is often subject to the whim of the buyer. Things like composition, color, and price can all become issues of contention...
DIY Event & Exhibition Planning
View more presentations from Spacetaker
Courtesy of Art Marketing Secrets
"How can I increase traffic to my website? Everyone I have asked have said that they think my art is really good. I just need someone to give me a chance."
Most artists start marketing online with a dream of a great website that will attract many visitors who buy buy buy! The reality mostly ends up a little differently – their beautiful website typically sits online with only a handful of visits from people – many of whom are not...
NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card
NeedyMeds now offers you another way to save on prescription costs. With the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card you can save up to 80% off the price of your prescription medications. The card may be used by those without insurance and by those who decide not to use their insurance - for example if the drug is not covered under their plan, the copay or deductible is high, the cap has been reached, or if they are in the donut hole.
The free ...
If you care about nonprofits and the work they do, then you're affected by what GuideStar does—even if this is your first visit to www.guidestar.org. You see, we gather and publicize information about nonprofit organizations. Our reach is far and wide. Our database is broad and deep.
We encourage nonprofits to share information about their organizations openly and completely. Any nonprofit in our database can update its report with information about its mission, programs...
Things are changing in the art world. Are you going to yearn for the past or embrace the future?. . .
listen at ArtBizBlog.com
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector . . . Learn more at NEA.org
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
NOTE: These sample contracts are for checklist purposes only. You use these contracts at your own risk. Neither Spacetaker nor GYST.com will not be held responsible for any unfavorable outcomes associated with the use of these contracts.
Includes samples for the following:
-ARTIST GALLERY CONTRACT WITH RECORD OF CONSIGNMENT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT
-SCOPE OF THE GALLERY
-TERMS AND TERMINATION
-...
Financial Dictionary has definitions of over 300 financial terms. The dictionary was created to serve as financial education tool, helping anybody interested in learning about finance, money, and investing. The Financial Dictionary consists of definitions of the most popular and commonly used financial terms like loan, mortgage, financing, credit, credit card, bank, and more.
Provides guidelines for writing a business plan, obtaining licensing and permits, and finding and renting space.
Searchable Articles on Business Name, Location & Licenses:
Your Business Name
Choosing a Business Name FAQ
Picking a Winning Name for Your Business
Make Sure Your Proposed Business Name is Available
Registering Your Business Name
Domain Names and Trademarks FAQ
Choose and Register a Domain Name ...
By Steve Popkin, Courtesy of Art Show.com
I recommend doing some undercover surveillance work before going in for the first time to make an introduction. Now to explain what I meant by that. In order to have your best shot at getting your work into a gallery or store you need to know what the store/gallery owner or manager is looking for. This being said, do some research into what sells in that particular gallery or store.
Most artists make the mistake of walking in "cold...
The National Endowment for the Arts offers free podcasts featuring one-on-one interviews with everyone from NEA Jazz Masters to leading arts experts to National Medal of Arts winners and more. New podcasts are released every Thursday. Transcripts are also available for download.
The more simplified you make your art marketing strategies, the more success you will have as you will enjoy the process of Marketing and Selling your Art. In any business venture, one of the most important elements that sometimes gets forgotten or is not done properly is Building Your Contacts Database. Every business has a database but it is not held or used in a formalized way.
Advantages of Having a Database
• As an Artist, you need to constantly communicate with people as...
Marketing Workshop 2: Art Festivals, Pricing And Presentation
View more presentations from Spacetaker
StarvingArtistsLaw.com is the launch pad for artists and writers looking for self help legal information. Topics include:
Copyright Law
Trademark Law
First Amendment Rights
Music Law
Nonprofit Law
Writers Law
Courtesy of TransUnion Credit Reporting Agency
If you’re struggling with debt, this quick video from TransUnion has some tips to help get you on the path to lowering the amount of debt you carry, which could significantly improve your credit-worthiness, reduce the loan rates you receive and save you a lot in interest payments.
Debt management or debt reduction doesn't have to be painful. It's benefits are vast and lowering the amount of debt you carry may reduce the...
This column addresses the issue of contracts between artists, galleries and collectors. A contract is the essential tool that informs both parties of their responsibilities and objectives. If you and your gallery/collector work well together, you will rarely, if ever, refer to it. Since I am not a lawyer (I’m not even a doctor), I thought it best to cull information from the top publications in the field dealing with the business of art. I compiled the following highlights from the...
Courtesy of ArtBusiness.com
Artists are often uncomfortable, uneasy or unsure how to act at their openings, at open studios, or anywhere else where their art is for sale. The good news is that these feelings are perfectly normal; you are by no means alone. So for you multitudes who fall into the category of not quite knowing what to do with yourself, here are some useful tips on how to work the crowds and maximize your chances for success, networking and hopefully... sales. Keep in mind...
How does web-video art-marketing impact you? What actually motivates you to take action? This is important to understand because it affects how you should pitch yourself when YOU create videos to promote your art.
Now, lets compare a few video styles and get your reactions to them. All are focused on the topic of Search Engine Optimization to give a good basis for comparison.
View all 3 examples at ArtsMarketingSecrets.com
By Ne-Kajira Jannan, courtesy of OrientalDancer.net
"Please note: this article provides informational guidelines only, obtained from public sources and from the performing rights organizations mentioned here. Professional legal advice should be sought whenever legal issues are a concern. Also consult your BMI, ASCAP or SESAC representative before purchasing a license.
In a world of laws, it is important even for the part-time dancer, promoter/producer or instructor to understand...
Ashley Miller, Vice President of SESAC a performing rights organization located in the West Coast, discusses the benefits of the performing rights organizations gives to an artist and the role they play as advocates.
Miller, as a music supervisor, was responsible for establishing and overseeing the music department for independent film production company Millennium Films/New Image Pictures as Exec In Charge of Music/ Music Supervisor which included a slate of 15 – 20 films per year...
Provides simple, straightforward information on health insurance and health reform, including a glossary of health care terms. Access to Fractured Atlas' low-cost healthcare is available to Spacetaker's Culture 365 members as part of an associate membership; however, the Guides are free for public use.
Before you start your search for health insurance:
1) Know your vocab. Learning the lingo will go a long way towards making this stuff less opaque and impenetrable. We've...
Courtesy of ArtJob.org
There are many jobs available for artists. Working for a gallery, nonprofit arts organization, or museum may require knowledge of art history, art restoration, exhibit design, selling, management skills, budget planning, writing skills, people skills, database management, precise organization, and other specialized knowledge.
These skills can be learned through non-art related jobs and then applied to the needs of an arts organization.
Remember that there will always be a...
HVLP is the recipient of the 2011 State Bar Pro Bono Award being recognized as the Pro Bono Program of the Year.
HVLP helps low-income citizens that other programs often cannot serve, such as those who may not meet the financial criteria of other legal assistance programs or non-US citizens. This is what makes HVLP unique. HVLP’s commitment to helping those in need strongly reinforces how deeply the legal profession cares about the Houston community.
For more information,...
We are the Arts Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization affiliated with Americans for the Arts. We are the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. Launched in 2004, the Arts Action Fund seeks to engage citizens in education and advocacy in support of the arts and arts education. The Arts Action Fund's goals are to:
Enlist and mobilize 200,000 citizen activists who will help ensure that public and private resources...
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
If you have a band, you probably do live shows. You may not do them all the time, or you may be out almost every night playing at a club or concert, but either way, you should consider a written contract for each performance. The contract can be very basic, essentially stating that the club is going to pay you “x” amount and you are going to “y” songs. This would bind both you and the club owner to paying and playing...
To start off with, you need a website. Let's face it you're an artist. You have to create, you love to create, you need to create. There is something rewarding upon completing a project whether it be a song composed, a play written, or a photo capturing the perfect moment that brings a feeling of accomplishment. It's important to have that sense of completion especially in an industry and environment that can at times be ruthless.
As an artist you're trying to distinguish...
What is a B Corp?
Certified B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
B Lab, a nonprofit organization, certifies B Corporations, the same way TransFair certifies Fair Trade coffee or USGBC certifies LEED buildings.
B Corps, unlike traditional businesses:
1. Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards;
2. Meet higher legal accountability...
Neighborhood Tax Centers is an IRS VITA program, offering free quality tax preparation by IRS-certified tax preparers. View the map linked HERE for the hours and directions to the year-round center in Southwest Houston and 16 other locations around Greater Houston, Fort Bend Pasadena and Clear Lake opening in January 2011.
*Free Tax Preparation
*Free e-filing for FAST refund
*Free direct deposit
*Free ITINs
Who BENEFITS from this service?
*Approximately half of the Houston population...
Courtesy of The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide:
1. checkups when you're well
2. treatment when you're sick
3. complete care when you're pregnant
4. immunizations and checkups for your children
5 . dental care and prescription drugs for your family
6. mental health and...
SBA Delivering Success: Getting Started
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Postal Service bring you Delivering Success—video interviews with successful entrepreneurs who share the lessons they've learned about owning a small business.
The series continues with Getting Started—how to overcome obstacles when starting a business.
Artist Lori McNee explains how to properly package your artwork for safe shipping. Learn tips on packing, materials and insuring your art.
Courtesy of IndEFocus.com
Developing an artist portfolio that properly displays your skills, talents and unique artistic viewpoint is key to staying afloat in the art world. ‘Dr. Art’ of mnartists.orggives the following tips to help you make the most of your artist portfolio;
Everything in the art world slows down during the summer months. The number of exhibitions and openings dwindle as many galleries close for vacation. The summer is therefore the perfect time for artists to...
In 2009, Spacetaker began developing a comprehensive series of Arts Marketing workshops providing practical marketing guides and exploring best practices
The first workshop focused on helping Houston artists and arts organizations:
-engage the press
-create effective press releases and collateral
-utilize online promotional tools
(Special thanks to Martin DeVore for his contributions to this workshop.)
Spacetaker Marketing Workshop Part 1
View more presentations...
Today, press release marketing presents the artist with another low cost opportunity to promote their artwork. If done properly, press release marketing will bring traffic to the artist’s website, help in building and maintaining an artist's brand and will eventually create incoming links to the artist’s website, thus, enhancing it’s SEO and gaining a higher page rank too.
There are myriad of free and paid press release and event news websites that an...
Courtesy of artist and writer Katherine Tyrrell.
At the end of January, I did a post about What increases your artistic productivity - and invited people to comment on what they found helped them. It attracted a lot of comments and lots of really good insight into what works for other people!
I used to have to make sense of lots of different perspectives as part of my job so it was fun to take the comments and see whether a pattern emerged and, if so, what it was. Well the answer...
Courtesy of WebUrbanist.com
Over the past month, WebUrbanist has explored the ins and outs of the weird world of guerrilla marketing. What was once a fringe movement in the world of advertising has become much more popular and mainstream since the 1980s, when marketing expert Jay Conrad Levinson introduced the concept to the world at large.
But what is guerrilla marketing, exactly? If you’re still scratching your head about what this guerrilla stuff is all about, step...
TransUnion is a global leader in credit information and information management services. For more than 40 years, we have worked with businesses and consumers to gather, analyze and deliver the critical information needed to build strong economies throughout the world. The result is two-fold:
1) Businesses can better manage risk and customer relationships
2) Consumers can better understand and manage credit to achieve their
financial goals
Get your free credit...
By Eric Rhoads Fine Art Connoisseur & Plein Air Magazines
Moos of panic filled the dusty air as cowboys pressed the hot branding iron against the flesh of the cattle out West. This painful exercise, branding, served the purpose of marking ownership of the cow. But the mark on the cow was less important than the reputation of the rancher. For instance, cattle rustlers knew which farmers would overlook the loss of an occasional cow and which were so tough they would hang cattle thieves...
Video Workshop courtesy of IRS.gov. Includes 9 tax lessons for Small Business or Self-Employed.
Courtesy of StudyFundraising.info
The fundraising audit is critical to an organization to achieve a good fit with its environment and to maximize its fundraising opportunities. This resource examines the key categories of information gathered in the audit and a number of the most commonly employed analytical tools.
In this chapter we outlined the content of the first stage of a fundraising plan, namely; where are we now? The fundraising audit (the name we give to this section of the plan...
Excerpt from "Taxation of the Visual Artist" by Michele M. Stanton, CPA, Texas and Accountants for the Arts (TALA).
Primary records are the actual receipts, invoices, and bills the artist receives in the course of art related business or personal life. Canceled checks, bank statements, and deposit slips are also included.
• Pay all business expenses by check or credit card and have a separate credit card for your business expenses. When an expense is paid by check, the dates paid...
Workshop information prepared by Erin Rodgers, Staff Attorney Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.
Special thanks to Katie Barnhill.
Topics include Copy Right Registration, Licensing, and Infringement issues.
By John Snyder, courtesy of Artists House Music.org
You want to break up a band? Try getting them to sign a band agreement.
Why do you need a band agreement? To answer the following questions:
• What’s your organizational structure? LLC? Partnership? Inc.?
• Who owns the name?
• Who owns the songs?
• Who owns the recordings?
• Who collects what money and how is it divided?
• Who’s responsible for what?
• How do you buy/...
Spacetaker Presentation by Mandy Graessle
Promotional writing: Is Your Copy Dateable?
View more PowerPoint from Spacetaker
By Karen Atkinson, courtesy of Chicago Artists Resource
Writing an Artist's Statement can be an important exercise in developing your work as well as providing key insights for curators, gallerists, funders and others. Find out the types of statements commonly requested, and whats, whys and hows of successful Artist's Statements.
What Is an Artist’s Statement?
1. A general introduction to your work, a body of work, or a specific project.
2. It should open with...
Courtesy of NYFA.org
You are not alone! No matter which discipline you work in, you will find comfort in knowing that many artists face the same challenges. These include being able to define their vision, evaluate their career, and set and achieve goals.
Your career can often challenge you in relation to where you are presently, where you want to go, and how you are going to get there. Many times you can be faced with juggling your career as an artist and supporting yourself...
Years ago, people thought that adding their websites to link farms—which were useless web pages filled with thousands of categorized links—would trick the search engines into believing their websites were more important than their competition. It rarely worked and did very little for driving traffic back to one’s website, but they were correct about one thing. . . links ARE important. It’s just that link building must be done right for it to work....
The Foundation’s grantmaking activity is focused on serving the needs of artists by funding the institutions that support them. Grants are made for scholarly exhibitions at museums; curatorial research; visual arts programming at artist-centered organizations; artist residencies and commissions; arts writing; and efforts to promote the health, welfare and first amendment rights of artists.
Grants are made on a project basis to curatorial programs at museums, artists'...
Youtube video presentation, courtesy of TheAbundantArtist.com, about how WordPress can be used to change the Art business model. Downloadable PowerPoint presentation also available . . . view at the AbundantArtist.com
By Klaus Ottmann, courtesy of The Phillips Collection Blog.
As a curator specializing in contemporary art from the 1960s to the present, with a particular interest in performative works by such artists as James Lee Byars and Yves Klein, I was alarmed by a recent court ruling on the issue of who owns the copyright to the photographic documentation of artistic performances. A German court ruled in favor of Eva Beuys, the widow of the artist Joseph Beuys, who claims that she controls the...
Courtesy of The Occupational Health Service Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Expansive, searchable database of Health and Safety in the Arts.
Below is a sample list of searchable topics. Visit www.uic.edu for full library list.
Traditional Sculpture Hazards
Shared Musical Instruments
Silica: Silicosis and Your Health
Silk Screen Printing
Health Hazards of Solvents
Solvents Used in the Arts
Emergency Response to...
Courtesy of StudioProtector.org
We tend to think of wildfires as something that affects the Western States, wildfires can, and do, strike in any part of the country. Many artists live in idyllic rural settings that, when conditions are dry, present a danger from wildfires. And even if you live in an area that is not particularly prone to wildfires, and in a more urban setting, a fire in an adjacent building can present many of the same risks.
Tips for Minimizing Risk...
Do you have healthy routines or bad habits? . . .
listen at ArtBizBlog.com
The Actors Fund has received a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation to create a Dancers Health Insurance Resource Center. The goal is to have every dancer – and dancer’s family – insured by 2014.
Our strategy includes the following steps:
Specific outreach to nonprofit dance companies in target cities (see below) to inform them of the program’s emphasis and encourage attendance at workshops
Telephone counseling by appointment...
Courtesy of WorldPrintMakers.com
How many people do we know with artistic sensitivity and loads of talent who find themselves working at lackluster day jobs, but whose dream is to make their living as artists? Fair enough, the dream is not so easy to achieve, but it's not impossible. A friend who is just two years into his artistic lifetime and who is finding it tough going, asked me what he might do to give his career a boost and get him a little bit closer to hanging out his...
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
Now that you have set up your band and are going around playing music and putting on concerts and setting products that you've made to promote your band, you are business. It may not seem like one to you, but it definitely seems like one to the government and that is how they will view your new band. Because of this it is important that you change your band into a legal business. When you do this you will have more things that you will have...
A life built around playing guitar, painting landscapes or making movies has plenty of advantages. You get to do what you love, and sometimes you even get applause. What you usually don't get is a steady income.
The same tradeoff is familiar to real-estate agents, antique dealers and anyone else who's ventured into a profession that offers big dreams, large expenses, few guarantees and plenty of dry spells.
"A short film costs about one thousand dollars a minute," says Chiedu...
Suffering from low-traffic blues on your artist website? Your number of visitors is only limited by you! If you have a big enough imagination, are willing to think outside the box, and don’t mind some serious old-fashioned elbow-grease you can bring in a nice consistent stream of art-hungry visitors.
Lets look at some simple but effective techniques to attract those art hungry fish to your website!:
1. Make a list of galleries that feature work of a similar style to yours. Send them a...
Courtesy of LearnToArt.com
Continuing my series about getting your art into galleries, today let’s look at the exhibition proposal. If you’ve never done one, you may be wondering what it is. If you have some experience with this, hopefully I can provide you with some tips that will make your next proposal even more successful!
So, what is a proposal? It’s the entire package of information all about you and your work that you send to a gallery. It’s your...
Have you ever visited a blog and thought, “Wow! That’s a lot of reading. I don’t have time for that, I’ll come back later. . .” only to never return? Well, that’s the exact same thing that happens when a visitor arrives at an art blog, but there isn’t any art to be seen! Here are 6 ways that you can (and should be) using images to keep those visitors on your art blog, even with those longer posts.
1. Draw your readers in...
Courtesy of StudioProtector.org
Fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, snow, ice — every area has its vulnerabilities. Knowing which hazards could affect your community enables you to prepare in specific ways to lessen and manage the risks to yourself and your family, your assistants or co-workers, your art and your workplace.
“Disaster strikes – rarely. But when it does, preparation is what can save your business.” SCORE: Counselors to America...
Courtesy of the Abundant Artist
We’ve all done it more than once when trying to be productive online: disappeared down the rabbit hole while our valuable time ticks by.
Part of what makes social media and social networking such powerful tools is their capacity to suck us in with endless information and entertainment. But how do you harness that power, without it taking over your life? Short of hiring an intern, how do you add this to your already full plate?
...
Courtesy of Mplans.com
Business Card or Marketing Tool?
Do you have a box of business cards on your desk that you hardly seem to put a dent in before the information changes and a new box is ordered? Or worse yet…are you still working on that same box of business cards that you printed 3 years ago!
Business cards can be a great inexpensive marketing tool for a small business. They say exactly what you do and give people all the contact information they need to get a...
Podcasts: Managing a Business
SBA podcasts offer expert insight and guidance about running your business. Managing a Business podcasts offer advice on topics ranging from marketing to sales, human resources, and the technology that you employ to keep your business functioning smoothly.
Federal Benefit Payments Are Going All-Electronic
Featuring Walt Henderson, Director, EFT Strategy Division U.S. Department of the Treasury Small business owners with employees considering or ready...
Ever heard or read an interview that piqued your interest and illuminated an exhibition, performance, or art project in such a way that it suddenly became must-see? Alternately, have you ever heard or read an interview that killed your interest? How did those artists get those interviews anyways? Spacetaker hosted an informal seminar with tips on securing interviews, as well as tips on maximizing your air-time or print coverage from two of Houston’s best loved arts interviewers: Chris...
Dr. Clearman and the Arts Medicine team are committed to the care of the Houston artistic community and are willing to give their services with full time performing and visual artists who would not otherwise be able to receive medical services.
Once a month, Personal Physician Group LLP sponsors a free Arts Medicine Clinic from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Arts Medicine Clinic also has other volunteers – physical therapist Jennifer Hochnadel PT DPT from Affiliates in Physical Therapy,...
A to Z Glossary of Bank & Credit Terms courtesy of the Center for Responsible Lending.
# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O |P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Ability to repay
A borrower's ability to make timely loan payments as...
Insurance for public art projects can be a nightmare to understand: every city and commissioning entity is likely to ask for different insurance in different ways. This guide is here to help you begin to navigate the maze of requirements that your next project may present.
Topics include:
Commercial General Liability
Volunteer Accident
Workers' Compensation
Property and Artwork Coverage
Health Insurance
Disability Insurance
Courtesy of FracturedAtlas.org
...
By Angie Bowen, courtesy of MyInkBlog.com.
Not long ago I did a post here on MyInkBlog called Elements of a Great Band Website which discussed the must-have elements that you should always include when designing a website for a band. The reason behind the post spawned from the fact that as a designer you never know who your next web client is going to be, and what kind of site they are going to require from you. In the theme of that post, I am taking a look at another client...
Documents on copyright published by the Copyright Alliance. Documents can be found in the following subject areas:
Digital Theft
Testimony and Filings
Original Writings
Letters to Policymakers
Public Statements
Interviews and Podcasts
. . . learn more
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Contract includes outlining the following information:
Work Title:
Date of Creation:
Signature location:
Medium:
Size:
Framing specifications:
Edition:
Method of production (lithograph, silk-screen, digital print):
Size of the edition (how many prints did you make):
How many multiples are signed:
How many are unsigned:
How many are unnumbered:
How many proofs exist:
The quality of any prior editions:
Whether the master image has been canceled or...
By George Howard, courtesy of Artists House Music.org
In many bands there is either a single songwriter or a songwriting “team.” This archetype was established early — Jagger/Richards, Lennon/McCartney, et al. — and persists to this day. Whether it’s a single songwriter or songwriting team who come up with the necessary elements to create a copyright in a song, there are often others in the band (drummer, bass player, etc.) who have no claim over this...
Online Courses for Marketing Your Business
Good marketing is critical to the success of your business. Marketing has many dimensions, including market research, customer service, advertising, targeting, packaging, pricing, e-marketing, and others. Investing in a good marketing plan will generate excellent returns.
About these Courses
Several free online courses are offered by the SBA to help prospective and existing entrepreneurs understand the basics about managing a...
By Camille Schenkkan, courtesy of ArtJob.org
Camille Schenkkan on how to tailor your resume and interview skills to the arts sector...
In 2009, I had the honor of acting as a Learning Community Hub Leader for a group of 12 arts management interns through the LA County Arts Internship Program. Many of them had just graduated from college and were curious about arts management best practices when it came to applying, interviewing and looking for jobs. I developed the following...
By Tacey A. Rosolowski
Tacey A. Rosolowski is a freelance writer, radio show host (of The Way Things Look from Here), and educator who frequently covers the arts.
At a busy arts and crafts show, an artist will often hand me his or her artist's statement, giving me the chance to learn something about the work while the artist helps a customer. Many of these statements do add to my knowledge of the work, but all too often, I find myself looking from the page to the work thinking: what do...
Courtesy of the Center for Responsible Lending
8 Signs of Predatory Mortgage Lending
What to watch out for when you’re shopping for a home loan.
Sign of Predatory Overdraft Fees
Bank fees for overdrafts increased by 35% in two years
Signs of Predatory Car Loans
Don't get into car trouble: learn to spot predatory auto finance loans.
Signs of Predatory Payday Loans
They may seem convenient and easy, but payday loans can trap borrowers in high-cost loans.
Signs of...
Creative Capital prepared these notes for Creative Capital grantees, which may be useful for all grant seekers.
Expenses:
Pay yourself! This is a new concept for some artists, but it's smarter to figure out now what your time is worth, represent this time in your project budget, and raise money based upon these real costs than to underbudget the project and wind up maxing out your credit cards with expensive, last-minute charges and cash advances. Here are two ways to represent your...
An artist who wants to get her or his work noticed must enter the marketplace with a good plan and set of tools. The Internet has become an essential channel for distributing traditional artist marketing tools such as résumés, press releases, work samples, and business cards. This essay provides basic advice about using the Internet to enhance your marketing efforts.
Can an artist Website bring you fame and fortune?
The simple answer is no! Artist Websites work best as an...
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
What if someone rips off your material"? The answer is simple: they infringe your copyright. You get a copyright the minute you put your song on tape or write it down on paper. You do not get a copyright by sending your song to the Copyright Office in Washington D.C.; doing this registers your copyright. I will explain the benefits of registering your copyright shortly, but you do not need to do this to prevent someone from ripping off your songs.
In order...
Courtesy of The Art of Nagualero.
How to pack a painting for shipping overseas in a professional way
Courtesy of Inc.com
You probably don’t want to admit it but you love distractions. In fact, just like monkeys, you get a shot of dopamine every time something pulls you in another direction. Why do you think you check your email so much?
Want to be more productive and get your focus back? There are no secret tricks here… do one thing at a time. Stop multitasking—it’s just another form of distraction.
Easier said than done, I know.
Here are 7 tips for...
It’s important to note that the title of this article specifically refers to facts related to being successful in business, rather than being successful as an artist. Success is a term that is defined differently by each us. Think about it…what are the things you think you need to accomplish before you consider yourself successful? Believe it or not, there are some artists that couldn’t care less about selling their work. Their primary definition of success is to be...
What Is ASCAP?
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 427,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of...
Courtesy of NYFA
Although most artists, writers, and musicians wish for an agent or manager to help them promote and sell their work, most must first prove their worth in the marketplace. Only when they have leveraged themselves financially and promotionally will an agent or manager take them on. This is because an agent or manager’s income is dependent on that of the artist: if the artist makes money, so will they. If an agent or manager earns an average of 15% of a writer or...
By Mark McGuinness at the99percent.com
No one likes the feeling that other people are waiting – impatiently – for you to get back to them.
At the beginning of the day, faced with an overflowing inbox, a list of messages on your voicemail, and the to-do list from your last meeting, it's tempting to want to “clear the decks” before you start on your own most important work. When you're up-to-date, you tell yourself, your mind will be clear and it will...
Courtesy of Texas Commission on the Arts
OK, so you have an event such as a fund-raiser, a presentation, a guest speaker, a milestone, or you just want some attention for your non-profit organization's continued hard work. Great. Now what? How do you get started? What's involved? How do you prepare the materials? These important questions and others are addressed in the following pages, developed by Texas Commission on the Arts, as a guide to helping...
Video by Author of Socialnomics (Erik Qualman) a Social Media Intern's take on Social Media ROI
. . . view more at youtube.com
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Licensing Contract to Merchandise Artwork.
Includes the following topics:
GRANT OF MERCHANDISING RIGHTS
WHO OWNS THE COPYRIGHT
ADVANCE AND ROYALTIES
INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS
QUALITY OF REPRODUCTION
PROMOTION
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
INDEMNIFICATION
ASSIGNMENT
NATURE OF CONTRACT
. . . view more
NOTE: These sample contracts are for checklist purposes only...
Courtesy of Learn to Art
Writing a CV might be intimidating, but although it’s nit-picky and time consuming, it’s not difficult. Once you get a first draft, the rest is just maintenance. Your curriculum vitae is something you will continue to add to for the duration of your artistic career.
Your CV should be laid out like a regular resume and include all of your contact information. When listing your experiences start with the most recent events first and then go backwards. Also...
Courtesy of ArtBusiness.com
"The Scream" and "Madonna," two major paintings by famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, were stolen several years ago from the Munch Museum in Norway by armed robbers in broad daylight. The significance of the art theft is notable, but what's really shocking is that the art was not insured against theft (although it was insured for fire and water damage, for restoration costs that would be incurred to repair the paintings if they were damaged...
There are many good ways to determine how you should price your art. . . but in addition to making sure that you’re covering costs of material and hours worked, I believe you should also have an overall strategy in mind. That’s why today I want to look at 8 smart pricing strategies which are designed to help you build a resilient, successful art business:
1. Price for the long-term.
A strategy is plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim...
Disaster topics include:
High Winds, Hurricane, Tornado
Flood
Earthquake
Wildfire
Fire
. . . view more at StudioProtector.org
Courtesy of SkinnyArtist.com
I have always believed that the right words have a way of finding you when you need to hear them. For me, quotes are little bite-sized messengers of courage, perseverance, and hope for the creative artist in this often overly materialistic world. Here is a collection of 150 amazing quotes that I often revisit whenever I need to rekindle my own creative spirit:
“Art is not a thing, it is a way.” ~Elbert Hubbard
“Art is when...
Your insurance needs to meet the demands of the theater as well as the demands of your budget. This guide will help you to decide what is absolutely essential, what is relatively important, and what is simply nice to have.
Topics covered include:
Commercial General Liability
Volunteer Accident
Workers' Compensation
Property Coverage
General Liability Insurance (Individuals)
Directors and Officers Insurance
International Touring
Health Insurance (Individuals)
Health Insurance...
Led by Houston artist and businessman Taft McWhorter, this Spacetaker presentation offers artists tips on how to take their art career to the next level.
Business Skills for Visual Artists 2012
View more PowerPoint from Spacetaker
By David J. Hahn, Courtesy of Musician Wages.
My inbox receives a continual stream of junk mail that assures me that the one thing that is most lacking in my life is the condition of my resume, and that, if I will only pay them $29.99 a month, they will help me redo my resume, get a better job and save my loathsome existence. To which I say: delete, delete, delete.
As musicians we know that traditional resume techniques used by workers seeking office jobs, and the junk mail that...
Craft artists who are members of Fractured Atlas can purchase annual general liability insurance at extremely competitive rates. This program offers general liability coverage for the artist year round; you can elect to cover your artwork, your equipment, and your materials as well.
How Much Does it Cost?
General liability policies for most craft artists have been between $350-$450 for the year. Artwork, equipment, and materials coverage is based on the total value and tends to cost...
Courtesy of the Writing Center at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
This article will help you write and revise grant proposals for research funding in all academic disciplines (sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts). It's targeted primarily to graduate students and faculty, although it will also be helpful to undergraduate students who are seeking funding for research (e.g. for a senior thesis).
Grant writing varies widely across the disciplines, and...
Courtesy of Foundation Center.org
If you are a first-time grant seeker, a new nonprofit staff or board member, or a volunteer for your favorite charity, this online guide was created with you in mind. It is intended both as a basic primer on the grant seeking process and as an introduction to some of the resources available with a special emphasis on those issued by the Foundation Center. If you prefer not to read the guide online, feel free to download sections for your own personal use...
Courtesy of Art Business.
You can taste it -- the prospect of a serious solo show. You've slogged away in the studio, been bulking the resume, participated in several well-received group shows, had a couple of modest but respectable solos, played the schmooze, and proved you're for real. You know you're good, you got the buzz, you got the recommendation, you got the referral, and now you got the appointment. Yes, this is the big one-- Max Pomposta, owner of Three Star...
Courtesy of ArtMarketingRevealed.com
Today artists need to take advantage of every opportunity when marketing art to potential buyers. It’s important to differentiate yourself from other artists. Although easier said than done here are some ideas that should help you get started and increase your art marketing efforts.
Educate Buyers
Whether in the studio or online an excellent art marketing idea is to offer knowledge that would be of interest to buyers. By providing real knowledge...
Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com
Artists are more susceptible than most to the economic downturn as fine art has long been considered a luxury, primarily for an audience with extra discretionary income. In times like these, even the very wealthy feel uncomfortable spending on what may be perceived by others as an extravagance. Smart collectors know this is the best time to buy and fine art is one of the safest places to “park” their money. But, they are looking primarily at very...
Mental Health Services Locator
This Locator provides you with comprehensive information about mental health services and resources and is useful for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public. You may also access the underlying facility location information here.
Information contained in the Mental Health Services Locator is based on information collected in 2010. As new information becomes available SAMHSA will update the locator. If you, or someone you know, is in...
Proposal writing is time-consuming. You must first clearly describe a specific problem found in your community or area of interest, design a program that will address it, and then describe the program in detail for the grant maker (funding source). If this is your organization's first attempt at applying for a grant, the entire process will benefit your organization. Your goal is to end up with a well-conceived proposal that lays out a strategy to address the problem, as well the funding to...
By Mary Ann Fergus, Courtesy of The American Society of Portrait Artists
I receive many questions from Artists about their right to paint from a photograph which was not taken by the Artists themselves. This question involves the doctrine known as "derivative works" in copyright law. The new work is literally derived or taken from the first or original work. This issue is also applicable to other images which may be readily available to an Artist such as images in magazines,...
Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)
The ITA tool is a tax law resource that takes you through a series of questions and provides you with responses to tax law questions.
Simply answer the questions and click the “Continue Button” to progress to the next question screen.
You may need to collect information before the interview such as income amounts, taxes owed and credits you are claiming.
The tool includes a crossover feature that allows you to move...
Facebook Marketing Solutions helps to educate and inspire Marketers through Facebook’s 4 Steps to Business Success, Success Stories, product launch updates, educational and support programs and more.
There are 4 things that we suggest your business do in order to be successful on Facebook. On this Page, we will continuously refer to this 4 Step framework and show you how you can connect with current customers, find new fans, and drive return on investment.
...
Podcasts
SBA podcasts offer expert insight and guidance about starting your own business. Whether you’re sitting down to write your business plan, wondering about your legal obligations, or researching your financing options, you’ll find the information you need right here.
Essential Guide to Starting Your Own Business for Young Entrepreneurs
Audio companion to the free online course to help young entrepreneurs get started with business formation Listen to this podcast...
Courtesy of NYFA.org
The art world is bursting apart. It has literally fragmented into pieces — and turned on its head until it is unrecognizable. All signs predict it will continue its headlong course, exploding well into the next decades.
"The art trade is a discreet, unregulated, and highly fragmented industry. Auction specialists and dealers who have been in the business for decades cannot pin down how many art dealers exist or the breadth of worldwide annual sales...
Presentation courtesy of Artspire, a Program of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). By Eleanor Whitney
Program Officer, External Affairs, Fiscal Sponsorship.
NYFA Services and Resources Presentation
View more PowerPoint from Spacetaker
By Michelle Curry, courtesy of Peggy Still School of Music.
What exactly is a Performing Rights Organization?
According to Donald S. Passman, author of “All You Need to Know about the Music Business”, a Performing Rights Organization or, PRO as it is often called in the music industry, is a business intended to represent music creators and their right to be paid when their music is performed in public...
In other words, a PRO is a company responsible for collecting the money...
NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.
NEH offers grants in the following categories:
- Bridging Cultures
- Challenge Grants
- Education Programs
- Federal/State Partnership
- Office of Digital Humanities
- Preservation and Access
- Public Programs...
Courtesy of StudioProtector.org
As a studio-based artist, one of the very last words you ever want to hear is “Fire!”
But fire can happen. Just ask Christine Enos and Tucker Houlihan, a married couple who make custom furniture in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. One morning in summer 2007, the two were getting ready to leave for work when they got a phone call from a neighbor, who said, “I think your building’s on fire.”
By the time the couple reached...
Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com.
If you are lucky enough to have scheduled a gallery interview or studio visit, it’s a good idea to keep some key issues in mind. Your goal is to make sure this will be an enjoyable and profitable experience for all concerned. Showing your work and/or having people in your studio can be a major stressor for most artists. You need to prepare yourself emotionally, as well as prepare your studio visually, for a lay person to be able to absorb what your work...
Courtesy of Valerie Atkisson of ArtBistro
Do you have a great idea, but can’t afford to make your dreams into a reality? You need an artist grant. Grants are a great benefit to artists. They help beginning creative professionals reach career goals; provide support while working on a specific project and can even enable artists to research for a piece or collection.
Sounds great, right? Not so fast — grants are very competitive and the amount awarded, stipulations,...
By Barbara Davis, courtesy of MCF, Minnesota Council on Foundations.
NOTE: This article was originally written as part of the Minnesota Council on Foundation's Guide to Minnesota Grantmakers. It gives an excellent overview of the key components of a standard grant proposal with tips on how to present your case effectively. And no, you don't have to be writing a proposal for a program in Minnesota. Everyone can benefit from the information presented here.
. . . ....
Courtesy of Art Marketing Revealed
Art marketing in today’s world is more a science than ever before. With so many different outlets, successful artists have learned to tap all of these outlets and create their brand. Once an artist has created brand they will be able to increase the value of their Art and volume of Sales.
Art Marketing Strategy of creating your brand has been difficult in the past. However this is not the case in today’s world of Internet Marketing....
Courtesy of the National Association for Music Education.
Overview
People whispering. Cell phones ringing. Talking. Turning around in seats. Leaving before the entire performance is finished. Does this sound like your typical audience at a concert or festival? You are not alone. In recent years, a large number of complaints from music educators concerns the topic of audience behavior and how best to address the issue of concert etiquette. The topic addressed here will mainly be the...
Manifestos are a powerful catalyst. By publicly stating your views and intentions, you create a pact for taking action. (Movements from the American Revolution to Dogme 95 film to the Firefox web browser were all launched by manifestos.) If you want to change the world, even in just a small way, creating a personal or business manifesto is a great place to start.
Needless to say, developing a set of principles that you believe in and constantly strive to stand by is an invaluable tool. To...
Courtesy of Independent Artist Network.
One of the most often asked questions in the music business involves Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
"What are performing rights organizations, why should I join one, and which is the best to join?"
What are PROs?
PROs collect the royalties due to artists for public performance of their copyrighted works. This includes radio and TV performance, use in other forms of media, and...
Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards. By registering once on this site, your organization can apply for grants from 26 different Federal agencies.
Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proud to be the managing partner for Grants.gov, an initiative that is having an unparalleled impact on the grant community....
Sample Resume for Theater Artists
See more at Resume Examples.in
.doc format available for download below.
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Use this Contract if you are planning on participating in an exhibition through a gallery or exhibition venue where you do not have exclusive representation. Available for online view via weblink or downloadable below in .docx format. Contract is courtesy of GYST.com.
NOTE: These sample contracts are for checklist purposes only. You use these contracts at your own risk. Neither Spacetaker nor GYST-ink will not be held responsible for any...
Courtesy of Mplans.com
Pay Per Click ROI Calculator
Use this calculator to determine the ROI (return on investment) for your pay per click advertising campaigns. Based on your campaign results and costs your ROI will be calculated for you.
Email ROI Calculator
Use this calculator to determine the ROI (return on investment) for your email campaigns. Based on your marketing campaign results and expected results your ROI will automatically be calculated. Use this tool to test different scenarios...
Steven Goldglit, Managing Partner of Goldglit & Company, speaks to students at the New York Academy of Artabout taxes, bookkeeping and good habits on accounting for artists.
Taxes & Bookkeeping for Artists - Steven Goldglit from New York Academy of Art on Vimeo.
Services include:
Business Cards
Marketing Materials
Posters and Calendars
Postcards
Magnets
Stationary
T-Shirts
Learn more at OvernightPrints.com
Courtesy of Luminous-Landscape.com.
Creating a portfolio of your work is one of the most important things you can accomplish as a photographer. Unfortunately, relatively few photographers create portfolios because they find the process daunting or think their work is not good enough to be included in a portfolio. Others squirm at the idea they will have to review thousands of photographs taken over many years. Yet others do not know how to select photographs for a portfolio. Finally,...
by Becky Hubble, courtesy of Emerging Artist Guide.
General Aspects of Good Portfolios
1. Your portfolio should be comprised of both textual and visual documentation of your career as an artist. This includes a CV, artist’s statement, and biography, as well as prints and digital images of your work. If possible, you should also include a “supporting documents” section that is comprised of third-party reviews or articles published about you as an artist.
2...
By Jacob Kraicer, Courtesy of HFSP, Human Frontier Sciences Program.
Writing a successful grant application is an art. Although the science is primarily being evaluated, presentation and respect for the requirements of the funding agency are key aspects that can make or break an application. In this article, Jack Kraicer, former Director of Research Grants at HFSP provides guidelines on preparing grant applications from the moment of conception to the submitting the final proposal....
From "arts insights" to organization charts and financial models, the Virtual Arts Incubator is a resource for a wide variety of audiences including small arts organizations, board members and Fine Arts Fund volunteers to organizations of all sizes. Some of the many useful topics include:
Basic Business Plan Outline
Strategic Planning
Becomming a Non-Profit
Tax Basics for Non-Profits
Issues Boards Face
Direct Marketing
Differences Between Non-Profit and For-Profit...
By Susan Myers, Courtesy of NYFA.
Your portfolio is a valuable tool in your arsenal as an artist, and it is often the first opportunity you have to impress and influence those in charge of making the decisions and choices that affect you and your work. By developing and preparing a professional portfolio, every artist is taking a step towards ensuring her or his own success.
In general, a portfolio consists of various presentation materials representing both the artist and her or...
Courtesy of GrantSpace.org
Includes Q&A and searchable database of definitions.
Q: Where can I find a glossary of foundation, nonprofit, and fundraising terminology?
Q: Is there a difference between the terms "nonprofit" and "not-for-profit?"
Q: What is a foundation?
Q: What is the difference between a private foundation and a public charity?
Q: What is Form 990 or 990-PF? How can I learn about using them?
Q: Why do some foundations...
Courtesy of Columbia College Chicago
Strategizing your web presence is not just about taking down the negative. It’s about building up the content that is positive and professional. Do a google search to see what comes up about you. Ideally something professional (ie, LinkedIn, your portfolio site, articles about you) comes up on the first page. If not, you’ve got some work to do.
Decide where you need to be
Consider both the nature of your work, and...
Courtesy of Learn to Art
Getting your art into a gallery isn’t only a matter of producing great work. It’s also about finding the right fit. Finding the right gallery is like buying a new pair of pants: you have to know which type is going to look good on you, and once you’ve chosen the type, you need to try some on!
Shop Around!
The words “Art Gallery” should be fairly straight forward, but it can actually mean quite different things to different...
Courtesy of FreeLanceSwitch.com
Every freelancer should have an online portfolio. You’ve got one, right? If not, skip to the last paragraph of this post. It’s written for you.
If you do have one, you can breathe a sigh of relief. You’re halfway there.
Building your portfolio is easy. The hard part is making it good. A killer portfolio does more than just showcase your work. It transforms visitors into clients. Best of all, it’s an automatic work generator.
In...
Courtesy of Cornell University Law School
The U.S. Copyright Act, is Federal legislation enacted by Congress under its Constitutional grant of authority to protect the writings of authors. Changing technology has led to an ever expanding understanding of the word "writings." The Copyright Act now reaches architectural design, software, the graphic arts, motion pictures, and sound recordings. As of January 1, 1978, all works of authorship fixed in a tangible...
By Brennen McElhaney, BrennenMcElhaney.com
As an artist, your portfolio is one of your most essential marketing tools. Everything in an artist’s presentation, including your portfolio, should show offyour work. For your consideration, here is my “blueprint” for a very professional, inexpensive, and extremely flexible book. I hope you find these suggestions useful . . . view more
Artist statements: the bane of almost every artist’s existence!
Maybe it’s because artists are such visual thinkers, or maybe because it’s literally impossible to translate between mediums. Whatever the reason, writing a new statement is enough to make anyone pull out their hair. Am I right?
While I am certainly not immune to statement stress, I am fortunate enough to come from a writing background. In graduate school, I was often harangued for it, accused of being better at...
Learn what the difference between a bio and a statement is and get yours straightened out. Original Podcast by Alyson Stanfield . . .
listen art ArtBizBlog.com
List of art contests and competitions, art jobs and internships, art scholarships and grants and fellowships, art festivals, call for entries/proposals/projects, and other opportunities, in all disciplines, for art students, art teachers, and artists of all ages . . . learn more at ArtDeadlinesList.com
Courtesy of Empty Easel.
You may have the best art in the world, but if you’re talking to the wrong people, you won’t have a business. Conversations with the right people at the right time, in the right place, about the right things can lead to relationships. It’s those relationships, carefully nurtured, that lead to sales.
One of my clients, Valerie Edwards, explains how having that art marketing “conversation” was even a source of fear:
“Art...
Video published via The Copyright Society of the USA (CSUSA) which is dedicated to advancing the study of copyright law and related rights in literature, music, art, theater, motion pictures, television, computer software, architecture, and other works of authorship, distributed via both traditional and new media. View video at csusa,org
You’ve been reading Abundant Artist, thinking how sweet it would be to run your own little art biz – sitting in your studio all day, painting or sculpting or writing or gluing or snapping the hours away. You’re planning your website, writing your blog, and you’ve just got your first shipment of business cards in the mail.
You’re no longer an artist. You’re an Artist. You’re working it with your own little mini-art biz. You’re rocking your...
By Daniel Kehrer, Founder of BizBest. Courtesy of Score.org
Word of mouth is vital to any small local business that hopes to grow. For a fortunate few, it just happens naturally. But word of mouth can also be planned, executed and nurtured as a specific marketing method. Attending to the basics is important. Word of mouth comes from having happy customers, so that’s still Job #1.
Here are seven steps to getting your word of mouth (WOM) effort underway:
1. Target the...
On March 10, 2011, Dianne Debicella of Fractured Atlas and Danae Ringelmann from IndieGoGo shared this insightful presentation on fiscal sponsorship and crowd funding opportunities for artists. Hosted by Spacetaker.
IndieGogo & Fractured Atlas Info Session at Spacetaker
View more presentations from Spacetaker
By Ada Pia d'Errico: The Business of Art & Inspiration
Before launching into your social media site search, and signing up for all the sites under the sun, the first thing to do is to set a strategy. The strategy has to be actionable, reasonable, and as far as possible – easy. If it isn’t easy to execute and becomes a burden you’ll give up. It’s what happens to everyone when they get overwhelmed, frustrated and bored.
1. Your first task is set a strategy...
Courtesy of the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works.
INTRODUCTION
by Morrie Warshawski and Laurel Jones
FIRST STEPS
TRICK OR TREAT (OR WHY PLAN?) by Ed Taylor
THE PITFALLS OF PLANNING by Arlene Goldbard
A DYNAMIC BALANCE by Nello McDaniel and George Thorn
THE PILLARS OF PLANNING: MISSION, VISION, VALUES by Don Adams
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR
HELLO REAL WORLD: UNDERSTANDING CURRENT REALITIES by Judith Teitelman
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR: (IS THERE)...
Spacetaker Arts Marketing Workshop – Gallery Relationships 9.23.09
Taft McWhorter
Workshop Outline, page 1 of 2
Evaluation
Truthfully evaluate your current status
Are you painting every day?
Are you ready to turn your hobby into a career?
Are you selling your work on a monthly basis for more than $1,000 per piece?
Are you ready for gallery representation?
Do you have a website?
Do you have an Artist Portfolio?
Do you have an available body of work that consists of more than...
by Walter Good. Chief Marketing Officer, BusinessFundability.com. Courtesy of Score.org.
Each year, over 1,000,000 new businesses incorporate, yet 9 out of 10 of these businesses will fail in the first 5 years. The leading cause of this business failure is the lack of preparation and timely access to adequate funding and credit. You can change the odds in your favor. Here are four key funding secrets that every business owner should know:
Secret #1 -- If you wait until...
Courtesy of Mayo Clinc.
Effective time management is a primary means to a less stressful life. These practices can help you reduce your stress and reclaim your personal life.
Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the number and complexity of projects you have that need to be completed at work each day? Do you often feel the day flies by without your devoting the necessary attention to each assignment because other tasks keep landing on your desk, co-workers interrupt you with...
Downloadable handbook which provides a general understanding of federal income tax law and matters frequently encountered by artists. Includes a glossary of tax terms as well as information on record keeping, tax returns, deductions, and self-employment taxes. 2010 Edition.
THE PLAN: Step-By-Step Business Plan Workbook.
Planning is your map to success in the business world. You need to write the business plan if you are:
Starting or buying a business
Financing or refinancing your business
Raising dept or capital
THE PLAN helps you find hidden business flaws and makes you think carefully about each phase of your business.
It is important that YOU write your business plan. Why? You will gain in-depth knowledge about your business, which...
Next Day Flyers is an online printing company that delivers top-quality printed marketing materials with one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry. They specialize in full color printing of custom business cards, brochures,greeting cards, postcards, as well as specialty die cuts and other marketing materials.
Learn more at NextDayFlyers.com
Courtesy of Saving Advice.com
For those working in the arts, financial planning is artistic freedom. You can be an artist and also eat well if you don’t avoid the subject of financial planning all together. After you have your cash flow and career planning in place, you also need to address your insurance and legal concerns.
First, shop smart for health insurance. Consider opening a Health Savings Account. One of the worries when you are self employed is health care,...
By Neil Caulkins, courtesy of ArtistTrust.org
The rapid expansion of technology raises unique challenges for both the artistic community and the legal system. The Internet presents a tremendous opportunity for artistic exposure. It is also a potentially huge commercial market. But, as any musician who has heard the words Napster or MP3.com knows, the Internet is also a medium in which an artist can lose control of—and payment for—their music.
How a musician approaches...
Courtesy of Foundation Center.org
The subject of this short course is proposal writing. But the proposal does not stand alone. It must be part of a process of planning and of research on, outreach to, and cultivation of potential foundation and corporate donors.
This process is grounded in the conviction that a partnership should develop between the nonprofit and the donor. When you spend a great deal of your time seeking money, it is hard to remember that it can also...
If you're like most artists, you probably live and work with artists, eat with artists, socialize with artists, and recreate with artists-- and likely with other fine arts professionals as well. And when you're on your own, you probably read about artists, visit art websites, and attend art lectures, galleries, museums, and more. You're basically all art all the time. And that's excellent. But if you want to maximize your chances for success as an artist, you've got to do...
The Houston Bar Association's 11,250+ member attorneys have a continued commitment to serving the legal profession and the community. Established in 1870, the Association's purpose was to maintain high standards in the legal profession and provide legal education for Harris County attorneys. Today, the HBA, the fifth largest metropolitan bar association in the nation, still adheres to those basic principles, but has expanded its goals to include public service and better access to...
Your own safety and that of your customers, coworkers, and family is always the primary concern when it comes to fire safety. Planning for a fire-safe environment, and for a safe evacuation should fire occur can improve your chances of avoiding a fire and of escaping a fire, should one occur. StudioProtector.org contains some basic fire safety tips and resources for more information:
Smoke Alarms
Escape Plans
Fire Extinguishers
Flammable Liquids
. . . read more at StudioProtector.org...
Find out why you might need more than one artist statement and when to use them.
. . . listen at ArtBizBlog.com
By Michele Stanton, Courtesy of TALA.
As artists are typically not accountants, TALA has prepared this step-by-step guide to assist artists in completing their own income tax returns. This guide also includes answers to frequently asked questions and examples of completed returns. A special thanks to CPA and TALA Volunteer, Michele Stanton. (Published 2012)
Persuasive, cohesive grant proposals are key to winning funding for visual artists from private foundations, the federal government and individuals. Writing grant proposals is generally thought to be something that is extremely difficult and time-consuming, It doesn’t have to be. What distinguishes one proposal from another is thoughtful, systematic and cohesive writing.
There are three basic types of grant proposals:
A letter of inquiry (LOI) is a one-to-two page summary that outlines...
MyTexasBiz is an initiative of the Office of the Governor of the State of Texas to make it easier for a person to start a business in Texas. MyTexasBiz, which is coordinated by the Texas Department of Information Resources, helps prospective business owners acquire the permits and/or licenses needed to launch a business . . . view more
The Dispute Resolution Center offers residents of Harris County a free alternative to legal action. Services include community-based mediation, court-ordered mediation, arbitration, and moderated settlement conferences. Trained mediators and moderators help parties reach agreement before the problem leads to a costly lawsuit or violence. If you have a problem or lawsuit, mediation may be beneficial. For more information, please call (713) 755-8274
Established in 1980, the Dispute...
Video published via The Copyright Society of the USA (CSUSA) which is dedicated to advancing the study of copyright law and related rights in literature, music, art, theater, motion pictures, television, computer software, architecture, and other works of authorship, distributed via both traditional and new media.
click on weblink to view video.
You've spent months sticking to a rigid blogging schedule for your art blog, and traffic is starting to pick up. . . but now the busy season is upon you. Maybe you’re prepping for an upcoming show, handling custom orders, or just dealing with the ins and outs of everyday life. Whatever the case, you’ll be lucky to spare one day to devote to your art blog for the next month. . . In just under 250 words per post, you can create an entire month’s worth of posts...
Part 2: Working with Artists Creatively in Healthcare Design
Courtesy of Freddie Mac
Good credit is an increasingly important part of a consumer's financial power, but good credit is no accident. It's the result of discipline and planning. Start today, and your good credit will pay off with better loan terms, lower interest rates, and greater financial opportunities in the future . . . download full booklet below.
Every city, every school district, every location asks something different from your insurance coverage, and the situation can seem overwhelming and impossible to understand. Your insurance needs to meet the demands of the school as well as the demands of your budget. This guide will help you to decide what is absolutely essential, what is relatively important, and what is simply nice to have.
Topics include:
Commercial General Liability
Volunteer Accident
Workers' Compensation...
If you want to get your art online quickly and inexpensively, start a fan page (a.k.a. business page) on Facebook.
why?
I can think of 5 reasons that Facebook should be your first step toward an online presence.
Facebook has over 500,000,000 users. FIVE HUNDRED MILLION. But . . .
You don’t have to be a member of Facebook to view a fan page. They are public. (This is why you need a fan page and not just a personal profile on Facebook.)
Facebook allows you only 5000 friends, but...
1. Determine to be the Boss: Get comfortable with admitting you’re the “CEO of Me”!
2. Take stock of your musical, artistic, technical, and business strengths.
3. Find out what you like and what you do well.
4. Think outside of the box and program with purpose.
5. Get comfortable with public speaking and find your unique voice on social media platforms.
6. Go hunt for your tribe and build your strategy around them instead of the...
Instead of relating numerous horror stories to convey the importance of safety in the arts, here are some basic safety topics to encourage you to either get started or heighten your awareness of safety as a valuable investment in your artistic future. While these issues are particularly relevant to visual artists, artists in all disciplines can benefit from this information . . . view more
Courtesy of the Center for Responsible Lending.
Shopping for a new bank or credit union? Of course you'll check out their rates, fees, location, and hours. But equally important, make sure their lending and banking practices work for YOU. Use this guide to identify bank practices that make it easier for you to hang on to your money. It will help you choose the best financial institution for your needs.
Just remember, the customer representative you interview may not be...
Courtesy of Zen Habits.net.
Not everyone gets GTD (Getting Things Done). I know I didn’t. It made my head spin. I have nothing against the system or David Allen. I’m sure it must be awesome for some people (that’s why it has all those followers, right?). But for others, it just doesn’t fit. Mostly with creative-minded people.
When it comes to GTD and other systems, it’s often too easy to get into a habit of over-engineering your system. You “...
In this forty-five minute video presentation sponsored by NYFA, Consultant Brian Newman surveys key changes in the arts due to digital technology, and gives practical advice for using new technology for art making, dissemination of one’s work and building a sustainable career.
• How has culture changed, past and present, as a result of technology?
• What are the new tools artists can use to experiment and put forth their vision?
• What is transmedia...
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
You may have noticed that there are several song out in the world today that use parts or words from other songs, within their song. This is particularly popular in rap songs and also as introductions into songs. This is known as sampling. It basically means that you are going to use a part of someone else's song, within your song, and the original artist isn't going to be singing it. This can make for some very interesting music...
Too Tense To Perform? It Could Be Performance Anxiety Disorder!
You can talk well among your friends but you become dumbstruck in stage while presenting a seminar. This could be because you are stage phobic. Don't worry you are not alone .There are lot people despite having profound knowledge and talent fail to fair well in performance because of stage fear. This article covers:
What are the symptoms of stage fright?
What causes stage fright?
How can i cope with stage fright?...
In 2008, Spacetaker hosted Grace Rodriguez of Ayn Brand in a brief introduction to the benefits, mentality, and techniques of Web 2.0 PR & Marketing. The aim of the workshop: to equip young, emerging non-profit arts organizations and individual artists with tools to leverage social media and networking for low-cost, grass-roots PR and marketing opportunities.
The presentation covers the following topics:
-Web 2.0 & Social Media Primer
-Work Your Online Networks
-The Blogosphere...
Online Courses for Financing Your Business
Knowledge about the finances of your business is essential to its success.
About These Courses
Several free online courses are offered by the SBA to help prospective and existing entrepreneurs understand basic finance and accounting principles. These self-paced courses are easy to use and understand. They will take about 30 minutes to complete. You can, however, exit a course at any time. Because most of the courses offer audio...
Courtesy of ArtsTaxInfo.com
Expense checklist for musicians and singers PDF Version
Expense checklist for musicians and singers Excel Worksheet Version
Income worksheet for musicians and singers PDF Version
Income worksheet for musicians and singers Excel Worksheet Version
12 month expense worksheet for musicians and singers Excel Worksheet Version
Read full article at www.artstaxinfo.com/musicians.shtml
Our Mission
Idealist connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives.
Idealist is independent of any government, political ideology, or religious creed. Our work is guided by the common desire of our members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.
Offers a searchable database of 10,000 nonprofit Web sites worldwide. Database...
By Sylvia White, Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com
“To see far, is one thing…going there is another.” -Constantin Brancusi
Artists who regularly visit this website have acquired a lot of information on how to conduct their business practices. It’s not easy trying to keep track of all the activities necessary to become a working professional artist particularly since most artists are just not suited for the day-to-day practical aspects of running a...
Courtesy of Columbia College Chicago
We are living in a brave new world. Trends shift daily but there are a few things students can do to stay ahead of the curve. Right here, right now. Below are five tips to help you network with professionals that along with a good portfolio and a great education will go a long way.
1. Just Do It
The term networking brings with it the image of the guys from the show Entrouage. Their chest hair fluffed out, pointing at their friends...
By Jorge Fiffe, courtesy of ArtJob.org
Jorge Fiffe blogs on lessons he's learned from job searching, and finding the right resume format for your skill set.
Don't be discouraged... Applying for jobs and not hearing results about your submissions is a major blow to anyone's self-esteem. Over the course of 18 months, I applied for nearly 900 positions. It's a high number, mostly because I was/am willing to relocate for the right position. Keeping...
Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com.
I know what you are saying, “Ok, I give up, I’ve just mastered building a website and using my email, what the heck is social media?”In plain English, it means, the days of direct mailers and catalogs are over. The new generation of artists, gallery owners and consultants are programmed for faster, higher quality marketing techniques. Thanks to social media networking sites like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter, we are able to connect 24/7...
5 page printable handout by Dr. John Daab, Certified Fraud Examiner, Courtesy of Fine Art Registry
Introduction
Steven Spielberg, the movie producer and art collector, decided that he needed a Norman Rockwell painting. He called the gallery he usually purchased art from and was told that a Rockwell was available. He went to the gallery, saw the work and was smitten. He purchased it for $700,000, took it home and hung it with his other works. Sometime later Spielberg was sued...
Balance Sheet Basics...
The balance sheet is simply a snapshot of your business’s finances. Looking at
a series of balance sheets over time can help you see trends in your business
and plan for growth
A balance sheet has three parts: Assets, Liabilities, & Equity
Assets- things your business owns that have a cash value: money in various
accounts, equipment, investments
Liabilities- debts that your business owes: loans, credit cards, customer
deposits
Equity- money that you or...
Courtesy of Chicago Artists' Resource, originally published in Art Hazard News.
Search by discipline, materials, keywords or general topics for access to hundreds of articles on health and safety.
1. Art Materials
2. Professions
3. General Safety and Health
4. Health Effects/Disorders
5. Special Subjects
6. Health and Safety Resources
7. Glossary and Terms
. . . view more at ChicagoArtistsResource....
OSHA aims to ensure employee safety and health in the United States by working with employers and employees to create better working environments. The agency provides a variety of useful publications in print and online.
Visit http://www.osha.gov/ to find the OSHA Office nearest you, or, contact their toll free number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)... TTY 1-877-889-5627.
To File a Complaint Form:
To file an OSHA-7 report online, see How to File a Complaint with OSHA.
For more...
Courtesy of ArtBusiness.com.
What you are about to read is a follow-up to the article Art Dealers From Hell and How to Spot Them...
As in any profession, most art dealers and art galleries are entirely reputable, responsible and considerate of everyone they do business with. Unfortunately, a despicable few are anything but. So in honor of that small but sleazy cadre of scumbuckets, what follows is a list of bullet points-- behaviors to watch out for and hopefully to avoid. Knowing...
Courtesy of Studio Protector.org
On a daily basis, the CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists' Emergency Resouces) receives requests from craft artists throughout the country for information and financial assistance in the wake of emergencies that jeopardize their livelihoods. Too often, these fires, natural disasters, accidents, life-threatening illnesses, and thefts leave professional artists on the brink of ruin because they have not properly protected themselves with...
Licenses & Permits
SBA.gov's Business License and Permit Search Tool will allow you to get a listing of federal, state and local permits, licenses, and registrations you'll need to run a business.
Search for Business Licenses and Permits
In order to operate your business, you must comply with a wide range of local, state and federal rules. SBA’s Business Licenses and Permits tool can help you navigate through this process..
Find...
Artist's Prospecting Introduction Letter
Courtesy of Brennen McElhaney.
For your consideration: A more efficient alternative to sending your portfolio to prospective galleries. - More bang for your buck.
When you’re seeking representation for your art, I recommend sending a letter of introduction with a rack card (9 x 4 in. postcard) and a business card, instead of sending a “complete” portfolio package to every single prospective gallery.
This is not a “shot...
Video published via The Copyright Society of the USA (CSUSA) which is dedicated to advancing the study of copyright law and related rights in literature, music, art, theater, motion pictures, television, computer software, architecture, and other works of authorship, distributed via both traditional and new media.
Click on weblink to view videos.
Courtesy of Mplans.com
This sample marketing plan has been made available to users of Marketing Plan Pro® powered by Duct Tape Marketing, marketing planning software published by Palo Alto Software, Inc. Names, locations and numbers may have been changed, and substantial portions of the original plan text may have been omitted to preserve confidentiality and proprietary information.
You are welcome to use this plan as a starting point to create your own, but you do not have...
Performing rights organizations (there are three of us in the U.S.) are businesses designed to represent songwriters and publishers and their right to be compensated for having their music performed in public.
SESAC was founded in 1930 to serve European composers not adequately represented in the United States. Though the company name was once an acronym, today it is simply SESAC and not an abbreviation of anything.
With an international reach and a vast repertory that spans...
AHIRC.org is an up-to-date, comprehensive and unbiased database of health care resources for artists, performers, freelancers and the self-employed. The health care reform legislation passed by Congress will finally make health insurance available and affordable for the American artist. As the changes begin, AHIRC is here to guide you through the legislation and how it will affect the visual and performing arts and entertainment communities. Our mission is insure every artist in the United...
Creative Capital is a national nonprofit organization that provides integrated financial and advisory support to artists pursuing adventurous projects in all disciplines. Our pioneering approach combines funding, counsel and career development services to enable a project’s success and foster sustainable practices for our grantees.
Creative Capital is the only national grantmaking and artist service organization for individual artists with an open application process. Our selection...
Courtesy of USA.gov
Get official information on grants, loans, financial aid, and other benefits from the U.S. government.
When looking for financial assistance, remember that there are differences between grants and loans. You are required to pay back a loan, often with interest. You are not required to pay back a grant, but there are very few grants available to individuals. Most grants are awarded to universities, researchers, cities, states, counties, and non-profit...
Guerrilla Marketing - Over 90 Field-Tested Tactics to Get Your Business Into the Frontline (a ChangeThis manifest)
View more presentations from kuchmuch
Americans for the Arts' mission is to serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America.
Founded in 1960, Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. From offices in Washington, DC and New York City, we provide a rich array of programs that meet the needs of over 150,000 members and stakeholders. We are dedicated to...
The Methodist Center is the nation's most comprehensive group of medical professionals, based in the world-renowned Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas and is teamed to provide preventive, diagnostic, specialty and emergency care to performing artists.
Whether the problem is a sprained ankle or a sore throat, CPAM’s goal is to get artists back on stage as soon as possible. Medical professionals are ready to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have agreed to make...
You want to sell your work online. Why not, a sale is a sale, right? But the world of online galleries can be complicated to steer. We talked with the owners of some of the web's most respected visual arts sites and asked them what they would tell artists to look for before signing up for online representation. What follows is their advice, which, despite the fabled diversity of views on the internet, was surprisingly uniform.
Define Your Goals...
Before you even approach a gallery you...
Financial tracking tools and calculators in the areas of Financial Planning, Real Estate, Retirement, and Investing.
Getting ready for an exhibition is always a time when I try to remember all the tips I've ever had from anybody about how artwork should be framed. I thought it might be timely to try and record some of them and this post is a summary of tips for how to mat and frame artwork. Please feel free to comment on mine or share any tips you have by using the comments function.
Bear in mind I'm not an oil painter so I'm not framing boards - although I do have a tip for that!
...
by Scott Belsky at the99percent.com
Time and time again, creative people are given two pieces of advice: (1) Listen to your critics and seek feedback, but also (2) Ignore your critics and follow your intuition. Clearly, there's a powerful contradiction here in need of reconciliation.
Whether you're starting a new business, debuting a performance, or working with a client, you'll find yourself in the hot seat faced with feedback - and you'll have a decision to...
Courtesy of Music First Coalition.
What is the Performance Rights Act?
Every time you stop the dial to listen to an artist's distinctive voice, radio stations make money by selling advertising around it. But corporate radio doesn't pay a cent to the musicians, vocalists, and recording artists or labels who make the sound that brings in listeners - and money. The Performance Right Act (H.R. 848) would require radio stations to compensate recording artists and copyright owners when...
Video is the future. Is your film rolling?
Tara Reed, accomplished artist and art licensing expert writes: "I’ve been hearing this for several years now – you need to add video, video, video, video. But what kinds of video can artists create to help increase their exposure, build their brand and get more business? How can we get in on the surge in video searches?" See Tara's video presentation at ArtMarketingSecrets.com to learn about the four types...
About Bplans...
We help people succeed in business. We are here to help you, to teach you, and to provide solutions that build and grow your business. We believe that:
You are the most capable person to plan, build, and grow your business.
Business planning and strategy isn't rocket science; we all just need to learn together.
Planning and running a business can be a lot of fun... really!
You can be successful doing it.
Bplans contains the largest...
By Cindy Hill, Esq. courtesy of Fine Art Registry.
The owner was gazing aghast at the back of the stunning, large abstract painting he had just retrieved from the gallery where he had placed it for eighteen months on consignment. "It wasn't like this when I brought it in there," he said, pointing along one of the shorter edges of the piece. The canvas had clearly been standing in water. The edge folded around the stretcher was grey, the canvas edges tattered back to the...
Accounting & Budgeting
Barter Tax and Accounting Issues
The 10 Bookkeeping Basics You Can’t Ignore
Loan Amortization Schedule
View More
Business Planning
Business Plans & Financial Statements Template Gallery
The 3 Things Your Business Plan Absolutely Must Have
View More
Cash Flow Management
12 Month Cash Flow Projection
5 Tips on Building a 6-Month Cash Reserve
View More
Customer Relations
Giving Thanks
8 Ways to Make Customers Love a Local Business...
Courtesy of the Abundant Artist
I noticed that a lot of artists are looking for business plans. I did some looking and it turns out there aren’t a lot of pre-made business plans out there for artists, so, I brought Jennifer Lee, author of Right Brain Business Plan, here to share her creative ideas for business plans. She’s really amazing, so I’m sure you’ll love this!
The first thing I ask every artist when we start working together is if they...
An artist who wants to get her or his work noticed must enter the marketplace with a good plan and set of tools. The Internet has become an essential channel for distributing traditional artist marketing tools such as resumes, press releases, work samples, and business cards. This essay provides basic advice about using the Internet to enhance your marketing efforts . . . read more at NYFA.com
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
For band or singer writing their own songs, publishing is where a lot of the money is in the music industry. The publishing money will go only to the person with the copyright for that song, so it may or may not go to the person actually singing the song. The best way to check this is, on most CDs, the name of the writer of the song will appear below the title. Again, this name may or may not be someone connected directly to the band singing...
By Behance Team at the99percent.com
You might think that creatives as diverse as Internet entrepreneur Jack Dorsey, industrial design firm Studio 7.5, and bestselling Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami would have little in common. In fact, the tenets that guide how they – and exceptionally productive creatives across the board – make ideas happen are incredibly similar.
Here are 10 laws of productivity that have been consistently observed among serial idea executors:
1. Break...
By Geoffrey Gorman, Courtesy of NYFA.
During my many years as a gallery dealer, I got to know and observe a variety of successful artists from around the country. Many of these artists were emerging artists, others were in mid-career, and all of them were fast on their way to making not only national and international reputations but also impressive incomes. I often noticed that these successful artists all had similar traits, characteristics, and habits. It became startlingly clear to...
Courtesy of IRS.gov
Whether you are self-employed or are an employee, you may be able to deduct certain expenses for the part of your home you use for business despite the general denial of business expense deductions for the home.
To deduct expenses for business use of the home, part of your home must be used regularly and exclusively as one of the following:
1. The principal place of business for your trade or business
2. The place where you meet and deal with your...
Lots of people can sell you insurance, but Fractured Atlas is different. We're a non-profit organization that supports the arts and creative industries.
Thanks to the combined purchasing power of the Fractured Atlas community, our members have access to high-quality coverage for much lower rates than would otherwise be possible. More importantly, with one foot in the arts and another in the world of insurance, we've worked with some of the world's leading insurance companies...
By Tim Berry, Courtesy of Bplans.com
Start your business plan with a quick assessment. Even for an ongoing business, take the time to step away from the business and look at the basics. Do your business numbers make sense? One of my business school professors used to refer to this process as finding out “is there a there there?”
For a first look, consider your objectives, mission statement, market analysis and keys to success.
Objectives
Objectives are...
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
With all of the different record companies that are out there today you will notice that there are also hundreds of different contracts and contract styles. Each company, whether it's Warner or some small independent label, will have a contract for you to sign and most will have certain parts to it, but not all will be worded the same. Also some may have added perks or requirements that others may not. So be ready for pretty much anything,...
Prepared by Lindsay Peyton, Cadence Enterprise
SHOW CHECKLIST
1. Confirm Dates
2. Finalize Information and Create and Distribute Press Releases
-- Title of show
-- Concept
-- See if need special equipment
-- Images of work and headshots of artists
3. Design and Distribute Postcards
4. Create Evite and Facebook Event Pages, send
5. Hire staff
-- Art installers
-- Security
-- Valet -
- Caterers
-- Bartenders
-- Clean-up
-- Photographers
6...
This resource is dedicated to the dissemination of recent research into alternative to the toxic hazards of traditional printmaking. New printmaking systems developed since the mid 1980s offer safer methods that have been backed through research and scientific testing. Nontoxic printmaking offers exciting and expanded creative possibilities whilst being true to the aesthetical and rich heritage or printed art.
The website features extensive practical manuals as well as quick user guides...
Courtesy of the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York.
Dedication, years of practice, loads of talent, and a love of music are only a part of what it takes to launch a career as a successful professional musician. The manner in which musicians present themselves on paper and in person plays a significant role in getting the gig.
The Musician’ s Résumé Handbook is designed to help you with one part of presenting yourself as a professional musician: the...
"Hi, I'm Christopher. I'm an artist." Exhale, run my fingers through my hair. " What do I do? Oh, I paint. I'm a painter. Yeah, I'm an artist."
I tried it out every now and then, in front of the bathroom mirror. It sounded all right. But when I introduced myself as an artist outside my bathroom world of make-believe, I always felt false. I was like Magritte labeling a pipe. If I said I was an artist, I was an artist, right? Not exactly. Since I...
Choose a topic from the list below, then use the dropdown arrow to dine the calculator you need to answer your question.
Mortgage and home equity calculators
Please select a specific calculator from this menu list Mortgage payment/amortization calculator - what will my payments be? How much house can I afford? Should I refinance my mortgage? Should I get a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage? Should I pay more points and take a lower interest rate? ...
Thirteen practical marketing lessons drawn from the book, “The Experts’ Guide to Marketing the Arts” © by the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts. All lessons are available for download via the web link.
Practical Lesson 1: The Big Picture: The Marketing Challenge for the Arts
Practical Lesson 2: Taming the Dreaded Situation Analysis
Practical Lesson 3: Finding your Audience through Market Segmentation
Practical Lesson 4: Who Are You, Anyway...
Courtesy of Art Marketing Strategy
Lady Gaga is a very talented musician and performer. She gives outrageous and memorable performances with great music, elaborate productions, incredible costumes and wild staging. Her shows have truly become events! Lady Gaga now can make news for going to a baseball game, going out to dinner or walking through an airport, as she seems to have captured the attention of the mainstream press by being in the newspapers and on TV almost every day!...
Courtesy of StudioProtector.org
The biggest mistake people make in preparing a personal disaster plan is not getting around to it at all. No matter what a person’s age or physical limitations, everyone should prepare themselves and their studio for potential emergencies.
For people with disabilities or any physical impairment, this is particularly important. As you develop your plan, as yourself, “What if . . .? “ Taking into account your circumstances and...
Article by Helen Spielman, a performance anxiety coach. Her writing appears in a variety of music publications.
'I believe I have to suffer in order to perform well,’ said Isabelle, a beautiful woman and professional singer who came to me for performance anxiety coaching. Although she passionately loved to perform, Isabelle often felt terrified, as though she was ‘going to die’ before walking on stage. She received great praise for her per- formances but thought of...
When was the last time that you thoroughly checked and edited your art blog or website to see that everything was in order? I mean going through your website page by page, post by post and image by image to see if everything was labeled, titled, tagged and in proper order?
Like most of us, since we are all very busy, I am sure that the answer is “Geez, I don’t know”
If you can take some time to look at your art blog and website with a critical eye, you might be surprised at...
Every time you send off a portfolio of your work to a gallery, curator, grant program, slide registry or other such person or entity, you take the risk of being rejected and disappointed. Rejection can naturally lead to feelings of hurt and discouragement. In this issue of FYI, the Hotline has teamed up with artist and psychotherapist Sandra Indig, founder of Psychotherapists for Arts Services, to take a closer look at rejection and to offer you some strategies for building up your...
Courtesy of art-support.com.
This article feature ideas on how to create a successful artist portfolio and how to present your portfolio to galleries or to anyone. The information is useful to anyone in working in fine art or commercial art. It will help all photographers, painters and other artists that might one day have to create artist portfolio or present their artworks to a gallery.
To become successful in today's art market, an artist must have a vision, they must master...
ArtBusiness.com contains over 3,000 pages of free content, 40,000 images, regularly posts art business articles, reviews art gallery openings, critiques art, covers art market news, and critically evaluates specialized technical art reference books, CD-ROMs and online databases.
ArtBusiness.com provides complete art consulting and advisory services, art appraisals, art price data, articles for artists and collectors, and market research and information to anyone involved with art. Services...
Courtesy of Scorecard, The Pollution Information Site
Scorecard provides detailed information on more than 11,200 chemicals, including all the chemicals used in large amounts in the United States and all the chemicals regulated under major environmental laws. You can search for information by typing in the chemical's name (or any common synonym) or the chemical's standard identification number (Chemical Abstracts Service or CAS registry number).
Chemical...
The Center for Responsible Lending is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that works to protect homeownership and family wealth by fighting predatory lending practices. Our focus is on consumer lending: primarily mortgages, payday loans, credit cards, bank overdrafts and auto loans.
Since we began in 2002, we have witnessed, studied, and fought against outrageous lending abuses that strip billions of dollars from American families.
Take health care into your own hands; find out how the Affordable Care Act affects you at HealthCare.gov
Topics include:
Find Insurance Options
This tool will help you find the health insurance best suited to your needs, whether it's private insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, or public programs that may work for you. It was created to help consumers under the health insurance reform law, the Affordable Care Act.
Get Help Using insurance
In this...
Artadia's mission is to encourage innovative artistic practice and meaningful dialogue across the United States by providing artists in specific communities with unrestricted awards and a national network of support. Once an artist receives an Artadia Award, he or she becomes a lifetime member of the national Artadia network. Artadia was founded as The ArtCouncil in 1997, by investment banker and art collector Christopher E. Vroom, in response to the demise of the National Endowment...
If you are not familiar with, or have not used Google Alerts to monitor your art niche, this article can be a very important new tool for you to use on a regular basis. Google Alerts will help you monitor very specific sections and segments in your area of expertise or it can be a great research tool for areas and subjects that you would like to be involved with in the future.
Google Alerts will monitor all, or separately the following areas of the internet; news, blogs, video and discussion...
Each year the Hotline receives hundreds of calls from artists who are desperate to exhibit their work. They are sometimes willing to do literally anything, which includes paying huge sums of money. Vanity galleries, national competitions, and unscrupulous dealers profit handsomely from this desperation. For this issue, Dr. Art has invited author and artist advisor Renee Phillips of Manhattan Arts International to discuss her views on artists paying to exhibit their work . . . read more
Special thanks to workshop presenters Michele LaRocco, 360 Degrees of Art and Blake Bering, Bering Art Collective.
Art Leasing & Commercial Licensing
View more presentations from Spacetaker
By Geoffrey Gorman, courtesy of NYFA.
The carpeting is soft underfoot; the lights are dim except for those illuminating the paintings on the wall; the room hums with people crowding around the canvases, murmuring their approval and delight. You stand at the center of a group of admirers, glass of champagne in your hand, receiving praise and congratulations on your latest show. It's already an unprecedented success, which even on this opening night has brought you many thousands of...
Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service
This publication provides basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business. It also provides information on keeping records and illustrates a record- keeping system.
Throughout this publication we refer to other IRS publications and forms where you will find more information. In addition, you may want to contact other government agencies, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA). See How To Get More Information...
By Ann Daly, Arts Consultant. Courtesy of Chicago Artists Resource.
Whatever your personal goal as a photographer (to earn a living, to develop a reputation, to share your passion with friends and family—or all of the above), you need to manage your photographic practice.
What that means, simply, is organizing your work so that you are both efficient (giving minimum effort) and effective (getting maximum results). Most of us are very efficient. We’re getting alot of...
Americans for the Arts' mission is to serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America.
Founded in 1960, Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. From offices in Washington, DC and New York City, we provide a rich array of programs that meet the needs of over 150,000 members and stakeholders. We are dedicated to representing and...
Online Courses for Starting Your Business
Each year, more than 10 million people consider starting a business. Of them, only three million people take the plunge and start a business. It's one of the most exciting endeavors that any person can undertake.
About These Courses
Several free online courses are offered by the SBA to help prospective and existing entrepreneurs understand the basics about writing a business plan. These self-paced courses are easy to use and understand....
Glossary of Healthcare Terms
Courtesy of The Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC) Directory.
Affiliation period - the time a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) may require you to wait after you enroll and before your coverage begins. HMOs that require an affiliation period cannot exclude coverage of pre-existing conditions.
Alternative medicine - (also called alternative therapy or complementary medicine) comprises a wide range of philosophies,...
Jeremy Fisher of Vocal Press, UK, interviews Performance psychologist Dr David Roland, author of The Confident Performer, on nerves for performers, dealing with the audience, post-performance recovery, and the Flow performance.
What is Performance Anxiety?
David: I’ll give you a psychologist’s interpretation of it first. Anxiety is something that is quite natural and quite normal, which occurs when we feel threatened in some way. And that threat could be a sense of...
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest. Offers an arbitration and mediation center for intellectual property disputes.
Workshop covers:
Content Management Systems.
Blogs vs. Websites vs. Portfolios.
Wordpress.com vs Wordpress.org.
When to Self Host.
Custom Domains.
Premium Themes.
Selecting a Theme.
Customizing Your Theme.
DOWNLOAD DOCUMENT BELOW...
by Melissa Dinwiddie, courtesy of theAbundantArtist.com
In parts 1 and 2 of this series I shared how I became an artist quite by accident, and slowly built up a sustainable business as a calligrapher and ketubah artist. It was cool to be able to call myself a professional artist, but the problem was, although I made my living from my art, I found myself spending only a tiny percentage of my time actually creating art. And the art I was ...
These craft business management articles and tips will help you address issues related to pricing your crafts, inventory management and forecasting, naming your business, accepting credit cards and more.
Effective craft business management will prove to be important to the growth of your art or craft based business. No mater what type of media you work in, effective craft business management will help you to save time and money, realize where you need outside assistance and understand...
Courtesy of Score.org
Taxes are one of the most important issues facing small and growing businesses. And like a company's profits, its annual tax bill will in part reflect the owner's skills and knowledge. Business owners need to be sure that they are meeting all of their responsibilities to the tax man -- and also seizing every opportunity to reduce their taxes.
1. Writing It Off: Deductions. Businesses can deduct all "ordinary and necessary" business...
In 2009, Spacetaker began developing a comprehensive series of Arts Marketing workshops providing practical marketing guides and exploring best practices.
The workshop, led by Katie Laird of Schipul Web Marketing Company, covered creating and managing:
-Websites
-Blogs
-Social Media
Creative GENIUSES and the online marketing world
View more presentations from Katie Laird.
Big thanks to Katie and Schipul for their contributions to ARC Workshop programming!
Courtesy of Art Advice.
“We were having one of those really great first dates, the kind you can only have if it’s not really a date.” Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City
After reading the article “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”, you should have a fairly good idea of how to determine which galleries are appropriate for your work. Once you’ve narrowed your target list down to those galleries that you feel relate to your work, and would be a...
Preparing for an Artist Portfolio Review or Presentation
View more presentations from Spacetaker
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) is a national artists’ service organization whose mission is to safeguard and sustain the careers of craft artists and provide emergency resources that benefit all artists. CERF+ accomplishes its mission through these programs and initiatives:
Emergency Relief
Emergency Preparedness & Recovery Resources
Emergency Preparedness Educational Programs
Artist Preparedness Campaign
National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response...
Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com.
One of the most difficult aspects of being an artist doesn’t take place behind the studio walls. It is an unpleasant, sometimes degrading aspect of your career: promotion. Nevertheless, as an artist, you need to develop a method to promote your work and still maintain your integrity. To minimize the unpleasantness of this particular responsibility, the method you devise should complement your personality and temperament. The problem begins when you decide...
By Keith Jaasma. Courtesy of The University of Texas School of Law, Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal.
Since the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1953 in Haelan Laboratories v. Topps Chewing Gum coined the term “right of publicity” to describe the right of individuals to control the use of their name and likenesses for commercial and other valuable purposes, more than half the states in the U.S. have granted rights of publicity...
Courtesy of Art Advice.com
“Hi, my name is John, and… I’m an ARTIST.”
1. Admit that you are powerless over your ARTmaking, and it is the only thing that makes your life manageable.
Many artists describe the feelings they get from making art as an almost spiritual or sexual experience, feeling a complete and total sense of happiness and being at one with the world. Much like the feeling an athlete gets from hitting the ball in the sweet spot. But, instead of it...
Courtesy of SavingAdvice.com
The image of the starving artist has prevailed too long. At the July 24-29 San Diego Comic-Con there were tens of thousands of people working in the arts. Of the 650 hours of events and presentations, only one hour was devoted to financial planning for artists. Here are the financial essentials that artists avoid at their peril.
Financial planning is simply doing what it takes to give you the where-with-all to do what you want. The first time that...
By David J. Hahn, Courtesy of Music Wages.
Most musician jobs – club dates, songwriting – will never require a resume, and employers are increasingly turning to musicians personal websites for resume-like information. Nevertheless, a musician’s resume is still a great marketing tool for getting gigs, and I still use mine frequently.
Here are some basics that every musician should include when building their resume.
photo credit: michaeln3
1....
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Property Release Form
Always use a property release form when using any private property . . . view more
NOTE: These sample contracts are for checklist purposes only. You use these contracts at your own risk. Neither Spacetaker nor GYST-ink will not be held responsible for any unfavorable outcomes associated with the use of these contracts.
“Friend me!” is a phrase no longer reserved for teens. Although Facebook was conceived as a social networking platform, many businesses use the site to brand and market their products (in fact, Facebook is so pervasive that Obama recently hosted a town hall meeting at Facebook’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA). Along with services like Twitter, Myspace, WordPress, Flickr, and Youtube (just to name a few), Facebook has become a marketing tool and virtual public...
The Harris County Hospital District's mission is to improve our community's health by delivering high-quality healthcare to Harris County residents. While medical care is not free at our facilities, there is financial assistance for those who qualify.
Based on your household income, you may qualify for partial financial assistance, on a sliding scale, including: full pay, half pay or a nominal co-pay. This financial assistance for medical care is just one of the many valuable...
Courtesy of The Abundant Artist
Last year Facebook took over the Internet with the "Like" button. It’s a year later, and Facebook has made further forays into extending itself onto the Web.
There are a few major developments that you should be aware of in setting up social sharing tools on your website. The Send, Share, and Like buttons.
Facebook Merges the Like and Share buttons
A few months ago, Facebook made the decision to...
The following is 12 page article issued by the United States Copyright Office.
What Is Copyright?
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of...
Suggestions to help get your business off to a smooth start and keep it going for the long haul.
1. Save up as much money as possible before starting.
All too often, people go into business without any savings, exclusively using loan money from friends, banks, or the SBA. They except to be able to start paying the loans back right away with their profits. What these business owners don't realize is that it can take months or years to make a profit. And once a lender discovers a business isn...
Assembled by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD. Courtesy of Free Management Library.
Sections of This Topic Include:
Do I Need Help to Get Started?
Importance of Good Record Keeping
Getting Tax-Exempt Status
Federal, State, Sales, Payroll Taxes, etc.
Preparing and Filing Form 990s (including about public disclosure)
Donations and Taxes
Unrelated Business Income Taxes (UBIT)
Lobbying and Taxes
Assessing Your Tax Management Practices
Special Topic -- When Hiring, Need...
If you need health insurance you have a variety of options that vary depending on your circumstances. You also have certain rights and protections. Both your options and rights will expand by 2014 and beyond. Topics covered at Healthcare.gov include:
Insurance Basics What you need to know before buying a health insurance plan: How much will it cost? Can you keep your doctor? What products look like health insurance but aren’t? This guide has the answers.
Insurance...
Courtesy of Columbia College Chicago
The idea of "branding" covers a lot of ground these days but for the moment think of branding as visually linking your professional materials together so that your name, title and contact info are presented the same way on all your materials. This visual identity can be created with "type treatments," logos, and perhaps, images. The trick to creating an effective visual identity that will brand your materials is:
1) finding...
Courtesy of Black Enterprise
Debt settlement might seem like an easy out, but there are many risks involved. Learn what to watch out for by reading part one of this post, What You Should Know Before Settling Your Credit Card Debt. If you’re considering hiring the services of a debt settlement company, get as much information as possible about the process. Before you sign on the dotted line, here’s a list of the top 10 questions you should ask.
1. What are your fees?
Most...
The Texas Health Insurance Pool was created by the Texas Legislature to provide health insurance to eligible Texas residents who, due to medical conditions, are unable to obtain coverage from individual commercial insurers. The Pool also serves as the Texas alternative mechanism for individual health insurance coverage, guaranteeing portability of coverage to qualified individuals who lose coverage under an employer group plan, church plan or state plan, as mandated by the federal Health...
By Tim Berry, Courtesy of Bplans.com
Venture Capital
Venture capital firms want repeat entrepreneurs. They want plans with huge growth rates, in high-growth industries — usually high tech as well as high growth. They want excellent management teams with proven track records. And they want plans needing multiple millions of dollars, generally $4-5 million and up. There are only a few hundred true venture capital firms in the United States, probably half of them located...
By Tim Berry, Courtesy of Bplans.com
Choosing the best name for your new company, and how to protect it...
The two concerns for startup business names are the legal requirements, and the commercial use. We are talking about the name of your business, in this section, not your trademarks, or service marks, logos, or slogans. We are not attorneys, we do not give legal advice, so be sure to check with an attorney early on as you build your business. Trademark law protects product names,...
The Studio Protector Online Guide is the source for emergency preparedness and recovery information for artists.
The Online Guide provides in-depth guide to disaster prevention and planning. Concisely-written pages on a wide variety of topics with annotated listings of web and print resources will help steer you to more comprehensive and technical information. Interviews with artists and experts add straightforward real-world experience to the mix of topics and...
The Puffin Foundation Ltd. has sought to open the doors of artistic expression by providing grants to artists and art organizations who are often excluded from mainstream opportunities due to their race, gender, or social philosophy.
Why the Puffin?
The Puffin, once endangered in the northeastern United States, was returned to its native habitats through the efforts of a concerned citizenry. Our name is a metaphor for how we perceive our mission in the arts: to join with other concerned groups...
Grant Space is a service of the Foundation Center.
Resource Skills Topics include:
Accountability
Boards
Collaboration
Communications/Marketing
Corporate Giving
Developing Proposals
Employment/Careers
Evaluation
Financial Management
Finding Funders
Fiscal Sponsorship
Foundation Fundraising
Fundraising Planning
Incorporation
Individual Donors
...
Reliable health information from the US Department of Health & Human Services, includes food safety and recall information, free and low-cost health care, health insurance information, and more. . . learn more at HealthFinder.gov
The basic definition of trademark licensing is rather straightforward, if somewhat legalistic. A license is an agreement through which a licensee leases the rights to a legally protected piece of intellectual property from a licensor – the entity which owns or represents the property — for use in conjunction with a product or service.
But the relative simplicity of that definition is a mere gateway to a way of doing business in an ever-widening range of product categories and types...
Insurance for public art projects can be a nightmare to understand: every city and commissioning entity is likely to ask for different insurance in different ways. This guide is here to help you begin to navigate the maze of requirements that your next project may present.
Topics include:
Commercial General Liability
Volunteer Accident
Workers' Compensation
Property Coverage
General Liability Insurance (Individuals)
Directors and Officers Insurance
International Touring...
Presentation information by Intuit Quickbooks.
Includes a comprehensive overview of Financial Management & Accounting essentials for small business owners.
Quickbooks Simple Start Presentation
View more PowerPoint from Spacetaker
Spacetaker is developing a comprehensive series of Arts Marketing workshops providing practical marketing guides and exploring best practices. The series focuses on assisting artists and arts organizations effectively market their art and programming: engaging the press, creating effective press releases/collateral, utilizing online promotional tools, pricing strategies for artwork, etc.
About this presentation:Ever heard or read an interview that piqued your interest and illuminated an...
Courtesy of Music First Coalition.
4 page download includes chart summary of Royalty Rate and Exemptions for Public and Commercial Broadcasters which cite the Performance Rights Act S.379 & H.R.848. Also available to view online.
Courtesy of Columbia College Chicago
selection:
Your portfolio should reflect your very best projects and the needs and interests of the people you plan to approach for work. Find out what they need to see from you and select work samples that are as close a match as possible. Create new work for your book if you need to. Make it easy for clients to imagine working with you.
sequence:
The common wisdom “start strong- finish strong” plays...
The Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA) supports the cultural community in Texas by providing volunteer legal and accounting services, educational programs and publications to artists, nonprofit arts organizations and other art constituents.
TALA was formed in 1979 to meet the legal and accounting needs of artists and nonprofit organizations. Our services include lawyer and accountant pro bono assistance, dispute resolution services, educational programs for the artistic...
As a musician, insurance may not be something that you have had to consider very often. However, when the issue arises it's best to know what to look for and the most important types of coverage to consider.
This guide will help you to decide what is absolutely essential, what is relatively important, and what is simply nice to have.
Topics include:
Commercial General Liability
Volunteer Accident
Workers' Compensation
Property Coverage
General Liability Insurance (Individuals)...
The mission of NIOSH is to generate new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transfer that knowledge into practice for the betterment of workers. To accomplish this mission, NIOSH conducts scientific research, develops guidance and authoritative recommendations, disseminates information, and responds to requests for workplace health hazard evaluations.
NIOSH provides national and world leadership to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and death by...
Courtesy of the College Art Association. Adopted by the CAA Board of Directors in February 1999.
General Comments
The artist résumé conventions presented here are designed primarily for use with commercial galleries. While its length, one to four pages, is similar to the “short curriculum vitae,” or “short cv,” it is not intended for academic situations.
Avoid making the artist résumé complicated. It is meant to be short and simple to review....
Created in 1993 through the Foundation for the Contemporary Arts, Emergency Grants provides speedy funding for visual and performing artists who have unanticipated, sudden opportunities to present their work to the public, or who incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates. The grants are intended to support the creation of innovative and experimental work, and are meant to assist individuals and groups...
Since its founding on July 30, 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions, advocacy and other forms of assistance to small businesses.
Starting a Business
Learn the aspects of starting a business, plus get the answers and information you need to startup.
Thinking About Starting
Find a Mentor or Counselor
Writing a Business Plan
Establishing a Business
Preparing...
Q: How do I write a grant proposal for my individual project? Where can I find samples?
A: Few proposal writing resources are geared specifically to individual grantseekers. Foundations that give to individuals have highly specific criteria, and this makes it hard to create a comprehensive "how-to" guide.
Successful grant proposals:
Deliver an important idea and address a significant issue.
Show that the applicant has chosen an innovative approach to that...
By Sandra Block, Courtesy of USA TODAY.
The ads are ubiquitous, and for consumers awash in debt, nearly impossible to ignore: Reduce your credit card bills 50%! Avoid bankruptcy! The relief is real!
Behind the ads is a fast-growing industry that barely existed a decade ago. Debt-settlement companies claim they can significantly reduce borrowers' debts by negotiating directly with creditors. Unlike most businesses, these companies have flourished during the economic...
Courtesy of Music-Law.com
Copyrights are huge in the music industry. Everywhere you turn when dealing with music you will come across different copyright laws and requirements. That said, it is extremely important for you to know and understand what is all involved in copyrights. You will also need to know how to obtain one to protect the music that you and your band create. This is relatively simply and most of the forms can be found at the US Copyright Office website,...
Free Tax Help & Preparation in Greater Houston
Neighborhood Tax Centers, an IRS VITA program, offer free quality tax preparation by IRS-certified tax preparers.
Locations around Houston, Pasadena, Clear Lake and Stafford are now open.
Free Tax Preparation
Free e-filing for FAST refund
Free direct deposit
Free ITINs
Who BENEFITS from this service?
Families making up to $70,000 and single individuals with no children making up to $40...
Breakthrough Skills for the Modern Day Artist.
A career seminar by Impulse Artist Series & Spacetaker, by K.C. Scharnberg.
Mainstream Media Relation Strategies
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Courtesy of NYFA.org
So you want a grant—that chunk of money that’s "out there" just waiting for your request? But you’re impatient, sometimes believing that the road to success must open before you faster than Moses parted the Red Sea. In your search for grants, you buy and read everything about this free cash, continually look for people to guide you to said loot, and still you haven’t gotten any closer to it. At some point, you’re probably going...
Content:
A performer’s resume details your experience in a performing arts discipline, your abilities as a performer, and your physical characteristics. In a professional resume, it is considered inappropriate to include personal information, but in your performer’s resume, you will have to include personal information. Often, employers will want t know your height, weight, hair color and build. Sometimes, they’ll even want your measurements, for costume purposes.
...
Courtesy of NOLO, Legal Encyclopedia.
How to improve your chances of success when starting a homebusiness
Home business is booming, and so is craft and hobby business. Craft work is a $13 billion dollar industry in the United States, and crafts artisans now average $76,000 in annual sales. Even better, the tax code is full of deductions for businesses -- and you are entitled to take them whether you work from home or from a studio space.
Besides the financial...
In this podcast of Creative Marketing ABCs:
We talk about understanding WHO you are marketing to. Once you determine what you are marketing, you can then determine WHO to direct your marketing message towards. We discus how to find who to promote to, how to interact and communicate with your audience:
Knowing WHAT you are marketing will determine WHO you are marketing to
Connecting with your audience
Benefits of understanding “who”
Understanding the sales line, not all...
Developing a Marketing & PR Strategy
View more presentations from Spacetaker
Information compiled by the Artist Rights Society.
What is Copyright? Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) to the creators of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available for both published and unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right...
Excerpted from Edward Winkleman's Blog, courtesy of Chicago Artist Resource.
Bambino and I were interviewed recently by a charming and very smart young writing duo who are working on a how-to book for artists that's being published by a major publishing house soon-ish. We'll give you plenty of info when it's closer to the time that you can get a copy for yourself. It does sound as if it will be very helpful.
One of the questions that came up...
Courtesy of Art Advice.
“Actors search for rejection, when they don’t get it, they reject themselves.” Charlie Chaplin
Most artists harbor the fantasy that if they could only find one art dealer that loved and believed in their work, their career would be set. They secretly believe that there exists a special person that can catapult them to fame. Many artists spend most of their careers searching for “the perfect gallery.” And, as all quests...
Courtesy of ArtJob.com Blogger Karen Atkinson on how to present yourself during a job interview or when speaking in public.
You will come across many situations where you have to present yourself and your work: job interviews, studio visits, curator visits, public art presentations, lectures, workshops, grant interviews, symposiums, teaching demonstrations for interviews, collectors, gallery talks, museum walkthroughs, reviewers/writers, presentations to funders, producers and more. The...
The IRS offers free assistance by computer, fax, telephone and in person. The IRS can help taxpayers get forms and publications and answer a wide range of tax questions. The IRS can also help find free tax preparation services for those who qualify . . . view more
Courtesy of Columbia College Chicago
Do an Audit
Strategizing your web presence is not just about taking down the negative. It’s about building up the content that is positive and professional. Do a google search to see what comes up about you. Ideally something professional (ie, LinkedIn, your portfolio site, articles about you) comes up on the first page. If not, you’ve got some work to do.
Decide where you need to be
Consider both the nature of your work, and...
A SWOT Analysis is a common focusing tool used by business and nonprofits to assist in long range planning, goal setting, and/or agency assessments. It can be effectively used as the initial step in developing a fundraising plan . . . view more
Get Discovered: Optimizing Tools to Enhance Your Web Presence
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Glossary of Grant Terminology
ACCESS ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations (such as auxiliary aids, barrier removal, and specialized services) that ensure that individuals with disabilities affecting hearing, vision, speech, cognition, or physical movement are provided with the means to communicate and participate equally.
ARTIST
A practitioner of the visual, performing, literary, media, craft, and/or folk arts.
AUDIT
A formal examination and subsequent financial report and management letter of the...
Freelancers Union believes all workers should have the freedom to build meaningful, connected, and independent lives – backed by a system of mutual and public support.
Nearly one in three working Americans is an independent worker. That's 42 million people – and growing. We're lawyers and nannies. We're graphic designers and temps. We're the future of the economy. Freelancers Union serves the needs of this growing independent sector. We're...
Courtesy of The Entrepreneur.com
Are you working on clock time or 'real' time? Learn how to manage your day by understanding the difference with these 10 time management tips.
Chances are good that, at some time in your life, you've taken a time management class, read about it in books, and tried to use an electronic or paper-based day planner to organize, prioritize and schedule your day. "Why, with this knowledge and these gadgets," you may ask, "do I...
Engagement with your audience is one of great advantages of social media marketing, but creating meaningful and advantageous conversations is as much an art as it is a science. Engagement increases brand loyalty and public conversations can serve as free advertising . . . view more
Courtesy of GoodLifeCoaching.com
Creating a Life map can be particularly useful if you have a life goal that isn't feasible for you right now. You can decide where you want to be in, say, 5 or 10 years and plan a strategy to get you there over that time. The steps you take might include cutting back on your extravagances, or even moving to a less expensive home, to save money so you have a cushion to fall back on during an anticipated career change. It might mean acquiring or honing skills...
Courtesy of the Practical Art World
Many artists, ranging from emerging or amateur artists all the way to fully established professionals, create commissioned works for clients. The idea of a commission is that the purchaser has some input into the finished work that they are buying. This can range from vague direction or discussion all the way to specific agreed upon terms for colors, subject matter, materials used, size, etc. It is up to each artist to decide how much input or direction they...
Courtesy of ArtsTaxInfo.com
Expense checklist for actors PDF Version
Expense checklist for actors Excel Worksheet Version
Income worksheet for actors PDF Version
Income worksheet for actors Excel Worksheet Version
12 month expense worksheet for actors Excel Worksheet Version
Read the full article at www.artstaxinfo.com/actors.shtml
Courtesy of the Practical Art World.
At any point in an artist’s career, they many begin to seek out representation from a commercial gallery. This has several benefits for the artist, including more exposure, a better venue to show work (presumably), less self-marketing, and hopefully more sales (if that is what the artist is after).
As many galleries are quite established and receive numerous submissions constantly, it can be tricky for artists to get a good “foot in the...
Artists tend not to like contracts. They’re creative people, flexible, open to the impulses of the imagination, and they have little patience with the “legalese” and the constrictions of documented agreements. Chances are when you read the word “contract,” you picture 17 pages of fine print with numbered paragraphs and long complex sentences whose subject and verb are as hard to find as product support on a Saturday afternoon. But a contract doesn’t...
Press releases can be a helpful tool for artists who want to bring awareness to their art, successfully market and advertise their brand, as well as get people to their website or portfolio. But what exactly is a press release? A press release is defined as “a prepared statement about something deemed newsworthy that will be distributed in the news media to gain attention.” But any artist can write a press release; the secret is getting it noticed, then published . . ....
Courtesy of Art Business.com
Generating income from art in the form of either cash or cash equivalents is always challenging, especially for artists with unconventional ideas or for those who create art that may not be commercially viable. The good news is that the art world is one place where anyone who shows talent and promise, marketable or otherwise, can get help in a variety of ways including cash grants, residencies, employment or internships, allowances, free or low-cost studio space,...
By Maisha Walker, Courtesy of Bplans.com
As I mentioned in The Weakest Link – Your Social Media Marketing “Killer App” social media tools empower you, using tools that are largely free, to maximize your business’ exposure and interaction, connecting and staying in touch more often and with more people than you ever could before.
Now I’d like to talk about how. How does one do this? It all starts with knowing which tools are most useful...
Comprehensive national listings of Visual Art, Media, Art in Public Places, Internships, Fundng, Arts Marketing, Job, Publication, and other opportunities . . . view more
Copyfight is a web blog that explores the nexus of legal rulings, Capitol Hill policy-making, technical standards development, and technological innovation that creates the networked world as we know it. Among the topics discussed: Intellectual property conflicts, technical architecture and innovation, the evolution of copyright, private vs. public interests in Net policy-making, lobbying and the law, and more.
By Alanna Martinez and Chloe Wyma, Coutesy of ArtInfo.com
The path to a successful art career can be a twisting one, but one commonly traveled route is the artist residency. There are hundreds of residencies out there, ranging from highly prestigious programs that are invitation-only — like those of Artpace, the Walker Art Center, or UCLA’s Hammer Museum, all of which mainly invite established artists to create fully funded projects — to more open,...
Courtesy of LearntoArt.com
When you apply for art shows, there will be a few things that the gallery will ask you to submit: a statement, a CV and examples of your work. Galleries won’t ask for them, but there are also a few other must-have elements of your exhibition proposal. One of these is a cover letter.
A well-crafted cover letter shows a certain amount of professionalism. It tells the gallery curator that you take yourself seriously. Think of your cover...
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
HHS works closely with state and local governments, and many HHS-funded services are provided at the local level by state or county agencies, or through private sector grantees. The Department’s programs are administered by 11 operating...
Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news published by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. EHP"s mission is to serve as a forum for the discussion of the interrelationships between the environment and human health by publishing in a balanced and objective manner the best peer-reviewed research and most current and credible news of the field...
Courtesy of The Abundant Artist
Successful artpreneurs do a lot of research to find out where they can best position themselves in a market. In a recent interview with superstar artist Matt Leblanc, he talks about how he spent a fair amount of time researching his market to find out what kind of art was out there, who was doing it, how much they were charging, and how much they were selling.
Using this research, Matt was able to position his art at a certain price point that fell right in the...
Copyright Basics by TALA & Spacetaker
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Social Media Management with Black Sheep Agency
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Courtesy of InnerDialogue.net.
Given the unexpected popularity of some of the most recent exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia it would be easy to expect that the new visitors would understand the etiquette of visiting such a institution. But after visiting the current exhibition (Degas: Master of French Art) it seems that some people are in desperate need of education. Here are some simple rules that can apply to not only the NGA but any big gallery in the world, and are...
By Wade Black
What You Should Know - A Pre-Ramble
What I've got to say you can take or leave; it's all personal impressions. It's personal, dogmatic, and more concerned with attitude than with grantwriting secrets. It's also intentionally hardnosed -- whether that means realistic or pessimistic -- much of the time. When I write a grant, I know the odds are three to one that it will be rejected. That's why attitude is important. If you want to live with grants,...
Courtesy of PhotographyBay.com
The materials offered on and through this website are provided for informational purposes only, and are believed to be accurate, but are not intended to be and should not be considered or relied upon as legal advice regarding any specific topic or matter. Further, the information contained herein does not reflect the legal opinions of Photography Bay or its authors and is not intended to be a solicitation or to render legal advice. If you think...
With a wide variety of conflicting information today’s artists are often asking the question, if I’m selling art online, do I need a blog? In an effort to maximize your online selling experience, an artist should have a blog. Additionally, they should also have a website, but a blog can be just as powerful an Art Marketing tool if used properly.
Probably the most effective way to use a blog is to update it periodically about events or things that you are working on as an artist. An...
Here is a step by step walkthrough on how to create a new account on Fresh Arts. It also takes you through how to make your profile, your free page to the Fresh Arts community, and a brief explanation on what new users are seeing for the first time. If you have any questions please let us know.
Email us at: beta@spacetaker.org
* Fresh Arts refers to the organization created from the merging of Spacetaker and Fresh Arts Coalition in 2012.
Prosper is the world's largest peer-to-peer lendingmarketplace, with more than 1,280,000 members and over $322,000,000 in funded loans.
Prosper allows people to invest in each other in a way that is financially and socially rewarding. On Prosper, borrowers list loan requests between $2,000 and $25,000 and individual lenders invest as little as $25 in each loan listing they select. In addition to credit scores, ratings, and histories, investors can consider borrowers’...
Courtesy of The Practical Art World.com
I purposely did not call this post “how to write an artist’s statement.” Because the answer is, there is no definitive right or wrong way to write an artist’s statement. The main purpose of an artist’s statement is to augment your artistic practice. This could be by offering background information, an explanation of your process, or any other information that will enhance the critical understanding...
Courtesy of Fractured Atlas Virtual Pocket Guides
At its most basic level, health insurance provides payment for healthcare services. So when you need your annual physical, a cast for a broken leg, or surgery for appendicitis, your health insurance will either pay for services outright or make them affordable. You pay a little now to save a whole lot later on. The monthly cost of being insured is the premium.
The purpose of insurance is to protect you against the...
MOO is an award-winning online print business. MOO helps customers print things like Business Cards, PostcardsandMiniCards, making it easy for them to share information about themselves or their business in the real world. MOO prints millions of cards a month and has hundreds of thousands of customers in over 180 countries. MOO has also become a much-loved brand, with a 75% NetPromoter rating. Learn more at Moo.com
Spacetaker presentation courtesy of Keith Jaasma, Patterson &Sheridan, LLP.
The Right of Publicity: Using the Famous, Infamous, and Regular Folks in Art
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SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for nearly fifty years.
Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and thanks to our network of 13,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at very low cost.
We can provide:
Volunteer MENTORS who share their expertise across 62...
How Artists can Engage Audiences Through Social Media
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An art portfolio is important for an artist to display work to clients and galleries, and it should include a variety of work in the form of slides, transparencies or prints. Create an art portfolio with tips from a professional illustrator in this free video on art.
Courtesy of IRS.gov.
In today’s economy, small business owners sometimes look to the oldest form of commerce — the exchange of goods and services, or bartering. The Internal Revenue Service wants to remind small business owners that bartering transactions generally have associated tax reporting, accounting and recordkeeping responsibilities.
Bartering is the trading of one product or service for another. Usually there is no swap of cash. Barter may take place on an...
Courtesy of Art Quest.org.
The resurgence of performance-related artistic practices over the past decade raises complex aesthetic, legal and, at times, ethical questions regarding the protection, authorship and ownership of the ‘works’ generated through these artistic practices.
The relevance of these questions can be linked to the recent revival of interest in Performance Art from the 1960s and 70s and the growth in the market for artistic performances through their film...
A career seminar presented by Impulse Artist Series and Spacetaker. By Dr. Michael Remson, American Festival for the Arts.
Commissions & Grant Writing
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The easy-to-understand legal content on FreeAdvice.com has been prepared and is updated by nationally renown specialists at dozens of leading American law firms, and by other capable attorneys and legal professionals on the Company's highly qualified legal and editorial staff. The insurance content has been prepared by leading insurance experts. We welcome suggestions for new topics, and welcome submission of original high quality legal, insurance and investment content for publication on...
Amy Stolls, literature program officer at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), discusses NEA programs for individuals and nonprofits and common mistakes that are made when individuals apply. Includes tips on how to make a proposal stand out . . . view more
Experian provides consumers and businesses with the information they need to make better financial decisions. As a top credit reporting agency, we are dedicated to helping people get their credit reports, find out their credit scores, prevent identity theft, manage their credit rating, become educated on basic consumer credit information and control the economic aspects of major life events. Experian also strives to help companies develop a credit history, manage credit risk, prevent fraud and...
Courtesy of Music First Coalition.
Big corporate radio fails adequately to serve minority communities or to present diverse viewpoints relevant to local communities. Importantly, ALL of the artist-sponsored legislation specifically carves out exceptions for smaller stations and ensures more - not less - diversity on America's airwaves.
Small commercial radio stations: Over half of all commercial stations would pay as little as $100 and no more than $500 per year for all the music...
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal regulatory agency created to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with some 15,000 types of consumer products. An important part of this mission is to inform the public about product hazards. CPSC uses various means to inform the public. These include local and national media coverage, publication of numerous booklets and product alerts, a web site, a telephone Hotline, the...
By Greg Balank-Dickson, courtesy of Bplan.com
I strongly suggest that would-be entrepreneurs do a business plan. As a result of completing the plan you will be much better prepared and know whether or not your business idea is feasible. Try the following article for a short-cut. However, I caution you on following a short-cut unless you have substantial experience or knowledge about your area. Proceed with caution without a business plan!
How is your business unique, and why will your...
Formed in 1939 as a non-profit-making performing right organization, BMI was the first to offer representation to songwriters of blues, country, jazz, r&b, gospel, folk, Latin and, ultimately, rock & roll.
BMI was founded by radio executives to provide competition in the field of performing rights, to assure royalty payments to writers and publishers of music not represented by the existing performing right organization and to provide an alternative source of licensing for all music...
Checklist prepared by Spacetaker in conjunction with the "Business Skills for Visual Artists" workshop.
Necessary Basics:
-Make sure you have a website. Keep it updated.
-Make sure you have an Artist Portfolio.
-Make sure you have business cards and you have them with you at all times.
-Keep a current contact list of everyone who has come to your shows, purchased your work, or expressed interest in your work. Include mailing address and emails.
-Make sure...
Courtesy of ArtJob.org
The great philosopher (Heraclitus, 535 BC) created the term panta rei, which means to create a blurred, fragmented and hyphenated entity, something that seamlessly flows from one form to the next. It means that everything is constantly changing, from the smallest grain of sand to the stars in the sky. Thus, every object ultimately is a figment of one's imagination. Only change itself is real. Eternal flux, defines this conception of reality, like the...
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Artist’s Lecture Contract Includes the following topics:
Lecture Specifics
Payment
Performance
Late Payment
Incidentals
Copyrights and Recordings
Insurance
Packing and Shipping
Modifying the contract
Schedule of Artworks
. . . view more
NOTE: These sample contracts are for checklist purposes only. You use these contracts at your own risk. Neither Spacetaker nor GYST-ink will not be held responsible for any unfavorable...
Courtesy of Art Show.com
There are many things artists should consider before entering art contests, competitions, and juried exhibitions:
- Is the event local, regional, national, or international? The larger the pool of artists, the harder it will be to get accepted into the show, but the prizes are generally higher.
- Does your work meet the guidelines for theme, medium, size, weight, and presentation requirements?
- Are you required to send a bio, artist's...
Art-marketing and artist career consultant Alyson B. Stanfield of ArtBizCoach.com offers motivation, inspiration, and and practical tips to help artists promote themselves in today's crowded art market. This is the audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter. Includes 189 free downloadable Podcasts from iTunes.
view all podcasts at itunes.apple.com
Worksheets Courtesy of ArtsTaxInfo.com
Expense checklist for visual artists PDF Version
Expense checklist for visual artists Excel Worksheet Version
Income worksheet for visual artists PDF Version
Income worksheet for visual artists Excel Worksheet Version
12 month expense worksheet for visual artists Excel Worksheet Version
Read the full article at www.artstaxinfo.com/artists.shtml
Courtesy of Freddie Mac
With Your Step-by-Step Mortgage Guide, you will find just about everything you need to help homebuyers navigate the mortgage process so that they take the right steps to purchase their home.
1. Overview of the Mortgage Process
2. Understanding the People and Their Services
3. What You Should Know About Your Mortgage Loan Application
4. Understanding Your Costs Through Estimates, Disclosures, and More
5....
Health and safety, searchable database compiled by the City of Tuscon's Arts District
Database of Art Mediums
Ceramics
Painting & Drawing
Pigments
Child Art
Painting & Drawing
Preservatives
Child Art
Materials to Avoid
Painting & Drawing
Techniques
Child Art
Rules for Safety
Photography
Techniques
Commerical Art
Photography
Chemicals
Glass Art
Printmaking
Techniques
Jewelry
Sculpture
Metalworking
Textile Art
Metalworking
Patina...
Courtesy of Studio Protector, and Craft Emergency Relief Fund.
The following organizations and companies offer business insurance to artists. We provide this as a resource only, and do not endorse products offered by any company or organization.
Contact list available at studioprotector.org
Courtesy of NYFA.org. Compiled by Andrea Mills and Steve Barry, Grant Thornton Philadelphia.
Question 1. Do I need an accountant?
If you are able to do your bookkeeping and file your tax returns yourself, then you probably do not need an accountant. Once your business becomes more complicated or more time-consuming, then it is probably advisable to hire an accountant and a bookkeeper. It is also advisable to hire a qualified professional such as an accountant or an attorney during...
By Geoffrey Gorman, courtesy of NYFA.
By analyzing and looking at the careers of other successful artists I have identified the habits that help them succeed. When you meet professional artists, take some time to note which of these habits they practice. If you start concentrating and incorporating these successful habits into your life on a consistent basis, you will see positive results and benefits.
1. Visualize Succeeding at Your Goals. Recently an artist called me from the...
Courtesy of the Practical Art World.
Once you’ve hung artwork for an exhibition, how are you going to pass on the details of the works to visitors? There are several different options for labeling your work in this setting, though each should let visitors know:
The artist’s name
The title of the work
The medium of the work
The size of the work
The price of the work (if applicable)
Here is an example:
Vincent van Gogh
The Starry Night, 1889
Oil on canvas
73.7 cm...
Courtesy of Art Marketing Secrets
Many artists say that SEO is a waste of time because Word-of-Mouth marketing is more powerful. Let me say that from my experience nothing else compares with word-of-mouth – a referral from a happy client or partner is undoubtedly the “gold standard” in marketing. It comes with an instant level of trust and positions you much closer to closing a sale.
But if that is the case why do other businesses engage in so much extra marketing and...
By Peter Jason Riley, CPA. Courtesy of ArtsTaxInfo.com
Artists and taxes don’t seem to mix very well. Taxes and administrating the business of art are often last on the list of concerns for the visual artist. The artistic temperament simply does not interface well with the exacting rule-filled world of federal and state taxation. Artists tend to avoid the whole matter and consequently leave themselves vulnerable to bad advice. The secret to overcoming this...
Focus on Finance…
Co-Sponsored by Spacetaker and Amegy Bank of Texas.
Finances are something that reaches every part of our lives. When you are an artist you have more than personal finances to consider, you have your business finances to consider also. Financial knowledge is not something we are born with. It takes learning and practice. Just as you have practiced your art you need to work on financial intelligence. With some basic tools you can conquer both personal and business...
Courtesy of GYST-ink.com
Contract for Model Release Form
There are many rules regarding when you need permission to record individuals, the likeness of individuals in particular settings or environments. Always use a model release form when you record a person in video or still photography or any media likeness, including painting. A general rule is if you can accurately see their face on the finished product you must have them sign a model release form . . . view more
NOTE...
Website designing and marketing is not just confined to companies doing conventional business or buying or selling of products/services. Even artists have recognized the importance of marketing their artwork for better response and good deals. Their marketing can be termed as art marketing, which is done in a very systematic and planned manner. Several outlets and art galleries have mushroomed in recent times. Artists can explore these places for brand awareness, further greater sales can be...
Courtesy of Art Business.com.
Feeling too famous? Selling too much art? Getting too popular? Based on actual experiences I've had with artists at their openings and shows over the years, those are about the only logical conclusions I can come to. Seems like some artists are just plain determined to undermine their careers. Now if you're wondering whether that might describe you, then check out these proven methods that any artist can use to sabotage their art openings, open...
Courtesy of TransUnion
Wondering when judgments and bankruptcies will no longer appear on your credit reports? Check the dates on records in your credit report. Generally, here's how long judgments and bankruptcies remain on a credit report:
Bankruptcy
Generally, Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcies appear as public record items on your credit report for up to 10 years after filing. Chapter 13 bankruptcy records are sometimes taken off sooner, 7 years after filing, depending on the...
Downloadable guide for Artist Statements.
Excerpt:
An artist's statement (or artist statement) is a brief text composed by an artist and intended to explain, justify, and contextualize his or her body of work. Artists often have a short (50-100 word) and a long (500-1000 word) version of the same statement, and they may maintain and revise these statements throughout their careers. The writing of artists' statements is a comparatively recent phenomenon.[citation needed]In some...
Courtesy of CVtips.com
Have you ever been to a classical music concert or seen one on television? The musicians seem to have it made- they only have to work a few hours a night, they dress well and make an absolute fortune, the audience cheers and throws roses-sounds like an easy life, doesn't it? Well, think again! This article will discuss the pros and cons of a career as a classical musician.
First of all, in fairness, let's address the hours that are required to become...
Courtesy of NOLO.com
From insurance to accounting to taxes, here's what you need to do to start a business.
Thinking about starting a business? You're not alone. Every year, thousands of Americans catch the entrepreneurial spirit, launching small businesses to sell their products or services. Some businesses thrive; many fail. The more you know about starting a business, the more power you have to form an organization that develops into a lasting source of income and satisfaction...
Courtesy of The Abundant Artist
So Many things seem obvious when we see them written out, but the results come not just by knowing but by doing as well. Abundant Artist has been asked over and over, "What do I do to get my art career started?", as well as, "I've had some success (or even a lot of success by most standards) but what to I do to advance my art career - to take it to a new level?" The list below is the essence of "what you do". ...
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and...
By Peter Jason Riley, CPA, Courtesy of ArtsTaxInfo.com
The home office has been a contentious subject in my profession for a number of years. With recent legislation, the home office has clearly returned to its rightful place as an allowable deduction for many folks with home based businesses. If you use a room (or rooms) in your home exclusively as your office, you will most likely qualify for the home office deduction. To qualify as a deductible home office the space must generally be...
By Moderandi Inc.
Tie your marketing & sales to business strategy to improve performance. This 96 page ebook covers 29 sales & marketing subjects from competitive positioning and marketing plans to campaigns, sales management and ROI.
Using graphics, charts and short copy, the ebook covers how each subject fits into the process, best and worst-case scenarios and key steps to follow to incorporate it into your business.
Strategic Marketing Process eBook
View...
By Tim Berry, Courtesy of Mplans.com
What is CRM?
Customer Relationship Management is an information industry term for methodologies, software, and, usually, Internet capabilities that help an enterprise manage customer relationships in an organized way. For example, an enterprise might build a database about its customers that described relationships in sufficient detail. Therefore, management, salespeople, people providing services, and perhaps the customers could directly access...
Courtesy of Kim Ritter Web Blog
Are you an artist at the point when they are making the leap to professional artist. Do you want to turn your hobby into as profession. Are you no longer in the sampling phase of artistic growth, no longer flitting from technique to technique, from workshop to workshop, from style to style? Are you beginning to see you have a personal unique style that is evident in your work? Have you made it a goal to work towards a cohesive body of original work? Do...
By Tim Long, Courtesy of Columbia College of Chicago
A portfolio presentation in any format is a demonstration of your skills and talents and a suggestion of your style or artistic vision. Crafting a carefully written statement to put on your portfolio website can enhance the impression your work makes and clarify your goals.
Understand a bio not as a chance to tell your history as a creative person ("I was five years old when I started drawing pictures of my cat...") but instead a...
The U.S. Copyright Office website has been created with the desire to serve the copyright community of creators and users, as well as the general public. Here you will find information about the online registration option and other news about reengineering; all our key publications including informational circulars; application forms for copyright registration; links to the copyright law and to the homepages of other copyright-related organizations; a link to online copyright records cataloged...
By Daniel Kehrer, Founder of BizBest.com, courtesy of Score.org.
Pinterest – the hot new social media network – is starting to catch the eye of many small business owners. And the reason is simple: It’s a great new way to drive traffic to your website and create leads for your business.
In fact, the early read on Pinterest is that it’s more effective in some cases than Facebook. And growth on this social sharing site, which is free to use, has been...
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is your voice at the IRS. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS and helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the problems.
TAS helps taxpayers resolve issues they’re having with the IRS through multiple services and programs, including: Case Advocacy, Systemic Advocacy, the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics . . . learn more
This is the place for artists to learn how to earn income by licensing their art. But what does that mean, exactly?
"Licensing" is a way of generating income from your art. Instead of selling originals or selling your designs outright, many artists will grant the right (license) to use their art on a specific product, for a set time period in exchange for a percentage of sales. This percentage is called a royalty. By licensing your art, you have the potential to earn income on the...
Courtesy of Art Advice.com
“But that’s what being an artist is – feeling crummy before everyone else feels crummy. ” ~The New Yorker
Almost everyone has experienced loss in one form or another at some point in their lives. After the tragedy on September 11th, most of us don’t have to look very far to find someone who has been touched by loss. For artists, learning how to recognize and cope with loss will help them in understanding the common...
Courtesy of ArtAdvice.com
The level of success an artist achieves when entering juried shows, obviously relates to the quality of your work. However, artists may be surprised to learn there are many other, not so obvious reasons, their work is selected or rejected.
Picking the RIGHT juried show...
One of the most important things you can do, comes before any work is looked at. It has to do with your process in selecting whether or not a juried show is appropriate for your work. I...
In 2009, Spacetaker hosted TALA (Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts) for an informal workshop, led by TALA staff attorney Erin Rodgers, covering some of the most common copyright issues that artists, writers, and musicians face.
The workshop addressed:
-registration
-licensing
-infringement
-creative commons
-trademark topics
Copyright Basics by TALA & Spacetaker
View more presentations from Spacetaker ARC.
Spacetaker wishes to thank Ms. Rodgers and...
By Tim Berry, Courtesy of Bplans.com
Businesses spend money before they ever open their doors. Start-up expenses are those expenses incurred before the business is running. Many people underestimate start-up costs and start their business in a haphazard, unplanned way. This can work… but is usually a harder way to do it. Customers are wary of brand new businesses with makeshift logistics.
Use a start-up worksheet to plan your initial financing. You’ll need this information...
Artists and designers need high quality documentation of their prints and paintings for print portfolios, websites, graduate school applications, and for museum and gallery record keeping. If you carefully follow this guide and take the necessary time, you’ll get great photographs of your work.
tools: digital camera (not a point and shoot), tripod, thumb tacks, tape, 2 lights, tape measure, small level, Photoshop or other image retouching software.
...
In 2009, Spacetaker began developing a comprehensive series of Arts Marketing workshops providing practical marketing guides and exploring best practices.
The third workshop, led by Linda Darke Swaynos (Darke Gallery), Wade Wilson (Wade Wilson Art), and Taft McWhorter (Artist & Arts Marketer), covered:
-establishing relationships with galleries
-types of sales arrangements
-gallery etiquette
-pricing strategies
The corresponding notes were created by Taft McWhorter.
Notes...
Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. With a strong heritage of innovation and leadership, we leverage our unique data, advanced analytics and proprietary technology to enrich the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.
Dispute inaccurate credit details here
Excerpt from an article written for the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF); updated December 2010
Good Recordkeeping + Safe Storage = Peace of Mind
No one, no space, no area is immune from disaster. Be it natural or otherwise, disaster can and will happen. After surviving a disaster, recovery can be difficult, yet possible, since to varying degrees most things such as artwork and work space can be replaced or recreated — most things, that is, save one: important original career-...
Legal Handbooks
The HBA (Houston Bar Association) has three legal handbooks available in English, Spanish, and Chinese for the public and some handbooks available in Vietnamese and Korean. These handbooks are prepared by attorneys who are experts in their respective fields, and are written in an easy to read, question and answer format. The handbooks are updated after every Texas Legislature session (every 2 years.) Also available is a medical directive to physicians and family or...
In this webinar from GrantSpace.org you will learn the basics of writing a proposal for your nonprofit organization. If you are new to proposal writing, you may be wondering:
What are the key components of a proposal to a foundation?
Who should sign a grant request?
How should the proposal be packaged?
Should you contact a funder if your proposal is turned down?
Proposal Writing Basics, an introductory overview of the process for new proposal writers, will give you some answers! ...
United States Artists is a public charity and grant making organization. Dedicated to arts advocacy, support and funding of America's finest living artists . . . learn more at www.unitedstatesartists.org
GRANTS. FELLOWSHIPS. RESIDENCIES. RESOURCES. MIRA'S LIST IS A RESOURCE FOR ARTISTS, WRITERS, COMPOSERS AND OTHERS IN THE ARTS. HERE YOU WILL FIND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, GREAT LINKS, INTERVIEWS WITH ARTISTS AND DEADLINES FOR GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCIES. MONEY, TIME AND A PLACE TO CREATE . . . view more at MirasList.blogspot.com
Resource Topics
Documentation
