garycrookartist.com

Observations of an Arts and Craft Fair.

July 31, 2008 at 8:09 pm · Filed under Art, Arts, Assumptions, Business, Career, Mentor, education, every wins, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, quid pro quo, radio, sales, semantics, semiotics, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

Observations of an Arts and Craft Fair.

First off, I want to sincerely say I KNOW it takes a lot of guts to go out in front of an audience and represent your art and yourself. You should be very proud of facing an oftentimes relentless public hell bent on ensuring you feel as crappy as possible about something you’d really like to do for a living some day. Seriously, pat yourself on the back for a moment. This stuff can be absolutely brutal! Been there; and still do that (constantly!) – have the physical and mental scars and bruises to prove it. :0)

Recently, in attending an arts and crafts fair, I noticed some of the same old sales problems that I remember practicing myself eight years or so ago at Stearns Wharf Art Show every Sunday in Santa Barbara California. Let me illustrate some of my observations from the recent attendance of an art and craft fair in Louisville, Kentucky.


	Part 1 – Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show! “Observations of an Art’s & Craft Fair.” by Gary Crook \| artist!, ABM Insitiute and ArtBusinessMentor.com

Based on what I’ve learned (the hard way…) here are some of my parallels to my recent Observations Art’s & Craft Fair visit:

I) Know your audience.
Taylor your arts product line (at least for this show – specifically) according to who will be attending the arts and craft show. Will they be predominantly tourists, like during the Kentucky Derby, or will they be local people who have lived here all their lives – and say, live within a mile of this show. Not to mention the fact that they will be walking to the show and wouldn’t set foot at Churchill Downs now-a-days because of all the tourists.

For example, bringing only big paintings, with high dollar amounts, and consisting of horses and jockey’s – or heavy stained-glass art work when all people really want to do is walk around, drink beer, play Frisbee with their dogs and watch the fireworks – is not a good idea (BOY! Do I know about that one!).

Create “disposable”-type art work to ensure re-sales at next year’s event. Create items that get used up in time; like a greeting card artwork or a small gift to ensure people will want to buy from you again.

And change your product line every year. People, especially in the United States of America, are constantly on the lookout for the new “fresh look.” You have to change product lines to keep up with the times or change a product look constantly to insure people will want to revisit you again (and again) to see “what’s new?!”

II) Stop entertaining and start selling.
Stop painting or making your jewelry on the spot – at the show. This is a huge distraction. And more to the point, these events need to be recognized as the time to sell! Because rest assured, these opportunities to sell don’t come along often enough. So when they do, create a product that will ensure that you make some money – thus ensuring you will be in next year show – AND GET TO SELLING!

Also, as a side note(s):

Don’t give away your secrets. You’re giving away your secrets here when people see you actually create the works on site – in many cases, liquidating ON THE SPOT your market value. You’re killing your own market when you show people how to do this work for themselves, or more importantly, how simple this really can be at times…
Or worse yet, you might even go about increasing your competition. Because rest assured, the vendors around you and other artists in attendance (like myself), are shopping new ideas from other artists just as much as the consumers are looking to purchase them.


	Part 2 – Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show! “Observations of an Art’s & Craft Fair.” by Gary Crook \| artist!, ABM Insitiute and ArtBusinessMentor.com

III) You are not going to be “discovered” here.
This is the time to make money and to sell. This is a time and opportunity for cash flow. So take it! Stop trying to hit a homerun every time you come up to the plate. Instead shoot for the nice soft singles. You know the ones that drop right behind the infield line and get the runner on first base every single time. This tactic – this baseball metaphor related to arts business – is a strategy that worked very well with me and one that ensures that your opponent hitting for the fences every time will get eaten alive by your steady consistent sales.

IV) Try to connect with people by having an opinion.
We’ve spoke of this a million (and one) times. Stop trying to cater to the wrong local market “tastes” and just simply be yourself. For example, don’t try to sell paintings of the Kentucky Derby – in the middle of the summer – to people that have lived in Louisville all the lives. Instead this is a time to be yourself and target the buying audience for people who actually live locally and are not interested in say Derby pictures. This is a time to be unique!

Part 3 – Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show!

“Observations of an Art’s & Craft Fair.”

by Gary Crook | artist!, ABM Insitiute and ArtBusinessMentor.com

V) Enjoy yourself! (Dammit!)

Get this scowl off your face! Find something in this to truly enjoy and enjoy the hell out of yourself!
Stop gossiping with the other vendors. They will surely poison your mind and you don’t need that right now. If you’re like me, you do that enough on your own – thank you very much! :0)
Get out in front of your art work and sell it. Surely you can deal with this for one day.
Have a genuine interest in people.

a) Here’s a guaranteed to work sales tactic. Have a genuine interest in people: look them over. Compliment or ask them about their haircuts, their shoes, their tattoos, jewelry, backpacks-whatever! Simply look them over for something unique -and then ask them about it… Because people love to talk about themselves (much like this blog and radio show . It’s a guaranteed way to get people to talk to you about your artwork. Because once you stop talking about their new tattoo or earrings – which can really last no more than a minute – they’re going to be more interested in what kind of art work you’re doing. You can then speak about your artwork and what you’re trying to do “over here” are how you “accomplished this effect” and HEY! “look at this cool little hidden drawer in here and so on.

Just have a genuine interest in people and have a good time at these shows. Because these are good times – believe it or not. And Yes, you will outgrow these shows soon enough.

Just remember, it does take a lot of guts to represent yourself in these shows. It takes a lot of courage to represent yourself in an attempt to make yourself a better arts career out. So utilize every one of these opportunities to their fullest extent and hopefully, you can learn from where I’ve screwed for the last decade or so…

Until next time,
Gary Crook | artist

Making peace with the powers that be…

July 18, 2008 at 10:05 am · Filed under Arts, Assumptions, Business, Career, Mentor, education, efficiency, every wins, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, quid pro quo, radio, semantics, semiotics, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

Alan Webber writing for USA Today Newspaper had a terrific quote for the topic of today’s blog/radio show – “Making Peace with the Powers that be.” In speaking of his conversation with Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus – creator of the Grameen Bank which uses micro-finance to improve the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh, Webber stated this quote:

“That’s how you win a Nobel peace prize: by making peace with the powers that be, the keepers of the status quo, rather then declaring war on them.”

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

*** Click HERE to listen to this Radio Show online! ***

I) What’s the problem?
I think there is a real laziness (yes, I said it – laziness…) associated with the arts in their attempt to address local and/or national (Hell! Worldwide!) problems and inequities for a given society or in regards to a given problem. In an attempt to grasp the moment, a sort of reliance on shock and spectacle critique has permeated the arts and contributed to the arts demise as a leading institution for new ideas and a springboard for social change within a given spectacle.

For example, many artists and musicians openly critiqued the invasion of Iraq in 2003 at their live concerts directly after the public declaration of invasion – when tensions and emotions were at their MOST passionate. What these artists incorrectly rationalized was the timing for this opportunity for mass social critique was ill-advised and ill-conceived (to say the least) by way of its directness and in the inability of the audience to counter. Also, what these artists failed to realize and take into account was this need to attend the concert by the buying public – a need for “escape” from the seriousness of an invasion of another sovereign country – was the very reason people attended the event to begin with. Consequently, because of their sheer numbers and an opposition with a FAR bigger megaphone – the United States Government at the onset of a major invasion of another country – these artists predictably got creamed!!!!! Very talented and creative artists like the Dixie Chicks, would have been much better considered had they understood (and respected) peoples fear at that time and the desire for escapism – then co-opt that realization to a high art form of considered social critique in regards to the exact same event taking place at that moment.

That’s how you win a Nobel Peace prize (and sway an audience thoughtfully, artistically and compassionately); compassion and understanding WHILE leading the status quo into your world. Your way of seeing things – a way the status quo, more than likely, will be a little uncomfortable with, at first…

II) How does this problem affect the artist adversely?
Obviously, this alienates the individual artist to such a degree as to threaten their long-term career possibilities – much like the critique from the Dixie Chicks that followed their ill considered-but no less relevant-artistic response to an event taking place at that exact moment. Since then they have been scratching and scraping just to get back to their original notoriety prior to the comments.

People, when threatened – which happens constantly in the arts – tend to rather predictably shut down and lash out at the very people that threatened their comfort, existence and ideas. Contrarily to popular artistic belief, this is NOT a good idea. You’re not doing your arts or the spectacle any good by being sent to the sidelines before the game even starts.

III) How does the artist co-opt the problem in order to create value for themselves?
1. Learn the rules of the game – BEFORE you initiate your artistic response.
Every game – every situation in life – has its own special set rules. And those rules are just as individual to the individuals as the individuals themselves. (WHEW! Did ya like that… :0)

But a certain common thread of opinion does and will permeate the whole spectacle itself – in time. Some of these rules you know instinctively – some you learn the hard way. Do your homework first – back to education being an asset – before you open your artistic mouth.

2. Work smarter – Not harder!
Take your time and plan your attack before barreling into the saloon with your metaphorical guns a’blazn! You need to know the layout before attempting the heist. Conserve your energy for the long run. You don’t want to burn out too soon!

3. Genuinely make peace with the powers that be.
Understand these are real people with real feelings that are inclined to re-act in a certain way – and that they FAR outnumber you! They can crush you at a moments notice. A little humility here is a good thing.

Also understand – and use as your weapon – that people often act (or react) in very predictable ways. Especially, when their morals, beliefs, safety and circumstances are being directly challenged. Even if the proverbial writing is on the wall. Be sensitive to this. Take your time and lead them – with kid gloves – in your desired artistic direction.

Until next time,
Gary Crook | artist

Social Entrepreneurship, the Social Business and the Arts Business.

July 10, 2008 at 6:08 pm · Filed under Art, Assumptions, Business, Career, Mentor, education, efficiency, every wins, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, quid pro quo, radio, sales, semantics, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

The roots for real societal change are here in the concept of the “Social Business.” Google that term – Social Business – start educating yourself and GET INVOLVED! Continue to utilize your art work in your arts business enterprise and directly benefit form the societal tsunami that were experiencing starting in 2008. This is your opportunity artists to do something really good and to benefit equally in your individual arts practice. This can only be done through a profit arts business model enterprise that directly chooses to involve itself in social commitments and social issues.

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

*** Click HERE to listen to this Radio Show online! ***

I) What’s the problem:
Arts concentration on the not-for-profit as a mode for social and arts change. This market has become so over-saturated and co-opted by the very government granting its non-profit designation, that manipulation and control have rendered a majority of them completely ineffectual before they’ve even had a chance to open their doors. Because these institutions are designed to run at a loss, they eventually operate in a manner only to serve themselves – by highlighting projects, shows, etc., that will further guarantee much needed future donations. This is a negative catch-22, because organizations are conducting themselves in a manner to just stay alive with no real positive affect on the community’s problems in which they reside.

II) How does this problem affect the artist adversely?
It creates a pre-defined, cautious opinion on the part of the consumer before the artist has the opportunity to make his/her artistic case. This creates a negative bias on the part of the artist trying to implement real social change via their arts business. Out and out charity has become a bad deal for those who give and those who receive it. Those who give, give constantly with no real expectation of the problem ever really being solved. And those who receive it; get locked into the aforementioned Catch-22 of playing to the audience. And society’s problems continually go unresolved.

III) How does the artist co-opt the problem and work to create value for themselves?
Create a for-profits social business!

To quote Alan Webber from USA Today newspaper, May 21, 2008, titled “giving the poor the business”:

“The answer to the profit maximization versus charity dilemma is to create a new hybrid option: the social business. A social business must operate in the marketplace and earn the support of real customers who pay real money to buy real product. At the same time, a social business has a social goal, not just a financial goal.”

You see, this goes far beyond just cutting a check at the end of the year – this is direct social engagement! And it represents a societal shift in thinking via a positive and profitable profit/business arts model. This is creating value for your business – and your art by extension.

Americans are starving for this kind of hybrid thinking!

So:

1. Look at your current arts practice objectively:
Ask yourself: “How can I translate some aspect of my arts practice – in its current form – and create a social business model that will help others help themselves?!” (Like ArtBusinessMentor.com, and Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show!)

2. Start building your social business into a true business enterprise:
The definition of a business versus a self-employed individual is that a business will work without your direct involvement. It will take on a life of its own – even when you go on vacation; you will continue to make money. When are a self-employed individual goes on vacation, their money goes on vacation as well. Because people are interested in working with only the individual.

3. Does this social business or enterprise offer investors and consumers equally the opportunity for implementing real social changes – one that runs like a business and delivers real help to real people in your (their) local community(ies)?
The social business cannot – CANNOT – be only about profit. It HAS to serve a larger purpose outside of its direct business focus. It has to be community minded and it has to help solve a community problem.

These are exciting times indeed…

Until next time,
Gary Crook | artist

Utilize difficult economic times to increase your “markup “- or profit margin – and store your artistic value.

July 3, 2008 at 10:57 am · Filed under Arts, Assumptions, Business, Career, barter, efficiency, inflation, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, radio, retirement, sales, time, web cast, webcast

In difficult economic times, the artist wants to work diligently at increasing their markup, or profit margins, to store their artistic value. By at least attempting to “stay put” when economic headwinds are beating their local arts markets to death, the artist will be in a much better place – visibly and economically – for when the economic winds turn back favorably in their direction.

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

*** Click HERE to listen to this Radio Show online! ***

I) What’s the problem?
In an inflationary/recessionary cycle – like the one were currently experiencing – sales volume goes down across the board. That’s why it’s called a recession – or depression in extreme cases. People collectively slow their spending due to new economic uncertainties. But they cannot stop! Government will not let them stop. That is the role of government or the Federal Reserve, at least in the United States Fiat monetary system a’ la 2008, and that role is to keep the money moving constantly. That keeps the country out of a recession (or depression in extreme cases) and keeps positive inflationary value or capital appreciation continuing into infinity. And that’s precisely why profit margins become so important in these recessionary cycles.

II) How does this problem affect the artist adversely?
As mentioned earlier, in recessionary cycles, spending is slowed dramatically – but can never stop. Since in recessionary cycles the volume of spending decreases – BUT the level of debt ones holds does NOT, – then profit margins must increase to compensate for the lack of sales volume. That’s inflation.

But precisely the opposite seems to happen in the arts. Instead of lowering their work load in order to keep profit margins high (limit availability, like oil) – artists start attacking each other’s profit margins by cutting their prices accordingly and/or adding way too much value to their product – your time involved and/or materials expense. They automatically tend to deflate the value of their artistic residuals or artistic products (or services) in order to attempt a continuance of steady sales volume or, at least, to maintain the consistent sales volume they had prior to the oncoming recessionary cycle.

They kamikaze their own careers!

In other words, what artists tend to do in these cycles is precisely the opposite of what should be done. Artists tend to increase volume and lower prices, instead of keeping profit margins the same (or maybe increasing them in small increments to compensate for the inflationary cycle) in order to support their price levels during this rough patch. This sets a dangerous precedent for future sales and quite possibly will alienate the arts/artist in a thriving business community. This cuts to the heart of the problem of artists NOT achieving the fame they seek. If the market understands the arts will act this way, by cutting the value of the products being offered, then they will simply sit back and wait for the arts to predictably lower their value dramatically in accordance to the recessionary cycle. This action will only breed resentment from the buyers who purchased during “good times” because the artist has now undercut the original value paid for art work previously.

III) How does the artist co-opt the problem in order to create value for themselves?

1. Learn what money truly is and the cycle(s) money is ruled by.
Money, like your arts career, is simply an idea – a medium of exchange. Money has no inherent value buy itself. Therefore, in order to have your paper money have value you exchange that paper money for something of tangible value. That’s where the arts come in – they have a tangible, physical manifestation of value for paper exchange. This is where the artist benefits tremendously from uncertain economic times. During these times, people seek tangibility for the exchange of their non-tangible paper value money and store that non-tangibility into something of tangible value. That’s the definition of “investment.” And that’s where the arts, historically, always come into play.

2. Understand that people no longer work for cash or paper – but instead for numbers.
This creates confusion to people because there is a dual exchange system currently coexisting in the world economy. Numbers by themselves can be confusing. Tangibility is the key. Investment is the key. Understanding the value of numbers (and the confusion this creates) increases your profit margins exponentially. You need to utilize people’s confusion over numbers to create value for yourself. You need to help them convert their confusion over numbers and their stored work value – i.e. the dollars created on a paycheck – and help them turn that stored value into something investable – which would be your arts practice.

For example: if you’re a photographer and your materials cost is approximately $0.25 cents, and your retail cost of said photograph is $25, then your sporting a 1000% markup. You’ve managed to store some of your value because that $25 will ultimately be put into the resell, secondary market – because the new owners, at some point, will seek to increase their investment value as well (don’t believe me, just watch one episode of “Antiques Road Show” to see what I mean) – which will increase (drive) your primary market median exchange to infinity.

3. Artistic mark-up and value is measured in TIME – not dollars!
And time is infinite. So, in theory, your arts career is infinite. That’s why your arts career will extended much, much, (much) longer than your life(time). To have your arts career value extend longer than you do – keep those profit margins high – and your workload light during inflationary times. Sit back and chill out! Conserve your energy for when opportunities come back your way. Store your value during these inflationary/recessionary, difficult economic times – in your art work via high mark-ups and low time commitments. Relax and let the wave come back and benefit you – instead of trying to continually fight against an oncoming headwind, tiring yourself out. You CAN’T win this fight – you have to co-opt it!

Place yourself squarely in a position to benefit from the predictable back wave when it does benefit your art business. Thus, increasing your artistic value to infinity (AND BEYOND!… for you Buzz Lightyear fans… :0).

Until next time,

Gary Crook | Artist

My Dad Died Yesterday – Observations on the artist and time.

June 25, 2008 at 10:08 am · Filed under Art, Arts, Business, Career, Mentor, efficiency, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, radio, semantics, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

My Dad Died Yesterday.

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

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And like most people who have someone very close to them die, I predictably took stock of my own life and evaluated it against my ideal being at that moment. In doing so, an individual will question all sorts of things. You tend to hold these revelations up to the fleeting nature of life and evaluate your life’s stressors and resistors against the ambiguity that is one’s existence.

I’ve come to the conclusion that once again I’ve overburdened myself and my immediate family with so many outside investments of time – such as new “business ideas,” lofty arts projects and the like – that these “details” continue to chip away at some of the old “punch” of my life. I’ve become (again) predictably sidetracked with the busyness of life. A busyness defined not by me alone, but by a faceless spectacle that seems to demand more and more up my life blood on a daily basis. I find I miss a simpler existence. An existence not defined by someone else or some group, but one ruled by the random actions of one lost in the moment that is life. This is where my dad came in. I was fascinated by his life’s example of someone who could “let it go” and in doing so, had a wonderful peace come over him after 45 years of steady employment.

I miss my dad. He was a good man. He was an inspiring man. He was the hub that held my family together. To that end, I fear for what will become of my family. Compared to many, we haven’t been the closest of families. Not due to any one problem or grudge, we are just a very contemporary family with multitudes of diverging outside interests lying in completely different directions. My father was loved by many. He was a very brave-humble, career military man. He was respected by his contemporaries and deeply missed after his 30 years of active duty military service.

After retirement, he then went on in his second career as a high school ROTC instructor at Valley High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1987. The 14 or so years of his second military career, I feel, was probably some of the most rewarding of his distinguished active duty military career. It was also there, I think, he met his most demanding adversary – the American Teenager! (1,400 total to be exact!) I think those years of molding some of the most intriguing minds he’s ever met – and guiding their transition into adulthood – had to be – Had To Be! – some of the most rewarding of his life.

When he retired from his second military career as an Air Force ROTC instructor, I feel he realized it was time to finally let go and start to really live. He fell into a very happy – almost giddy at times – existence in his life. One filled with – and I do mean filled with – the laughter of grandchildren (he had 10 total, ages ranged from two-and-a-half to nine) and a renewed relationship with my mother that finally allowed him to humbly receive back some of all the joy and contentment he gave to others.

I am very confident and content that I was able to express my gratitude, love and friendship to him while he was very much alive. We obviously had a very good relationship. I know he died where and how he would have chose. I know he was a happy man who was proud of his accomplishments, proud of his service to his country and proud of his family – each and everyone of us. I like to feel he died a happy man and that I was a part of that happiness as well. He will be sorely missed.

He was my father and he was my friend…

Observations gleaned from the death of a loved one:

I) Have a method to your madness.
Don’t continue doing the same thing over and over again only because it’s familiar or easier. You do what you have to do to make your situation right. Don’t allow yourself to live an unsavory existence. Search constantly for balance and happiness – and surely, your art will attract the same.

II) Time is precious.
Use yours wisely. But use it you must. Time is the only thing you cannot recover – in time. And stop giving your time away so easily or indiscriminately! Make the best possible use of your time – because, as witnessed by the death of my father, one minute can change your entire world and the world of others around you.

A mere One Minute!

Have all your time have a purpose. Do indeed, live life to the fullest and have all your “time” be as inspirational as possible.

III) Impact the most lives you possibly can – during your time – positively.
Because if you or your art don’t impact others lives positively, then someone else’s time surely will. You need to be a sort Robin Hood about this. You have an obligation as an artist – AN OBLIGATION! – to keep the money and influence from the bad people and redistribute that wealth in a positive manner.

Now go out and do good things!

Until next time,
Gary Crook | artist
http://garycrookartist.com

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If you want to become successful as an artist and arts businesses owner, you must become a student of human nature.

May 29, 2008 at 2:46 pm · Filed under Art, Arts, Assumptions, Business, Career, Mentor, barter, education, efficiency, every wins, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, quid pro quo, radio, sales, semantics, semiotics, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

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The challenge here is very simple. In order to become successful with your arts business career (or any business for that matter), one must become a student of human nature. More specifically, a student of historical human nature and an avid follower of current events.

The rational for this investment of time and brainpower is that humans are, by nature, biological creatures doomed to repeat over and over the same mistakes and accomplishments. And biological creatures operate in cycles. This makes your job very easy. Because cycles repeat themselves allowing this activity to become a study of historical precedents.

Human beings – for all their advancements and feel good world politics – are still animals ruled by erratic emotions. And you, being one of those animals, obviously have a very intuitive response to the exact same stimuli as other humans. Again, this makes your job very easy. For the most part, humans all act – or react – the same way to stimuli as their contemporaries and this historical precedent has been well documented.

Human beings, like most animals on the face of the earth, run in cycles. And these “cycles” include the highs and lows of human behavior. So in order for on artist to become successful in their chosen field, then it becomes very important to position the introduction of their art into the latest human cycle – timed according to a historical precedence. I very much believe that we are on the ground floor of a new cycle with the incredible roll over of wealth and influence via the housing bust and active engagement of the electorate in the coming election cycle of November 2008. This is a banner opportunity for your art and the arts in general. Were looking at a 5-10 year cycle that’s not even begun. This is very exciting no matter what side of the “fence” you’re on.

Historically, in times of great economic and political upheaval, people and the arts always seem to roll over – blaze new paths of influence and acceptability. This is your time artists! And you still have some time left to study past human reactions to these certain political and sociological events and place your art in front of that wave to become a spokesperson. Teach your fellow humans how to deal with the current economic and political cycles and point them in your more positive artistic direction. Because the world’s population and the arts are growing VERY tired of being silenced – as well they should be. This silencing goes against human nature and will surely be addressed very soon. Look at Tibet, Zimbabwe, the Beijing Olympics, health care and the upcoming USA elections for examples of this growing dissatisfaction.

And so how then do we co-opt this problem in order to create value for the artist? Well, as usual, I have three criteria I utilize in the creation of my arts practice and how I position my arts businesses in front of this problem. These are put forth simply as possible starting points for your own arts business practice. You’re encouraged to go your own direction with these.

A) It has been my experience that it is fairly easy to predict – on a biological level – the cycles in which human beings and/or their behaviors react to certain stimuli. Therefore, the artist needs to study these behaviors from a distance utilizing their nonobjective observing capabilities and learn to “react” in such a manner as to a) get out of the way and to b) eventually profit from that re-directioning by co-opting the cause and throwing your artwork in front of the problem through offering a possible solution. You have to have an opinion (we have discussed this several times) and that opinion is what invariably will call attention to you and your artwork – and that is where your arts value lies. So think carefully about that opinion before speaking to quickly. But speak all the same.

B) Use your god-given ability to observe – objectively – society’s reactions around you to these universal stimuli and translate that into your own unique “arts language.”

** Here’s my formula for no-objective observation:

1. Study the problem, and match it to an historical occurrence of approximately the same problem.

2. Formulate your opinion (after careful study, because your most likely going to have to back it up).

3. Plan your artistic response.

4. Do the artwork

5. And finally, move on to the next problem (DON’T GET BOGGED DOWN ON ONE PROBLEM FOREVER – YOU NEED TO STAY CURRENT…)

C) Long ago (2004) I wrote down five “truth’s” that I live by in pre-judging the reaction of society and their human elements to a given problem.

Here they are my five basic tenants of human nature:

Human Nature:

* Summed up in 5 basic tenets:

1) Never underestimate the irrationality and gullibility of human beings – especially in groups and especially with

their money.

2) Never underestimate the biological human need to “screw up” a good thing.

3) Never underestimate the ferocity with which dominate groups will “eat their own.” Good will never be good

enough.

4) Never underestimate the stimulus of Boredom to manipulate and/or dictate human behavior.

5) Never – NEVER, put an academic in charge… They consistently underestimate number’s #1-4 (above) and/or

think they can control numbers #1-4 via “someone else’s” theories or formula(s). “When the going gets tuff, the academic runs to the library.” – GC

And while these may sound negative in the beginning, if one were to go back and re-read them in a more non-objective manner, I think you would find them to be more true then sensationalistic. In my experience and historical study, I have found that more often than not, all five of these basic tenets come into play – almost in succession – when major economic and/or societal shifts have occurred. Look at the latest housing bust and credit crunch and relate them to numbers 1-5 to see what I mean…

Again, the idea is these might act as a sort of baseline for you and your arts practice and hopefully get you thinking in a direction in which you can utilize these as a starting point in formulating your own opinions within your art work.

Thus, positioning your art and arts business practices into a very profitable and influential direction for the future.

Until next time,

Gary Crook | artist

Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show!: Sales. May 14, 2008

May 22, 2008 at 12:00 pm · Filed under Art, Assumptions, Business, Career, Mentor, education, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, quid pro quo, radio, retirement, sales, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

*** (Click HERE to listen to the Web Cast of this exact radio blueprint) ***

Sales, sales, sales! If you cannot sell yourself – especially the arts – then you will die (or more to the point, your career will never get off the ground)… Sorry, but it’s true.

This statement is meant to highlight the fallacy of a concentration on technical perfection of your arts craft making up for your inability to represent yourself. Technical perfection will not – Will Not! Act as a substitute for learning how to sell your arts residuals, thus creating an arts career. And that’s as plain and simple as a gets.

One needs to spend at least as much time (if not more) perfecting their sales abilities as they do their arts abilities, thus ensuring that your Arts Business Mentor endeavor will continue well into the future – unabated – and stay profitable. Thus buying time and eventually influence within your chosen field. This, of course, will further translate itself into sales with the process repeating itself over and over again.

So what’s the problem?
I feel there is a total lack of confidence in an individual’s respective art work to sell it. If you, the artist, don’t believe in your art work enough to sell it to anybody and everybody, then you cannot sell it at all and thus you’ll have no arts career. This is harsh – but it’s true. YOU are the ONLY one that will believe passionately in your craft. No one else will even come close. So if you are not passionate about your arts purpose – or don’t have one – then your chances of a long-term arts business career are pretty minimal.

How does this problem affect the artist adversely?
This, of course, is a very obvious impediment to an artist’s future and one that opens them up to scamming by individuals and organizations that are trained to tell you exactly what you want to hear.

So how then do we co-opt this problem to create value for the artist?
You simply have to get over your fear of sales and rejection – plain and simple. It could be easily argued very convincingly that a fear of sales – especially in the arts – comes from a fear of rejection and by an unfair association your artwork. That’s not being fair to yourself or your art. You very simply need to learn how to sell. And the best way to learn that is to stick your neck out there and learn the best technique that works for you. Your technical ability alone will not allow you to achieve your goals of true artistic freedom. You will not generate a spectacularly influential arts career by simply learning how to write the perfect poem, paint the perfect picture or hit the perfect pitch in what ever opera you choose to participate. Because all of those self-imposed technical criteria are simply opinions. Your opinions! The “perfect” artwork is and will always be subject to debate. So that alone will NOT ensure your artistic success. Repeat sales to the right individual(s) will.

By learning to create value for yourself through sales – you are thus in a better position to call the shots when legitimate representation does present itself. This way you “learn the business” prior to opportunities opening up and are in a better position to create win-win situations for your arts business career, increasing your likelihood of repeat commissions exponentially!

Step-by-step plan of action for co-opting this resistor and creating value for the artist:
1) Stop concentrating solely on technical perfection as an excuse not to learn sales. Be honest with yourself here. You know you’re doing this. I, myself, did this for many, MANY years. Always remember this: Those who can sell will and do rule the world! Think I’m joking here – look no further than the 2008 election cycle in the United States!

2) Find your audience by having an opinion! This makes sales a whole lot easier. You need to be speaking to the right audience and you need to know who that audience is first. When you get that audience, your value is cemented in your new community. At that point you will be able to sell them just about anything. They will always be at least open to your new art work and your new ideas.

3) And finally, here’s a guaranteed sales formula:
a. Ask your audience what they want – or need (identify a need. “Can I Help You?).
b. Give it to them (provide a solution).
c. Answer or your customers question “What’s in it for me?” with a special offer. Create a win-win-win situation always to ensure you seal the deal.

It really is that simple… Don’t try to sell people something they don’t want. Find out what they want – simply ask them: “Can I Help You?” And with a little practice – trial and error – the rest will come naturally.

Then you will have your sales. And if you don’t have “it” (the item they need), then simply recommend someone you know who does. This is where your community comes into play. So you need to get out of the studio and get to know your fellow artist(s)!

A word caution here, don’t go outside of your arts interests simply to make a sale. That’s a dangerous trap and a discussion for another time.

Until next time,

Gary Crook | artist
http://garycrookartist.com

Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show! Inaugural Show! May 7, 2008

May 15, 2008 at 8:58 pm · Filed under Arts, Assumptions, Business, Career, Mentor, education, efficiency, every wins, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, quid pro quo, retirement, socialize, time, web cast, webcast, win win

Art Business Mentor - The Radio Show!

*** (Click HERE to listen to the Web Cast of this exact radio blueprint) ***

Welcome to Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show! inaugural show airing originally on Talk Radio 1080 WKJK in Louisville, Kentucky. For those of you reading this on Gary Crook | blogger! we would like to extend our warmest welcome and let you know that a link to Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show! will be placed on this blog after each airing, thus enabling the listener to listen (or re-listen) to the show at their leisure. Also note this blog will basically become the general outline for Art Business Mentor -The Radio Show! summarizing the various talking points of the radio show linked. In this way, an individual can utilize either the verbal recording or the written summary – or both. How’s that for options! :0)

Now on to business…

The format for Art Business Mentor – The Radio Show! will consist of a single arts business topic relevant to the artist (of any and all genres) broken down into three different categories. We will address this topic from three different criteria.

These criteria are:
1. How does an artist co-opt an existing institution (or resistor) to further create “value” for that artist?

a) We will teach the artist how to learn to “get outside of themselves” and their respective arts
practices and start to see opportunities everywhere.

b) Also we will teach the artist what we consider to be one of the best tactics (on a case by case basis) of overcoming these resistors by essentially not to hitting these repressing institutions head-on, but instead co-opt them by studying them in order to exploit their weaknesses to create value for you – the artist!

c) Learn to slip “fluidly” between these resistors. Become an artistic chameleon of sorts – always creating value for the artist in the process.

2. Utilize business systems designed to get the artist through the “Ruff Spots.”

a) First and foremost, create a career blueprint! Understand this arts career is a business and as such requires a plan! If you’re not thinking in those terms then you and your art are at a distinct disadvantage.

b) Utilize the tax code as a sort of cash flow. This action includes: losses, tax planning and detailed documentation in order to reap the benefits of a legitimate business enterprise.

c) Learn how to invest the “feast” to tide you over during the “famine.”

3. Maintain your newfound artistic “value” by giving back to the community.

a) Get out of the “camp!” Learn to create a “community bridge” with your art work and your creative thinking processes in order to help your local community problem solve. Thus, creating value for yourself and your art work by proxy.

b) Learn that your other talents – outside of your arts practice – are just is valuable to your arts community. Help your fellow artists to help themselves!

c) By giving back to your local community, you inadvertently “cement” your artistic value and attract a buying audience. Taking you back to criteria number one “How to co-op existing institutions to create value for the artist.”

Now within the above topic breakdown, we will pick apart the single subject problem utilizing numbers one and two above – before the commercial break and then come back after the commercial by addressing number three with approximately 3 more different solutions I’ve (or my artist colleagues) have utilized to co-opt said problem. The point, much like a successful artwork, is to at least offer a well-thought out solution to at least use as a starting point for the listeners in the hopes they will use these solutions with other solutions personal to their respective practices and co-opt them for their own artistic betterment. Because, obviously, what’s worked for one individual will NOT necessarily work for another. But PARTS of the others solutions most likely will. It’s up to the listener to define the “parts” that will help them. The solution presented in number three, after the commercial break, will consist of an additional three criteria:

Those criteria will be:

What’s the problem?
How does this problem of fact the artist adversely?
And finally (you guessed it), how to co-opt said problem (or resistor) in order to create “value” for the artist

These blogs and the radio show links will be posted one week after they are initially aired locally on Talk Radio 1080 WKJK in Louisville, Kentucky. The pre-recorded radio show uploads will likely take place on Thursdays of each week. And of course, any and all constructive critiques will be much appreciated!

Thank you all so much for the feedback (and hearty pat of the back!) and Thank You – the listeners – for this terrific opportunity!

Until next time,
-Gary Crook | artist!
http://artbusinessmentor.com
http://garycrookartist.com

Six Mega Trends in the future of the Arts and the Internet.

April 21, 2008 at 2:47 pm · Filed under Art, Assumptions, Career, Mentor, education, efficiency, gifted, internet, on-line education, opinion, politics, prophecies, semantics, socialize, time, win win

Six Mega Trends in the future of the Arts and the Internet.

1) Distance Accredited College Education will become the operational norm and will truly go worldwide. Look for a “worldwide” accreditation grouping and issuance of diplomas (or more to the point transcripts). Think of this more as a “UN for Education” type of international organization. This will enable the consumer to “shop” classes on price and availability on a worldwide scale with the completion of a degree most likely consisting of many (and many and possibly many more) different schools individually approved classes collectively organized into a single degree. A degree from a particular institution will be of little relevance (like Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the like) compared to a degree from a particular accreditation institution in which a collective of institutions will reside.

* Obviously, this will also give birth to some sort of international accreditation licensing/service which will enable and encourage freelance
professorships.

2) Also look to the increasing popularity of non-accredited education getting bigger and bigger as the realization that accredited education is currently overrated, over priced and still relies on outdated business models of the industrial revolution; which have become increasingly irrelevant in the “New – New Deal” (or post-modernity business models) societies.

3) Self-published (or ‘On-Demand’) books, Music, Video/Movies and Art will be increasingly accepted and sought after because of their efficient delivery systems, costs and flexible copyright agendas.

4) Mainstream News outlets will increasingly rely on the web specifically for stories; live video feeds, informational Blog’s, self-produced video’s, etc. (look at Iraqi insurgents, Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda’s use of extremely inexpensive web submission services to Al Jazeera make news for itself)

5) Some sort of “Kelly Services” type of organization for professional “moderating” services for Chat rooms, etc. will be highly valuable/profitable business service model.

6) Speed and efficiency will increasingly be paramount in the foreseeable future. Borders and sovereign identity will continue to melt away for more of a “localized” tribal identity consisting of a more international network of like-minded individuals.

*** Artists, now ask yourself:

“How can I turn any or all of these ideas into profitable arts businesses?”

All of these could easily be their own businesses. However, keep focused on low cost entry/high visibility Internet start-ups whose ‘exit plan’ is to sell at its peak – this becomes THE commodity bought and sold. This becomes its own real estate. Remember, the web is just a filing cabinet. Approach your Internet start-ups this way and you should stay relatively profitable by keeping your entry costs very low and your profit margins very high.

You don’t have to hire a team of college grads to operate and/or administer a file cabinet.

Until Next Time,
- Gary Crook | artist
http://garycrookartist.com
http://ArtBusinessMentor.com