It's nice to know that my artist friends are beginning to take my advice and are starting to blog for themselves.
As you begin to let people know about your blog, undoubtedly you will start to receive emails commenting and complimenting you on your efforts. Encourage them to leave comments on the actual blog. This helps because it makes your blog seem more active to search engines and RSS readers which are on the look out for changes in website content. People are also more likely to return to a site if the content remains fresh and up to date.
Most blogging services like Blogger have an option in the blog settings that activate back-links. You will want to turn this option on because this makes it easy for people who like what you've written to reference it on your blog. It also sends them to that specific article, without bunching it in with all the other posts to come before and after it.
Also, if you want comments, end your posts with questions. People are more likely to respond if they are asked to. Don't they?
Showing posts with label art marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art marketing. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
How to Market for Theatre
I recently came across a site where this question was posed by the Business Unit Manager at Siemens Energy and Automation:
Does anyone have advice for Marketing for a non-profit community theatre?
As a volunteer consultant on this service project, my team is looking at the marketing strategies of a small community theatre in a neighborhood of
I think this query illustrates that, just because people have a corporate background, it may still be necessary to educate them on the intricacies of marketing in the not-for-profit world. The response received is worth noting too:
I'm assuming for the purposes of this reply that "non-profit community" translates into "very little, if any, marketing/advertising budget."
I'm also assuming that you know:
1) what "call to action" you're driving (i.e., "buy tickets to our event" or "volunteer your time")
2) who you're trying to reach (i.e., you know the demographic of your customers)
I would do anything I can that's free... including making sure you're sending press releases about your events to local media, to leaving business card drop boxes at places where you can have people drop their card, and giveaway one free set of tix. For the other cards, you've got contact info now for a mailing list or email list. But you might try some cold calling of those cards: "Sorry you didn't win, but we can offer at half off" or something like that.
Also, make sure every one who comes to one of your events has a reason to come back and bring someone with them... these are people who already know about you and your events and are the best source of bringing new customers back with them. Give them some incentive to come back, and some incentive to bring a friend.
If this doesn't help, read anything by Seth Godin (he has free e-books on the web called "Knock Knock") and also try reading "Shameless marketing for brazen hussies."
-Adeena
Links:
For responses to this question go here: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/marketing-sales/business-development/MAR_BDV/28613-1458915
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Corporate art idea
Making a Passion into a Business Venture
Epicorp tenant Darryl Butler is about to add Mandala Maker to his diverse repertoire of creative talents.
Darryl, who has assisted numerous Epicorp businesses develop their corporate identities and websites, decided last year to embark on turning his passion for mandalas into a serious business sideline. The inspiration came while working on the website of fellow Epicorp tenant, arts marketing expert Wendy Shanley, of KIKU ARTs.
Darryl, the mastermind behind Itchybrain Productions, discovered from his discussions with Wendy that there is a demand for artists producing corporate art. That gave him an incentive to push forward with his "hobby" knowing that someone else would take care of promoting, exhibiting and selling his unique artworks.
Read the full article here...Patron Technology Blog
Came across this cool blog by Gene Carr that I thought people might find interesting.
http://patrontechnology.typepad.com/
http://patrontechnology.typepad.com/
Monday, February 26, 2007
Art and Aging
This great article is used with permission from Surrey, BC, painter Robert Genn. Check out his informative and inspiring website www.thepainterskeys.com and consider becoming a subscriber.
If your horizons are going coo-coo, if things don't form up as
well as they used to, or you're having trouble finding your
colours, it may mean the advance of painterly senility. Not
fully reserved for the elderly, this can also come about at any
age by doing too much, too little, not looking, not caring, or
not being in touch with your muse.
While beginning artists may do poor work because of undeveloped
skills, mature artists may do poor work because they are losing
facilities. Somewhere in between there's a period of
proficiency and relative fulfillment. Most artists agree that
this middle period should be dragged out as long as possible.
At the same time, most of us have observed aged artists who are
sharp and proficient right up to the last ambulance. Genes play
a part, but it's mostly about attitude and lifestyle.
Success in hanging onto your artistic chops may be hard to
measure, but a related faculty, the maintenance of memory, is
well-documented. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have
some suggestions for you:
Keep learning. Keep challenging and exercising the brain in
order to stimulate communication between the brain cells. It's
important to keep learning new skills.
Don't smoke. Smoking harms the brain as well as the lungs and
heart. Smokers perform worse than non-smokers in studies of
memory and thinking skills.
Be social. Close ties with others can improve mental
performance. Social relationships provide support during
unpleasant times.
Exercise. What's good for the heart is good for the brain.
Getting your juices flowing gets your creative juices flowing
too.
Eat your vegetables. Even better than fruit, researchers find
that veggies are vital to brain function. It's the vitamin E in
the greens, and the oil in the dressing.
Manage stress. Stress distracts from learning, memory,
thinking, and creativity. With stress, brain chemistry changes
and your hippocampus can become damaged. There's nothing worse
than a damaged hippocampus, I always say.
Best regards,
Robert
PS: "I do not wish to become senile before I've finished what
I've undertaken." (Paul Gauguin)
Esoterica: Many creators have given thought to art and aging.
Some have concluded that art itself extends life. "With age,
art and life become one." (Georges Braque) "Great work can come
at any stage." (Will Barnet) "None are so old as those who have
outlived enthusiasm." (Henry David Thoreau) "I cannot die until
I have made the most of my talent." (Kathe Kollwitz) "With
creative work, you don't have age or time." (Louise Nevelson)
"How much music can I make with the time I have left?" (Itzhak
Perlman)
"For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day."
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
Current clickback: If you would like to see selected,
illustrated responses to the last letter, "On climaxing," about
getting climaxes into works of art, please go to:
http://clicks.robertgenn.com/climax.php
If you would like to comment or add your own opinion,
information or observations to this or other letters, please do
so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write
rgenn@saraphina.com
Give the gift of the twice-weekly letters. We are currently
snail-mailing a free copy of The Painter's Keys (the book) to
current subscribers who go to the URL below and send us the
names and email addresses of five or more of their
creatively-minded friends. No strings, just a thank-you. We
make it easy. We even send your friends a personal letter to
let them know the twice-weekly connection is from you.
http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/giftscribe.php
It's never too late. A Premium Listing in the Painter's Keys
Directory is the most effective thing an artist can do to be
tastefully and respectably noticed. This listing--really a mini
web page--costs $100 per year--and we do all the set-up. You
can find out how well it might work for you at
http://www.painterskeys.com/art-directory.asp
Yes, please go ahead and forward this letter to a friend.
If you think a friend or fellow artist may find value in this
material, please feel free to forward it. This does not mean
that they will automatically be subscribed to the Twice-Weekly
Letter. They have to do it voluntarily and can find out about
it by going to http://www.painterskeys.com
In compliance with the welcome legislation on spamming, our
mailing address is: Painter's Keys, 12711 Beckett Rd., Surrey,
B.C., Canada, V4A 2W9.
- Subscribe free; http://painterskeys.com/subscribe/
(c) Copyright 2007 Robert Genn. If you wish to copy this
material to other publications or mail lists, please ask for
permission by writing rgenn@saraphina.com Thanks for your
friendship.
If your horizons are going coo-coo, if things don't form up as
well as they used to, or you're having trouble finding your
colours, it may mean the advance of painterly senility. Not
fully reserved for the elderly, this can also come about at any
age by doing too much, too little, not looking, not caring, or
not being in touch with your muse.
While beginning artists may do poor work because of undeveloped
skills, mature artists may do poor work because they are losing
facilities. Somewhere in between there's a period of
proficiency and relative fulfillment. Most artists agree that
this middle period should be dragged out as long as possible.
At the same time, most of us have observed aged artists who are
sharp and proficient right up to the last ambulance. Genes play
a part, but it's mostly about attitude and lifestyle.
Success in hanging onto your artistic chops may be hard to
measure, but a related faculty, the maintenance of memory, is
well-documented. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have
some suggestions for you:
Keep learning. Keep challenging and exercising the brain in
order to stimulate communication between the brain cells. It's
important to keep learning new skills.
Don't smoke. Smoking harms the brain as well as the lungs and
heart. Smokers perform worse than non-smokers in studies of
memory and thinking skills.
Be social. Close ties with others can improve mental
performance. Social relationships provide support during
unpleasant times.
Exercise. What's good for the heart is good for the brain.
Getting your juices flowing gets your creative juices flowing
too.
Eat your vegetables. Even better than fruit, researchers find
that veggies are vital to brain function. It's the vitamin E in
the greens, and the oil in the dressing.
Manage stress. Stress distracts from learning, memory,
thinking, and creativity. With stress, brain chemistry changes
and your hippocampus can become damaged. There's nothing worse
than a damaged hippocampus, I always say.
Best regards,
Robert
PS: "I do not wish to become senile before I've finished what
I've undertaken." (Paul Gauguin)
Esoterica: Many creators have given thought to art and aging.
Some have concluded that art itself extends life. "With age,
art and life become one." (Georges Braque) "Great work can come
at any stage." (Will Barnet) "None are so old as those who have
outlived enthusiasm." (Henry David Thoreau) "I cannot die until
I have made the most of my talent." (Kathe Kollwitz) "With
creative work, you don't have age or time." (Louise Nevelson)
"How much music can I make with the time I have left?" (Itzhak
Perlman)
"For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day."
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
Current clickback: If you would like to see selected,
illustrated responses to the last letter, "On climaxing," about
getting climaxes into works of art, please go to:
http://clicks.robertgenn.com/climax.php
If you would like to comment or add your own opinion,
information or observations to this or other letters, please do
so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write
rgenn@saraphina.com
Give the gift of the twice-weekly letters. We are currently
snail-mailing a free copy of The Painter's Keys (the book) to
current subscribers who go to the URL below and send us the
names and email addresses of five or more of their
creatively-minded friends. No strings, just a thank-you. We
make it easy. We even send your friends a personal letter to
let them know the twice-weekly connection is from you.
http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/giftscribe.php
It's never too late. A Premium Listing in the Painter's Keys
Directory is the most effective thing an artist can do to be
tastefully and respectably noticed. This listing--really a mini
web page--costs $100 per year--and we do all the set-up. You
can find out how well it might work for you at
http://www.painterskeys.com/art-directory.asp
Yes, please go ahead and forward this letter to a friend.
If you think a friend or fellow artist may find value in this
material, please feel free to forward it. This does not mean
that they will automatically be subscribed to the Twice-Weekly
Letter. They have to do it voluntarily and can find out about
it by going to http://www.painterskeys.com
In compliance with the welcome legislation on spamming, our
mailing address is: Painter's Keys, 12711 Beckett Rd., Surrey,
B.C., Canada, V4A 2W9.
- Subscribe free; http://painterskeys.com/subscribe/
(c) Copyright 2007 Robert Genn. If you wish to copy this
material to other publications or mail lists, please ask for
permission by writing rgenn@saraphina.com Thanks for your
friendship.
Music Professional Development
Here are some excerpts from the recent Music BC newsletter...
FREE MUSIC WORKSHOP SERIES
Stylus Music School is presenting a free workshop series March 7-8 demonstrating recording and production techniques, discussing features of newly released music software and hardware, and reflecting on changes in music career trends and opportunities. All music enthusiasts, producers, engineers, musicians and composers are welcomed. Register today by phoning 604-523-2969 or online at www.stylusmusicschool.com/workshop. Limited Seating.
WORLD VISION ARTIST ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
World Vision's Artist Associates program offers a unique alternative to traditional backing by providing financial tour support for performers who take the message of hope to the stage. At their concerts, performers invite their audiences to make a difference by sponsoring a child. World Vision provides display materials about child sponsorship at the performance venue so audience members can become a child sponsor. In addition to financial support, World Vision will provide artists with video presentations, brochures, picture folders, etc. For more information, visit www.worldvision.ca
JOB OPPORTUNITY AT SHAPE
SHAPE (Safety & Health in Arts Production & Entertainment) is seeking an outstanding Occupational Health and Safety professional who is passionate about the arts to join their team. The ideal candidate will take a leading role in working with arts organizations, artists and production workers to achieve change. If you are looking for the chance to build a successful career in a small but dynamic organization, please read the Job Description and forward your resume, cover letter and salary expectations by March 12 2007 to resume@shape.bc.ca
Songwriting Circle (full)
Feb 21st, 6-8PM, Music BC Office - #501-23 West Pender St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
Stylus Music Workshop
March 7th-8th, 6:30-8PM , Stylus Music School - #60 8th St. New Westminster
Register at stylusmusicschool.com/workshop/
Music Across Borders
March 24th, 1-4PM , Tom Lee Music Hall - 3rd Floor, 929 Granville St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
Music & The Law
March 21st, 6-8PM, Music BC Office - #501-23 West Pender St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
Publishing 101
April 25th, 6-8PM, Music BC Office - #501-23 West Pender St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
Touring The U.S.
May 16th, 6-8PM, Music BC Office - #501-23 West Pender St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
Your Music in Film & TV - Part 2
May 19th, 1-4PM , Tom Lee Music Hall - 3rd Floor, 929 Granville St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
Canadian Music Week
March 7-10, 2007 Toronto, ON
www.cmw.net
New Music West
May 2-7, 2007 Vancouver, BC
www.newmusicwest.com
Music & The Internet
June 2nd, 1-4PM , Tom Lee Music Hall - 3rd Floor, 929 Granville St, Vancouver
Email Nathan@musicbc.org to register
All Music BC Workshops are FREE for Paid Members, $15 for Basic(free) members and $25 for Non-Members
Alt Tags
Ever wonder what an alt tag is and why you should use them on your website. Here is a nice little article on the subject by Kayleen West of Victoria, Austrailia.
Go here to read the article...
Go here to read the article...
Monday, February 12, 2007
Arts Marketing Ideas on the Net
Found this great tip for Non-profits on this great site:
http://arts-marketing.blogspot.com/
Quick Tip: You like filet, but you only need hamburger...
Remember that when you are looking to get a better return on investment (ROI) for your direct marketing campaigns, that you need to increase returns AND decrease your expenses for maximum impact. Seems simple enough, but most folks fixate on getting better returns without looking at the expenses.
Click here to read the whole story...
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