Comments on: Contact Management Software for Artists

By: Claudia Brookes

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 16:45:50 +0000

I still use old Working Artist software–developed about 2010 and PC based, and not supported since 2014. I have about 2000 artworks, 1500 sales linked o those artworks, and few thousand contacts stored on the system. I switched to Macs years ago and so am running WA on an old Parallels (7), which isn’t ideal. With the amount of data I have, a conversion would be a huge task.

To access the image for each painting, the WA software links to my Picasa database, with something like 40,000 images on it. Again, an unsupported program that I keep using and backing up because nothing else comes close to being able to store what it does for free.

No cloud-based programs possible for me in the boonies with upload and download speeds of .05 MBPS through Verizon; it takes me almost 5 minutes to download one photo from the cloud and the system usually times out before a complete download.

I’d love to know what people are finding for Macs in 2020 for a really good artist database and reopen this discussion.

Thanks!

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By: Johnna

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 08:19:45 +0000

Which proved a definite yes, I had quite a bit left out of the stew on what I had customized for ACT for my art business. But I feel these software solutions are not able to handle much of the various aspects of my art in one synchronized software.

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By: P Brad Parker

Mon, 13 May 2013 05:38:19 +0000

Also pictures of the life models, the art projects at various stages, or final art projects, clients, equipment purchases, exhibition, etc…, pictures can be included within any of the categories, groups, contacts, company, … as customized templates, each independent person, project, life model, client, within a category would have it’s own customized entries.

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By: P Brad Parker

Mon, 13 May 2013 05:25:23 +0000

Yes, I have more to customize but the ACT Premium is better than anything I have found yet. With the base setup of ACT Premium there are starting template categories, – contacts, company, group, opportunity, projects, histories, reports, calendar, activity list, connections. There is full native function of Microsoft word within ACT, and imports of Excell spread sheets. Imports from Google, Outlook, as well as syncs, as well as email within ACT using Outlook within the ACT program, or native email using included ACT email. For added custom templates I was able to add Exhibitions, with sub categories; specific Sculpture and Drawing Classes, with sub categories; Invoice, with sub categories, etc… The Durkin Impact Suite add on software simplifies creating the additional custom categories, and sub menus within the categories. The base included categories in ACT can also have added custom layout fields, defined custom fields, defined custom tables, that all synch together throughout the categories, and calendar. Their are quite a number of add ons for purchase that far exceed my needs, but the ASDS add on for faxing within ACT, merge and import ASCHII data, scan and attach documents within ACT; the Durkin for creating templates for invoices, bids, inventory, billable hours, also enables working with LinkedIn, and Facebook within ACT, Google maps within ACT; QuoteWerks by Aspire, quotes to orders, invoices, and purchase orders; QSalesData for linking and to Synchronize Contact Data between Sage ACT! and Quickbooks, Create Quickbooks Customers, and invoices from Records in Sage ACT.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Sun, 12 May 2013 21:55:23 +0000

In reply to P Brad Parker.

Thank you for sharing your experience with these program. I agree that there are much more powerful options available.
Do you think you will be able to customize ACT to make it work for you?

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By: P Brad Parker

Sat, 11 May 2013 19:28:50 +0000

In the process of trying out a few artist software, eArtist, Working Artist, and GystPro. A combination of all three in one software would be a nice improvement. Still missing much of what would include together the various venues I had hoped to find in a single software. I teach sculpture, drawing, and have open groups with life models out of my studio, as well as have my own physical gallery – though still getting setup since a relocation. A software I have used previously – Sage, ACT Premium (Swiftpage, SalesLogix, ACT are now combined together), requires quite a bit of customizing, though with third party add ons like the ones from Durkin, ASDS, QSalesData – which directly links together QuickBooks and ACT, CompanionLink, QuoteWerks by Aspire, it seems much better than the choices I have tried here. The reason I have tried out these artist software was to see if there was something I might be missing with what I customized in ACT. Which proved a definite yes, I had quite a bit left out of the stew on what I had customized for ACT for my art business. But I feel these software solutions are not able to handle much of the various aspects of my art in one synchronized software. The cost is higher with ACT as a customized software, than the less expensive options listed here. The art information is very useful in GYST, something beyond just a working software.

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By: Documenting Art Work System « Donna Branch

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:12:04 +0000

[…] Once upon a time, I had notes about completed art works floating everywhere in the studio, usually there was a handwritten master list. Then, I made the commitment to change that. […]

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By: Marc Slott

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:48:27 +0000

Let me preface this post by saying that I am one of the principals in Elms Publishing the maker of My Art Collection http://my-artcollection.com/. While this software is primarily designed for collectors we have many artists who use it. I just wanted to post this up and give alyson’s readers get an opportunity to check it out We developed and began selling this product in 2004 and it has been used by thousands of collectors around the world since then. While it may not be the perfect fit for all artists, we have photographers, quilters and many other paint media artists using it. It does not do your CRM or AP/AR but we have very few, if any, complaints from users. The tablet version is going to be out in the 2nd qtr this year.
Our facebook page is here http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Art-Collection/203554083012395?sk=wall please take a look and like us if you do. You can also use the coupon code MyArt10 for a 10% discount for yourself or any of your customers on any of our systems.
Also the system is written in filemaker so it is cross platform to Mac or PC.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 06:25:53 +0000

In reply to Robin Maria Pedrero.

Good to know. Thanks, Robin!

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By: Charles Kaufman

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:45:04 +0000

Suggest that people buy and learn how to use the database program Filemaker Pro 12.
It is the database program I use.
You control everything. You customize it how you like it. No limits on art or what you can do.
Never have to worry the web-based data base goes out of business…or you lose all your work because you didn’t make the annual payment.
For about the cost of 3 years some web data based products you can own Filemaker Pro 12 and your own custom made art databases for life.
Link:
http://www.filemaker.com/products/filemaker-pro/whats-new.html
Filemaker Pro works on Windows or Apple and the company is owned by Apple.
Plus apps to use it on the road with your iPad or iPhone.

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