Comments on: The Right Audience – Where are they?

By: Casey Klahn

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:51:06 +0000

DeKooning had a situation where one sponsor contracted to buy everything he made for a period of time. WdK had his freedom to paint as he liked (he was strong in that regard) and the coin of comfort, so to speak. Now, let me say that is a one in a billion situation, and I myself am not going to wait around for it to happen!

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By: Susan Wells

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:18:13 +0000

In reply to Whitney.

Whitney, Postcards are my friend. Folks like to have beautiful images in their life and they will hang them up at their desk and keep them on their fridge-great publicity that keeps on giving. I promote with email, postcards, fb, twitter, being out in the world, special preview parties get a beautiful wedding-like invite w/RSVP card. At this point I have never paid for advertising so at this point, I do not advertise my events.

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By: Vesna Jovanovic

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:35:05 +0000

I’ve discovered that instead of going out and finding the right audience, you can let the right audience find you. Here’s my story:
I make art in various media and with various themes. I had been trying to find my audience for a long time, but I didn’t feel that I had one specific “brand” or “theme” for marketing purposes, which made things extra difficult.
So after sending out numerous packages and applications for exhibits with all sorts of themes (nature, time and memory, craft, science, alternative photography, portraits, landscapes) I realized that I was getting called back mostly for science-themed exhibits, and that science magazines and blogs began writing about me. I didn’t even think of the majority of my work as particularly “science-related”. So I went with it, began marketing my work as science-themed (even though to me that was quite a stretch) and the marketing really paid off with more exhibits, sales, write-ups… Then I was invited to speak at a University of Chicago anthropology conference, my work appeared on Discover Magazine Blogs, I was on panel discussions, etc. If someone would have told me 5 years ago that this would be my niche, I would not have believed them. It is surreal and not at all intuitive for me.
I did facilitate this process, but I would still describe this as my audience finding me (especially because I had no idea who I was looking for).

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By: connie solberg

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:42:40 +0000

In reply to Alyson Stanfield.

Glad to hear that you are somewhat sympathetic to this idea. Like I said above, the degree of trust has to be such that you are free to produce without constraints, but I think this is workable if you have a body of work and an interested audience who wants what you have, but the cash keeps getting in the way….

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By: Marty Qatani

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:37:20 +0000

I have to agree with Alyson… if they’re done right, hopefully they’re pinned up on a board in plain view. They can be a constant reminder, especially if you send reminders every 3-6 months. It’s all about staying out in front. I don’t see how you can go wrong with postcards, especially if you find a quality / affordable printer.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:25:34 +0000

In reply to Peter Worsley.

Still a HUGE fan of postcards. They can’t be deleted and stay around for quite some time. And they don’t get lost with hundreds of emails in an inbox. I think you need both.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:23:58 +0000

In reply to PJ Hornberger.

But how rewarding to build those relationships in such an authentic way!

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:22:44 +0000

In reply to connie solberg.

Connie: I believe there are artists using this model. I’m not sure they earn 100% from sponsorships, but I think it’s worth a try.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:20:33 +0000

In reply to Kate Klingensmith.

Kate: Exactly! You took the initiative and put your art in front of THE perfect person. While he didn’t buy the painting, I’ll bet you made a fan for life.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:18:47 +0000

In reply to Susan Wells.

Excellent point, Susan. And it feeds your soul to get out and connect.

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