If you’re feeling a little like a wallflower or left out of the art conversation, here are a few ideas – short of renting billboard space – to get you back on the radar of the VIPs in the art world.
Most of these actions work well with arts administrators, arts writers, gallery directors, or curators. Any one of them would be a step in the right direction.
1. Add VIPs to your postcard distribution list.
You can’t do this with your bulk email, and you should be able to understand why a postcard in the mail is a gentler introduction than an email from someone you don’t know.
Always include a personal note.
2. Become a fan of Facebook pages that are simpatico with your goals.
Like the pages as yourself and as your business page so that you can see the status updates in both of your Facebook feeds.
Join the conversations on these pages and leave comments as your business page. This allows other visitors to click through and see your art.
3. Send a letter of admiration.
No one is immune to flattery!
People in administrative roles are no different from practicing artists. We all like to hear that our work is appreciated.
Compliment VIPs on their programs, exhibitions, books, or articles.
4. Write articles about your work.
In our How to Get Your Art Published in Magazines audio program, Leah Fanning Mebane suggests writing articles about your art and shares how she gets multiple articles and blog features every year.
Send copies of the published articles to the VIPs on your list as appropriate.
5. Be seen.
Attend lectures, gallery talks, and openings whenever you can.
Become a familiar face to the VIPs since familiarity breeds trust.
6. Introduce yourself!
This is probably the most overlooked step. In a room full of art cognoscenti, set a goal of meeting two or three new people that are on your “I need to know them” list.
VIPs are human, too. They are there for the same reason you are: to be seen and to meet people.
How are you getting noticed?
6 Ninja Tips for Getting Noticed
- Alyson Stanfield
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30 thoughts on “6 Ninja Tips for Getting Noticed”
My Duty list as a Professional Artist:
1. Create Good Meaningful Art [check]
2. Get it photographed professionally [check]
3. Create my own unique Artistic Catalog using Pro.Phtography [Check]
4. Create Greeting Cards [check]
5. Post Photos on Facebook Artist Page [check]
6. Blog a succinct Story on each Artwork with that Prof.Photo [check]
7. Post that Blog on FBAP for those who may like to read about it. [check]
8. Send Catalog along with the Greeting Card with a personal note to all the Collectors and people who love my Art. [check]
9. Repeat the whole process again.
10. Network with family, friends and fans and involve them with all going on in my life, creative process and upcoming exhibits.
NICE.
🙂 Your Book and Your Blogs are my GPS Alyson. Thank You!
Insanely useful list, sir. I’ll keep in mind some of your tips. 🙂
Thank you Portrait Artist. I am a Madame…just so you know. If you need any help, please do reach out and contact. Best Of Luck!!
I always appreciate these posts, thanks!!
Hi Alyson,
This is a great piece. Wonderful tips. Thanks for this.
XO Barbara
Thanks as always for the great advice! I look forward to reading more about how to get published.
just joined. appreciate the daily love (short and sweet)
Along the lines of Introduce Yourself, I recently moved and made sure I introduced myself to the local bookstore owner (because I’m the author of some how-to books). Lo and behold, she already carried my older books (this isn’t usual, my books are not mainstream) and she said she’d order my new book once it was published. Fast forward six months and the bookstore is hosting a Local Author Showcase next week. I’m one of the authors she invited; I was interviewed for an article in a local paper and will be interviewed on the local TV station as well. And I’m hoping this will be an introduction of me to my new community!
Great story, Helen! Kismet.
So Happy for You!! 😀 Let The Good Times Roll!!
Really like your ongoing comments and tips.
Frank-
Thanks, Frank! I appreciate your being here.
Great tips Alyson! Thanks!
Alyson. As far as the email address you post for business related inquiries, is using gmail professional? Thanks!
Wayne
Wayne: I will always prefer that artists use their own brand for emails rather than gmail. But, for some reason I can’t explain, gmail is very much accepted in business.
It is a great post and very useful, thanks, Alyson.
I am wondering though about one thing. You said to like a page ‘as’ your professional page and I was just informed yesterday that ‘pages’ cannot
‘like’ other pages anymore. Do you know anything about that?
PS: Roopa…really liked your #6 suggestion!
I haven’t heard of this, Victoria, and I just tested it and was able to do so. Maybe someone was confused since you can’t friend personal profiles from your page?
Where did you hear this?
Lord knows, Alyson…I can’t remember when I got up this morning…but when I tried it – and heaven knows I may have gone about it all wrong – I couldn’t do it.
Buoyed by your words, I’ll go for it again…and again..
Just can’t like anything on personal profiles as your page.
Ahhhhhhh….that sheds light on my confusion. TY!
Roopa, I love your list too! I am going to share it on my FB fan page. 🙂 It is hard wearing all the hats of an artist…
Susan: Every business owner has a lot of hard work to do. Artists are no different. I know you understand this, but it’s important to acknowledge it lest we buy into the myth that we’re “so special.”
Susan, I see it as my commitment to “Getting The Job Done” as BOND 007 would say. It becomes easy with practice. I confess I enjoy every aspect of it because I see being a “Professional” Artist as a Package Deal. P.S: I love wearing my Mad Hatter Hat the most. It keeps all the other Hats neatly stacked up inside. Just wanted to send you a visual through words. 🙂
Alyson,
I received a note from someone yesterday who said that she had tried to like my page from hers and that she was ‘not permitted’ to do that so she had liked it from her personal page. Upon looking at recent ‘likes’ I happened to notice that another person who had also been going to like it from her page was also there ‘in person.’
Could be just a fluke, heaven knows FB is full of those!
V
Great meeting here everyone.
Art is universal.
Emilia
ArtWanted.com/EmiliaMisiura
I had a question. Are there websites that are good for selling art. you see I create digital, abstract art, and I was wondering how to sell it. I am also a writer, poet, and photographer, but any suggestions you have will be helpful. I was also wondering (and I have been reading your blog) what is your advice for those of us that don’t particularly enjoy art, but like to create art? that would be me.
Rex, any website is only as good as the traffic you drive to it.
Magazines like Professional Artist always have ads for “gallery sites,” I have one that’s linked to my site. I have it not only because they can handle larger files and more of them than I could on my site but also because they have a prints-on-demand feature that I love.
Blasphemy! Don’t enjoy art? Really? Not at all?
What kind of advice do you need around that? I guess I would advise you not to say that too loudly. 😉