Alert subscriber Annie Salness sent me this article about artists' elevator pitches.
Described as “speed dating for artists and retailers,” these Portland, Oregon events connect artists with people who can help them exhibit and sell their work.
Artists have 2 minutes to persuade the person across from them.
Cool idea, right? (I suggest reading the whole article to get the feel for how it works.)
Would you do it?
Would you be intimidated?
Would you find it fun and easy?
Speed Dating for Artists and Retailers
- Alyson Stanfield
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24 thoughts on “Speed Dating for Artists and Retailers”
What an excellent idea! I would definitely be up for that! There’s nothing to lose really. It’s another chance to get your name out there; an opportunity to meet new people, network and fine tune your own business strategies. I’d go for it!
No down side that I can see. Speaks to me of possibility!
If you don’t take the chances and opportunities offered, fewer people will know about you, see your art. Fewer potential clients.
Sure, it’s out of lots of artists’ comfort zone. Ask these questions: What do you have to win? What do you have to lose?
Then stretch, stretch, and say yes.
Bo: You’d be great at this. Yes, STRETCH is a good word.
I can’t think of one reason not to… it’s a fun idea… nothing to lose, a lot to gain and learn… win win!
Oh my YES! What an innovative idea that works for BOTH sides. I’d love to know how the creators of this idea got it going. We could us it here on the east coast and probably everywhere.
I’d absolutely do this. If nothing else you’d get to me a lot of people, and that’s never a bad thing.
I think it is a great idea! Great quick way to network with the possibility of selling art.
Wow, this is a wonderful idea! This will also work for introverts, since it’s quick and one-on-one! I wonder, as well, how to set something like this up? I know plenty of artists, I wonder how hard it was to get galleries/retailers/boutiques, etc. on board with this? This definitely has me thinking! 🙂
Indigene: We’re going to try SOMETHING like this at the workshop in Philly on November 5.
This does sound like a great event! I belonged to a “creative” networking group that has mostly become defunct, and I really miss the interaction with other members of my community. This sounds like such a great event I forwarded the link to Lancaster Arts, the local organizers of First Fridays. Thanks for sharing, Alyson!
Wendy: It’s awful when those affiliations disappear. I know what it’s like to miss the camaraderie. Hard to replace and it will always take a different form if you try to replicate it.
I’d be up for it! Can’t say I wouldn’t be nervous though.
But as everyone is saying:- What have you got to lose? Nothing!
Cathy: Yeah, being nervous just means it’s the right thing to do.
Only once in a very rare while do I wish I lived near a city. This sort of event is one of those moments. Sigh.
Now I think I’ll go watch some quail, and then shoo the deer away from my potted plants yet again. Or, I can photograph them first, and then paint them!
Okay, the desire for city living has passed. Phew!
Jana: Thanks for that smile. I’m part of the deer-shooing club myself.
This is a great idea but no lie, I would be scared as all get out to do this. The truth is in order to be successful sometimes you have to do the things that you don’t want to do or are too scared to do.
Ani: Bravo! You admitted you’d be scared, but you know it’s good for you. You can do it!
I would love the opportunity to talk about the mixed media prints that I make with twigs, roots, threads and dictionary pages. It would be intimidating but filled with potential. Thanks for the inspiration.
Linda: Challenge yourself to create your own situations to do just this.
Twenty dollars for a lottery ticket? I read the article and while on the surface it sounds good, the actual numbers of artists who made venue producing contacts seems overly small. I would want to see the number of artists attending, the number of retailers attending, and the number of artists who either had shows with or sold work to the retailers. Moreover, it would be great to, over time, find out if any of these contacts resulted in actual artist income.
No, I’m not a cynic, just not gullible either. One of the sponsors is etsy and that makes me uneasy.
Patricia: What if you paid $20 to stretch, learn, and grow? I think that’s the point of this. It’s not that you expect to win the lottery or are even aiming for it. It’s more of an opportunity to practice, learn. Kinda like a workshop. At least that’s how I’d see it.
Hm, well, that is a possible perspective. Not quite what the promoters are selling it as, though. Nonetheless, attending with that attitude would definitely allow for a more positive experience no matter what the end results turn out to be. Good spin, Alyson.
I love this! I live in San Diego and am just starting my business in the area. Im lacking connections and still have know idea where my art fits into the marketplace? I need a good swift kick….lol!!!!!
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