Toolbox Success Stories

Artist’s Professional Toolbox Success Stories: In the Artists’ Own Words

JASON:

...All of the things that have happened in the past year are a direct result of APT and I wouldn’t have known to do any of this on my own:

  1. Made a branding statement
  2. Redesigned my website, letterhead, business cards and email newsletter to reflect that branding statement.
  3. Started a bi monthly newsletter to about 300 of my contacts and added a link in my website for people to sign up.
  4. I keep 4 goal lists hanging in my studio 1 week goals – 1 month goals – 1 year goals and long term goals and I look at them frequently.
  5. I am much more proactive about pursuing sales of pieces, grants and career related aspects because I feel new found confidence in handling that side of things
  6. My art sales last year were the highest of my career in part because of a big show but also because I marketed that show much more aggressively due to the Toolbox
  7. I purchased a live / work artist condo this January and that was one of the first goals I wrote down during those very first days of the Toolbox – “solidify my living and working situation” and it came true!
  8. I’m planning my first Open studio and with the network of Toolbox-ers available, I asked another artist about how she accepted credit cards at her last function and I’m setting up to do it myself as well.

Of course I don’t have time to paint anymore!! (kidding)

All in all the Toolbox has reinvigorated my career in obvious ways and also in a subtle shifting towards believing again that this career can be fulfilling in both a personal and financial way. I’m actually very glad I didn’t go to grad school and instead participated in the Toolbox!

Jason - www.JasonBrockert.com

 

TRICIA

While we all felt the benefits of the APT course almost immediately, I had some real success last weekend that I wanted to share with you all. Most of the success was due to pointers received from APT faculty and fellow participants.

...last year, Deborah Obalil strongly suggested I think of my target markets in terms of people, not geography. She also suggested showing my work in intimate settings — a chance where people can meet the artist — and to consider connecting with people who might host a salon of my work. As luck would have it, dear friends of mine from my hometown of Tampa, Florida offered to do just that and the event was last weekend. The salon was in their home last Saturday evening, 6-9 pm, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres, and an artist’s talk at 6:45 pm. I put a huge amount of consideration into the design and content of the invitation. In the end, nearly 90 people attended (the host was convinced the invitation really drew people in), and I sold $9,000 worth of work. More than half of the sales were by credit card, which I would have never even known to do if not for the APT course. After deducting $1,000 of expenses, I cleared $8,000, not enough to retire on, but enough to invest back in my business to pursue other important efforts — like building a website!

As one of the hosts put it, I succeeded in selling work in a market whose artistic taste runs from “Rockwellian to marauding pirates to Confederate generals” and I am convinced it was because of the intimate forum and the ability to connect with the guests (and the open bar helped to). If any of you are interested in pursuing this type of event, please let me know and I will tell you what the challenges and opportunities are. I am hoping to do more of these with other friends in other markets.

Just wanted to pass on a success story and to thank you all for your valuable input over the past year.

All the best,

Tricia

 

JOHN

A creative consultant for the Boston Business Journal attended the Arts & Business Council’s “Martinis & Masterpieces” event, featuring Toolbox artists. Two people from the Boston Business Journal visited my studio right after the event. They saw my work at the auction and wanted to commission some large paintings. I hadn’t heard from them in several months so I thought they were not interested, but they called me up the other day and invited me over to proceed with the deal. I was commissioned to do 2 paintings for BBJ's lobby.

 

CHRISTINE

Thank you for creating, organizing, and producing such an outstanding program for artists and their professional development. Clearly there was a great deal of thought put into the choice of topics as well as presenters and both were excellent consistently. The peer group is such a valuable component and the best part about it is that we will continue to meet and support each other now that the class is over.

Participating in the Toolbox came at just the right time for me, as I was really confused about what direction I needed to take. The Toolbox gave me the tools to analyze my situation, articulate what my work is about, come up with a marketing plan, and now I’m in the process of executing it. In one of the first classes Alisa said “The difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful person is that the successful person does what the unsuccessful person doesn’t want to do.” That was my biggest light bulb moment. Of course, my husband has been saying the same thing to me for years, but I had a “You just don’t understand, it’s different for artists” mindset. Wow, I’m so glad I got over that.

After that attitude adjustment I was ready for all the practical information that rained down upon us and feel prepared to deal with just about any professional issue that may come up. And if I can’t deal with it, I know whom to call! Thank you for demystifying the art business and for introducing me to so many ar-related professionals and so many other wonderful artists.

Christine - www.Destrempes.com