Serious Biz

I’m at the start of something really exciting.

I’m learning how to market my art biz.

This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to educate myself in the mysteries of marketing.

Back in 2008 I registered in basic marketing at Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design.  It fulfilled one of the academic requirements towards my BFA, and heck, who doesn’t want to learn how to sell stuff?  Turned out the course was geared toward Design students, not Art students.

I was surprised at how narrow the focus was, considering the course was being taught IN AN ART SCHOOL.

I attended three classes.

That was all the time I needed to discover the instructor was more interested in slinging sarcastic comments then actually helping confused students learn about marketing.  I withdrew from the class, forfeiting my tuition in doing so as it was past the add/drop deadline.  As far as I’m concerned, NOT taking the class was the best money I ever spent.

My academic foray with marketing left a bad taste in my mouth and I had no desire to revisit the experience.

Until, that is, I quit my auxiliary day job to focus on my art career and really needed to get my **** together.

At the end of 2012 I decided to fork over the cash for Chris Guillebeau and Zoë Westhof’s guide for artists, The Unconventional Guide to Art & Money.  Being a Scottish skeptic, I had my doubts before purchasing it.  Trust me when I tell you that they are right when they advertise you will get 5x – 10x the value of the purchase price out of the guide.  I haven’t done anything but read it yet and already I feel I’ve gotten excellent value for what I paid.  I highly recommend it, especially if you are just starting to market your creative self or are simply damn confused about how to do it.

But I digress…

While I was purchasing Art & Money, I was offered the option of purchasing an additional marketing guide for a special price.  I’d never heard of Naomi Dunford or IttyBiz, but I was feeling particular generous toward myself that day and thought, “Why not?  Since I’m investing in my career…yes, please add Marketing School to my cart!”

So.  Glad.  I.  Did.

Naomi is capital “h” Hilarious .  I’ve only read 13 pages and completed one assignment but so far the guide is entertaining and informative.  I can’t wait to see what I’m going to learn tomorrow.  I am having fun and I am actually excited about marketing.

THIS is the kind of marketing course that art schools should be teaching to their sensitive fledgling artists. 🙂

Do you have a marketing resource that you found useful and would recommend?  An e-book or blog that made you excited about marketing?  Please share in the comments below!