Getting Started – Evaluation – Part 2

As you can tell from Part 1 of this series I am all about going into things with eyes open as wide as possible.  I like to know what I’m getting into and if I’m cut out for it.  Part 2 of this series will help you to explore if being a working artist is for you, and help you to discern where it is you will start.  Consider it as a sort of business plan.  Part 1 gave you an honest look at what it takes.  Part 2 is actually a kind of checklist you can go through.  Take some time and write out your thoughts for each heading below.  See where it takes you.

1.  Do you have money saved?  What do you need to make to cover your expenses?
If you are coming out of a stable day job I would suggest building up a nest egg before quitting, if you can.  Ideally a years worth of living expense would be nice but we all know that that isn’t always realistic.  Decide what you need to live on until you can start making a steady income.  This may include giving up some of you life’s luxuries (like Starbucks, eating out, having the newest technology, etc).  But it’s great incentive to be financially successful so you can still have those luxuries.  Don’t forget:  being self-employed means that you have to provide your own health benefits!

2.  How and where will you sell your work?
There are many ways to sell your work as an artist.  So many that it is easy to spread yourself very thin.  One thing I have learned is that if you try out too many things at once, you won’t do any of them very well.  Think about where you would like to sell.  Online? (auction, Etsy, your web site).  Shows?  (what kind?  Where?)  Home parties?  (do you have a customer base to start with?)  Boutiques?  Once you know this you can start to research how that works and what the best first steps are.  If you are not sure, it is never too early to start scoping it out.  Go to art shows and evaluate them, start looking at shops in a different way (would your work fit in?)  Are you tech savvy enough to sell online?  Etc.

3.  Where will you get your support?
Find resources from the pros.  There is nothing like picking the brain of those who have been at it for a while.  Do you have people like that around you?   Check out S.C.O.R.E. to see if there are local retired artists that can help you.  Much of the information will be unique to your location, such as getting a business license, tax id, selling venues, etc.  Find local artist groups/organizations.  Face to face, surround yourself with people who support you and protect yourself from those who would discourage you.

Another great support is online forums.  Find an active forum with artists working in your medium.  Read it for a while and be sure to learn the etiquette of their community before jumping in.  Always search and do your own homework before popping in and asking your question.  People are usually happy to help, but chances are, your question has been asked before and it gets tedious to read and answer the same thing over and over.  Do a search first!

4.  Is your art saleable?
Before you jump into art/crafting as a business, consider if your work is actually saleable.  Friends and family will often compliment our work, even if they don’t mean it.

5.  Are you able to price your work to where you will make a profit?
One mistake people make when they’re just starting out is that they price their work too low.  They may cover the expense of their materials but don’t take into consideration that they actually need to survive on their profit!  There are day to day living expenses, studio operating expenses (electricity, equipment, etc).  Find out the pricing formula for your medium and see if you feel comfortable with it.  For example, a good rule of thumb for lampwork is at least $1/minute for a piece.  For painting I’ve heard $1/square inch.  If you think those come out too high for what you’re offering, don’t quit your day job yet.  Those who have gone before us know what they’re talking about. They know what it takes to make a living as an artist.

6.  Do you think you can beat the odds?
Are you hearing all this and thinking, “yeah, yeah, yeah,” and it’s going in one ear and out the other?  Are you thinking, “I’ll be different”?  I urge you to hear what I’m saying. I say this because that was me, twice in my life (that I’ll fess up to)!  First, when I got a degree in counseling and at the beginning of the program they told us “You will not get rich at this.”  My denial told me, “Of course I will.  I’ll just go into private practice.”  Ha!  Then again when I started my own research into art as a living.  Much of what I’m telling you here is what I was told too.  It took three years and two media for me to finally wake up.  Don’t make the mistake I made.

7.  Do you love your art?
Of course you do.  I mean, REALLY love your art?  Can you sit and do repetitive tasks over and over and over?  Can you stand being alone for long hours?  Can your body take it?  If you’d like to do shows, can you travel?  Can you lift and move things for set-up and tear down?

8.  What is the market like where you live?
If you are considering selling locally or doing local shows, is there a market for it?  I live in a very touristy, vacation area.  We have seasonal residents…those who can afford second homes.  It is much easier to sell at shows and in shops here than it would be in a more rural setting where the cost of living is lower.  Be realistic.  Can you fetch the prices you need to?

9.  Do you have computer and photography skills?
Regardless of where you decide to sell, inevitably you will need these.  It’s great if you know someone who can do it for you but often times it’s not free, or if it is, you find yourself waiting on them.  If you have a time table for when you’d like to go full-time art, start learning these skills.  There are some great resources online for classes. lynda.com is a great resource for computer skills and you can find an online community for your medium that can point you towards photography tutorials for your type of work.

I tried to make it an even 10 but I’ve come up dry.  These should be enough though, for you to start to hash out your intentions. Feel free to drop a comment or email with any questions that might arise.