Wednesday, August 28, 2019

SELL YOURSELF

For years I struggled with the notion of turning my passion into a marketable venture. I was unsure about going down that road, because at the time, my work was only important to my personal sense of well being. Photography was a creative outlet that I revisited from my late childhood, one I soon found I desperately needed after retiring from the music business. After all, most creatives need some form of outlet, especially after having moved on from previous endeavors.

Having decided to make a go of it, I knew I would have to research how to market my work. This was a time when film was the photographic medium and there was no internet, and so, looking at the few avenues available, I realized I would have to learn to sell myself first, as an artist, before I could possibly achieve any modicum of success.

One thing I knew was key; being a working musician had taught me the ways, and benefits, of interacting with people, previously a nonstarter that I would not have been capable of years before, since in reality, I am a bit of an introvert.

And so, I learned how to walk into an establishment with portfolio in hand and sell myself, before even showing the work itself. There were many rejections along the way, but determination and time paid off in the long run.

With the advent of the internet, the art of selling changed literally overnite. No longer did you have to rely on face to face, or pick up the phone to sell your work. For me, this change removed from the equation the element of having that personal relationship with my clients, a relationship that I highly valued. The main benefit the internet provided was a place where you could showcase your work (obviously an advantage), but at the same time it seemed to lose that personal connection with the client. The benefit of a one on one between artist and client seemed to become relegated to the sideline. For me, this impersonal approach was a loss for both parties. What to do at this point became the overriding consideration.

After giving this some serious thought, I made the conscious decision to not sell my work through an online print vendor. This allowed me to continue to have a one on one 'conversation', whether it be by email, by phone, or face to face with those interested in purchasing my work. It also allowed me to offer prints and digital media that could be approved by myself, and tailored to fit the needs of the client, before sending the work out the door. Over the years, this has proved beneficial to both in more ways than I can count. With this personal connection, both the artist and the client/customer gain immensely in my opinion. All of this, in part, directly came about because I learned to sell myself.

All said and done, I cannot teach you how to learn the art of selling yourself, anymore than I can teach you how to live a productive, fulfilling life. You just have to take that first step, and then the next. Learn to trust your instincts. Analyze and learn from your failures and your mistakes. Eventually, you will become self-assured and confident in your ability to sell yourself first; then your art will sell itself. In the long run, it will pay dividends you can not even begin to imagine, while leaving you with a sense of personal fulfillment where you and your work stand in the world of art.

Until next time ....


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