14 Steps to a Smart Business Start

        

Physicist Stephen Hawking has good news for us---artists, politicians, cowboys, scientists, carpenters, musicians, CEOs and, well, just about everybody.  He has discovered that “It is not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value.”  Considering the sad state of affairs we wake up to on a daily basis, his astonishing conclusion seems glibly optimistic if not touchingly naïve.

It's hard to be dismissive of Professor Hawking, though. He's probably the brainiest creature on the planet, currently holding the post (once held by Isaac Newton) of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University. If he says we don't really need intelligence to survive, I think we can take his assurances to heart.

Great--that makes it so much easier to do just about anything we want to do.  Modern pop culture certainly demonstrates that we don’t have to be theoretical physicists, rocket scientists or brain surgeons to make it in this world.  So, a little good judgment mixed with sound business sense can launch a successful career. 

If you need some simple guidelines, try following these

14 Steps to a Smart Business Start:

1. Build up a cohesive body of work.
    
2. Document your work in your preferred format: properly labeled slides, on CD-ROM or DVD.  Now organize them.
    
3. Research and develop a target list of venues that may be receptive to your work.
    
4. Make a commitment to yourself to devote at least (x) number of hours per week to the business aspects of your career:  visiting galleries and other potential venues, requesting submission guidelines, sending out artist presentation kits, making phone calls, researching opportunities, talking to other artists.
    
5. Create an updated bio, an artist statement and a resume that outlines all your previous exhibitions, education, collectors, and awards.
    
6. Get simple business cards (and/or post cards, bookmarks, etc.) printed with your name, address, phone number and email address to distribute to anyone potentially interested in your work.  Use one of your images on these print materials!
    
7. Commit to always having (x) number of artist presentation kits compiled and ready to be mailed at a moment’s notice.  Keep good records of where you have sent these and the conversations you have had in regard to them.
    
8. Determine a pricing structure for your work.  Now price each piece.  Review your pricing on a regular basis.
    
9. Organize a system to keep track of incoming and outgoing correspondence, emails, phone calls, and contacts.  Keep these records up to date!
    
10. Begin assembling a mailing list (friends, target galleries, past customers and potential collectors, etc.).
     
11. Apply for a Business Tax Registration certificate and Sales Tax permit that allows you to purchase supplies wholesale and charge sales tax.
     
12. Subscribe to art publications (ArtNews, Art in America, Art Business News, Southwest Art, Sunshine Artist, etc.) to keep you informed about the contemporary art world.
     
13. Spend at least 1 hour per week online checking for new websites, e-commerce sites or art sites that may be of value.  Bookmark these!
     
14. Remember---it’s all about the art!  Even doing the business is all about the art.  So get out there, create art and succeed in business!