Networking can be nerve inducing work! As an artist, taking time away from your work to make (awkward!) conversations or forge inorganic connections might seem a waste of time, but let us change your mind!
Networking is the key to unlocking the evolution of your career. It is one of the best ways to build your client base and generate long and short term opportunities!
Follow our tips for pain-free networking and start making connections like a pro. You might even have fun along the way!
1. Helping Others Will Help You!
Take a “pay it forward” approach to networking or think of it as making friends rather than business connections. If you aim for positive, kind and genuine encounters as the foundation of your connections, people will be more inclined to assist you with your art career/ambitions!
2. Network With Other Artists
Following on from tip number 1, make an attempt to meet other artists and not just potential buyers. By attending events where artists populate, such as art fairs, gallery openings or workshops and offering to provide resources, advice and support, as well as stimulating conversation, you will start to become a recognized and go-to person in the community!
3. Introduce Yourself With Flare
“So, what do you do?” – in almost any context this question is bound to come up! Be prepared by having an “elevator speech” ready to go so you know exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it. Having just a few intriguing and memorable sentences ready to go could not only be the start of a great conversation but new opportunities!
4. Instead of Selling, Try to Connect.
Unfortunately, scattering business cards left right and center at a networking event and expecting to have the commissions flooding in will not work… Rather than talking to strangers to see what they can do for you, approach them in order to learn about where you have shared interests or experiences. The goal is to create a creative network around you so that you may learn about opportunities through your contacts.
5. Talk to Everyone
If you’re an artist, don’t just talk to artists! A key networking tip is to branch out and make contacts working in other industries or who have other interests than you; you might benefit in the long run when they hear of an opportunity you wouldn’t have seen otherwise, or want to collaborate on a project. This also applies to your everyday life! Who knows, your favorite cafe might be looking for a mural or your dentist’s sister might be looking to commission art for her new business premises!
6. Collect and Keep Business Cards
Be sure to collect and keep safe business cards from the people you meet so that you can easily reach out. (More tips on how to organize your collection of cards coming soon!)
7. Bring Your Own Business Cards
Likewise, be sure to have a stack of your own business cards to hand out to interested people. Not only does this make it easy for people to find you, having a memorable business card that reflects who you are and what you do is the perfect way to make a great first impression and gives your connection a little taste of what you have to offer.
8. Follow Up
Show that you enjoyed chatting with your new connection by sending an email, text or card, reminding them of how you met and that you’d love to set up another time to talk.
9. Stand Out Online
It is likely that if a connection is interested in collaborating, they will look you up online. You’ll need to make sure your online portfolio is not only up to date, but presented nicely! For example, don’t forget to add your latest artworks to your SINGULART portfolio, including artwork descriptions that will help interested collectors connect with your artworks!
10. Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy!
Networking might seem like hard work, but meeting new people can be a source of fun too! Stay relaxed in any situation by sharing your passion for art, just as you want to get to know other people, they also want to get to know you!
Did you like the article? Support with like and subscribe! Thank you.
Until next time,
Artist Nata Shemshur
https://www.natashemshur.com
https://www.instagram.com/artnatashemshur/
https://linktr.ee/ArtNataShemshur
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Рейтинг: 5 из 5.
Оставьте комментарий
Опубликовать комментарий…
комментарий
#artist #art #artcollector #artpainting #artgallery #artist #artfair
Art Nata Shemshur
Art is life 
Leave a comment