Ask Art Slut

The Ask Art Slut Advice Column is by Barb Benson GrOb -Artist, Author & Director of the Key West Art Bar. It’s crafty advice for living life creatively, with excerpts from The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It ~ As a Visual Artist & from her on line column: www.ArtSlut.com

Q: You’re so good at marketing. You should teach a class, or write a book (already done that)! Do you have any advice for me?

A: Of course- Buy my book! Marketing is a big part of what it’s about – whether you’re talking about the arts or not, it’s good stuff. ‘Till you do that, here are a few excerpts from it to help you on your path:

Organizations like the Innkeeper’s Association, Business Guild & Chamber of commerce provide great networking opportunities. “Keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening locally, and get as involved as you can.”
Create a PR list & use it regularly, without being a pest. Set aside time for promoting yourself – it’s your job, no matter what your chosen profession is.
“Learn to write a press release. It’s probably the most valuable thing you can do for your business.” Be sure to make it newsworthy – a new painting isn’t newsworthy. Selling it to Madonna is. Likewise, a new technique, a lavish gift to a great cause, or an installation in a famous location is good news.
Call to see who’s the best person to submit to & Google ‘free press release template’ to make sure you get the formatting correct before sending. It does matter!
Find out the deadlines for submissions in your local papers. Mark them all on your calendar, so they’re handy when you need them.
When you submit, include, beautiful 300DPI or greater, jpeg photos & all relevant contact info.
Set up a press kit, telling about your accolades & send it, along with potential story or interview ideas to papers, talk shows & radio stations. Be sure to include a professional head shot!
If you’re really freaked out about talking up your work, don’t do it. There are plenty of publicity pros available & if you’re a represented artist, you should let your gallery do it for you. That is their job. So, don’t compete with them by trying to sell on a personal website!
If you want me to do PR… Well, that’ll cost ya. Find out how much at www.KeyWestArt Bar.com

Free Wine
This week’s question is, ‘What’s the deal, with you tryin’ to get a wine license?’

As many of you know, I’m working on opening a wine bar in my new gallery. Just about everyone’s been super-supportive & excited about the creation of a ‘happening space’, where people can come hang out & get involved, while having a drinkie~ instead of the traditional, ‘buy art or bye bye’ theory of art sales. That’s good! Without question, a couple of drinkies helps to give everybody a nice, warm glow. As for the few, nay-sayers who think that all galleries should give freebies all the time, I’d like to say, ‘Okay. Now, it’s your turn!’, but instead, I’ll say, ‘Thank you for actually supporting the arts.”

I know. It’s all very confusing, because we all love the arts & the party & seeing our friends. It’s awesome & a great tradition. Just the same, times are not what they used to be & statistically, even then - 80% of galleries failed in their first year. So, I think it’s important to do something new & different, while following your passion.

Anyway, here’s this weeks’ excerpt from the ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It. Remember, it’s advice for artists~

‘Okay, fine. Go enjoy the free wine at openings. While you’re there, introduce yourself & look around. Yes, you can pass out a few cards - as long as you’re not a free-wine whore, who’s trying to steal clients. That’s not nice. K? Going to gallery openings is fun & free. It’s a great place to be inspired, meet other artists, scope the gallery as a potential rep and network.

This is not an appropriate place to be a drunken glutton, though. Save that for your parents place at the holidays.’

~ Lo Buhrman of DesignsbyLorraine.net says, “Wine & art just go together, naturally.”
  ~Robin Williams said, “We’re all worms, but I do believe I’m a glow worm.”

Barb blurb: Barb’s new gallery, The Key West Art Bar is a ‘Happening Space’ with fine art, classes, jewelry bar, Indy films, Art Slut Stuff & lots more to come! See it in the Flagler Station Bldg. at Caroline & Margaret, open daily 10-7 & Sun 11-5.

*If you would like to have your art featured in an upcoming column, send jpegs to bbopnbarb@gmail.com Submissions are chosen randomly.

 Ask ART SLUT
by Barb Benson GrOb with The Gallery Goddesses:

Welcome back, everybody! This column will now be a regular feature in Conch Color Magazine, in Key West. SO, check it out!~

 Everybody already knows me as the ART SLUT. So, this is the first installment of the Ask ART SLUT advice column, in print. It’s a combination of crafty advice for creative living & excerpts from my book,

 ”The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It”, along with some seriously sassy input from my colleagues at the Art Bar- The Gallery Goddesses. Our mission is to inspire & assist, artists & others, to live life creatively!

 This week’s question came from a local artist who’s struggling with the concept of making a living doing something she enjoys - over & over again- versus creating ‘high art’… Hmm, I wonder why she came to me? Anyway, she loves both, but seems to be feeling some pressure to be a “real’” artist.

Here’s what the girls have to say:
-Rebecca says, “Contrary to romantic notions, no artist wants to be a starving artist. I find that paychecks have a way of fueling the creative juices I need for projects I want to work on…”
-LO says, “As a graphic designer, I make other people’s visions reality. I’m their hands & I still get up at 3AM, excited about work. If that makes me a sell out, so be it.”
-Barb says “Do what you love & the money will follow, but don’t starve to death in the meantime.”

Today’s excerpt excerpt is “SELL OUT”:
 ”Isn’t it weird how some people will talk about that ‘Poor Starving Artists’, until they get ‘discovered’ then, will call them a ’sellout’? Anyone who tells you you’re a ’sellout’ for making a living is jealous or threatened by your greatness. Think about it. They wouldn’t call a successful architect a ’sell out’. Would they? You deserve your success. Take well considered risks to reach your goals & don’t give that kind of ignorance power by acknowledging it. The biggest pay-offs come to the biggest risk takers, and the best luck goes to the hardest workers, every time.”

-Andy Warhol said -”Why do people think artists are special? It’s just another job.”

Today’s featured artist is: Lorraine Buhrman. Check out her fabulous graphic designs, mosaics & more at www.designsbylorraine.com

The Ask ART SLUT advice column is written by artist/author/entrepreneur, Barbara Grob and is a mix of excerpts from the author’s book, “The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It~ As a Visual Artist”. She is currently the Director of the Key West Art Bar, where she works with Art Historian - Rebecca Rex and Graphic Designer - Lorraine Buhrman. Check it out at the corner of Margaret & Caroline, in the big, yellow ‘Flagler Station Bldg.” 10-7 daily & 11-5 Sun. 305-296-0424.

Thank you!
Barb