Networking Artists? What's next, suits and ties?

I belong to a network of indie business people called Biznik. “Business networking that doesn’t suck” is their tag line. Gotta love that. It’s an online community that encourages real world networking, as in “Get your butt off the computer and go see some live people.”

On Wednesday I’ll be hosting a network event here in Portland. I decided to host my event at Laurelhurst park and dubbed it the Biznik Brown Bag Lunch.

I thought it would be cool to get people outside under some trees, cop a squat in the grass, and talk about what our businesses will be doing for the rest of the year.

It may sound weird for an Illustrator-Animator-type guy like me to participate in a business network, not to mention lead an event. I mean, I just draw stuff all day, right? What’s all this stuffed shirt business talk about?

Well, I’m a business. It’s true. Despite the clever web site, and goofy, free-wheelin’ attitude, I actually need to earn a living. That means I think about my art as a business and I treat it as such. It’s not that I pretend to be something I’m not so I can make money. I just decided to make money being what I already was.

The successful artists I know and have observed earn a living with their art because they think of themselves as a business. It doesn’t mean putting on the suit and tie every morning and reading the Wall Street Journal (although if you enjoy that sort of thing, go for it). It just means that you have a structure to your days, a focus in your work, and a plan to bring in revenue.

So, part of my plan includes networking within my industry and outside of it. I think it’s important to know other independent business owners that do vastly different things. For me, I get perspective on the rest of the world (it’s easy to get stuck in the world of children’s publishing, for example). I like meeting people who have new and different thoughts on what it takes to succeed on your own. I always learn at least one new thing that I can use in my own business.

So, for the event on Wednesday we’ll all be sharing our vision of what our businesses will be over the next six months. I think it will be good to brainstorm an idea or two of specific things we could do to expand our businesses. Also, since we’ve just shared our goals with a group, we’ll have a built-in system of checks and balances making sure we follow through. I hope that happens for everyone.

I’m writing this at the park right now, scoping a shady spot for Wednesday. There’s free wi-fi, but in my current location it’s very weak; I’ll have to search out a different spot. Man, it’s a beautiful space. I just put my arm in something wet and sticky to get a photo, so I think maybe not this table. I also rode my bike here (4.5 miles) and it was pretty easy (a few hills, I admit).

I’ll follow up here with a recap of the event. It should be interesting!

By the way, if you’re an independent small to medium-size business owner local to Portland, please come and join us. You don’t have be a Biznik member, but you can sign up for free if you like. Please let me know if you plan to come out by RSVPing to mail@sparkyfirepants.com.

I sure hope that’s tree sap under my elbow.

Share