Comments on: Are you a flaky French pastry? Or are you black coffee?

By: karyn servin

karyn servin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:05:57 +0000

i loved your post. Personally I pride myself on NOT being a flaky artist and have worked doubly hard to deliver on time, return every call and email, and be 'professional'. I remember the art school days with stinky friends, and potatoes with every meal, and dang it all, I like showers and good food!

By: Heartburn Home Remedy

Heartburn Home Remedy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:05:20 +0000

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By: BJ Lantz

BJ Lantz — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:36:13 +0000

I love it – “entertain, don’t drain”! Great way to say that.

Your comment about accepting feedback made me think of another point:

Have thick skin. Unlike your mother, not everybody will like everything you create. This is never personal – it is just business. A truly professional artist doesn’t bat an eye and will whip out a different design saying, “Here’s how about this instead?” I am sometimes amazed at how many artists out there get wounded because somebody didn’t like their offering. I may think to myself, “That’s a darned nice design, I can’t believe nobody has licensed it!” but I’m not hurt when a potential client passes on it.

Here’s another:

Never make excuses. If you screw up, own it. A client would rather hear, “I made a mistake, I apologize and here’s how I’ll fix it…” than, “I was tired when I worked on that because my cat kept me up howling, then my coffee maker broke and my computer was screwed up…” (this is akin to “leave the drama in the wings” and “don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions”)

I think Tara had a whole post about reasons vs. excuses…

By: sparkyfirepants

sparkyfirepants — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:51:36 +0000

BJ:I’m happy to have you contribute to the discussion here! Some of these points bear repeating anyway.

You mentioned something I didn’t, which was to leave your personal drama in the wings. Spot on.

The same goes for interviewing or bidding on projects. When a potential client asks how you are, it’s not only a friendly formality, it’s sort of a test.

I interviewed a woman for a design position a while back. When I started off by asking her to tell me about herself, I got an earful about her sick dog, her crazy kids, and her “poor excuse for a husband.”

Gack!

Guess who wasn’t listening to anything she said about her qualifications after that? Sad to say, but the interview was over before we got any further.

It’s great to make a funny comment like, “My kids think I carry PBJ in my pants,” but keep it light and fun. Show some personality, but entertain, don’t drain!

Karyn and Carol: Yes! I’ve often thought that art schools should have a class about the Real World. Marketing, communication, accepting feedback, etc. Talent and skill are great, but only if you can sell them (and shower).

By: BJ Lantz

BJ Lantz — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:41:55 +0000

JoBe has the right attitude ~ I often say “I’m not making a killing, but I am making a living” and doing it as an artist working for myself – what could be better?

p.s. I see that I duplicated your thought on asking questions in my comment – sorry for being redundant in my zeal…

By: sparkyfirepants

sparkyfirepants — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:43:04 +0000

There’s a great book by a man named JoBe Cerny called, “I Could Have Been a Cab Driver but I Became an Actor Instead.”

You may remember him as the funny guy in the Cheer commercials.

He talks about acting, but the thing I love about his book is that the lessons can be applied to any freelance career.

JoBe is not a leading man. His name doesn’t run alongside Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt on the movie posters. He isn’t a tabloid darling. No “Ellen” appearances.

However, the guy has a nice home, he travels, he put his kids through college… by being a professional actor.

Talk about the diciest career choice ever. Being a waiter or cab driver is a cliche for actors.

JoBe must be doing something right. Right?

By: carol eldridge

carol eldridge — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:13:28 +0000

great post! I have been speaking and giving seminars on Art Licensing for over 16 years to artists in hopes of setting some professional standards in our business.. Along with the Licensing 101 presentation comes a whole bit on being professional, throwing away the “blond” attitude and taking control of your business. Most artists, unfortunately, have no business sense, no direction or marketing skills to sell their talent. I have often thought that the art schools do us a disservice in not teaching a class on marketing and good business practices. So, good for you to send it out there to the creative world to sit up and pay attention to. It can make such a difference in your business if only you would forgo the croissant and just stick with the black coffee….did I say ” pass the sugar, please?”.

best,
carol eldridge

By: Kathy Peterson Inspired

Kathy Peterson Inspired — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:48:03 +0000

Kudo’s to you. I love your insights on licensing art and how creative type can hit (or miss) the mark. You crack me up! Keep the message flowing!

By: BJ Lantz

BJ Lantz — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:51:07 +0000

Ah, yes, the “art is my passion, my baby and nobody can tell me how to create my art” thing…. definitely leads to starving.

Personally, I like to eat. I’ve been a professional artist (of one sort or another) most of my adult life. A WORKING professional artist ~ why? Because I am black coffee (dare I say, at the risk of sounding full of myself ~ maybe even Starbucks? :-)). I smiled when I read this post because years ago when I started cold-calling for freelance clients I would tell them “I’m not a flaky artist ~ I’m a professional. Really!”

I’ll offer a few more thoughts…

Meet your deadlines. Always. Period. No excuses.

Be flexible and easy-going. If a client tells you they want the flower pink instead of yellow, don’t give them a 10 minute dissertation on why you made it yellow and why you insist that it stay yellow. Just. Make. It. Pink. With a smile. An old adage of mine is: “You like it? I love it.”

If you don’t understand a direction (and there are so many clients out there who cannot properly communicate) ask for clarification ~ don’t wing it. There are no stupid questions. Questions save time, money and aggravation on everybody’s part.

In the initial stages (sketches & roughs), give more than asked for ~ but not too much. Too much overwhelms clients, but they like choices. Give them a winner and one or Two to trash and you’ll move along to the final stages faster.

Be positive ~ leave your personal drama in the wings. Clients don’t want to hear it if you’re having a bad day, week, month, life. Keep it light.

Send a thank you note for the business the first time you complete a project with a new client. No email – handwritten.

So there’s my thoughts ~ those and 2¢ will get you a cup of coffee…err..that and $2…..

By: karyn servin

karyn servin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:21:34 +0000

i loved your post. Personally I pride myself on NOT being a flaky artist and have worked doubly hard to deliver on time, return every call and email, and be ‘professional’. I remember the art school days with stinky friends, and potatoes with every meal, and dang it all, I like showers and good food!