Today I listened to one of my favorite podcasts, "The Creative Pep Talk" and had my mind blown a little...
As an artist, I've read over and over that you have to "hustle" and "self promote". I've also heard that it's better to have fewer repeat customers than new ones that come once and never come back. He talks about the tricky work of promotion. There are some people who must advertise, send out fliers, buy ad space and go the traditional route. Artists, musicians and specialty businesses on the other hand, do better not to play that game. For some reason, too much hype of your own creation can turn others off. If you get some success this way, it may be short lived... Because it comes on like a fad or a trend. For some people, we must just keep working, and making work accessible. Here's the kicker, customers love "discovering" something on their own. Think about bands you love or films you adore. The affection for it is greatly heightened when it feels like a "treasure uncovered." It feels personal. It feels special. Low hanging fruit is suspect. Too much exposure brings about boredom. It's best, Andy says, to be more like Bob Dillion and keep working, keep perusing your curiosity and evolving... Unlike the Monkees, who came and went quickly, Dillion persists to this day. This is why I cringe when I see artists treating their work like a garage sale. When I see promotions and emails and ads, I feel weird. We are not department stores. Money can not be the goal, the work must carry us whether it pays or not. |
THIS NOW by Kacy Latham
Creative Writing and Essays. Follow Me on Medium.com AuthorI'm a small town gal, raising two boys who loves to make things. My current love is abstract art. It might be the creative love of my life! Archives
September 2016
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