The Second Thing Needed...

This wet blob of clay needs direction...a vision...

So, yesterday you learned that “numbers” are not my thing! Yet it is very much needed for as you know, I do run a business, I do have a household to take care of, I do have to remain solvent and know where I’m at. I have worked out secret ways to do that without the bother of data entry and so on. Why the government cannot understand that this works for me is so sad. I will continue to work at trying to convince them as they years go by.

The second thing needed which is also a problem is promotions.

Now, I used to be the “promotions guy” when I worked in children’s camping. I enjoyed it. The photography, the designing of newsletters, brochures and mailings. But what I loved best was going out to represent the camp with a display and visits to churches and schools, spreading the message of our programs and the joy and changes this brought to the children and their families.

Then there was the excitement of gathering at colleges and Bible schools to recruit summer staff. Each school had a scheduled date. This brought all the camps from far and wide sending their reps/directors  who would all descend on the same school at the same time. There they set up all their displays in the gymnasiums, start their slide shows/videos, and then begin socialising with one another. Along with all the visiting pranks would ensew, like for example projector slide cases would be secretly exchanged between different camp displays when the reps were not looking, out having coffee or busy hiring a new staffer. It was always fun to see when the two different owners would discover this. Sometimes it would last hours! Then of course their expressions and responses to the stunt.

Now of course, I am not a camp director/rep., I am an artist! I have to promote myself and my own creative work! I am finding this very different from my past promotional work. It is a whole different animal to promote oneself! If I do something I hesitate to say anything about it. I would much rather someone else say something, hopefully good about it.

Here is the problem. Let me say it crassly. I need to let other art galleries, across Canada and possibly other countries, know that I have created something and that I would like them to seriously consider showing my work in their galleries. Also, to make this work I need put a positive spin on it, including media responses to my work.

If I’m going to wait for someone else to say something to all these potential galleries, I know I’d be waiting more than a lifetime for that to happen.

Another thing, In working this promotional thing out I have had to deal with the negative culture I grew up in. I have already been working at changing the inside voice of “you suck” to “you are ok”. I’m working hard to get it to “you rock” but that will take a while.

This week I’ve been working on my art resume which I will send out to potential galleries. As I review what others have said about my work I’m truly awed, and thankful for the amazing positive and meaningful responses. I will certainly be adding those into my presentation.

Actually, now that I’m writing this I am realizing I need to continue networking with galleries, curators, and the like in the social world of the arts. I will need to discover organizations like the “Winnipeg Arts Council” and more. There are programs and promotional activities available for beginning artists I need to investigate.

Nancy Ancowitz has an article called “Self Promotion for Introverts”. Here are some pointers she makes. These are related to looking for a job, but they do apply to my case as I’m also looking for a job...showing my work.

1 Don’t waste your energy blaming yourself for being out of a job.

2 Take impeccable care of yourself—mind, body, and soul—and remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments. Every day.

3 Whenever you feel like you’re begging, stop yourself. Think of all the people you’ve helped throughout your career. And now it’s your time to receive—with gratitude.

4 Rally support among people who value you. Ask for help in the way of leads, assistance with practicing for interviews, and feedback on your résumé.

5 Get plenty of introductions. Ask friends, colleagues, former bosses, mentors, and people you can connect with on social networking sites such as LinkedIn. Tell them specifically whom you’d like to meet and/or the organizations and functions that interest you.

6 Find a few hours of quiet time every day to take specific actions toward your job search.

7 Use your introvert’s advantage at research—online and through your network—to get the scoop on the organizations and people you want to connect with.

8 Prepare for the toughest questions you might be asked on job interviews and rehearse your answers—preferably on videotape. It’s worth putting yourself through the paces.

9 Follow up promptly when someone in your network offers to make an introduction for you. Also, circle back appreciatively and let your acquaintance know any positive outcomes of the introduction.

10 Have a few succinct stories up your sleeve that you can use on interviews. The highlights of these stories can include how you have made a difference in an organization—and the specific contributions you made. Make the point of the stories relevant to the organization you’re applying to.

OK, thank you for listening and letting me process out loud. I feel much more directed and better already. I have a vision.

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Habakkuk 2:3