Business Links for Artists
Business art is the step that comes after Art. I started as a commercial artist, and I want to finish as a business artist. ~Andy Warhol
Artists in Western culture have been living with an interesting myth for the last few hundred years; we're supposed to be crazy, wild, outrageous, hair triggered individuals who's works only have value after we're dead. To top it off we're supposed to wear poverty on our sleeves like a badge of honor.
Debussey understood that a work of Art, or an effort to create beauty, was always regarded by some people as a personal attack. ~ From "The Holy Egoism of Genius" by The Art of Noise
Uh, that never worked for me. Get up on your hind legs people. Grow a spine! Art saves lives! YOU are making a contribution to the world and your work has value. Most successful artists live long and healthy lives and that can include you - if you want it to. Whether your art supports you or not take control of your financial life and don't be so subject to the whims of fortune.
“No one will ever care about your finances more than you do.” -Diane Kennedy
Personally I don't even like the idea of 'non-profit organizations' (501(c)3) for most arts organizations. The stucture is setup for non-profits to go begging with hat in hand for your operating capital, its bureaucratic and bloated by design and creates artificial power structures that run counter to what you really want to do; which is to make your art for a profit and have some control over your destiny.
The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
The following is a short list of business books that I’ve found useful. If you have other links, ideas, insights or thoughts on the matter please send them along. I’m happy to post worthwhile additions to the list.
Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art. ~Andy Warhol
Can’t afford books?
If you’re in Los Angeles get a library card then go to www.lapl.org/catalog (some other cities are linked below) and search the catalog. You can reserve up to 30 books, tapes or CD’s and they will be delivered to your local branch - it's easy. To search for audio tapes and CD’s add the term “sound recording” to your topic. (e.g. business sound recording ) When spending time in the studio or on long drives listening to books has been a really useful way to multitask. Plus it has the added advantage that a lot of business authors read their own works which adds a whole other dimension regarding their committment and passion to the text. AND you can expand your horizon at any time to include any topics of interest from Greek philosophy to science fiction.
Boston www.bpl.org
Chicago www.chipublib.org
NYC www.nypl.org
San Francisco sfpl.lib.ca.us
I love the gallery, the arena of representation. It's a commercial world, and morality is based generally around economics, and that's taking place in the art gallery. ~Jeff Koons
Books: Rethinking Your Business
Jim Collins
Good To GreatA book that changed my life. I can't say enough good about it. If you only read one book on this list this is it.
Books: Art related
Calvin Goodman
The ART Marketing Handbook (7th Edition)
geteebee@aol.com
Caroll Michels
How To Survive & Prosper As An Artist
Mark Kostabi eArticle
Never trust an art dealer who'll sit in a room for more than ten minutes with a crooked picture. ~Brett Whiteley
Books: Basic Business Information
Robert Kiyosaki
All of Mr. Kiyosaki’s books are recommended. He lays a groundwork that anyone can build on with great success.
He’s not focused on the arts but the principles are timeless. Here are four to get you going.
Rich Dad, Poor DadThis book covers basic concepts of saving, investment and financial outlook. Are you living to work or working to live? Some call this schmaltzy, others think its just a great marketing ploy, I think he draws a clear watershed in how to approach your financial life.Cashflow QuadrantFurther clarification of the concepts developed in Rich Dad, Poor Dad.Own Your Own CorporationDon't know a 'sole proprietorship' from an 's-corp'? Find out here. Knowing what defines different business structures is critical to your long term success. What you learn here can help you.Protecting Your #1 Asset by Michael Lechter (Rich Dad Advisor Series)This is about patents, copyrights and trademarks. If you're smart enough to dream it up you should be asute enough to protect it.Loop-holes of the RichThis book does a nice job of putting a lot of concepts into a practical working structure.Mark Allen
The Millionaire Course
Books: Personal Conduct
Stephen R. Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
Nicholas Boothman
How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less
Books: Strategy
Harry Beckwith
What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business
Jason Jennings
Think Big, Act Small : How America's Best Performing Companies Keep the Start-up Spirit Alive
Malcolm Gladwell
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Business Programs
UCLAAnderson Executive Program
A successful friend, a doctor in private practice, reccomended this to me to for years. I just completed the the program in April, it was well worth the time and money.
Center for Cultural Innovation
From the CCI site: "The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) promotes knowledge sharing, networking and financial independence for individual artists and creative entrepreneurs by providing access to business training, financial resources, group services and a communications network."
Internet (Books about)
Allan Afuah & Christopher Tucci
Internet Business Models and Strategies
Jim Carroll & Rick Broadhead
Selling Online
ISBN 0-7931-4517-1
Scot Wingo
eBay Strategies
Internet Sites
Early To Rise
this is a great FREE site for a daily dose of business wisdom.
