The Business of Art

1. The Business of Art Platforms and Penguins Joe Klemczewski 2013 Fall Residency, WCSU

2. “Art doesn’t happen without… • …an audience.” - Michael Shepard (Lovedrug/Michael Shepard Music) “Good music eventually rises to the surface – it gets heard.”

3. Art creates the opportunity for… • Image • Structure • Distribution • The artist can be passive in the process • or can choose to shape and direct the outcome.

4. I. Image – Personal Platform • Genre identity (Do you have a defined identity?) • Fiction • Nonfiction • Poetry • Sub-genres • Mixed genres • Professional identity • Career/expertise (The Thiem Phenomenon) • Interests/research

5. II. Structure – Physical Platform • One-sentence description • Elevator pitch • Overview • Proposal (Even if used only for self-promotion, the bio, competitive analysis, and detailed table of contents help create structure.) • Benefits versus features; intrigue versus detail • Niche organizations • Website • Social media • OTC material • Media kit

6. III. Distribution – Still only an art? • Email database • Free chapter downloads • Writing contests • Query and submission persistenceand consistency • Non-literary social media infiltration • Blogs • Podcasts/vlogs • Readings/workshops • Teach • Periodicals (consumer, trade, academic) • Self-publish • SEO/e-commerce/PR firm/social media management firm • Write a book about your book topic, or write a book about writing about your book topic – find ancillary branches to deepen expertise

7. “I think it starts with a few people… • …coming together because they love playing and making music – something they can feel something from and hopefully someone else can. If you’re lucky enough to record it, maybe you’re a rock band. All the ways of selling it, packaging it, and stylizing it, that’s just the movement and insanity of the times we live in.” • - Robert Levon Been (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)

8. So bad…so, so bad… …but I’m getting better and I’m in motion.

9. Dig in where you are… (Still painfully bad.)

10. …you might like where you end up.

11. I’m awesome! But…

12. I need to make a living.

13. “Penguins are astonishingly agile… …charismatic…fearless…” Are you?

14. Final Notes • The creative process and the business of art can be synergistic. • Like the creative process, monetary success through distribution requires…a process. Be methodical. One intentional step at a time. • Start building your identity now. You will be perceived one way or another, so jump in and steer the ship in the direction you want it to sail. • Go through the steps listed to identify areas where you can strengthen your presence. Think structure. Build, build, build. • Distribution requires consistency from producing content and pushing it out the door. From Blogging or posting on your own site, to creating a presence on ancillary social media outlets, look for ways to interact with people. Offer lectures, not just readings, to libraries or other civic groups to create contacts. Harvest email addresses and build your contact list. • Become the expert on your topic or genre. Become seen as the expert.