As we all know, Covid 19 and the shut down thew the world into all kinds of turmoil. I don’t think you need to hear more about the issues we dealt with but I will share my personal triumphs and where I could have done better. Hopefully it will help your artistic career as we adjust to this landscape.
For the last 18 months I have survived off of my income as an artist and a muralist. I was excited and scared by the transition because the lack of B2B and B2C business going on. I had to focus on existing mural and design contracts and selling to private clientele. As for marketing, it was solely word of mouth and my social media presence on IG @ryan_runcie and facebook. It was easier as October 2020 hit as their was a massive political and cultural change overcoming America.
I have been able to expand my client list and work for some pretty incredible companies and organizations. Because of this, I have not been as constant in my marketing efforts and I believe I need to buckle down and raise my efforts. I then realized this is the hardest aspect for most artists. We believe “marketing and promoting“ just means post your painting on social media. But how did artists market before the global shutdown occurred? I had to ask myself why had I given up on reaching out and growing my business?
It may have been fear of rejection; not seeing it as a necessity or a possibility. Well for me it is a big change that I need to make. I would venture to say in introverted venture is what makes me shy away from people saying no. With that said, their are areas that I have improved in dramatically.
I believe I improved my organization (computing and analog) and increased the efficiency of my studio space. As I brought new skills into my practice (rug making, sculptures, and electronic art) I had to adjust my studio space and reconsider where everything was located. For me, 3 main factors decided where things went. 1. How often is it used? 2. Is it heavy/or are there a lot of separate parts? 3. How often do I use it? If I put it in storage, how many days/months would pass without me using it?
After doing that, my practice has been better and more fun to work in my space. Now to brace for what Covid 19 Omicron may bring into our lives next. Best to all of you creatives, I hope you are able to address issues of importance to your business and make it happen!