Years ago, on Facebook I met Bob Ragland, a passionate artist and art marketer.
In his hometown of Denver, Colorado, Bob is fondly known as, “The Non-starving Artist.”
Bob has seen recessions come and go throughout his career. He believes he has found the secret to weathering a financial crisis (see end of post). Bob has shared this art marketing toolbox wisdom as a guest on NPR.
Yes, we’ve evolved and times are different. The internet and a strong online presence have become a important factors in our lives.
Nevertheless, Bob’s proven Marketing Tools of Non-Starving Artists are timeless.
As we are faced with the unsettled days of Covid-19, Bob’s marketing toolbox comes as a welcome reminder. Sometimes the old-fashioned way feels comfortable and genuine.
Bob’s secrets to weathering a financial crisis:
- Do simple business tactics and work on Personal Relationships (personal relationships with customers) and make marketing moves every day.
- Bob gets up everyday and gives his art career the best that he can give it.
- He may not be the best artist, but he gives the best effort.
- Bob says, “Art schools ain’t gonna do it.”
- Workshops are great if they have a nuts & bolts business component.
- Bob insists that people will spend money no matter how hard times are.
- During recessions – people buy less, but they buy better.
- The most neglected part of art-life is the mechanics of business. Please see Bob’s good ‘art brother’ Dean Mitchell. He’s a brilliant businessman.
- Send your career and achievement updates to people.
- Live cheap, have skills and low, low bills – don’t do bad art deals!
- Work on some home shows., table top shows.
- Be practical.
- Keep cash.
- Business tactics win!
- Just do it!
Bob also suggests reading THE OUTLIERS by -Malcolm Gladwell. He insists on focusing on the “10,000 hours” chapter.
One of the other things that he notes is the idea of 10,000 hours. Every single person who has perfected his or her art form (athletes, computer programmers, and musicians) each has managed to put in 10,000 hours of practice time.
This number has been one of the most notable patterns. However, each of the above people were also given unique opportunities to that allowed them to reach 10,000 hours of practice time.
