The Art Biz

You worked hard to get your art on those walls. So when only a handful of people show up to the opening, it stings.
In this episode, Alyson Stanfield looks at the most common reasons your supporters stayed home — and what you can do differently before your next show.
In this episode:
Why the 5-10 days before a show are too late to fix most attendance problems
How a cold list can cost you the people most likely to show up
Why you can't rely on the venue to bring people to your exhibition
Why one or two social media posts won't cut it
The power of a personal invitation and letting people know why the show matters to you
Why sending one email isn't enough, and why your supporters will thank you for the reminder
Read the show notes, get links mentioned, and watch the video
July 9 workshop: Follow Up Already
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that your best salespeople are already in your life, just waiting to be asked to help.
This episode isn't just for artists with collectors. If anyone has ever responded enthusiastically to your work, it applies to you.
Alyson reveals:
Who counts as a potential advocate
Why these people genuinely want to help
Why the relationship has to come first
How to make it easy with tools whether they are tangible, in-person events, or digital tools
When and how to make the ask, and what it doesn't look like
If the follow-up is a weak link for you, join Alyson for Follow Up Already: Don't Let Good Opportunities Go Cold.
Read more, get links, and see featured artists on the companion post.
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

There are many ways for artists to make money, but more income sources don't always lead to more income.
In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield looks at the difference between an income source and an income stream—and why that distinction matters when you're deciding what belongs in your art business.
You'll also hear about:
Why adding a new income source can mean building a separate business
The time, energy, marketing, and systems each source requires
Why so-called passive income is a myth
How to evaluate profitability, potential, and return on your time
Questions to help you decide whether to add, keep, or let go of an income source
The goal isn't to have as many income sources as possible. It's to understand what each one requires and decide whether it deserves a place in your art business.
Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post.
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that research is not an academic exercise. And it's not separate from your art practice, but part of it.
She encourages you to think of it as leading with curiosity, which strengthens the work and builds confidence.
Alyson draws on her background as an art historian and her own current investigation into timelines to show what this actually looks like in practice.
Alyson reveals:
Why "I've always been drawn to this" isn't a good enough answer, and what happens when you push past it
The difference between work that is beautiful and work that is about something
Why you mustn't research to find the right or best answer, and why you cannot rely on Google and AI for a true research practice
How a serious inquiry practice changes your artist statement, collector conversations, and confidence in the work
What it means to make curiosity a practice rather than a phase you move through before a project begins
Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post.
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Every artist wants to know "how much time?"
How much time on the business side, how much time making the work, and how long before any of it pays off.
In this episode of The Art Biz host Alyson Stanfield gives straight answers to the two questions that matter — including a number you might not want to hear — and offer a better question to ask yourself instead.
She covers:
Why "how much time?" is the wrong question, and what to ask yourself instead
The difference between your daily time and the longer stretch it takes to establish yourself
Why willingness and commitment matter more than the number of hours you have
How much of your working time goes to business and marketing when you're serious about income
Why more success means more business, not less
The timeframe to expect for the hard work to pay off and why steady work matters most
 
Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post.
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This.
 
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.