Arts and the artist

(actually, I'm also a professional artist)

What makes one artist a hit and another a "no show" is marketing -- and in most cases it's because behind the scenes there is a marketer who is making this artist's career THEIR career. One case in point is my friend, Real Musgrave, who does the "pocket dragons" that you can see at bazillions of gift stores. His magic secret is Muff Musgrave, his wife, marketing rep extraordinaire.

Most of us have to push our own careers. When we're not pushing, we're trying to create -- but if we make that push, then we're not creating. It's a Catch 22 situation and limits us.

In evaluating an artist, find out who they have helping promote them. If it's a Determined Spouse (whose career is marketing their spouse's work), you can bank that their work will rise in value.

Hi Mel !

Thanks for chipping in.... I admire your diverse experiences! :)

> What makes one artist a hit and another a
> "no show" is marketing -- and in
> most cases it's because behind the scenes
> there is a marketer who is making this
> artist's career THEIR career. One case in
> point is my friend, Real Musgrave, who does
> the "pocket dragons" that you can
> see at bazillions of gift stores. His magic
> secret is Muff Musgrave, his wife, marketing
> rep extraordinaire.

Actually, Sean (my "artist friend" I've mentioned earlier) said that Australian artist Ken Done's wife was also a great marketer, and that she was a lot of the "secret of success" behind his work too. (I don't know much about her background though....)

> In evaluating an artist, find out who they
> have helping promote them. If it's a
> Determined Spouse (whose career is marketing
> their spouse's work), you can bank that
> their work will rise in value.

Wow, that sounds like an interesting approach! When you put it that way, it sounds like investing in stocks based on "good management" - though here, the "management" instead are the marketing skills of the spouse....

Mel, that's a fascinating point of view to look at if you're thinking about investing in art....

On the other side of this, it also relates to Michael Ross's idea of becoming kind of an "agent" for artists. Probably a lot of artists could use some help with marketing their stuff, so if you have that knowhow and those skills, you could probably have win/win arrangements with one or even many artists.... Perhaps the kind of relationship writers and actors have with their agents.

Thanks Mel, I appreciate your insights. :)

- Dien