Mapping your Creative Blue Print (Business Plan) For Art Entrepreneurs & Creative Professionals Presented by: Nina Flores, Business Development Specialist

About WBCLDC/ BOC SI The West Brighton Community LDC (WBCLDC), serving the Staten Island Business Community since 1981, offers programming to assist new entrepreneurs and existing businesses. Our one-on-one business counseling and seminars on timely business topics are available to all Staten Islanders. The Business Outreach Center of Staten Island offers FREE programs to assist in any stage of business growth- start-ups to experienced business owner. The Business Outreach Center of Staten Island serves small businesses and residents throughout Staten Island, NY. We are part of the Business Outreach Center Network (BOC) which serves over 3,000 clients throughout New York City. All of our services are free of charge or for a nominal fee. For more information contact (718)

An Artist Business Guide Create great work Get to know your market & your marketplace Develop a simple business plan Create Opportunities for people to view your work – Create Fans! Make it easy for your potential fans to “connect” with your work, and with you Nurture your customers Source: An Artist Business Guide.com

Create Great Work & Provide Great Service Without good work you can’t expect to create a successful business or career. You need to be very clear about: What it is you are creating? What services are you providing? Who is your market (who are you making it for or providing services to?) Example: Product: Silk Handmade Handbags Audience: Women, People purchasing gifts for women Product: Painting of the Statue of Liberty Audience: Tourists, People interested in New York Scenery, private office firm, public city or federal building New York Scenery Collectors, Statue of Liberty Collectors, etc. Service: Photography Services Audience: Depending on the services needed, wedding, baby portraits, family portraits, events, newspaper/magazine services Service: Musical Lesson - Piano Audience: Parents of children interested in musical lessons, private/public school, musician or actor looking to enhance their resume/talents

Get To know your Market & Market Place Questions you should be asking yourself: How big is the market? Who is buying art/specialty made items? Who is using your services? Who are your competition? (who is similar to your work) What sorts of prices is your competition charging Who do you want your audience to be? Where does your work fit in the marketplace?  Public Exhibition Spaces: e.g. public galleries, museums, libraries, open submission competitions, ferry terminals, train stations, public buildings, etc.  Commercial Gallery Space: from local to international galleries  Direct Access Spaces: anywhere people can come to you directly to see your work e.g. your studio, storefront, art/craft fairs, your website, social media websites, etc.

Develop a Simple Business Plan A business plan came be as simple as answering a few questions: Where do you want to in be in 1, 3, 5 years What do you expect to earn from your work in 12 months? In what months will the money come in? How will you manage in the months when nothing comes in? How much work do you need to sell in order to meet your targets? How much work do you need to produce in order to sell that amount? How much product you need to create to gain profit? How much clientele you need to have to gain profit? Review Your Business plan: Think of your business plan as your map, you will need to refer to it every now and then to make sure you are still on course.

Create Opportunities for people to view your work – Create Fans! Create as many potential customers of your work as you can. You do this by creating fans and you generate fans by generating as many opportunities as possible for people to view your work. Fans are people who have made a connection with your work. They have become fans of your work! Fans come in many shapes and sizes:  Admirers – people who simply like your work and may never be in a position to invest in it.  Art Community Fans – people in a position to help progress your career e.g. media, collectors or other artist  Future Customers – People who start off as fans and some point will invest in your work. It can be 6 months or 2 years but they have committed in their own minds to buying your work  Actual Customers – People who make a connection to your work “Collectors” Make it easy for potential fans to “connect” with you and your work Website, Constant Contacts, Mailchimp Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr Create a Blog Selling your products on Ebay or Etsy Participate in Craft / Art Fairs

Nurture your customers Your customers, your clients, your collectors – the people who invest in your work and career – are the people who will help you grow and develop your business as an artist. They are the most important people you will deal with in the course of your career – not the galleries, not the media, not the arts community – and you must bring them with you at all times and make them know they are your top priority. Existing customers – offer special discounts, private previews of upcoming exhibitions, studio visits, etc. Keep your customers updated on your plans and successes. Just telling your customers Thank you

Contacts COAHSI - Monica Valenzuela Director of Development and Community Programming x.1004 WBCLDC - Nina Flores Business Development Specialist x.102

Thank You!