“The greatest investment you can make is in yourself.” Billionaire Investor Warren Buffet
Most successful people have had mentors along the way. I’ve worked with career, life, and business coaches, and with the exception of one, they each served me very well.
These investments in myself are now paying great dividends.
Unfortunately these coaches and business consultants did not posses the experience to coach me around developing my art business.
Most artist coaches will try to guide you through the traditional permission and scarcity based art business model, exemplified in traditional publishing, music, film, and gallery representation.
There are many artist coaches who have very little direct experience in the art world. Probe and find out what specific experience they have.
Ask if they have marketed and sold art themselves. How much? What? To who?
Ask what they’ll be coaching you on. Are they “creativity coaches” or “business coaches?” Both are valuable but there is obviously a big difference.
Find out how they structure the coaching, the price, the terms, payment. You know, all the nitty gritty details. It’s your time and your money. Get the facts.
A good coach or consultant is not going to be cheap. But how much do you spend on supplies and equipment? How much was art school tuition? Still paying back loans? This investment could actually help you make money.
Coaches should not be representing you too. Why? If they are coaching and representing you they cannot be objective about your concerns because their own financial interests are at stake.
I’ve been asked to represent artists countless times but I won’t.
Why? Because I have my own art business to run, Ann Rea, Inc., and this demands most of my energy. And the mission of Artists Who THRIVE is to advocate for artists’ creative freedom and business savvy so that they can stand on their own two feet and thrive financially.
Bottom line. A coach should be working their way out of a job. Be clear on your specific objectives sooner rather than later, or you’ll be paying for coaching endlessly.
Remember these things when hiring an artist coach:
- You only get what you want, when you know what you want.
- Keep your expectations in check. A coach can’t help you solve challenges overnight that you may been grappling with for most of your life.
- Do the work. It’s like hiring a personal trainer. They can’t exercise for you.
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