Selling Art Sucks

 

Selling art sucks.

Yes. You read that right.

Trying to just sell art really sucks.

Why? Because other artists posses so much more talent that you or I will ever will.

And no one really needs art.

Yes. No one needs art. They NEED food, clothing, and shelter. Not art.

Art is a luxury. It always has been and it always will be.

Artists know this but they keep trying to sell their art anyway.

My suggestion. Stop banging your head against the wall. Don’t sell art.

What should you do?

Reframe.

Create value above and beyond your art and sell THAT.

How? Know your purpose, define a mission, create a unique value proposition that clearly solves a problem, and serve and celebrate your tribe.

Trying to sell your art is like trying to sell yourself.

This leaves most decent people feeling like a big fat whore.

So what do you do?

Talk about your mission.

Share your values.

Inspire people with how you aim to serve a cause greater than yourself.

Make it not about you but about them. Then it will be all about you.

You can’t B.S. your way through this. Don’t reach. Don’t make things up. Don’t pose. Don’t posture.

Be real. Be authentic.

The truth is the very best marketing strategy.

People art smart. They have finely attuned B.S. meters. You can’t get past it.

Be clear. So that anyone, including an eight year old, understands exactly what problem you are solving.

Why do this?

Because it is so much easier for an artist to believe in a mission than to believe in themselves.

Our opinion of ourselves and our self-confidence waivers.

Our conviction to a mission doesn’t.

Why? Because people are willing to live and die for causes greater than themselves.

You just won’t give up on a mission you really believe in.

A higher purpose, that’s hard to shake.

Do something that matters to someone other than yourself.

Make art that really matters.

Then you will be rewarded. You will make art and make money.