For those of you who know me, and for those of you who do not (yet), it is not a secret how passionate and determined I have been throughout my professional career in the arts to help artists not only survive but make a difference with the talents they have. And yet, I cannot say often enough, it is...

There’s a fascinating article up over at the Atlantic today on how the Grateful Dead were utilizing many more contemporary business tactics before they even existed.  Things like allowing their fans to tape and share live shows, social networking and more.  For independent producers, freelancers...

Happy 10th anniversary SEA! The SEA conference is coming right up and if you have never attended you need to! Come learn more about how to turn your artistic passion into a living from other successful artists. What The Conference Offers In addition to keynote presentations, topic specific sessions...

I found this information extremely useful.  It has made a difference in my approach to reaching the clients who want me and will pay for my services.  (the following has been edited for this blog) Identifying Your Ideal Client Profile By Nancy Michaels Not everyone is an ideal client. Stop accepting...

As the owner and founder of the Gorilla Tango Theatre in Chicago, Dan Abbate has done something that so many aspiring arts entrepreneurs aspire to do: he’s found a way to make a profit and make a living while providing opportunities all sorts of opportunities for local producers and performers. I’ve...

Perhaps you’ve been toying with the possibility of a website, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. After all, there’s a lot going on in your life, and carving out the time necessary isn’t easy.  In the hierarchy of things, how important is this, exactly? For those hoping to thrive as a professional...

Have all of you noticed the amount of press The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship has already received?  Our first press release continues to be picked up on blogs and news feeds! This is so exciting for us! The most recent shout out came from  ENTmind– a blog devoted to Entrepreneurs helping...

Thanks Entrepreneur Magazine for this great article! Written by Jason Ankeny   |   Entrepreneur Magazine – January 2010 Poster art is expanding beyond concert promotion into small-business arenas as companies break away from conventional marketing. Forget Starbucks, Caribou...

Thank you  James Wilney for forwarding this insightful Seth Godin blog post.  When the king of marketing is telling the world that artists are going to finally have a leadership role, believe him! While Seth speaks of this decade being the year of frustration– it is NOT going to be for all of...

Looking to other people for cues as to how you are doing as an artist is a trap. It is a trap for a host of reasons. Here are some: 1.    People are not always honest. 2.    Sometimes people do not have good intentions. 3.    When the praise is good, it is never good enough and when it is bad,...

Many artists incorrectly believe that marketing is synonymous with advertising. Therefore, when trying to increase sales of a (hopefully outstanding) product or service, they focus disproportionate attention on this promotional method. Consider the following scenarios: A dance troupe wants to attract...

Many artists cdespair routinely about how hard it is to succeed in this business: Things have really dried up since the economy went south.  The phone stopped ringing.  There are 500 unsold CDs in the basement collecting dust, and the damned record label fails to advertize it adequately.  A competitor...

To build a brand- an entrepreneurial identity that reflects the products and services you provide (or will soon provide) – others need to believe in you. So how do you create this kind of emotionally positive connection to your audience? I came up with the ETA contest in hopes of helping you begin...

I just LOVE this You tube video featuring one of my clarinet customers, Christy Banks. I just LOVE her informal commentary– it makes the video– and makes me not only want to listen to HER but learn MORE about classical music because of her delivery.

SPEAKING COACHES HELP ENTREPRENEURS GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS - BUSINESS - INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE  By Hillary Chura Published: Thursday, January 11, 2007 NEW YORK — Whether to appear more confident, better organized or to stop the “ums,” entrepreneurs are realizing good voice and...

 Of course! You don’t have time to blog.  You don’t even have enough time to breathe, with all your practicing, art making, career promotion, life responsibilities, and the occasional social engagement.  If there’s one thing you simply can’t squeeze into the schedule, it’s maintaining a...

Are you ready to learn how to dance your way through a land mine field for your best entrepreneurial idea? Or perhaps you need a better one to be willing to try…. Remember my friends from my post An Entrepreneurial Lesson and a Little Bit of Magic? Well, they seem to have fox trotted right past...

Are you a visual artist? Do you paint? Knit clothing? Make greeting cards or jewelry? Would you like to turn your passion into profit but need help? Flourish Studio’s located at 3020 N Lincoln Avenue, is accepting new products for their retail floor. Gain exposure and credibility for your artistry...

First, a big thanks to fellow ETA blogger David Cutler for featuring Fifth House Ensemble in his new book, the Savvy Musician, advance copies of which are available on his website prior to the full release in November. If you’ve been reading his posts, you know that David brings an incredible energy...

Musicians? Artists? Dancers? Actors? Film Makers? This post, 7 Ways Potters Can Use Blogs, that appeared today on Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship, will FILL YOU UP with ideas! Thank you Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship GCCE for adding us as a link to your blog! What a terrific...