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. I believe artists are on this earth to make...

Are you a mid-career museum, preservation, or historic site professional with a desire to change your institution and engage your community? Do you wants to learn how innovators in cultural institutions apply the tools of successful businesses, and acquire the skills of an  entrepreneurial leader? If...

Interested arts entrepreneurs should consider entering the 2010 Chicago Business Plan Competition NOW, and share in $10,000 in prizes. FREE business plan writing workshops will be offered in Chicago every Wednesday in March to support the contest. Deadline is April 5th. Also sharpen your mind and your...

If I told you I could make a genie came out of this lamp and grant you three wishes for anything in the world you wanted would you believe it could really happen? How far are you willing to believe in what your imagination can do for you and your future as an artist? The truth of the matter is that...

Or can you? Never mind, who cares, I was merely trying to tie a Bob Seger lyric into a review of a stunningly fulfilling documentary about the freaks, geeks, and outcasts that are currently molding and personifying the brands most of us grew up with.  Michael Jackson and Ray Charles have gracefully...

Not everyone reacts the same and there is no universal fix. Don’t try to use all these fixes at once. Pick out items from this list and try them out until you find the right combination for you. Visualization strategies that can be used anytime Concentrate on how good you are at public speaking. Pretend...

Our p.a.v.e. program in arts entrepreneurship brought in a fabulous artist as its March speaker. Leni Schwendinger is a lighting designer and public artist whose work is visible in New York, Seattle, Glasgow, Philadelphia, Dallas, and elsewhere. She was also named by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce...

At The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship (IAE) we believe in leadership, strategic thinking, collaboration, persistence and learning from experience. These qualities have been and always will be a part of the models for the successful artist. The IAE teaches artists that they too are vital towards...

Henry Fogel, the most well known executive director to orchestras and orchestral musicians around the world, gave this speech to The National Association of School Music administrators in November of 2009.  As I read it my heart jumped for joy! It is so deeply satisfying to see someone with so much...

A composer wants to get more performances of her music.  So she sends off scores to a number of competitions and new music groups.  Problem is, even though her compositions are strong, so are a lot of other pieces.  Wouldn’t it be better to network with educators, performers, and ensembles who aren’t...

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...

So, this Friday The IAE is hosting this real fun private networking event for artists and entrepreneurs at Rockit Bar in Chicago downtown. We have had a lot of people sign up for the event. We even released another 50 tickets for more folks to attend and they, too, all went fast.  Feels great to have...

I’ve been having a great time the last several weeks developing the syllabus for a course we’re calling “Foundations of Arts Entrepreneurship” that I’ll teach for the first time a year from now. It’s a challenge to determine the right balance between content related to creativity and innovation,...

Thanks Steve Hendershot for the Q&A today! Q&A: Entrepreneur teaches biz skills to artists | Enterprise City | Crain’s Chicago Business

Stephanie Sack changed prices at Vive La Femme from high-end to "cheap and chic," which "completely saved the business," she says. Photo: Erik UngerBy: Christina Le Beau November 09, 2009 Written By: Christina Le Beau  Crain’s Chicago Business, November 09, 2009 The “new...

The 2010 Creative Chicago Expo will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 10am-4pm at the Chicago Cultural Center. This year, TheIAE will be a sponsor of the event. Now in its 7th year, this CCE connects artists and art organizations in all disciplines (music, dance, theater, film, design, new media,...

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...

When we think about what kind of business we can create with our artistic skills, sometimes the ideas that come to mind piggy-back on to the product of another. Think of iphone apps and you quickly get the idea. The story of Jibbitz illustrates this idea perfectly: For years, Sheri, a busy mother of...

Earlier this month, The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman, was  interviewed on PBS’s NewsHour by Jeff Brown.  If you did not have a chance to hear this, it is a terrific interview and has much to inspire the ideas of artist as innovator/entrepreneur. Rocco Landesman...

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...