But getting the article in the paper got me to thinking about how artists really need to promote themselves. In my last blog, I gave some advice on how to express yourself with galleries, and some of that holds true for getting free advertising, too. As the reporter was leaving, I asked her how she picked me out of all the local artists who will be featured. She said it was because of the press release I had emailed to the paper the week before. Aha!
The trick to writing an effective press release is the spin. For mine, there were several angles I could have taken with this story:
- I'm a local artist who will be showing work in the Salute to the Arts (SA). [boring!]
- I'm a local artist who will be displaying his work for the first time at SA [better, but not much]
- I'm a local teacher displaying my work for the first time [better yet - more interesting]
- I'm a local science teacher displaying my landscapes for the first time [science and art together?! WOW!]
As it turns out, this is the angle used. I then wrote 4 short (2 - 3 sentences) paragraphs on topics that could be covered in the article, just to give them ideas, so they could see the potential. It was written in the third person, as if I were writing about someone else (I thought this would assuage my conscience, who was afraid I was bragging too much!). Then I gave them my contact information and my website so they could see more of my work. I had just about given up hope when she called.
So promote yourself! It's not bragging, it's spreading news.
Keep painting!
PastelGuy
4 comments:
I love your insights into art and your thoughts on self promotion are great. It sounds like your art career is really taking off. Good luck with the show this weekend, I will keep my fingers crossed. I am still trying to get my work into galleries etc. I have been doing the rounds of all the local art shows this year to try and get my name out there and my work known. A slow process. You sound much more proactive. Once again I hope you do well with the show this weekend. Kay
Great advice on promotion, Matthew. I enjoyed seeing your work too.
Matthew, Love you advise and your art. I am partial to pastels as that was my first medium, but I must say your jewelry is killer too.
Any advise on how to approach a gallery, especially one out of your area?
Carol - thanks for visiting my blog! Galleries receive so many cold calls/emails, that they rarely answer many of them. I would suggest calling someone at the gallery and developing a rapport (no matter how short)before sending images of your work. If you can ask for a particular person by name when you call, that would indicate you've done your research, and make your call sound less like a sales call. When you talk to someone, tell them you'd like to send some images, and 'May I send them you your gallery care of you?' Or better yet, ask, 'To whom at your gallery should I send pictures of my work?' Then they just can't say, 'No' and hang up on you (I used to be in sales, can you tell?). Good luck!
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