Your Fans Will Support You Directly

I am a broken record, or at least some days I feel that way because I am constantly saying “seek fans first, buyers will follow.” I say this a lot because I hear a lot of artists who are hyper focused on finding buyers and they gear all their efforts online to grab that holy buyer. But I am one who believes artists, no matter what you’re working in, should seek fans first. Find those people who just dig what you are doing. Build up your fan base as the foundation of your sustainable creative process.

Along those lines of thinking I wanted to share with you a post by Amanda Palmer. In her post she addresses her critics who believe she is shameless when it comes to money and her art. First let me share with you this quote from the post which is at the heart of why I do what I do here at Art Palaver:

artists need to make money to eat and to continue to make art.

I think we can all agree with that. Keep making art and I’ll keep working on helping you make money with your art. She goes on…

artists used to rely on middlemen to collect their money on their behalf, thereby rendering themselves innocent of cash-handling in the public eye.

artists will now be coming straight to you (yes YOU, you who want their music, their films, their books) for their paychecks.
please welcome them. please help them. please do not make them feel badly about asking you directly for money.
dead serious: this is the way shit is going to work from now on and it will work best if we all embrace it and don’t fight it.

Welcome to the 21st Century. Yes yes I know that there still is a gallery system and there are still middlemen out there making money for artists. With each day though they become more the exception than the rule. If you’re not established in a system that is selling your art already you should be moving in the direction of taking control of your own art sales. You may not like it, you may not want to do it, but if you want to sell art and be able to afford to keep making art then this is what you must do. And trust me if you get good and successful at this galleries and promoters will find you.

Amanda is quite aware she is a pioneer:

i ENJOY being the slightly crass, outspoken, crazy-(naked?)-chick-on-a-soapbox holding out a ukulele case of crumpled dollars asking for your money so that someone else a few steps behind me, perhaps some artist of shy and understated temperament, can feel better and maybe a little less nervous when they quietly step up and hold out their hat, fully clothed.

i am shameless, and fearless, when it comes to money and art.

You can find the whole post here. I think her words are a good spark for dialogue on the subject of getting paid as an artist. Or maybe you’ve already thought about this? Let me know in the comments your thoughts on the subject. And please don’t cop out and say something like “this would only work for musicians,” that’s just not being creative.

Build your fan base! It will support you.

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