The Arts Council of Mendocino County endeavors to do more than simply honor and celebrate the artists in our community. We are continually inspired by how those who work at their craft – whether in the visual, performing, literary, or media arts – contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy in Mendocino County. Their work is also a major attraction for visitors, who further enrich all aspects of the economy when they choose Mendocino County as a destination. Part of how the Arts Council serves artists -- and those who appreciate their work -- is with practical assistance in the business side of making a livelihood. Most recently, this was with a seminar by successful artist and businessman, David Wayne Floyd, who lives and works in both San Francisco and Mendocino County. “Paying the Rent: A Sales, Marketing and Public Relations Seminar for Artists” was a full-day workshop for nearly 30 artists that took place at the Mendocino Art Center on Saturday, May 12, 2007. "Paying the Rent" was generously sponsored by the Community Foundation of Mendocino County Arts for Our Future program in partnership with the Arts Council of Mendocino County.
Floyd was an articulate and entertaining speaker. He provided a frank discussion of the business side of any creative endeavor. This is an area that is poorly understood by many artists, and his refreshing approach was very instructive. He was able to speak from personal experience about many areas of concern to artists. His techniques for building relationships that lead to business success were practical and, for many present, illuminating. His seminar covered self presentation and product merchandising, the importance of creating promotional print materials, using websites as a tool, identifying potential clients and sales, building and maintaining a valuable client base, and proposal writing for commissions.
It was especially generous of him to encourage questions from the audience, which he answered with enthusiasm and style. Clearly, he was genuinely interested in helping artists understand the business side of creative endeavors. The Community Foundation’s financial support gave Mendocino County artists an opportunity to “learn from the master” at an affordable price. This was a valuable investment in the future productivity of artists who may not have been able to see clearly beyond the opportunities to sell their work in a limited number of venues.
Floyd was a lively instructor in techniques that will help artists, whatever their level of ambition. He also gave them the confidence to value their work realistically and taught them techniques to help them qualify prospective customers. The break-out sessions, dealing with four separate realistic scenarios, gave the group valuable insight into understanding the dynamics of effectively selling their work. It was a practical and extremely informative session. This was an impressive service to local artists that will surely enable them to earn a better living. The Arts Council hopes to provide additional seminars in the future on the practical aspects of the business of the arts. Stay informed by becoming a member today!
A professional and complete copy of Floyd's "Paying the Rent" seminar is currently in production. Information about how to obtain a copy will be available on the Arts Council website when the DVD is released.
To learn more about David Wayne Floyd’s artwork and creative services you can visit his DWF Environmental Fantasies company website at www.dwf-fantasy.com.
Arts Council of Mendocino County
"Supporting the Arts - Strengthening Our Communities"
