"Thankfully the Internet has made it easier than ever to bring attention to your art form, if you know how to use it to your advantage."

Co-Published: BeYourArt.com and The North Shoreian Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 7, Practicalities of the Surviving Artist, September 2009. Article written by Christine Stoddard.

The “starving artist” cliché exists for a reason: no matter what kind of artist you are—actor, writer, painter, singer, photographer, dancer, etc.—earning a living is a struggle. Regardless of your talent and experience, which school you attended, or where you took an apprenticeship or internship, you will have to market yourself in order to sell your art. In fact, self-promotion is perhaps the most important way to turn your artistic passion into a full-fledged career. Thankfully the Internet has made it easier than ever to bring attention to your art form, if you know how to use it to your advantage.

But just how do you use the Internet to your advantage? Where do you begin? What are some of the most artist-friendly websites out there? Don’t worry! The answers are only a paragraph away. Here are ways to promote yourself online:

Become familiar with online content: If you’re reading this article, then you are already familiar with the Internet and have at least a basic understanding of how it works. But you may not be familiar with taking digital photos and editing them. Likewise, you may not know how to shoot video or record audio from your computer. If this is the case, now is the time to learn. Perhaps you’re a writer, for example, who thinks there’s no reason for you to learn how to record audio. Think again. Present a real threat to your competition by recording yourself reading your poems or short stories and then posting the files online. No matter what your primary art form is and whether or not you like modern technology, you must recognize that the most financially successful artists these days have some knowledge of how to promote themselves using different forms of online media. Reach out to new audiences in every way possible.

Join Associated Content: Associatedcontent.com is an excellent venue for visual artists and writers alike. Joining is an easy, quick, and free process. You can create slideshows of your art and photography and get paid each time someone looks at it. The website also pays upfront $3 to $10 for all sorts of writing (unfortunately they rarely, if ever, pay upfront for poetry and fiction) and pays for all page views. Even if your poetry, for example, does not fetch any upfront payment from the website, you get paid every time someone visits your content producer page. So regardless of what form and genre you write, it benefits you to share your page link with as many people as possible. You can also submit audio (like songs or poetry recordings) and video (like your short movies). Join AC today at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html?refer=16739. Other sites you may want to join are ehow.com and Triond.com.

Start a blog: If you’re a writer, then blogging should come pretty naturally. Simply open an account at a site like www.blogger.com and start typing. The most financially successful blogs usually have a specific focus (like fashion; for an example, visit www.paisleyandparasols.com) and include advertisements. Visual artists can post an image a day on blogs. Musicians might post their song lyrics, videos of themselves performing, or their touring schedule.

Create a MySpace profile: If you are musician, then you probably already have a MySpace profile with your songs and schedule of tour dates. Also be sure to have plenty of photos and even a video or two. Actors and other performing artists can use a MySpace profile in a similar manner. Writers and visual artists should post samples of their work and lists of links to their websites.

Use Facebook to your advantage: Think those photo albums are only for party pictures? Then you’re not thinking from a promotional standpoint. The same goes if you think the ‘Notes’ application is only for sharing chain letters and surveys. You can upload any JPG under 5MB on the Facebook albums. Share your paintings, photos, scanned writing, and anything else you can turn into a JPG. If you’re a writer, use the notes to share your poetry, short stories, essays, or whatever form and genre you prefer. The ‘Notes’ applications is also a wonderful venue for linking to your blog, website, or online portfolios.

Post to Flickr: Don’t worry—Flickr isn’t just for photographers. If it’s a JPG, you can post it. That means you can take pictures of your artwork or upload scanned copies of your writing. For digital artists, simply save your work as a JPG and then upload it. Millions of people from all over the world visit Flickr everyday so update your photostream often and make sure that your photos are set to the public viewing for maximum exposure opportunities. Sadly, Flickr’s free account only allows for 200 photos. Luckily an upgrade isn’t too expensive (about $25) and you then have unlimited storage space.

Network on Linked In: Linked In is the perfect place to post your artistic resume, links to your blogs and websites, and have your teachers and colleagues write recommendations to vouch for your talent and work ethic. You also have the chance to write a summary about yourself. View it as an opportunity to briefly outline your artistic experience and introduce your artistic vision and goals.

Post videos on YouTube: If you are a performing artist or filmmaker, YouTube has obvious promotional value. Make a video of yourself singing, dancing, or acting or post your movie. If you’re a writer or visual artist, however, YouTube’s value may be less obvious. Writers can make videos of themselves reading or discussing their pieces whereas visual artists may try creating slideshows or tape themselves at work in their studio.

Image Aquired from MorgueFile.com

Co-Published: BeYourArt.com and The North Shoreian Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 6, Practicalities of the Surviving Artist, July/August 2009. Article written by Diane Leon.

I love reading about how people make choices, define what success is, and commit to something in life that is meaningful. Sometimes what you really want is not what will make the most money, but what fulfills you. What if you have always wanted to create art as a professional or teach art? Do you ignore those dreams in pursuit of monetary success? How many people can really devote all their time and energy to the creative process and actually pay the bills? Are they considered less successful?

Follow your dreams in a realistic way and you can balance life without feeling cheated. Achieving this requires an honest examination of your life, not the one you imagine you should live or what others expect from you. Too many artists become disillusioned with rejections, other people’s negative attitudes, and the feeling the world is passing them by. Success must come from within and be realized in your way of thinking. When you feel more confident in yourself, you create a positive energy and things begin to happen.

Lifestyles vary and all of us must find productive avenues to pay bills, create and live. You need to find harmony in your life. Find what YOU need. When it comes to earning a living, decide what will accommodate your financial needs. The choice to work part-time, full time or stay at home with children must also include the time needed to create. Decide what is really important and how best to get it accomplished.

My life as an artist and how I have defined my own success has meant maintaining a full time job to pay for a summer home abroad, art supplies and bills. Back in 1970 I bought a condominium in Spain on the Mediterranean while I worked as a secretary in the music industry. I knew I would always need sufficient income to maintain this as a summer retreat. To pay the bills, I work as an administrator at New York University and teach as an adjunct associate professor of arts. It is the perfect environment for me. My office is filled with artwork and the faculty has bought my work. The changes and transitions made were to accommodate what I love and need in my life. I found a way to continue to paint, exhibit, and teach. I love teaching because I see the positive affect I have in bringing out the best in my students. We all have talent; we just need to recognize how best to channel our creativity.

Create harmony in your life. Once you accept and define what your inner talent is, the rest will work out in a way that supports your art. Stay focused and keep doing what makes you happy. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to please everyone.

• Define your own success and create a life that is meaningful to you.
• Your creative dreams are important. Focus on your art and how you want to live:
• Success is taking the first step towards what you want.
• Success is sharing your enthusiasm.
• Success is seeing the positive change you have made in your life and how if affects others.

Don’t set unrealistic limits and pressure yourself. Do things at your own pace and you will enjoy what you do even more.

Try to give 100% everyday to making your life a good one. Start doing something today and let your creative passion reveal what is inside of you.

Diane Leon is an artist and adjunct associate professor of arts at New York University, SCPS adult degree division. She also writes for Art Calendar Magazine and has published personal essays. Contact DL4@nyu.edu To view artwork www.ManhattanArts.com click on artist profiles.

Classic Electric Guitar

Co-Published: BeYourArt.com and The North Shoreian Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 4, Practicalities of the Surviving Artist, July 2009. Article written by Kevin Lee.

For a beginning musician, the world is your oyster… if you have the cash. Most of us don’t; so, for those on a limited budget, I’ll offer suggestions on putting together a top-notch home recording studio for around $300.

PC users will find a wide variety of sound editing programs available both online and in stores such as Guitar Center. The hard part is figuring out which one is right for you. There are freeware programs, such as Audacity, which will provide basic-level support for beginner musicians, all the way up to the professional-grade Pro Tools. For those who are looking for near studio grade sound on a budget, one would have to turn to a program like Acoustica Mixcraft 4. This sound recording/editing program gives the PC user a great deal of creative liberty.

Mixcraft 4 is affordable, with a price tag of $65 and allows users to have eight separate instruments tracks on one master track. The built-in effects are surprisingly good and allow a guitarist to sound as if he is either in a London flat, recording a loud rock riff, or in an open hall, playing an acoustic guitar to the crowd’s content. Some of the best songs I’ve recorded were done on my old Dell Laptop, using Mixcraft.

PC users must always keep in mind hardware restrictions. Before you purchase a sound-editing program, make sure you computer can handle the basic hardware requirements. If not, try to upgrade your RAM, which will prove surprisingly simple, especially if you have a tower with extra memory slots. Once your PC is ready, use a USB or Firewire interface to connect those lovely instruments to your now capable computer. There are plenty of choices out there with a price range varying from $30 to over $4,000. What matters is your budget.

On the low end of the spectrum ($30-$200) are a wide variety of brands offering countless products. Notable names like M-Audio, Line 6, and Yamaha all offer affordable mid to low-range hardware, that come bundled with software. A surprising product in this category comes from Lexicon, with their Omega Desktop Recording Studio. The interface features a front 1/4” mono instrument input, two XLR microphone inputs in the back, as well as 4 1/4” inputs. Connecting via USB, the interface works with PC and Mac.

The studio package found on Musician’s Friend also comes with a free copy of Cubase LE recording software. This program should work well for most musicians. It has the standard features one would expect, plus a few additional ones. The number of single tracks allowed on each master track is so high, you’ll have to try to hire an orchestra to use them all. The built-in effects are decent, but considering the price, it’s a small price to pay. The hardware attached can handle your distorted amplifier, so if you need to record some metal, do it the old fashioned way.

Studio

Earlier I said the Omega works with PC and Mac, which is true, however with a Mac, you have to do a bit of tinkering. This is a product that was primarily designed for PC. When you first plug it into a Mac, you may notice audio coming from only one speaker, or no audio at all.  Or you may not be able to record. Don’t worry, all these problems are easily fixed by going into the preferences panel for your recording software. For most middle class Mac users, the standard recording program is GarageBand. The drivers will automatically change from the Mac audio to the Lexicon device. Simply change the output to the built-in speakers, make Lexicon your default recording device, and you’re in the clear!

Now that you’ve got your computer hooked up to your interface, which is plugged into your instruments, you’re ready to rock. Or are you? This may seem basic, but be very careful where you set up your home studio. Try to avoid spaces near windows or other reflective surfaces, since sound can bounce into your space from noises down the hall.

There are many ways to help dampen sounds from your surroundings. First, make sure your computer isn’t running hot. That fan can become the bane of your existence. There are simple ways to keep your computer quiet.  Make sure your computer fan is in the open and clear of dust.  A confined space will trap in heat and dust.  Another way to keep the silence is to run as few programs as possible.  This will allow for maximum computer speed.  Sometimes keeping doors shut just isn’t enough to eliminate outside noise. Try hanging a large blanket or comforter over the doorframe. This will reduce the sound from outside, and prevent local sounds from reflecting onto your next hit single. If you’re not recording in an actual studio, you may have to get crafty.

Even on a budget, you can still turn out some quality tracks. With the right computer, interface, software and setup you can have professional sound, for less than $300. Even though your equipment may not be brand new or a brand name, you can still make it work.  Remember that even the biggest stars started out small. Weird Al got his start with a tape recorder and accordion, just think what you can do with a computer and some determination.

Kevin Lee has been playing music for over 10 years, most recently with his bands Venom ‘n’ Carnage and The Amalgamus Forum, singing, playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, and piano in the latter project.  He is grateful to have been given the chance to let his creativity flourish, with the support of his loving wife.

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Actors' Equity Association

Co-Published: BeYourArt.com and The North Shoreian Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 4, Practicalities of the Surviving Artist, May 2009. Article written by Don Rebar.

Depressed by the current job market? Used to waiting in long lines for hours to get a three minute audition with a prospective employer? Enjoy performing your patented “401k rant” in front of family, friends and complete strangers—sometimes for money, or at least a free meal? If the answers are “yes”, you need to understand the pros and cons of membership as well as how to attain Equity status if you choose to follow that course.

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) is a national union that represents over 45,000 professional stage managers and actors. There are three general ways to gain entry into the union. For those individuals who cannot transfer in from a performing arts sister union, such as the Screen Actors’ Guild or the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, the most direct way is to be cast in a Equity production and given a full union contract.

For those emerging artists without the aforementioned “golden ticket”, AEA offers the Equity Membership Candidate (EMC) program. Through an agreement with the union, certain theatres around the country are allowed to hire a number of non-union actors based upon the size of their Equity cast. In some cases, graduate-level acting and stage management programs are affiliated with these theatres, ensuring that their MFAs have Equity representation upon graduation. Once paperwork has been filed and a $100 payment submitted to AEA (which can be credited toward future fees), these candidates accumulate one EMC point for each week of rehearsals and performances. When the point total reaches 50, that person can file to become a full-fledged member.

Like any other trade union, carrying a union card does not come without expense. In addition to basic ($110/year) and working (2.25% of gross earnings) membership dues, a one-time initiation fee of $1100 is required. Given that the minimum weekly salary for a Broadway actor is $1509—stage managers make more—this is a significant financial investment for an actor of any level.

For actors and stage managers who have just started their careers, becoming a union artist can sometimes do more harm than good. Because it is illegal for AEA artists to work without a union contract (this rule is sometimes waived for academic purposes), many artists receive a more frequent stream of work by keeping their non-Equity status. Because AEA generally represents the highest talent level within the profession, Equity roles are the most difficult in the industry to land. A one-week study conducted by AEA in 2007 found that only 2,070 out of 17,000 union actors living in New York City were employed in Equity roles of any type. This rate remains relatively steady.

What are benefits to holding an Equity card? In addition to health care, a pension plan and a standard workweek, AEA rules stipulate that all union employees are to be given 5 minute breaks for every 55 minutes of rehearsal time, or 10 minute breaks for every 120 minutes. Theatres are required to provide accessible drinking water, give a 12 hour advance notice before any call time, and display headshots of all union actors in the lobby before each performance. Additionally, producers must set a financial bond with AEA to ensure that each actor’s contracted salary is met—even if the production never reaches opening night. In return, Equity artists are expected to perform as consummate professionals. Being punctual for rehearsals and costume fittings, learning lines on time and making positive contributions to the culture of the theatre company are all considered part of the job description.

While Equity artists are some of the most revered in the business, just because a performer does not hold an Equity card does not mean that they are incapable of giving an amazing performance or holding themselves to a high professional standard. Becoming a member of Actors’ Equity Association is a career-oriented decision that must be made by equally weighing professional reputation, artistic opportunity and financial stability.

Don Rebar is an MFA candidate in Dramaturgy at Stony Brook University. He is a member of LMDA (Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of America) and has worked at theatres that have employed Equity actors and stage managers.

By Janny Butler

In order to produce something of value, you have to have something of value to draw on. But too many of us forget that we have to “fill up our own well” before we can fill anyone else’s. If we’re women with families, this “forgetfulness” gets compounded by our natural tendencies to nurture other people before we take care of ourselves. Therefore, in the interests of keeping our writers’ health insurance premiums low, let’s talk a bit about some pointers for Writer Self-Care.

First, of course, comes common-sense stuff we were all told as kids. Yanno, eat your vegetables, Or at least attempt to have some balance in your diet!

Get enough sleep.

Get enough exercise. I can’t stress this enough. Sometimes the best cure for any kind of block or doldrums is simply a long walk outdoors. The benefits of rambling in the fresh air beat paying high health-club dues any day of the week. In short, get yourself as healthy as you can, stay that way as much as you can.

Second…give yourself a really nice place to write if you can. I don’t mean a private office, necessarily–just someplace, even if it’s the corner of the kitchen, that’s all yours.

A place that surrounds you in good feelings, of one kind or another.

Keep your favorite writing “good luck charms” around you.

You’ll want a good chair to sit in and your supplies within comfortable reach. Have good lighting and a coffeepot/teapot/stash of chocolate around. Comfort foods, great colors, a teeny fridge with bottled water in it…you know what you need. This is the place to give it to yourself.

Third, give yourself permission at times NOT to write, but to read.

Or to see a movie.

Or play with your cat.

Or have a conversation with someone you haven’t talked to in ages.
Sometimes all you need is a shift in perspective. That, too, is “filling up the well.”

For some of us, the best kickstart is reading a good craft book. For some of us, the inspiration comes from reading our favorite author. Not even a lot, maybe just a few pages or a chapter…of someone who can really handle the language and gets our own imaginations firing.

Fourth, try as best you can to silence any negative voices in your head.
If your negative voices are audible–i.e. people who live with you, your family members, etc., are not affirming you in your writing life–this is trickier. Counterbalance them with some positive voices: good critique partners…people who just plain love to read…even people like your hairdresser, your manicurist, the person who delivers your mail. Don’t forget the obvious places to pick up some “writer love.” Librarians tend to love writers, so your local librarian can often become your new best friend. People who read, love to meet people who write, and through them, you can get a chance to cultivate a “fandom”–even if you haven’t sold a lick yet. Some of the best support I ever got, early on, came from baseball moms–especially when they found out I wrote romance!

And, of course, there’s always the support you can gather online….

In short, nurturing the Muse isn’t a mystical, complicated operation that requires a lot of extra equipment–it mostly just requires a little more attention to yourself and keeping yourself well-cared-for. But as we all know, the “little” things usually end up being the ones that make all the difference–and taking care of yourself can make a difference that carries forward far beyond the world of the written word!

Happy Writing!

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Janet W. Butler, a member of ACFW,=20 is a non-fiction book production editor with Our Sunday Visitor, one of the nation’s leading Catholic publishers, by day and a “small soprano” by night. She writes–and sings–from Indiana.

Dancers

By Kimberly Prosa

Co-Published: BeYourArt.com and The North Shoreian Magazine, Home And Garden Issue, Volume 2, Issue 3, Practicalities of the Surviving Artist, April 2009.

Despite the popular notion that one must be a “starving artist” in order to reach their full potential in their artistic pursuits, the practicality is that this is not only untrue but impossible in today’s economy. It is necessary to achieve some level of stability, both financially and emotionally, in order to really put those artistic dreams into action. As a working artist, it is essential to formulate a plan for financially meeting your needs until your art becomes self-supporting. From experience, I know achieving financial stability provides for improving your overall quality of life, which contributes to artistic productivity. Your additional income doesn’t have to come from a job you despise. With a little effort, you can find a career to supplement your income that is flexible, financially lucrative, and maybe even a little fulfilling and artistic in itself.

Many artists, whether performing or visual, often resort to one of two categories for additional work: bartending or waiting tables. This is an option of course, and may appear to be the quickest path with the least preparation and investment; but I have often found it to be long hours, and lots of shifts for little money. In addition, this type of work zaps what little energy you have left for auditions and performance. This kind of situation of barely making ends meet doesn’t allow for the essentials of everyday life, let alone the additional requisites of your art such as: promotional photography, audition materials, vocal or acting lessons, art supplies, film or multi-media supplies, etc. All of which are tools necessary to get and keep your career on track.

The past few years I have lived and worked as a dancer and actress in New York City. I decided when I began these pursuits to use my knowledge of anatomy and movement garnered from my dance background to become a certified personal trainer, an occupation I could use to keep myself financially on track. After study, completing hands on workshops, and passing the exam; I went to work briefly for a gym to learn the process, gain experience and make contacts. I then went to work on my own as a private in-home trainer. As a private trainer I have developed a business of regular clients who often refer me to their friends and family; it is an occupation that allows me to schedule clients around my auditions, performances and rehearsals. The industry is lucrative enough that 2-3 hours a day is financially sufficient and leaves me the remainder of the day to pursue my artistic endeavors.

The small amount of time and money invested initially as compared to the more immediate money of a job in the service industry provided long-term flexibility, and the reward of helping others improve their health and well-being… a more than worthwhile exchange.

Personal training has been the means to help me achieve my dream of actively living my life as an artist in New York. Other artists I have known have channeled their artistic talents into freelance graphic or web design, teaching private classes of either yoga or Pilates, or giving vocal or piano lessons. Whatever the path of supplemental work; the common ground for each successful artist is the theme of developing your own business niche utilizing your artistic talents. Developing your art into a profitable business will allow you to continue to work in the field of your craft while sharing your knowledge and talents with others. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect is creating lasting relationships with clients who will in turn give you their support in your artistic pursuits.