INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, welcomed Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes to provide another commentary in a series.
The Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes Commentaries
Welcome back to “Coaches Corner,” where we tackle artistpreneur challenges with humor and practical advice. I’m your host, Bencasso, and today we’re diving into the top five issues artistpreneurs face and how to solve them without breaking the bank— or your spirit. Let’s get to it!
Issue 1: Lack of Financial Resources
Cue the sad violin music—oh wait, that’s my job! We’ve all been there, scraping together pennies for paint or studio time. Here’s how to turn those pennies into progress:
- Crowdfunding: Think of Kickstarter and Indiegogo as the modern-day patrons of the arts. Every little bit helps!
- Grants and Competitions: Apply for every art grant and competition you can find. Treat it like a game of “Where’s Waldo,” but with cash prizes.
- DIY Approach: Who needs a fancy marketing team when you’ve got YouTube tutorials? Learn basic skills online.
- Bartering Services: Trade your art for services. Need a website? Paint a mural for a web designer. It’s like the old days of trading cows for beans, but cooler.
Issue 2: Limited Exposure and Audience Reach
Ah, the old “if a tree falls in the forest” problem. If you create art and no one sees it, did you really create art? Let’s get those eyes on your masterpieces!
- Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook—these aren’t just for cat videos. Share your art, engage with followers, and watch your audience grow.
- Collaborations: Partner with other artists or local businesses. Two heads (or paintbrushes) are better than one.
- Local Events: Join local art fairs and gallery exhibitions. Nothing beats face-to-face interaction, and who doesn’t love a good wine and cheese night?
- SEO and Content Marketing: Start a blog or YouTube channel. Show off your process, tell your story, and make sure Google knows you exist.
Issue 3: Time Management
Balancing creativity and business is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. But fear not, we’ve got some tips to keep you from burning out!
- Prioritization: Focus on high-impact activities first. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to decide what’s urgent and what can wait. (Spoiler: scrolling through memes is usually not urgent.)
- Automation Tools: Schedule posts with Hootsuite, manage projects with Trello, and never miss a beat with Google Calendar. It’s like having a personal assistant without the snarky comments.
- Batch Processing: Group similar tasks together. Dedicate one day to creating, another to marketing. It’s like meal prepping, but for your brain.
- Outsourcing Microtasks: Hire freelancers on Fiverr or Upwork for those tiny tasks that eat up your time.
Issue 4: Inconsistent Income
The feast-or-famine lifestyle of an artistpreneur can be exhausting. Here’s how to smooth out those bumps in the financial road.
- Multiple Revenue Streams: Diversify! Teach, take commissions, sell merchandise. Be like a Swiss Army knife—versatile and indispensable.
- Subscription Models: Platforms like Patreon allow fans to support you regularly. Think of it as a fan club that pays you for being awesome.
- Online Marketplaces: Sell your work on Etsy, Redbubble, or Society6. It’s like having a 24/7 art gallery, minus the snooty gallery owner.
- Financial Planning: Use free tools like Mint or Wave to budget and track expenses. Because even Picasso had to pay the bills.
**Issue 5: Lack of Business Skills**
Art school taught you how to paint, not how to file taxes. But don’t worry, we’ve got some hacks to boost your biz skills.
- Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera and Udemy offer affordable courses on everything from marketing to legal issues. It’s like Hogwarts for business muggles.
- Mentorship and Networking: Join artist communities and find a mentor. They’ve walked the path before and can guide you around the potholes.
- Library Resources: Public libraries are gold mines for free resources. Books, workshops, seminars—your tax dollars at work!
- Business Templates and Tools: Use free templates and tools available online. Why reinvent the wheel when you can just download it?
And there you have it—five major issues, five budget-friendly solutions. Remember, being an artistpreneur is a journey. Keep your humor, stay creative, and never stop hustling. This is Bencasso, signing off from “Coaches Corner.” Until next time, keep creating and keep smiling!
Benjamin Barnes, also known as Bencasso, is a violinist, visual artist, and CEO/ Executive Director of Culture Scholar Corporation, a 501(c)(3). He hosts the nationally syndicated podcast segment “Coaches Corner” on “The Price of Business.” Benjamin has collaborated with Jason Newsted of Metallica and received the San Francisco Artist Grant. He runs Bencasso Media and has consulted for the US Department of Education. As an educator, he has taught kindergarten in underserved schools in San Francisco. His initiative, ‘Music for Mental Health,’ brings music appreciation to underserved communities, showcasing his commitment to using art for positive change.
Music Selection:
Rilke String Quartet
Piano @uartet no.3 in in C minor opus 60 Scherzo Allegro Johannes Brahms
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5vxWPgznzrSLzDYtqYlzT9?si=53d6375007664426
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B09QNNLMSD?
trackAsin=B09QNNLKSF&ref=dm_sh_4dbf-3550-4ad9-b6d5-e04b0
Social Media
Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjamindavidbarnes
Facebook: https://facebook.com/benjamindavidbarnes
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/benjamindbarnes
Twitch: https://www.twitch.com/bencasso
Redditt: https://www.reddit.com/user/bencasso
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/bencasso
All Links: https://www.allmylinks.com/bencasso
Bencasso Links: https://www.linktr.ee/bencasso
Violin Lessons https://www.linktr.ee/violinlessons
Tax Deductible Donations: https://www.culturescholar.org/donate
Venmo: @culturescholar
PayPal: PayPal@CultureScholar.org
TIPS Cash App: $Bencasso76
Chime barnesmusic@yahoo.com
All of the Audio Recordings and Images are 100% owned by Benjamin Barnes Audio is Rilke String Quartet players Justine Cormack Violin Benjamin Banres Viola Samuel Bass Cello John Chernoff Piano Image by Peadro John Chernoff and Benjamin Barnes have a concert in San Francisco supported by San Francisco Arts Commission November 2nd (Day of the Dead) 2024 in San Francisco California USA. Tickets are 25 in advance, 50 day of, get your tickets at BencassoMedia.com by texting ben@BencassoMedia.com Culture Scholar Corporation 501(c)(3) needs your donations to continue its mission to bring therapeutic ART and MUAIC ro unsweawecws xommuniriwa inxclusinf rhw disabled mentally illl and Elderly CultureScholar.org/donate or Venmo @culturescholar.
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