This one’s for my homies! I’m going to write this one a little different. And throw in some color!
Have you ever reached out to a creative type? A painter, tattoo artist, portrait artist, writer, photographer, musician, crafter….. was their response timely? Was their response delayed? Were they quirky, professional or flighty? I’m going to try and break it down from my point of view and see if I can help the people reaching out to us understand a little better.
Responses: If you reach out to a creative, know their brain is pinging in every direction with ideas, all while instantly editing these ideas, alllll day long. If they are good at their craft, they could, at any time, be an active user of multiple platforms. These platforms are of which to share, sell or promote their art. So imagine a few text here, a couple emails there, Instagram and Facebook messenger all day asking for freebies or quotes, which a high percent of the time, never even come to fruition. So, we may have a system of not opening a message until we have the respectful time and energy to give you the answers you deserve as a potential client!
Timelines: Creatives depending on their clientele and craft may go through a busy season. Understand, when you send a message saying “I know you’re probably busy” we are, but we still appreciate your reaching out to us. You picked us out of allll the creatives! As weird as some of us can be, I think we all geek out a little still with the excitement of our passion being appreciated on any level. So bare with us. Good things take time. If you need a mural or tattoo this instant, I’m sure there is someone available right now. Or you can give some time and trust the process. An example for myself: I’ve been working on a tattoo sleeve for 4 years. I plan for no other tattoos, but I wanted this one to be exactly what I wanted. So, I wait for my artist who’s books are closed due to his ridiculous talent. But, he’s worth the wait on delayed texting back and appointments spreading over years.
Physical toll: It may seem like a dream to be a barefoot hippie playing music for people. An artist running around covered in paint. A writer sipping coffee all day in pajamas. A photographer just clicking a button at the precise moment. I assure you… it’s not that easy. Our mental and physical being is poured into every job and it can be very draining. I myself need regular maintenance with multiple massage therapists and a physical therapist. If my neck, back, shoulder, hand or arm are locked up in pain to where I’m in tears… I can’t very well work. I don’t get the froufrou spa treatment. I get pin point work from a master in their own craft so I can continue to work and provide. This is by no means a complaint. Just the facts. I know I’m the luckiest girl in the world to be able to call myself a working artist.
Masters in their craft: As I mentioned my massage people are masters in their craft, they spend years learning and honing their skill just like a creative. I don’t just go to anyone, you probably don’t and shouldn’t either. You wouldn’t want just any dentist rooting away in your mouth. You wouldn’t pick any surgeon to chippity-chop away. Heck if you’re looking for “the right artist” you like, and you like multiple, some are willing to collaborate for a client. If you need a band, it’s a collaborative effort of musicians. If you have an event, photographers work as teams to provide you with forever memories. Sometimes it’s hard for us to share the spotlight and feels like we are not good at what we do or enough for “the right people” You don’t have to pick one master, but let them show you what they offer first. If you show the creatives community love it keeps us all creating!
Pricing: A completely different conversation. I have attached a link from a fellow artist Heather Clements, with her breakdown. Plus she has a bunch of other, funny relatable artist post.
We all have our niche. We all have a passion. We are all thankful to be able to share a piece of what we’ve built or created. We all have extreme moments of self doubt and wallowing in self pity (Christmas time, Grinch shoutout). We all want to please our clients and biggest fans. At least, from the crazy creatives I’ve been chatting with… All we are saying is be patient with us, most of us are trying our best to juggle it all gracefully!
Enjoy, Sara 