Art School - Graeme Smith - Bog

Setting up demonstrations and/or workshopsLots of artists provide classes, demonstrations or workshops.To supplement art income, test ideas on other people, or help fellow artists.You can even make quite a good income from this sort of activity.There must be a reason; otherwise there's no point in the exercise.Now you know why you are going to demonstrate or run a workshop, It could easily be different from any I have indicated, or even several of them, Are you offering your services to make money?There's nothing wrong with that.No point if an approach you plan to use means no money, or not enough.Do you know things that most don't, and want to share this with people?Will it help further your career?Make certain you set it up to do just that!Say you are running demonstrations as a way of making money, But as a way of meeting people, the same set up could be perfectly fine.In other words plan what you do or you may not achieve your goals.If you provide people with value for money, almost any goal can be achieved.Who can help your project actually happen?What organizations run classes, demonstrations or workshops?There are art societies and similar groups of artists.They are the most common groups who run courses or workshops for artists.Educational institutions conduct demonstrations and workshops.This is particularly so if they're involved in adult education, Although more often they run classes.The classes are either for their students, or the general community.There are also special artists' holiday accommodation venues.They conduct workshops or classes on a regular basis.Sometimes galleries do this too, although usually they'll use their own artists.O.K. now you've planned a suitable demonstration or workshop.Write it all down.Read through it from the point of view of someone attending your course.Have you covered everything they'd want to know?For example will it be practical?Who supplies the materials, if it is?If it's the student, what do they need to bring?Double-check everything.Then write it out in several different ways.Why several different ways, you may ask?Well each different way will tend to suggest some new ideas for you to use.Different approaches for educational institutions compared to art societies.Many students may be the same, but the organizations are different.They operate in different ways, which you need to take into account.Educational institutions usually collect money at enrollment for all courses.Art societies collect money from members for a course often not in advance.But each tends to use different language too.The next thing you need to do is plan a marketing campaign.No, not to get people to come to your demonstration or workshop!It will be to sell your proposal to the group concerned.Approach any group initially to let them know you are available.It would be a good idea if you also can tell them what you could do.Who do you need to contact?When is the best time?It may be late in the year for next year, or a month or so ahead of time.What sort of workshops do they usually run?Is yours a fit or different?What is your background?Why should they use you?What can you do for them?The last one is the really important one.Once you have all this worked out it's time to approach the different groups.Naturally you'll need different approaches for each.Well, they have your proposal and are interested, what next?Follow up, that's what!Ask when they will have decided what to do.Give them a ring at about that time, or a little sooner.Find out how things are going (and so they don't forget your proposal).Let's say they don't go ahead with your great workshop.Find out what the problem was but do this politely.Are they short of money right now, or not having any more courses like t