What is An Art Coach Anyway?
An art business coach is someone familiar with the challenges faced by artists who is trained to observe and help you gain awareness over how your current thought patterns are helping or hindering the growth you’d like to see.
Someone interested in my new Art Business Plan for Growth online course asked me yesterday,
So glad they asked. So here it goes.
An art coach is someone who is trained at observing a persons thought patterns and behaviors.
I've also been an entrepreneur for nearly 20 years, so I like to focus on the business part, which (no surprise) also involves the artist's life as well.
So as a coach, I get to know you to see how you think and feel and do art businessing.
I also need to know where you want to go. What you want for your life.
I’m then able to help you make sense of and see your own patterns so you gain awareness when they are happening.
When someone has a goal they are not reaching, they typically have an idea of what actions they must take to get it, and are totally confused why as they go about it, things seem not to work out…
When other people do the same things with more ease.
SO FOR EXAMPLE LET'S SAY A GOAL OF YOURS IS TO SELL MORE OF YOUR ART, YOUR DESIGNS, YOUR CREATIONS,
Sometimes a person is taking ACTIONS that WON'T get them more sales- and taking other actions is often the only focus of their efforts,
Most of the time that’s not it.
Most of the time, it’s one of these:
HOW YOU ARE SELLING.
I don’t mean what method- I’m pretty sure they all work for someone somewhere.
I'm talking about the collection of thoughts and feelings that either helps you connect or unknowingly repels connection.
For example, have you ever experienced someone clearly trying to upsell you a bottle of wine in a restaurant, or a pastry at a coffee shop?
Sometimes they do it and it just rubs you the wrong way or just doesn’t connect. And it’s a no.
But sometimes, something about the person is so open, and curious, and compassionate, and generous, and interested in YOU, that you can’t help but WANT to be drawn in.
Your brain slows down and you WANT to listen, and ya, you DO want to experience what they are selling you. So you buy it and it’s great. You've been sold to and you liked it.
Similar actions, similar method, but a different way to BE an interested person who is happens to be selling something they other person may really really love.
other times it's...
WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU ARE SELLING.
I’m not saying that you be someone you are not.
But rather that there is already an infinite number of YOUs at any time.
For example, if you walk into a room of strangers who might hold some opportunities for you.
The version of you walking through the door might be
The artist who was belittled by her older siblings and overlooked by her parents and is hypervigilant for any social interaction that can be interpreted as a slight.
Or the artist who had to compete in school and careers and has a tendency to size people up, and who assumes she is being sized up.
Or the artist who is distrustful of people... etc.
Or the artist who assumes everyone can totally get along- who assumes everyone here has something super fascinating about them, who is excited just to meet some people she can connect with.
One of those artists is going to be more effective at making connections- and selling art
And you can learn to summon that artist even if some of the other voices are louder.
YOU SIMPLY HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THAT
Sometimes, there’s simply some perspective, path, or idea you just haven’t thought of as a possibility before.
For someone making $20k a year with their art, it seems outside the realm of possibility to consider they are the type of person that can make $600K a year with their art.
And because of that, they continue to think about their business, and do the actions as someone who makes $50K or less a year rather than thinking and doing in a way that would open up larger possibilities.
Me, as an art coach, is a person who is watching and listening and reflecting back to you what is happening.
I catch you when your thoughts are not helping you get your goals and help you redirect your thoughts, body, and actions toward more of what you want.
