By Jennifer McGregor
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/3/23 – Many people in the arts and entertainment industries have been adversely affected by the pandemic, particularly those who performed in live forums and venues. Fortunately, there are some ways to continue practicing your craft from home. Need some inspiration? Today, The Hollywood Times is the place to start!
Impact of the Pandemic
Perhaps one of the most difficult things for entertainment industry professionals and performers right now is the ever-changing nature of the pandemic. Concert venues, art shows, gallery openings, and festivals have been shuttered or limited in capacity on and off for the past several years. This means traditional exhibiting and sales forums have become limited as well. A bit of creativity can get you back on track and even help you boost sales in a post-pandemic future.
Perform From Home
If you were in a performance type of artistry, like a singer-songwriter, according to Rolling Stone, you could continue to work from home by conducting virtual live performances. While you might have a smaller audience than usual, you could attract a new following, particularly if you provide an intimate setting and take questions or interact with the audience throughout the show. If you have an album, you can offer it for sale as part of your concert, as well as link participants back to your website.
Sell Online
If you’re an artist working in a visual medium, you are likely aware of popular online art venues including Society6, Etsy, and Artfire. Merchant Maverick recommends several other venues that offer free trials. Now is the time to step up your presence in these venues, as well as seek out high-end niche opportunities. If you were previously being shown in a gallery, stay in touch and see if they have any virtual tours or events that you can participate in. Continue to stay abreast of exhibiting opportunities and consider offering consignment projects from home, particularly if you already have a following and can reach out directly to your patrons.
Freelance Opportunities
In addition to your traditional approaches to art, you may consider freelance opportunities that keep you involved in the art world. Perhaps you could teach classes at a community center or online, offer music or singing lessons in a virtual capacity, provide hands-on instruction in areas like pottery or glass work in an open-air setting where it’s safe for people to gather. Not only will this help you generate an income during this uncertain time, but it may also expand your audience for the future. You might also consider publishing written or video tutorials, writing a book about art techniques, or think about pursuing an online art-related degree so you can have teaching as a future option.
Market Yourself Well
Artists are tasked with not only creating their work but marketing themselves as well. While a digital marketing campaign is essential for promoting your services, don’t forget about more traditional marketing methods. Whether it’s grassroots and referrals, creating merchandise that simultaneously promotes your business, or creating a high-end personalized business card that can leave a lasting impression.
A business card gives customers something tangible to remember you by, especially if you design a personalized business card with a premade template that you can customize with your own images, text, and color schemes. In essence, you can turn your cards into miniature works of art your patrons will want to keep. You’ll have no problem building your own business cards online using this free online tool.
The pandemic has negatively impacted numerous professions, artists in particular. Continue to practice your craft, pick up side work as necessary to support yourself, and continue staying in touch with curators and customers until things get back to “normal.”
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Photo via Pixabay
