Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Artist and Audience: Make a Connection

By Ian Kleine

As the artist, you will have to face your customers sometime sooner or later. It is an inevitability. If you want to sell stuff, then you'll have to face the figurative shark sooner or later. Customer relation is a part of business, and you will have to face this demon sooner than enough.

You don't have to act all willy-nilly if you don't want to, nor do you have to plaster on that fake smile you always see in most generic salesmen. The benefit of being an artist is that you are supposed to be the epitome of reality, the harbinger of emotion whether distorted or not. Still, people are people. How you talk and relate to them will determine whether you will make a sale or not.

There are general approaches as to how to make a good impression, a reputation that is easy for the customer, and an atmosphere that would draw them in, like bees to honey and nectar.

Let's take a situational example. Customer asks you about a piece you just did. It is a fine piece, with varied colors and lovely shapes and shades. Now, as the artist, you are to explain it to a language the customer can understand. Remember, if they want to buy it, they have to know the meaning behind it first. That is the usual trail of thought, the psychology of buying stuff.

He or she asks you, what is your painting about? Answer it directly and without impediment. Tell them the truth, and the meaning behind the oils and the colors. Don't give out credentials like 'oh this is a work by a renowned artist'. It is information that is not currently needed. And don't give out jargon-y descriptions. It scares them away. Convey the message and the thought of the piece with simplicity and accuracy. Leave no censorship if you have to. And you usually have to.

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