What should my goal be as an artist running a business?

Your primary goal should be to focus on what only you can do: create your artwork. Think of your art business like a restaurant - you’re the chef, and you should be spending your time creating the best ‘dishes’ possible. The problem is that most artists also have to be the receptionist, waiter, bartender, busboy, and dishwasher. Something has to give in that equation. Identify the tasks that only you can do (creating art, developing your vision, connecting authentically with your audience) versus tasks that can be delegated or automated (administrative work, email management, order fulfillment, some marketing tasks). Invest in tools, systems, and people that handle those other functions so you can focus on creating and growing your artistic vision. Your business grows when you create artwork, so protect that time fiercely.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick Shanahan and Dan Sundhal · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-08-07