Some artists have an exceptional ability to use language to convey an idea. Others are brilliant with metaphor. Still others excel visually or through movement. I was watching James Lipton being interviewed by Dave Chapelle for the 200th episode of the show Inside the Actors Studio. Throughout the episode, they played back various moments where guests of the show described what they believed acting was. Harrison Ford’s comments struck an epiphany in me. He talked about how hard he worked to “live” in front of that camera. To expose the ugly, weak, frail pieces of a character as well as the strength, optimism and courage that a person exhibits in their life. It struck me that that desire to live in front of others is the strongest asset that I brought into the world of writing from my previous career. If you’ve ever read my books (Excalibur Reclaims Her King, Edge! A Leadership Story, From the Barrio to the Board Room), or the fiction of those I have coached (Duckey and the Ocean Protectors, China Girl), what you’ll find above all else are moments of very vulnerable truth. I do not have a huge vocabulary. I do not have a colorful way with language, or description. But I do have a way of bringing the truth of a moment to life.
When I work with artists at defining their core values, I bring my desire to expose their truth to the table. My goal is to help them to uncover what lies at the heart of their creativity so they can then use that as a selling point for their work.
If you don't know who you are, how can you sell yourself? If you have yet to articulate who you are, how can others? Clients, customers, investors...they all make determinations about you in seconds. What are you telling them with your website? With your brochures? With your business cards? With your art itself?
If you are truthfully exposing your core values, then your marketing materials will do one of two things: Turn people on, or turn people off. And that's exactly what you want. Ignite the fires beneath those who love your work, and turn away those who are not inspired by it. Let them love your work, or hate it...what's most important is that they feel something powerful.
Come join me for a conversation about your core values at the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation's "One State: Together in the Arts" conference June 1st, 2009 at 3pm.
Or visit my Web site at www.writersoftheroundtable.com.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Telling Your Story
The inspiration behind my discussion of core values has everything to do with story. As artists we have to create significant buy in from audiences and from those who can hire us for our services--that's how we get paid for our work. We do that through inviting them into our world - which we do through story...Every single person we run into can fall into one of these two categories:
1. Fan Club
2. Client
It is the telling of our story, which we do through our core values, that helps these people to understand who we are at a subconscious level.
Let me use an example to explain.
One of my friends from college is a series regular on one of the biggest shows on FOX right now and I was recently discussing branding with her. Here is a part of that discussion:
In publishing, the big publishers pay an author for the quality of their fan base, more than they pay for their talent. I work from the assumption that Hollywood is the same. The more people who are going to tune in to the TV just to watch you, or go to the movies just to see you, the higher you get paid for your work and then in turn the more you can invest in building your brand (which can eventually be far more than acting--it can include philanthropy and other businesses if you want it to).
Right now, because of your exposure, a large number of people are going to Google and typing in your name because they are curious about who you are. Of those who love the show, the majority (my assumption) see you as a hot new face that gives the show a fresh feel. You have piqued their interest. So when they look for you on the internet, you have an opportunity to invite them into your story.
Consider how audiences think. Audiences form an opinion on a brand over the course of time. The first time they see an actor they might say, "hmm..interesting. Hey honey, what's for dinner?" The second time they see you they might say, "I like her, she's good. I need a new pair of shoes." The third time, they might say, "I remember liking her. What's her name? Jonathan stop pulling your sister's hair..." The fourth time might be when they say, "Hey, I like that actor." And they still don;t even know your name!!!
Once we understand how people who view art think, we can then be strategic in how we help them to feel about our work.
This process begins with defining our core values and infusing them into our work and into how we communicate with the world about our work.
Join me!
Let's further the conversation of core values at the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation's "One State: Together in the Arts" conference June 1st, 2009 at 3pm.
On my next post, I'll discuss marketing and the process of building material that impacts (and doing it affordably!)
For more information on myself or Writers of the Round Table, you can visit our site at www.writersoftheroundtable.com.
1. Fan Club
2. Client
It is the telling of our story, which we do through our core values, that helps these people to understand who we are at a subconscious level.
Let me use an example to explain.
One of my friends from college is a series regular on one of the biggest shows on FOX right now and I was recently discussing branding with her. Here is a part of that discussion:
In publishing, the big publishers pay an author for the quality of their fan base, more than they pay for their talent. I work from the assumption that Hollywood is the same. The more people who are going to tune in to the TV just to watch you, or go to the movies just to see you, the higher you get paid for your work and then in turn the more you can invest in building your brand (which can eventually be far more than acting--it can include philanthropy and other businesses if you want it to).
Right now, because of your exposure, a large number of people are going to Google and typing in your name because they are curious about who you are. Of those who love the show, the majority (my assumption) see you as a hot new face that gives the show a fresh feel. You have piqued their interest. So when they look for you on the internet, you have an opportunity to invite them into your story.
Consider how audiences think. Audiences form an opinion on a brand over the course of time. The first time they see an actor they might say, "hmm..interesting. Hey honey, what's for dinner?" The second time they see you they might say, "I like her, she's good. I need a new pair of shoes." The third time, they might say, "I remember liking her. What's her name? Jonathan stop pulling your sister's hair..." The fourth time might be when they say, "Hey, I like that actor." And they still don;t even know your name!!!
Once we understand how people who view art think, we can then be strategic in how we help them to feel about our work.
This process begins with defining our core values and infusing them into our work and into how we communicate with the world about our work.
Join me!
Let's further the conversation of core values at the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation's "One State: Together in the Arts" conference June 1st, 2009 at 3pm.
On my next post, I'll discuss marketing and the process of building material that impacts (and doing it affordably!)
For more information on myself or Writers of the Round Table, you can visit our site at www.writersoftheroundtable.com.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Core Values of Artistry
The marrying of art and business. It's the only way to bridge the gap between a hobby and a career. How many artists would love to be paid a full time wage to create? To paint? To act? To write? To dance?
So what's the difference between a hobbyist and a full time creative?
Answer: CORE VALUES.
When you can articulate your core values, you can use them to build your brand and ultimately to sell your services and/or your creations.
So what are core values?
Disney's are imagination and wholesomeness. The U.S. Air Force's core values are integrity, service and excellence.
Core Values are the driving principles that help you to make decisions on a daily basis and to define what you stand for as a person and a business.
For Example:
If you know that one of your core values is JOY, then everything about your work and your marketing materials had better exude JOY in the audience.
If CREATIVITY is a core value of yours, then your website had better be visually stunning.
Most artists never take the time to articulate their core values and so they come across in their work as hobbyists -- someone who doesn't create a strong positive or negative reaction from their audience.
Articulate your core values, infuse them into your work, infuse them into your message, and your world will open up.
A Couple Samples of Strong Core Values:
www.fromthebarrio.com (Passion, Community, Education, Leadership, Impact)
www.edge-book.com (Leadership, Collaboration, Excellence, Risk)
Join me!
Let's further the conversation of core values at the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation's "One State: Together in the Arts" conference June 1st, 2009 at 3pm.
Please also feel free to discuss your own core values in the comment section of this blog and we can begin the conversation early!
So what's the difference between a hobbyist and a full time creative?
Answer: CORE VALUES.
When you can articulate your core values, you can use them to build your brand and ultimately to sell your services and/or your creations.
So what are core values?
Disney's are imagination and wholesomeness. The U.S. Air Force's core values are integrity, service and excellence.
Core Values are the driving principles that help you to make decisions on a daily basis and to define what you stand for as a person and a business.
For Example:
If you know that one of your core values is JOY, then everything about your work and your marketing materials had better exude JOY in the audience.
If CREATIVITY is a core value of yours, then your website had better be visually stunning.
Most artists never take the time to articulate their core values and so they come across in their work as hobbyists -- someone who doesn't create a strong positive or negative reaction from their audience.
Articulate your core values, infuse them into your work, infuse them into your message, and your world will open up.
A Couple Samples of Strong Core Values:
www.fromthebarrio.com (Passion, Community, Education, Leadership, Impact)
www.edge-book.com (Leadership, Collaboration, Excellence, Risk)
Join me!
Let's further the conversation of core values at the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation's "One State: Together in the Arts" conference June 1st, 2009 at 3pm.
Please also feel free to discuss your own core values in the comment section of this blog and we can begin the conversation early!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Arts Education in Illinois
Can I really be the first post on this site?? Hopefully more will follow soon.
I'm really looking forward to an opportunity to connect with the wonderful folks across the state who are giving Illinois kids opportunities in the arts. I'll be presenting an overview of the new IAA publication, Commiting to Quality in Education: Arts at the Core, a Guidebook and Planning Tool and I can't wait to hear reactions from those who have already read or used it.
If you haven't seen it, please check it out and let me know what you think. It is available for download at www.illinoiscreates.org
See you in Peoria,
Lara
I'm really looking forward to an opportunity to connect with the wonderful folks across the state who are giving Illinois kids opportunities in the arts. I'll be presenting an overview of the new IAA publication, Commiting to Quality in Education: Arts at the Core, a Guidebook and Planning Tool and I can't wait to hear reactions from those who have already read or used it.
If you haven't seen it, please check it out and let me know what you think. It is available for download at www.illinoiscreates.org
See you in Peoria,
Lara
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