Being transparent with your followers, friends, and family is scary. I’ll go first:

Social media is important for artists because it helps connect you to a larger community of audience members and supporters. On the other hand, managing social media can be a big drain of your time and energy, especially when we’re already looking at screens for a large part of the day. It can also make you feel guilty – you may feel like you should actually be spending more time in rehearsal or in the studio, working on your practice, instead of being on social media.

In the ever expanding digital world where it can be challenging to understand how you can let others know about your work, cross promotion can be an important mindset and tool. Cross promotion is when you work with another person or group to mutually expand your networks by sharing their work with your audience and vice versa.

A social media presence is one important method by which your audience can engage with your art. However, it can be tough to grow that follower list. There are so many social media platforms and so many tactics that you can take to increase your reach. At times it can feel like you are just throwing spaghetti into the void trying to increase that list. Here, we’ll cover the challenges you may face while trying to grow your followers and what you can do to overcome them.

For years, as an indie music artist I have researched and practiced building my own brand. Workshops, books, influencers in the world of indie music, and even academic courses teach the components of branding in terms of look, sound, story, message, etc. As it's known, even though it can sometimes be grouped into unappealing thoughts associated with “marketing”, “branding” is a necessary and powerful component to be able to share our art with the world. 

It’s that time of the year again – artists and arts organizations, welcome to NYSCA season! From the basics of what is NYSCA to what to do if you are a Fractured Atlas member looking to apply, we’ve got you covered.

Recently, we were chatting on the Creative Outpost, our online community for artists, about pitching oneself to potential employers. Together, we talked about what makes for a compelling cold email where you are introducing yourself to someone who you hope gives you some kind of opportunity. 

For artists and creatives, your email list is an important tool to connect with your audience and build long-lasting connections. 

Documentary filmmakers are often, by the nature of their work, in complicated legal territory. There are releases to sign with subjects and sources, questions of trespassing and hidden recording equipment, and the concern that editing can over-determine a narrative. And, depending on how sensitive the topic is, there can be a risk of legal action if the subject doesn’t like the final produced piece. 

The concept of a personal brand has a bit of a bad reputation. And honestly, it’s kind of deserved.