We all have dreams we want to pursue and we all want to get paid for them.
We also try various advertisements whether through campus bulletin boards, Craig's List or even contacting potential costumers.
However, through these experiments, we sometimes make mistakes that sounds like a good idea at the time, but you realize later on how ridiculous it was.
As you may know, I've been selling my instrumental music online under the stage name Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior.
I've been putting posters advertising my music on the university campus, as well as advertising them on social media hoping to get new listeners to at least like one of my tracks.
Well, apparently someone saw a flyer promoting my music, and gave me an unsolicitied email advertising his service.
Dear Mr. Wegesend,
I saw a flyer for your new album. No offense, but the cover art looks like it was done by a 10-year-old.The idea behind your vice at is fine, it's just the execution needs work. For $20, I can redo this cover to look more professional using vector graphics.
What the what?
You're going to contact somebody you don't even know, someone who you like to be your customer, someone you hope to spend money for your services that my "cover art looks like it was done by a 10-year-old."?
Really, that's your sales pitch?
This was my response
Thanks for viewing my album art! The whole point of my artwork is to "look like it was done by a 10 year old". It's supposed to be simple, supposed to have a childlike vibe, that's the whole point!
If you want my business and my money, you need a better sales pitch than "your artwork looks like it was done by a 10 year old, give me $20." Respect your potential clients or they won't be your clients.
People might think that's mean, but really, it's best way to help that person in the long run.
With my feedback, he might realize "hey, I best not sound disrespect to someone who I would like to use my service"
With my feedback, he might realize that being "cocky & funny" (one of advice given by pick-up artists & dating advice columnists) might not really be an effective sales pitch
With my feedback, he might realize that being "blunt" to potential customers might not be profitable at all!
With my feedback, he might have to come up with a different sales pitch, maybe something that might actually entice a stranger to give him his "big break" and spend money on his services.
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Also, if the service your providing is artwork, you could say something like
- Hey, I like the music you're promoting! I have a cool & unique style that enhance your advertisements
- Hey, I do eye-catching album covers for musicians
- I help local musicians with amazing flyers
But it's even better if you have some work samples available!
Sometimes, those hiring artists/photographers/etc would ask for some sample art/photos to see if this person is worth hiring!
If that guy really wanted me to pay for his services, he might've shown me a link showing samples of his artwork.
By showing work samples, it could make me think, "maybe this is the guy I should contact in case I need some work done".
He could also say "show me a draft, I could make enhancements"
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But all that goes down the drain by telling me (a potential client who he never met before) that my art "looks like it was done by a 10-year-old", that' just rudeness that doesn't need to be rewarded.
Anyone who is interested in my style could easily just ask me what motivates me to do my style of art.
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So what does motivate my style?
I just like drawing and coloring with crayons and coloring pencils.
Some say "that's being like a 10-year old"
So what?
What's wrong with recreating the magic of childhood?
What's wrong with reconnecting with a part of myself that existed before the turbulent adolescent and adult years?
I want my art to be simple and not too complex!
I want it to portray some sense of humor! Not so much "laugh out loud humor", but something that gives you a slight smile.
For example, the cover art for Urban Honolulu Jams can interpreted in different ways.
The word "jams" have multiple meanings! In music, a "jam" is a great song! So I'm promoting my songs as great songs with Urban Honolulu in mind.
But in a grocery store, "jam" refers to a thicker version of jelly that made of fruit material.
So I made the cover art with 4 types of fruit jams.
Some other artists might prefer to make the art via computer graphics. Nothing wrong with that! That guy could've just said "hey, I would like to do a version of that using computer graphics". Cool!
But I still I'm still glad that I did my original version using coloring pencils. I think it's cute, shows an innocent joy, a cool way to showcase a word that has multiple meanings.
Also, I did scan the original work, save it as a JPEG, then used a computer program called "Paint" to add the typewritten text for the subtitle (":an instrumental album") and the musician information "music by: Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior" in smaller font.
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Now, my next album (I'll blog more about it soon) is titled "Sounds Like a Video Game".
The cover art is done on a black construction paper, and also uses coloring pencils.
This time, the subtitle (":an instrumental album") was done with a white coloring pencil.
But I also scanned the artwork and used the "Paint" app to add "music by: Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior
I decided to use coloring pencils for the title and the illustrations because I just wanted it that way.
I liked experimenting with different colors to see what best matches with the black background.
I also draw the arcade machine and the smaller video game console connected TV to represent two different ways people play video games.
Will those drawings win awards? Who cares, that's not the point!
The point was I wanted to use coloring pencils to draw an amateur styled illustration of video game machines.
The point was NEVER to make it look "professional", the point was draw it amateur-style because that's my style!
Again, an art entrepreneur could just ask "hey, I love the concepts, would you like me to recreate it in a different format (ie. using real paint, scratch art, computer graphics, etc)?"
That's how you get costumers/clients!
That's how you create allies!
Because you know what?
When it comes to representing what I'm selling, I'm using
- my own creativity
- my own ideas
- my own sense of joy
- my own emotional connection to what I'm portraying
I mean, isn't that the whole point of doing art?
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I don't have an online art gallery, but I do use my illustrations for my music videos that you can see on my own Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior YouTube channel!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTp3x3norNTYDksJKCSfhXg
Those videos combined my still images with my instrumental music.
Some of those images were made with coloring pencils, some were made using the Paint app, some where photographs, some were scratch art. A few were photo illustrations using photographs from the Public Domain. Check them all out when watching those videos.
Also, if you want to sell me video making services, don't tell me "they look like they were done by a 10 year old". INSTEAD, tell me what you bring to the table at an affordable price.
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One more thing, I did get an unsolicited by a fashion company asking me for designs for them to use. I did respond with a few questions, but I haven't decided how I will proceed being that I was busy with other demands on my time. But you best believe that once I have additional free time I'll look more into it!
