Читать книгу Start & Run an Art Teaching Business - Tanya Freedman - Страница 9

“If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” This adage stresses the importance of laying the strongest foundation possible for your business idea so it can develop into reality and succeed despite all the odds.

Conceptualizing, conducting market research, and preparing a business plan go together. You are preparing a canvas or a clod of clay. You are projecting a vision in your mind, and planning what you want to achieve in the short and long term. An artist may start with a small idea that grows into a series of artwork, or an inspired sketch that results in a wall-to-wall masterpiece. You are cutting your teeth, making the most of your strengths and transferable skills, and feeling your way toward the start line. Be a sponge: Get exposed to different concepts and become inspired by those you admire. Be flexible and prepare to go with the flow of where your creativity and new ideas lead you.

Some people gain experience in their desired field of art before starting up their own art business. Some buy a business or franchise, or hatch a brand new business. Some either achieve moderate or fantastic success — or fold within the first three to five years. They may not have planned thoroughly, utilized all of their strengths, or enlisted expert help during the crucial start-up phase.

At the conception phase of Jolly Good Art I took the time to list my experiences and transferable skills. I was also determined to concentrate on what I absolutely loved to do.

Identifying your experiences and transferable skills is an important step to finding the area of business that you will excel at. For example, my friend Elizabeth began her business by teaching her children how to sew. Eventually parents of her children’s friends were asking Elizabeth to teach their children. She now has six stores and is sponsored by a major sewing machine company.

What can you glean from your past and present? Which passions burn brightly? If you picked up this book and are anything like me, you probably get lots of inspiration from anything connected with art, such as TV programs, instructional videos, and books about the art masters. This is a significant clue that you might consider becoming an art teacher.