I have received a few questions this week surrounding who does the work in my studio.... just wanted to go ahead and address these.
Some of my photography is old, like over a year, some even 2 years at this point, and is mixed in Etsy listings with newer photographs. This was judged by a customer to mean that I have employed less skilled labor in my studio, resulting in two types of quality. After I got over my cranky, overworked annoyance at such a question; I realized it was a direct result of the second question, this one wondering if I "basically run my own business."
Older Micro TileSo lets clear all of this up now. When I was in my bigger space, I tried 3 times with little luck to hire an assistant of some sort, the first just cleaned the studio, took out trash, etc in exchange for rent, this ended poorly. The second, I had on a pretty flexible schedule, she ran errands, did some of my studio prep work and also cleaned, my flexibilty and kind of "set it and forget it" attitude about her help resulted in another failure. I then tried one more time over Christmas, and hired my sister to do packing & shipping, keep the office & shipping room tidy, do inventory, run errands, that sort of thing. She is a great girl, but doesn't have the working style I need and expect.
I am actually in the process of reading a book to help me face the challenges of growing my business, its called The E-Myth, and it breaks down the 3 parts of an entrepreneur and the stages of a business' growth. Apparently, I am a Technician, meaning I just want to make the actual work, and my business is still in its infancy, meaning that it is wrapped up in my identity and I do everything.
One day, when I feel comfortable and can have a clear idea of what exactly it is that I need someone to do, I will hire an assistant. They will likely do things like cleaning, errand running and shipping... but I am not ready yet, I feel like I have a little more figuring out to do, and a lot more focusing on growing my business.
Newer Micro TileThe point is here, people, at this point, I don't even have an accountant. I do everything myself, and do outsource kiln repair and graphic design from time to time, but for the most part, for those of you who have missed previous job descriptions, here is my job title:
Bookkeeper, Tax preparer, janitor, manager, technician, photographer, mailroom clerk, gallery liason, secretary, artist.
It is a rare occasion that I accomplish every item on the to do list for a given day. I re-do the weekly schedule nightly, as you never know what might happen on a given day, like a Storque article that gives you a month's worth of sales in 2 days and changes all your plans. I get tired, and sometimes my days are longer than 12-14 hours, and I will feel guilty heading to bed thinking I may have been able to slam another cup of coffee and made a few more tiles, or printed out a few more invoices, or answered a few more emails. I will rush out of bed and feel terrible that I missed the incredible 7 a.m. light in the kitchen/photography studio and hope that I can wake up early enough at some point.
Yep, I basically run my own business and make all the work myself.
7 comments:
I am totally the technician! I've tried over the last 15 years various situations as you have described. All have failed. My current approach is to hire out the tasks surrounding the firing of my wood kiln. That would be cutting and stacking of wood, cleaning kiln furniture, mixing wadding, etc.
One of my issues is having someone in the studio when I'm making my work. This is a situation that is very difficult for me.
I am in the process of developing a more secure position for someone sort of like an apprenticeship. It's the only way that I will be able to do the things I want to do outside of studio practice, i.e. spending more time with family, having weekends off, (HA) having nights off, traveling,etc. (i hope)
Thanks for writing about this. I'm sure it may shock some folks reading your blog of all that goes into your work, besides the hands in clay time!
i feel your pain. and i have a day job. i have a theory that all art majors should be required to take business classes. not to mention graphic design and web design courses. its necessary to the survival of the artist right now.
yup--ditto to everything you said. Except I'm still too chicken to hire someone to help with anything....I keep telling myself I have to, and then realize it would end up like your experiences with assistants, and I don't want to put someone else (and myself) through all that.
Plus my studio is less than 200 square feet in my home with no running water...I still have to go to the kitchen or to the hose....
*sigh*
someday
Great post. i think it's a compliment when someone asks "how many people work for you?!" My experience is similar to Michael's. As a volunteer mentor with the school district, I realized early on that I don't like having someone else working with me! They are under foot and it's hard for me to stop and explain everything... which is a necessary component for your help/employee/assistant etc. :o) I always have people who beg to work for free or want to be my "shop assistant," "floor sweeper," apprentice etc. to learn metal but until I get a better feel for how I do what I do it's best for everyone that I work alone. At least that's how it's worked out for the last 15 years... maybe someday(?)
I understand you. The clients are the chiefs mas demanding that we have that we work for us themselves.
The entrepreneur in the beginnings of a business has to play all the instruments, to be the one-man band.
You are young, have time to be constructing your business.
Probably instead of an assistant need an associate. It has his advantages and his disadvantages.
I meet reflected in many of the situations that you explain and sometimes after a long day, I am in the bed and have the temptation of getting up and of continuing doing things, ha, ha, ha, that madness!!
Rarely we stop to think over on what we have obtained and to congratulate ourselves on it.
Your photos are of great quality and your ceramics seem beautiful.
Hear, hear, Heather!
@artgirl, i totes agree with you and plan on signing up for them in my final semesters.
I think most artists are "technicians", that's why we go into art. I know it's not the best way to develop a business, but we go into this field because it's a passion, certainly not because of the money!
I found your experiences with assistants interesting, and will definitely keep them in mind if I ever try to hire someone. Thanks!
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