Never Stop Learning (A Challenge to Get Your Ass to Class)
(Win a ticket to the IAA Global Marketing Summit this April in NYC by commenting on this post! Scroll down for details…)
Hey, remember college? Your primary responsibilities included keg party attendance, trying to land an unpaid internship, and considerately scheduling dorm room makeouts around your roommate. Oh right, and learning.
Professional life is, admittedly, quite different: cocktail party attendance, trying to land an underpaid job, and (for most:) considerably less making out. Alright, so it’s not all that different.
So why do we give ourselves a free pass to stop developing our skills after school? Is on-the-job learning enough?
Contrary to popular belief, those of us in administration have something vital to learn from performers: you must constantly develop your craft.
Why is it that actors, singers, and dancers feel a horrible lack when they’ve been out of scene study, voice lessons, or any other craft class for more than a few months, and yet the rest of us feel our knowledge is sufficiently supplemented by reading a blog post every other week (ahem)?
Artists and arts administrators are terribly guilty of living and working in a self-constructed industry bubble. But how can we expect to make progress, build new audiences, create community-relevant work, and extend our reach without venturing out of the tried and occasionally true?
It’s vital that the entrepreneurial artistic spirit be fed well and often with new knowledge and awareness of what’s going on both inside and outside of arts and entertainment. Think of yourself as an athlete (there she goes again with the sports analogy) – to be great at your sport, you must train constantly, and the best professionals train not just in their chosen field but in surrounding practices to keep all their muscles in shape and ready for peak performance.
It’s never too late - or too early - to build continued learning into your professional path. Resist the allure of the “maybe I should get an MFA/MBA/JD” and create your own through a custom blend of workshops, conferences, reading, networking events, and one-on-ones with new contacts (resource links below).
> Check out Fractured Atlas’s posts from the SXSW Interactive Conference
One of my don’t-miss annual conferences is the International Advertising Association’s Global Marketing Summit. That’s right, advertising, not arts. Let’s face it, our industry isn’t exactly leading the field in marketing innovation, so it’s vital that those of us interested in developing audiences and profitable projects borrow from the wisdom of other industries. At this conference alone I’ve learned best practices from the insiders at Facebook and YouTube, met valuable contacts, and become aware of trends that can transform the ways my clients approach their entire marketing strategy.
My spring challenge to you is this: commit to a conference, class, workshop, seminar webinar, or even just reading that business book that’s still sitting in its Amazon box. Take notes throughout on how what you’re learning can apply to what you’re doing on the ground – I guarantee you’ll come away with fresh ideas and new ways to approach your work.
*The IAA Global Marketing Summit is April 15 in New York City – one lucky commenter on this post will win a spot at my table (a $450 value). Simply post your favorite class, conference, book, or other clever way to stay on top of your craft by April 1.
More learning resources…
You’ve Cott Mail – the must-read daily for any arts professional
MediaBistro – media-oriented classes and workshops
Small Business Trends – free advice & webinars
Tags: conference, contest, Facebook, marketing, mba, mfa, YouTube
Great post Ciara - I strongly agree that self-education is a must. I have had great experiences at the workshops produced by the Arts & Business Council of NY under the National Arts Marketing Project. They offer marketing & branding workshops at very affordable prices - here is a link: http://bit.ly/9nzHVn
Thanks for the tip Arwen - will definitely check it out!
I passionately agree with you on this topic, Ciara. Although it may be daunting at times to even begin to determine what information to infuse into your brain out of the burgeoning resources, it should be mandatory to put something new in there every single day.
I am a fan of SETH GODIN’S BLOG - sethgodin.typepad.com.
If you have an entrepreneurial interest, FAST COMPANY is a fantastic publication.
The EMERGING LEADERS NETWORK through Arts & Business Council is great – I am subscriber to the NYC-based group (ELNYA) and find the emails rich with opportunities to expand your brain.
I am also looking forward to reading 37 Signals brand new book, REWORK.
I found this post to be very timely. As our available time and financial resources for professional development are likely to continue to be limited, the need for affordable ways to stay up-to-date and relevant in our work is increasing.
Lately, I get inspired by smart business ideas on Springwise (http://www.springwise.com/ideas/). The site lists innovative collaborations across sectors and industries. It also highlights unique and dynamic design choices and exceptionally creative approaches to service-based business. I especially like how the concepts of impeccable design and creative marketing are seamlessly integrated in the majority of business ideas listed on the site. I’m reminded that in my work, and in the work of my organization, it is imperative to keep things fresh.
[...] Ciara Pressler on staying outside the box. When you left school, did you think you’d stop learning? And did you actually stop? If so, why? Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to step outside of your tried and true and take a good look around. You might find new ideas there. You might even find the old ones aren’t working as well as you’d thought. On the Fractured Atlas blog, Ciara Pressler has a few ideas about that. [...]
My blogroll is my favorite way to stay on top of everything- from Dance sites, like Dance Advantage and 4dancersblog, to marketing in Arts Marketing and Marketing for Non-Profits and Non-profit marketing, to PhilaTopic and Change.org for Non-profit and social sector news. Someone above mention Seth Godin’s blog, and of course, the king , Michael Kaiser.
I have political blogs and Pilates-related ones as well for my own enjoyment!
Great stuff guys! Email me directly - ciara (at) ciarapressler dot com - for your invite to the conference.
This thread has been really helpful and inspiring for me to read as I finally start embracing new ways to promote my work that feel authentic (and are a creative outlet unto themselves to boot). Thanks, guys!
These free podcasts from Stanford’s Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders lecture series are awesome:
http://ecorner.stanford.edu/podcasts.html
I don’t think I can make the April 15 conference because of work, but look forward to hearing all about it afterwards.
I tried posting this earlier today but it didn’t post? (Was it an April Fool’s Joke?)
So here goes again!
I am a conference/seminar/workshop junkie!
Here’s what I’ve attended since January (not in chrono order):
- The Art of Money (tax help for artists)
- Pre-Consulting Day (co-hosted by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer & Baruch College)
- Consulting Day (2 Free one-on-one consulting sessions - finances/accounting and marketing/website, plus 2 seminars on social media and branding)
-LMCC’s Work Samples Do’s & Dont’s
- Producing Workshop with Glory Bowen
-Trade School: Teach Ourselves How To Buy Real Estate
- Directing & Festivals - Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers
(I’ve also attended some Volunteer Management conferences for my dayjob).
I’m also a fan of blogs for daily reminders and tips - I LOVE the very excellent arts marketing blog The Mission Paradox Blog. I regularly read: SmARTS & Culture, Seth Godin, Createquity, Future Fundraising Now.
The best classes I took in the past 12 months were at The Field regarding touring your show/company - Setting Your Fees and Pitching Your Show. Both were very practical, nuts & bolts, small class size with room for feedback, and set me up for the next step(s). That’s a tie with Consulting Day.
I love creating my own MFA/MBA! I’m hoping to also take a juicy creative workshop this summer!