Last night was the third attorney Miamiartexchange.com has had to speak to a group of artists regarding legal issues. Attorney Craig Kirsch, specializes in copyright and trademark law, and he brought his expertise for a short lecture and discussion. Even though our focus was on art licensing, the topic of copyright continually drew the most questions. Miamiartexchange.com has been bringing business and legal topics to artists on a monthly basis since 2007. No one else been serving your community so strongly for so long.
5 Reasons Artists Need Art Licensing Agents:
“In art licensing, you don’t have to have an agent to succeed, most manufacturers are happy to work with individual artists or through agents. As long as they get the art they need, in a professional and timely manner, there is little impact to the manufacturer. For the artist, however, using an agent or promoting your own work can have a big impact on your business and your lifestyle. The key is to know what will work best for you.
Often our beliefs are the best indicator about how to proceed. If you believe that ‘real artists never make money while they are alive’, you will probably struggle to earn an income with your art. Whether you are aware of it or not, you will find ways to self-sabotage your business because you want to be a ‘real artist’. Beliefs can also affect how well you will work with an agent or promote your work yourself.
If you believe, for example, that agents don’t deserve the percentage of royalties for their efforts, you won’t have a comfortable relationship with your agent. If on the other hand, you think selling yourself is too hard and scary, you will probably never reach out and let anyone know you have
Here are five beliefs that indicate that working with an agent could be a good choice for you.
1. I just want to create art and pay my bills. I don’t want to be involved in the promotion of it.
2. I could stay in my studio and create for weeks without ever talking to anyone and be very happy.
3. Contracts are scary, I’d rather sign them and assume they are fair than learn what it all means.
4. I am extremely shy and timid.
5. I can get more deals through an agent than I’d make on my own.”
(Via ArtBistro.)