Hey Teaching Artists! Mind Your Own Business | Post 3 of 37
Teaching Artists Organized
This past Saturday, Oct 3rd, about 18 or so teaching artists came together at California Shakespeare Theater to discuss the business of teaching artists. I was one of 3 on the panel who were invited to share our visions, our story of becoming artists entrepreneurs, our marketing strategies, and the professional paths that have led us to the place we are now.
Can I tell you, this was quite a cool event! Teaching Artists Organized, led by the mighty Sabrina Klein (a friend, mentor, and supporter of mine for years), has a real passion for promoting and uplifting the field of teaching artistry with the expertise to back it up. Much of their work is focused on the skill building and professional development of the teaching artist as teacher. However, in this session, we examined the big picture and the nitty gritty of making a living off of this work that we all care so much about.
As the introduction to the day, Sabrina led the group through a reflective activity that was designed to illicit the underlying values that provide the foundation for why we do this work. You may want to ask yourself these questions:
1) Describe the time in your life when you realized this would be your life’s work.
2) What is the change you are aiming to make in the world?
3) What has been your biggest surprise or discovery along your path to making this change?
4) What is your biggest joy in the work?
In a pre-session planning meeting, Sabrina, a fellow panelist, Rebecca Stees, and I talked about the difference between a self-employed teaching artist and an entrepreneur teaching artist. The former is supporting himself to find a variety of projects that uses his expertise and fits his lifestyle. The latter sees her business in the big picture as an entity beyond herself that makes a contribution in the community/the world. Neither is better than the other. The point is that, regardless how you identify, it is important to take the time and reflect of why it is you are doing this work. Create a mission statement for yourself that reflects your core values and that inspires the people you want to hire you.
Ask yourself: What is the unique contribution that you can make in the live of kids, families, and communities?
And check out this resource | The Right-Brain Business Plan
This post is one of the 37 I have challenged myself to post in one week (in celebration of my 37th birthday). Join me in the challenge.
Happy Birthday, Lynn!