What is your slogan?

Every artist, writer, performer wants to be remembered. To sell their creative ability and make a living, the artist must have a hook. Something that makes them stand out from all the rest.

The same is with any product. A soft drink is a soft drink and a laundry detergent is a laundry, but with a slogan and branding, one stands out from the others.

Try Marketing 101.

Some artist are flamboyant and self prescribed exhibitionist. Some have works that are "so" different to create a fad or trend. Some are radical in their art approach, but that can offend and become a risky technique.

So create a slogan for yourself.

While the piece of art may have a name describing what the artist intended for the piece to say, and the show may have the artist name displayed; the public is bombarded with images and names and will soon forget.

A slogan will intensify the impression and even if the viewer forgets the name of the piece or work or artist; the slogan will become embedded with the experience.

If you don't think it will work, who is the "King of Pop"?

For a sculpture to have the slogan of the "Metal Maniac" or "Master of Steel" or "Power Potter" will bring new recognition to the art and the artist.

A craft creator may become the "Weaver to the Stars" or "Susan Sew What" or "Birds of a Feather".

Imaging going to a show to see the "Prince of Paint" or "The Soul Painter" or "The Brush-man of the lower East Side".

Side note: If you can get a sponsor (or patron to the Arts - as we like to call them) it will give new relevance to the show. "Sponsor's name" presents the work of "artist's name" - SLOGAN!

You will be remembered.

Observation

Recently a group of “artsy fartsy” types gathered for coffee and light discussion at an outside bistro.

Being “creative” types, the pleasantries turned to idea brainstorming. Graphic visionaries, sound technicians, and crafters sharing different approaches to ideas freely presented to all.

As the laughter and conversation quicken, a writer observed a couple sitting at the next table. She quieted the crowd and brought the focus to a young man in khakis and a pressed shirt intently talking to a woman in a grey business suit. Both held their coffee cups tight in the center of the round wire table, close enough to touch each other, but nervously fidgeting their separation. The two faces leaned over the table as if to whisper to one another secrets only the other could hear. An older man approached the table. The woman looked up with a joyful look as if seeing an old friend, while the younger man acknowledged the figure with a plan almost disdained look. The older man stood over the couple for a few moments, then the woman gestured to him to join them at the table. As the older man sat close to the woman, the younger man looked at his watch.

Our group sat still bound in the event that had just unfolded in front of us.

Each saw a different occurrence. Some saw the texture of the woman’s clothing, some smelled the coffee, some noticed the mirrored shapes of the body language, and one thought out loud, “This is where it all begins.”

Observation.

People go on in their daily lives, aware of their surroundings, but without accepting the treasures presented to them.

An artist sees the details of life, which sparks the emotions and creates the desire to present each individual view.

And what happened to the trio at the next table? They could be family; they could be lovers, or fellow employees.

You’ll have to wait for the book to come out.