Hey, I'm back with some more advice in my ongoing series of "How To Be A Con Artist". Again, I'll let you know that when I say "Con" I mean convention. And when I say "How To Be" I mean that I am giving some advice based on what I've learned over the years through personal experience, reading and advice from others.
To read previous entries, just check them out here:
How To Be A Con Artist Part I
How To Be A Con Artist Part II
How To Be A Con Artist Part III
How To Be A Con Artist Part IV
Today is going to be a simple one and it has a lot to do with taking the steps towards being a professional. Behavior and process at conventions are one thing, but you should also be thinking about how to handle your business at home when you aren't creating artwork. You are essentially setting up a home based business and for your own mental well-being you should create some space for that in your life.
Early on, when I returned to my parent's house a year or so after graduating, I was lucky enough to have an extra room to turn into a studio space. Somewhere there are pictures, but this was before digital cameras so I'd have to find the physical photos and scan them to show you. Needless to say, I worked hard on the room to make it a space I could work in and it was really great. I made the closet into an art supply cabinet, I had shelves for my books and space for my large art. The best part was, I could leave the office/studio space and be a part of the rest of my life without tripping over my work. When I moved out of my parents house again, I had to make that space wherever I lived and it wasn't always easy, but it was definitely necessary. Most times it was a corner of the room I had to use - living room, bed room, etc... The area became half studio and half office.
Since I am still settling in and trying to figure things out, I don't have a studio/office set up - its under construction right now and I do find that I am missing it a lot. Not having that area for my work makes me now feel up in the air and disorganized.
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| Seriously I tried to find a good 'home office' image and this is what I found. But hey, its The Oatmeal! |
But as for you... Setting up your home office hopefully won't be a big deal because you probably have a lot of the stuff you need already. Here is a basic list of some office essentials:
* Desk - Could your drawing table or part of your work space serve as a desk too? Think about how to make the most of what you currently have.
* Comfortable Chair - If you have an office chair that works or even a normal dining room chair that you can sit in - you don't want it too comfortable because remember, this is part of work, not hanging out.
* File Cabinets - I've mentioned that you should print out all your paperwork for conventions in previous entries in the series. You should have the paperwork for each convention in a file and you need a place to put those files where you can find them easily or they are within reach should you need them. Also, contracts, emails and things like that. You'll also want place to put important papers and such for tax reasons. Piling things up is a good way to lose things (I've learned this the hard way repeatedly). Some people may argue that the computer can hold all that stuff, but there are plenty of horror stories of computers dying and losing all those files. Hard copies are still necessary!
* Sufficient Lighting - This should go without saying, but to work, either on paperwork or artwork, you should have good lighting.
* Calculator - Are you good at math? I'm not good at math. Why drive myself nuts when there are inexpensive things called calculator's available to do it for me and do it right? I know for some of you that's like owning an abacus at this point with computers, but its easy enough for me to have a separate calculator to type on than pulling over my laptop for it. And as I said, basic calculators are pretty darn cheap these days.
* Photocopier/Printer/Scanner - I lump these together because basically, what I mean is, a way to reproduce things. Again, pricing has gone down on personal office supplies, so getting a combo photocopier/printer/scanner isn't too expensive. If you already have a scanner and a printer, you can use that too. In the long run, you probably would need a printer and scanner anyway... so... yeah.
* Wastebasket - This might seem obvious but its not something you might automatically think of at first. Trust me on this: You'll notice right away that you need it when you have the crumpled piece of paper and you're looking for a place to throw it.
* Paper Shredder - Identity theft is real. There is no reason to put yourself out there. Again, there are fairly inexpensive ones out there.
* Telephone - Your business number and your personal number should be different if you're using it as a form of contact with people for business purposes. You might think that its not a big deal to have them combined in one, but one thing I encourage with all young artists is to keep the personal life and the business life separate. Its good for your mental well being and honestly, its good for your personal safety. DO NOT give your personal phone number to people at conventions, even if they have business cards and promise you work. Getting a business card made is easy and cheap and doesn't mean they are legitimate. If you have to give a number, it should be a separate business one that you have for just business purposes. This might all seem obvious, but you'd be surprised by how many people make the mistake.
* Desktop Organizers - Might seem obvious but many people skip on this. Then they have to find a pencil that they were sure was right there on the table, but its gone now and where did it go? And didn't I put the scissors like, right here? Who is coming in here and taking my stuff? ARGH! It was like here a second ago?
* Computer cart and stands - Sometimes having your computer or printer etc. RIGHT on the work table or desk isn't the best. Especially if you are a more traditional artist. Having it sitting off the work area (if that's your office area as well) is the best way to handle it. This is especially true of your external items like scanners or printers. I had it set so my printer was on a rolling card that I could then roll out or under the desk.
* Fax/answering machine - With modern set-ups on the phone and services, again, these seem like rather archaic items to have. But you'd be surprised by how many businesses still use fax machines and require you to fax things to them. If you have a computer program that does the same thing and can dial to fax machines, great! Same thing with answering machines.
* Postage meter - Should you be doing business selling items online, this will save you some time and trouble and will make your life easier in the long run.
*Hooks, racks, hangers, organizing system - These are good to have just to keep yourself organized and to have a place to put things where you can find them and where they will be safe from getting mixed up in other items.
Some of this stuff you might already have or may have something that will work as an equivalent for your office. For example, if you don't have a postage meter machine, a kitchen scale can help you determine postage cost. The organizer could be as simple as plastic cups cut do different sizes to hold different items... It doesn't have to be expensive or store bought. Don't let the matching sets at Staples lure you in or fool you.
Here is a link to a web page talking about making a home office on the cheap: http://interiordec.about.com/od/planninganoffice/a/budgethomeoffic.htm
You'll want some office basics like pens (black and blue), pencils, scissors, manilla file folders, sticky notes, white-out or white-out tape, binder clips, tape, and glue. I know some of these seem obvious, but you never realize what you need, till you need it and you don't have it.
The biggest issue of course, is space. If you can manage it, try to set it up some place where it can be untouched by the general populous of your home. Sometimes, your business area will be the area that all house business is done at - that's fine. Just make sure your files and your business specific items are separate from everyone else so you can access it and find your things quickly. You can only do the best that you can with this. I know many of you might still be living at home and that may not be a big home. Maybe find a box to store your office items into that you can open and create a space that way. The point of this is - you have to have an area that is able to be used for business purposes without it being contaminated by a lot of other things. If you get it all mixed up, its easy to lose things and then you spend more time being angry and frustrated than being able to work on art.
Going back to the files and hard copies.... Having your registration forms and confirmations printed out and in a folder is a smart idea. As I said, I've mentioned this in previous entries. These forms include any communication between you and convention staff regarding your attendance and participation with the convention.
For example: If you are doing a panel and spoke to the coordinator for convention panels with a special request you made asking to have your puppy in there and the coordinator agreed, PRINT THE HISTORY OF EMAILS OUT! Especially the email where the coordinator agreed and gave you permission to bring the puppy. The panel coordinator is not always going to be available and certainly won't be able to come running to meet you and escort you and your puppy personally to your panel room. That doesn't happen. So when you get a con-staffer frowning at you and telling you "No puppies!" all you then have to do is pull out your file folder and the email where the panel coordinator gave you that permission. Then its up to con-staff and you to figure it out and get the panel coordinator in there. I'm not saying you will definitely be able to have a puppy at your panel, but you sure as heck have a better chance of it WITH the confirmed email printed there, than not.
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| The puppy is judging you right now. |
And yes, there is the magic of your iPhone or Android or whatever right there in your pocket. And you could simply pull it out and look up the email, searching through all your emails to find that ONE email where you were given permission. Yup, that could work... If you're always in a place that has great coverage and it loads fast. Of course you know the rule - if its important, all things load at a snail's pace. Who says anyone has time to stand there with you while your phone loads the email? Staffers are busy. Your panel is only a certain amount of time. How long do you think everyone has to wait on you? How long do you think the puppy can sit there without whizzing on someone's foot? Why waste the time when you could simply have a piece of paper that says exactly what you need it to, right there in your folder?
Obviously you are not going to bring a puppy to the panel, but you know what I mean and you get the gist of what I am saying here right?
That goes back to the print outs. Having a folder of items specific to the convention also makes it easier as you pack up for trip. Instead of having to look for or gather papers or make the mistake of leaving them behind, you have it all in one folder that you simply yoink out of your file cabinet (where things are orderly) and you are on your way.
This doesn't work as well if you don't have space in your home (or your life) for your business. Being organized may not come naturally to you, but if you plan on being a professional artist in any way, shape or form, it is essential to set yourself up for success.
Next is: How To Be A Con Artist Part VI
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