The Art Biz

In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield goes beyond the to-do list and shares five lists every artist should keep: good ideas, absolute no's, things others could do, 10 to 30 minute tasks, and what you've done.
She explains what belongs on each one and why the done list is the one to start with. She shares where she keeps hers, because a list is no good if it can't be found and revised.
Alyson reveals:
Why the to-do list is only the beginning
The list for dreams that could turn into projects someday
How the absolute no's list can turn into a business policy
What to reach for in a spare 10 minutes
The list that gives you credit, and the joy of writing tasks down just to cross them out
Where each of her lists lives, and why digital is her go-to for forever-keeping
Read the companion post, get mentioned resources, and watch the video Email Alyson to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Search has changed, and Google's AI summary now bypasses your website to answer most questions before anyone clicks. SEO expert Meg Casebolt returns to The Art Biz to update what she shared in episode 222.
Artists can respond to the search evolution by considering these three levels on their site: their name and bio, their art, and individual images. Host Alyson Stanfield puts it to the test with a live search.
Meg reveals:
Why the decision now happens on the search page
What AI tools say when someone searches your name
The question that shows when a tool would recommend you
Why a bio in your footer works harder than it looks
Where poetry still belongs in your art descriptions
Connect with Meg
See Jessica Falcone's art
Read more, and watch the video on the companion post
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Ceramic artist Heidi Fahrenbacher opened her mailbox in 2021 to an anonymous letter saying she'd price herself out of business. Well, she's still in business, and her income has grown about 10% every year since.
In this episode of The Art Biz, Heidi talks with host Alyson Stanfield about noticing what isn't working, doing something about it, and the discomfort that comes with the territory.
Heidi reveals:
Why she burned her business to the ground and rebuilt it
What two anonymous letters couldn't change
How overproducing became a coping mechanism
The work she refuses to wholesale
Why she thinks artists should do less
Connect with Heidi Fahrenbacher
Read more and get links on the companion post
About Alyson Stanfield
Since 2002, Alyson Stanfield has been helping emerging and established visual artists find the right opportunities, gain recognition for their work, and refine strategies for sales through private consulting and group coaching. She brings experience as an art historian, curator, museum educator, and arts writer to her consulting work.
Email Alyson to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield explains why she won't tell an artist how to fix slumping sales until she knows their goals and their numbers.
She names the fears that keep artists from looking at their data, then lays out a simple monthly or quarterly check-in.
It covers the high-level numbers worth tracking, from revenue and email to website traffic, and how to get curious about what they reveal.
Alyson shares:
Why she refuses to prescribe a fix before knowing what an artist wants
The fears that keep artists ignoring their numbers until tax time
Why even good numbers can be scary
How often to check your numbers, based on how active your business is
The two numbers she asks about first when sales are down
Why tracking too much isn't helpful
Read the companion post and watch the video
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that comfort is the most dangerous place to be in your art business. If you keep doing things the same way, you are bound to miss out on opportunities as things in how we show and sell art are changing so rapidly.
She walks through three signals worth paying attention to:
The results signal :: that something familiar has stopped working
The joy signal :: that something is messing with your happiness
The external signal :: that a moment is emerging and worth paying attention to
She mentions the external signal that Jenny McCarty paid attention to and took her art viral in episode 277.
And the joy signal that moved Ali Cavanaugh to remove her work from 10 of her 11 galleries in episode 189.
Alyson also shares her own recent pivot away from group teaching toward strategic consulting after tuning into the results and joy signals.
Read the companion post and watch the video
 
Email Alyson to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.