Get Those Multiple Income Streams Flowing

One of the major things that keeps people from pursuing the lives they really want to live, is fear of not having enough money. 

You worry that you have to bring in enough money to support yourself and your dreams and if you don't you will fail.

So how do you smash the myth of the starving artist to pieces and really thrive? How do you build a sustainable business and life around what you love?

The best way that I know to create financial security and sustainability (that I first learned about years ago from Barbara Winter) is to have as many streams of money-love flowing to you as you can.  In ways that are satisfying and matter to you, but also deliver something of value to others.

I think of creating many ways to earn income as a fun, creative challenge. What will I think of next?  What can I try out to see if I like it? Where is there a need that I could help with?

I love painting and I have a blast thinking of all the ways I could potentially earn income from doing what I love that meets a need that I see.  You can do this too, by thinking of the needs people have around painting and developing your own offerings from those.

Here are some of the ideas I've been tossing around.  Keep in mind that each one is a potential income stream.

The need=Beautiful items that people would love to have in their homes
What you could offer=Selling your original paintings, prints, cards.  Have your designs made into products like ipad and phone covers, fabric, lampshades, table runners, tote bags, the options are endless.

The need=Helping others reconnect with their inner creative wisdom
You could teach this need through private or group painting lessons in your home, in a studio, in a yurt in the woods, online or via skype...
You could write an e-book to teach the content.  You could go for a book contract even...

Need=Beautifying your community
You could get hired to paint murals wherever the need is: on concrete walls, sides of businesses, in schools, on parking garages...  I just saw an ad on Craigslist that they're hiring someone for this in my hometown. 
Artist Shannon Crandall even did a project putting art displays in vacant storefronts in her community to make it look more vibrant and to get exposure for participating artists.

Need=Bringing artists together to share their gifts
You could open a collaborative art studio
You could host retreats that bring other artists in to paint together
You could build a support circle that meets in person or online
You could start a painting circle online

 Expand your thinking to bigger needs too...

Need=Reducing loneliness
You could start a non-profit that sends hand-painted cards to alleviate loneliness for people in Nursing Homes or hospitals

Need=Getting art into the hands of kids who can't afford supplies
You could organize a non-profit group that gathers art supplies and distributes them to schools and individuals in need.  May even partner with local community centers to get supplies out and offer classes as well.

The keys here are:
You're taking something you love doing and looking for how it can help others in some way-how it can add value. 

You're brainstorming ideas for multiple ways that you can bring money and joyful activity into your life and you are not putting it all in one basket.  You're developing a combination of offerings that will harmonize into a sustainable way of living.  If one source dries up, you have others and can develop new ones. 

If you stop enjoying one activity, you can move on to others.  This is such a beautiful thing to me because you're not set into any one thing for life.  Your streams change as your interests change.  You're not committing to doing the same thing for the next 20 years. You're meeting needs that exist now that you enjoy now.

You don't have to make a ton of money from each stream.  It's the combination of income from various streams that begins to build a financially stable base.  This takes a huge amount of pressure off of each idea.  It doesn't have to be a million dollar idea, but it does need to be worthy of your time and effort.

I love watching how other artists are creating this type of living for themselves.  Why not take a little time to think of an income stream that you can start building today?

Creative with Money

One of the difficulties that many artists seem to face, is the ebb and flow of money. 

In 2003, when I got divorced and had big, scary, hairy, losing-sleep-over-money-what-happens-to-my daughter-if-I-get-sick-I-can't-afford-disability-insurance fears,  I felt that my future and my daughter's future was depending on me continuing to work and keeping my job. 

I'd been dreaming for a long time of starting my own business.  Had established a business structure, had taken steps to start running online classes (back in 2000 mind you), including lining up instructors to teach and getting support from my profession.

Now none of that seemed possible and I shoved my dreams to the back burner in the name of necessity.  Instead, I decided to take control over my financial situation.

I did not have family in the area to help me with child care.  

I needed to both decrease my spending and increase my earnings.

I learned some really good lessons, like I could cut many things out without missing them at all.  Cable, newspapers, magazines, anything that I considered "non-essential" went.  This freed up time and space in my life.

My friend and I sat down and brainstormed all of the assets we had that we could use to make money:
Computers
Extra Rooms in our House
Garage Space to rent
Writing Skills
Teaching skills
Caregiving
Recreation Therapy Degree

We went on identifying what strengths and resources we had that we could use to generate money and beyond that, what would we like to do?

She ended up getting a tenant which she still has to this day.  I chose to work with a woman with autism, doing fun, recreation stuff in the community which I did for several years.

We both found something that helped us get through a really icky financial time and that fit with our lives.

These days, when I start to get antsy about money, I remember that I know how to cut back and ramp up the earnings again if I need to but instead of putting myself back in that situation, I'm choosing to build as many sources of income as I can, from things I enjoy doing.

Some of the creative things I see artists doing to get the money flowing: 

Gofundme or Kickstarter projects 

(I've sponsored people in both)

Auctioning off their work and donating a percentage of the proceeds to charity 

(bought a ticket for that too)

Partnering with other artists to offer classes 

(working on this right now myself)

Forming women's circles to raise the ideas and energies to the next level 

(I'm in two with a third in the works)

Working in unconventional setting like painting live during rock concerts

 (hmmm...not really my bag but I'm considering doing a demo at the NY State Fair? They're looking for people to demonstrate their art making live.If you're interested
contact Sandra Fioramonti for more information.)

I'd love to hear your creative ideas!

Creating Multiple Income Streams

One of my favorite books is Barbara Winters’ “Making a Living Without a Job”.  I read this book many years ago and recently find myself referring back to it for inspiration and information as I develop my artist’s life.  Something that Barbara talks about has stuck with me all these years-the concept of creating multiple profit centers.

Barbara leads you through exercises to identify your interests and passions and then suggests ways you can use them to develop income generating activities-really little micro businesses in essence.  You test out one idea, spending most of your time in the start-up phase and once it’s running smoothly you begin mobilizing another idea. Eventually you create several avenues to earn money while exploring what you most enjoy in the process.  Your ideas can be related (such as different art products that you sell) or incorporate a broader spectrum of your talents (like your skills in event planning and auto mechanics).

I think this is important whether you currently have a full-time job or are creating a different way of living and working in the world.  To consistently be generating new ideas and never relying on only one source of income. I also love that it gives you the freedom and flexibility to try out smaller ideas without putting the added pressure on that it has to succeed or else.

My friend and fellow artist, Shannon Crandall continues to amaze me with the creative avenues that she is pursuing.  In addition to the things we discuss in our interview below, she has plans to attend the Surtex show in NYC in May to approach reps for a licensing contract.  She's interested in launching a home decor line and I believe she can make it happen.  She is preparing to take her work to the next level and just launched a campaign to raise capital to get her there.  I stand in awe of her gusto.  Here's what we talked about last week:

KD: I think you are such a good example of how people can pull together their many skills and talents to create a job doing what they love. How do you support yourself as an artist and entrepreneur?

SC: I have multiple income streams going. I sell my artwork, prints, and handmade jewelry in a local co-op called Artisans' Corner in Clinton, NY. I also teach jewelry and mixed media painting workshops. I just recently re-opened my Etsy shop and I continue to sell my work on my website.

KD: What's a co-op is and how do you get into one?

SC: A co-op is a group of like minded business partners that share a retail space and the common goal of marketing and selling their work. We each pay rent to cover the costs and take turns working in the store as the retail sales clerk. The co-op I am a part of requires you to be juried in ....in other words your work must be up to the co-op's standards of quality and craftsmanship. I was asked by the co-op's owners if I would be interested in jurying into their shop. They saw me at a local art show.



KD: What have you had the most success selling?

SC: Most recently I would have to say that my jewelry and art prints are selling the most. I have sold several paintings in the shop as well.

KD: So another income stream for you is teaching. What does that look like for you?

SC: I have designed my workshops to help others develop their creative intuitive spirit. I feel as though when I teach students my techniques I am sharing a part of me that gives us a great connection. I always learn something from my students and that's why I feel drawn to teaching. It is a two way street and for me there is no better way to connect and understand each other.

KD: I've taken your classes and love them. You teach jewelry making and painting- both using an intuitive approach. One of the unique things that you also do is travel to people's homes to teach groups as well as teaching at Artisan's Corner. You are like an intuitive creator on wheels!

SC: Yes I like to travel and in fact that is another future goal.....to travel and teach. Seeing and meeting new people and places feeds my creativity and my imagination! That's a great way to put it....Creator on wheels.

KD: I can see you doing this for businesses, women's groups, kids, local art events, so many opportunities. Speaking of which, you also sell you work at various shows. How do you find out about them?

SC: I have done art shows for many years and in the beginning it was word of mouth through other artists then when the internet came along it became easier to find show listings online. I still have to say though that word of mouth is great because you get a better sense of how the show is run and if your work would sell there. So I generally do a little bit of both. I just recently sent an email to an artist who I didn't know and asked her about some of the shows she had listed on her website. She was very kind and directed me to a couple of shows. She even went as far as to give me contact info for one of them.

KD: That is good advice-I love to see artist’s working together to help each other. I see that you've just launched some new products, a tote bag, pillows and prints. How did you figure out how to get your art work made into these products?

SC: I sent an email to another artist on Etsy who I didn't know and asked her where she manufactured her products.....she was really great and gave me a list of places that she uses or has used. I also have been logging in lots of hours on the computer doing my own internet searches for what I wanted to create. There are no shortcuts...you just have to do your homework.

KD: Yes, I think that's a really important message. Show up and do the work. That's a recipe for success if ever there was one. I also love how you collaborate and have the courage to just ask. I feel that so many of my questions have been answered by just asking the right person. So now that you are having your artwork printed in a variety of forms, do you use a special camera or lighting to photograph your paintings for printing?



SC: I use my digital camera....it is nothing special. I use natural light and no flash when I take my pictures. Usually my images are about 300dpi....anything less than that will not print well onto any product.

KD: I think it's important for people to know the power of diversification-that you can design your life around many interests and talents and they can help fuel you as an artist. In addition to your art, you also have a skin care practice.

SC: I am a licensed Aesthetician...or skin therapist if you like. I help my clients with acne, rosacea and anti-aging issues. I also do full body treatments and waxing. This is a part-time business for me and in a way it is creative because each client is unique and I must come up with a specific regiment for their individual needs. It is bodywork and is hands on just like creating my artwork and jewelry....and when I am giving a treatment I am actually very relaxed and again connecting with my clients and learning from them as well. This actually fulfills my healing nature.

KD: That is perfect Shannon, how caring for other in this way is another way you add beauty in the world. Do you have any advice on pricing your work?

SC: Pricing is always the hardest part. I have set up what I think is reasonable for me. Basically I charge a set hourly fee and then I add in the materials cost. So as the years have gone on I have slowly increased my rates as my experience has grown.

KD: I have to tell you I find it so difficult to charge friends and family to come to my classes.

SC: You have to see it as a business. They would have to pay to go to someone else’s classes’ right? You can always give some things for free but still charge for the class. You could give a discount on further classes if they sign up for one. Maybe you offer a scholarship program or something along those lines.

KD: Yes, there are many possibilities. I love talking with you Shannon, it always turns into a brainstorming session! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I think you are such a light to others who are putting this type of life together for themselves. Your ability to share is a gift and is appreciated.

You can stop in and visit Shannon  here.