Art for Profit's Sake

Nick and Leslie discuss their new project, Sugar Plum Tarot, a Christmas-themed tarot deck. Nick shares his process for creating the illustrations and organizing the files in Clip Studio Paint. They also discuss the additional add-ons for the project, such as Christmas cards, t-shirts, and bookmarks. Leslie talks about her approach to writing the card description poems and the importance of SEO in choosing the domain name. The project is set to launch on Kickstarter on September 26th.

Matthew McGee, marketing manager of Freefall Theater, discusses the niche that Freefall has carved out in the St. Pete area, offering unique and innovative shows. They focus on smaller productions with a creative twist, showcasing new plays and world premieres. Freefall also aims to be a world-class theater produced in St. Petersburg, employing local artists. Matthew shares insights into the payment structure for actors, highlighting the weekly payment system followed by Actors' Equity Association. He also emphasizes the importance of branding oneself as an actor and seeking opportunities beyond traditional theater, such as commercials, voiceover work, and hosting events. In this conversation, Matthew McGee discusses various aspects of being a working actor and running a theater. He talks about the importance of asking for what you need as an actor and being prepared for auditions. He also shares insights into the casting process and the mix of local and out-of-town actors used in productions. Matthew discusses his experience working at Walt Disney World and the need for agents in the industry. He also talks about his journey in the theater industry, from growing up in Georgia to settling in Tampa Bay. Matthew shares the day-to-day responsibilities of his role as the marketing manager at Freefall Theatre and the importance of fundraising for the theater. He provides details about the current production, Fable, and the subscription model used by Freefall Theater. Matthew also mentions the possibility of extending shows based on audience demand and his recent involvement in the Rocky Horror Show.

Nicholas Ribera of Chain Assembly attends a two-day symposium on making money in the arts organized by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. He shares his experiences and takeaways from the event, including classes on wholesale, building a brand identity, and accountability partnerships. He also discusses the importance of creating multiple revenue streams and the value of networking with other artists. Nicholas highlights the insights he gained from various speakers and panelists, as well as his plans for implementing what he learned in his own business.

Dandy K. is the owner of Deviant Creations, an LGBTQ-focused illustration business. They discuss their business structure, cross-promotion, social media management, sticker manufacturing, brick-and-mortar store, and pop-up markets. They also talk about their experiences with different sales channels and conventions. Dandy K. discusses their experience with selling art at conventions and markets, including the challenges and successes they have encountered. They talk about the importance of tracking the success of each event and using spreadsheets to analyze the costs and profits. They also discuss the benefits of selling online, including through platforms like Etsy and Amazon. Dandy K. shares their creative display techniques, such as using backing boards for stickers and grid shelving for prints. They also mention their plans for the future, including expanding their retail space and venturing into wholesale.

In this conversation, Nick and Stephen discuss Stephen's board game publishing company, We Ride Game, and his video production business, Anthem Video. They talk about their experiences at conventions, the costs and sales associated with booth presence, and the importance of building connections and brand recognition. They also discuss the process of planning booth setups, the evolution of the production company, and the importance of delegating tasks to focus on core strengths. Anthem Video, a video production company, and WeRide Games, a board game company, are two separate ventures run by the same group of friends. Anthem Video focuses on selling video services, which can be challenging due to the ambiguity and complexity of the product. On the other hand, WeRide Games, selling board games, is more straightforward and enjoyable. The team uses different marketing strategies for each venture, including leveraging successful projects to attract new clients and pitching specific videos or recent successes to potential customers. They also utilize project management tools like Slack and ClickUp to streamline their workflow.

Nick Ribera shares his experience at Origins Game Fair, a role-playing board game convention in Columbus, Ohio. He discusses his participation in various events, including playing games, playtesting his own game, and attending speed pitching sessions. Nick also interviews artists and creators at the convention. He highlights some of the games he played and the merchandise he purchased. Overall, he had a positive experience and plans to attend future conventions.

Nick share’s his experience vending at the Summer Magic Fest in Orlando, a pagan and metaphysical event. He discusses his motivation for attending and the challenges he faced in terms of sales. He also interviews various vendors at the event, including musicians, authors, artists, and booksellers, who share their experiences and promote their work. The conversations cover topics such as music inspired by the divine feminine, magical crochet, spell casting, crystal and jewelry making, herbalism, and rare bookselling. The vendors provide insights into their creative processes and the unique aspects of participating in metaphysical and pagan markets.

In this conversation, Nick and John discuss the difference between a press and a publisher, as well as John's recent Kickstarter failures and his upcoming project, Overgrowth. They also talk about the importance of marketing and creating an engaging project page on Kickstarter. Nick discusses his plans to create a regular deck of playing cards and launch a Kickstarter project. He shares the pricing details and discounts for backers. John talks about the importance of budgeting in publishing and the costs involved in editing, layout, and cover design. They also discuss the timing of querying agents and the importance of presentation in book pitches. John advises against using AI audiobook channels and emphasizes the benefits of working with human narrators. They also touch on the choice between self-publishing and working with a publisher like Podium for audiobooks. In this part of the conversation, John discusses the pros and cons of using a platform like Podium for self-publishing an audiobook. He emphasizes the importance of owning your work and highlights the benefits of self-publishing. They also discuss how to support a self-published author as a significant other, including providing feedback, leaving reviews, and promoting their work on social media. The conversation then shifts to cover design, with John recommending finding reputable cover artists and creating a price list. They also caution against working with predatory publishers and share resources to identify reputable publishers. The conversation concludes with a reminder to review books and support artists.

In this conversation, Nick Ribera and Bianca Craig discuss their collaboration on a tarot deck called Tarocchi Gialli. They talk about the process of interpreting the Rider Waite illustrations and creating a tarot manual. They also discuss the different decks they use for readings and the importance of spreads in tarot readings. They touch on the differences between reading for someone familiar versus someone new, and the power of tarot in providing insight and guidance. In this conversation, Nick Ribera discusses his journey as a tarot creator and the process of developing tarot and oracle decks. He shares insights on the importance of aligning the artwork and theme of a deck with its intended purpose, as well as the challenges and lessons learned from creating decks. Nick also talks about his plans to teach tarot and develop courses in the future. He emphasizes the importance of encouraging people to actively participate in their lives and develop their own belief systems. Lastly, he discusses his strategies for standing out at metaphysical events and shares his upcoming project of creating a Christmas-themed tarot deck.

In this conversation, Nick interviews Emily Cannon, an illustrator and comic artist. Emily discusses her journey as an artist and her decision to pursue a degree in therapy alongside her art career. She shares her experience with Kickstarter and the benefits it provides for marketing and exposure. Emily also talks about her process of working with Chinese manufacturers and the importance of communication. She discusses her preferred digital art software, Procreate, and her use of Affinity Publisher for layout. Emily emphasizes the importance of creating new art for each Comic-Con event and building relationships with repeat customers. In this conversation, Emily Cannon discusses her experience as an artist and the impact she has made through her prints and pins. She shares how she engages with Kickstarter to fund her enamel pin projects and the challenges and benefits of using the platform. Emily also talks about the importance of balancing deadlines and avoiding burnout as an artist. She discusses the differences between Kickstarter and market sales and the role of demographics in determining the success of a project. Emily shares her plans for future projects, including a graphic novel and a tarot deck. She emphasizes the importance of enjoying the creative process and not being too focused on perfection. Finally, she provides information on where to find her work, including her graphic novel Ghost Roast.