Vana Chupp is professionally trained as an architect with an artist's heart. Her silhouette craft was first born as she began documenting the personality, emotion, and playfulness of her son Nikolas. Beginning her online business as one of Etsy’s first sellers, she grew her online sales in ways she couldn’t have anticipated. Over the years she has established herself as a leading, honest, authentic voice on women in business, the balance of work and family, and how to foster creativity in everyday life.

Now, as a mama to two busy boys, wife to her college sweetheart and owner of a labor-of-love brand, Le Papier Studio, she strives to make a difference in her clients' lives. 

In our discussion, we talk about the power of making a difference with your art to your most ideal clients and how, when you are willing to share your story and get specific about your mission, your ideal clients ultimately find you.

LINKS:

Le Papier Studio: https://lepapierstudio.com/

Etsy

Vana's BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

 

Download these books for FREE with the Artists In Business free audible.com trial:

www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness

Robert Funaro is an American film and television actor, best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo  on The Sopranos. His last episode on The Sopranos, "Members Only," in which he played a major role, won an Emmy award for Best Writing in a Drama Series in 2006 for producer/writer Terence Winter. He has also appeared in the film American Gangster, directed by Ridley Scott, as well as countless TV shows including Blue Bloods, Vinyl, Rescue Me and my own web series, Gray Matters.

Bobby and I talk about his journey as a working artist, and what he feels it takes to keep working, without question: helping others succeed.

Ryan McKenzie has had a 22 year career as an entrepreneur online.  Having started his first online company at age 14, he is now a partner at My Passion Media, a successful multi-channel media company. Ryan is an expert at transitioning traditional print media into successful, scaleable, multi-channel businesses. He is in love with FB ads, and has two awesome little kids.

In our discussion, Ryan and I talk about how, after starting his first business at age 14 he has had many ups and downs as an entrepreneur, and the most important lesson he learned along the way- you can’t be afraid to ask for the sale. For all artists looking to sell more with confidence and integrity, this episode is for you!

 

LINKS:

http://www.mypassionmedia.com

 

RYAN’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

80:20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall

Artist In Business Insider Lisa Ullrich is an artist and photographer specializing in nature and wildlife. She launched her part-time business in 2012 and left her day job in 2016 to pursue her business full-time.

Lisa believes her art brings a richness to her audience, an essence of beauty or a walk down memory lane. Here we talk about how she overcame her doubts by making the decision to fully commit to what she knows she is meant to do in life. For all the artists wanting to make that leap, this episode is for you!

 

LINKS:

http://www.heartsoulcreate.com/

 

LISA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

Guerrilla Marketing for Artists by Barney Davey

 

Download for free on Audible with the Artists In Business audible.com 30-day trial:

www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness

Sarah Michelle Brown is a multi-passionate artist who writes and directs for film, music videos, documentaries and for the stage. Since studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in New York City, Sarah has been writing, directing and producing primarily her own film and theatre projects. She shadowed Oscar winner Paul Haggis in New York City and Los Angeles, and writer/director Bobby Moresco in Chicago. That same year, Sarah was one of eight women selected to participate in the Women in the Director’s Chair program in Banff.

She took her passion for telling stories that reach out and give audiences a powerful experience and applied it to a new company- Videos That Shine- an online training company that helps artistic entrepreneurs conquer their fear of standing in front of the camera to share their stories with their most ideal clients.

Sarah and I talk about her own entrepreneurial journey as a successful working artist into entrepreneur with a mission to help other artists share their light with those who resonate with their work.

 

LINKS:

http://www.videosthatshine.com/

http://www.sarahmichellebrown.com/

 

SARAH’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler

 

Download for free on Audible with the Artists In Business audible.com 30-day trial:

www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness

Julie Mayfield is a freelance writer and blogger specializing in personal finance and lifestyle topics. She is the creator of two blogs: The Family CEO and Creating This Life.

She has written for the U.S. News & World Report and Houston Chronicle websites and is a contributor to The U.S. News Guide to Paying for College. Julie has appeared in Woman’s Day magazine and on NBC’s TODAY show, is the mother of two young adults, and lives with her husband in Overland Park, KS.

But here is what I loved about talking with Julie: she pulls back the curtain on how artists can in fact save and build thriving businesses through proven methods that we are rarely taught, but absolutely need to put into practice because of the way our economy is structured. And that is invaluable for every artist to begin to implement in order to shift your mindset from that of the passive employee to an empowered, confident, take-charge business owner.

 

LINKS:

http://thefamilyceo.com

http://creatingthislife.com/

 

Julie’s Book Recommendation:

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

 

Download this book for FREE with the Artists In Business free audible.com trial:

 www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness

Ellen McLaughlin is an actor and playwright. Her plays have been performed Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally. As a playwright, she has received particular acclaim for her adaptations of Greek plays. As an actor, she is best known for having originated the part of the Angel in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America.

Join me as I talk with Ellen about the extraordinary impact art can have on altering communities, as she shares some of the most profound experiences she had working on Angel as Angels In America, which started a cultural revolution that is more important now more than ever for every artist to remember how important our work is.

Craig Kilford is one of the most fascinating artists I’ve ever met, with a career that has unfolded in a way he could have never predicted. He has painted murals live on stage with all of his favorite bands- from Robert Plant to the Black Eyed Peas- and helped design new international standards in project management for the British government.

Craig creates structures and communities that facilitate positive change for people and organizations. Whether it’s designing global standards in project management for the British Government, working with Mayors to increase feelings of well-being across cities, painting musical abstractions live onstage with the world’s greatest musicians or creating global technology platforms to enhance professional skills – it always comes back to positive change.

Artists, if you think your work is too multi-faceted to form a business that actually thrives and creates positive change, this episode is for you!

 

LINKS:

http://courseconductor.com/

 

Craig’s Book Recommendations:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Start Up of You by Reid Hoffman

 

Download these books for FREE with the Artists In Business free audible.com trial:

 www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness

Jeannine Rosignol knew she wanted to go into marketing when she was in undergrad, and is now the VP of Marketing for Xerox HR Services.

But more importantly, she has an insatiable curiosity with an instinctive decisiveness that allows her to not only uncover the latest industry trends, insights and innovations, but also quickly put them to work in the marketplace.

What I loved about talking with Jeannine was her certainty that marketing online, when utilized well and with the right intention behind it, has in fact brought humanity to marketing in a way we haven’t experienced in ages.

This is why I know artists are hardwired to run the best businesses in the world in this day and age, and this is what Jeannine helps to verify with her own proven experience.

 

LINKS:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanninerossignol

 

Jeannine’s Book Recommendations:

Thrive by Ariana Huffington

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

 

Download these books for FREE with the Artists In Business free audible.com trial:

www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness

Brittany Tinline is the bookkeeping manager at Bench.co, leading a team of bookkeepers who specialize in preparing historical and monthly financial statements for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Bench exists for artists and entrepreneurs who know that investing time in their craft is more valuable than spending hours bookkeeping.

I cannot stress enough how valuable Bench is for small business owners, especially artists. I use Bench personally, and have been blown away by the support and streamlined talent they have in taking care of every part of my bookkeeping from start to finish. Artists, if you’re serious about growing your business with your art, bench.co is that detail that will help you take your business to the next level of growth.

LINKS:

CLICK HERE TO GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST 6 MONTHS + A FREE MONTH OF BOOKKEEPING

https://bench.co/partner/aib/

INTERVIEW WITH bench.co ARTIST SHANTELL MARTIN:

http://blog.bench.co/blog/shantell-martin

I MET MY BENCH BOOKKEEPER:

http://blog.bench.co/i-met-my-bench-bookkeeper

Brittany's Book Recommendation:

How Remarkable Women Lead by Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston

CLICK HERE to download this book for FREE with the Artists In Business free audible.com trial:

www.audibletrial.com/artistsinbusiness