Keeping Up with the Calligraphers

Alex, Hannah, AND Cat discuss the nuances of working with luxury brands in the creative industry, particularly as event calligraphers. Booking that household name can be a huge business milestone! AND there are some factors you may want to consider before working with your next luxury brand. Do the values align? What’s the pay rate? The payment terms are what now?! You want me to sign a who what? As always, there are pros and cons to each side of the conversation, helping you determine what your next move will be.

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

The episode you’ve all been waiting for…

In response to a recent Instagram post 👀, Alex of Signs of our Lives and Cat of Cat Lauren Calligraphy chat with their guest Sylvia of Via Calligraphy about the nuances of professionalism, dress codes, and client communication.

They discuss a brief history of “professionalism” in work places, the inclusivity (or lack thereof) of dress codes at retail and brand events, and how to balance personal style with client expectations, through curating the pieces in their wardrobe.

Should artists just fall in line with corporate dress code standards? Or are there times when it’s ok to color outside the lines? Tune in to find out their thoughts. 

Sylvia of Via Calligraphy:

Syl's Website

Syl's IG

SomedayArtClub IG

Someday Art Club / LuxuryLettering101

Syl’s Instagram Post About Dress Codes

Other Resources + Links:

Alex's Nuuly Link (for $30 off your first month)

Cat’s LTK (LikeToKnowIt) Link

Book a Mentorship Session with Alex via Patreon

Title VII: Employer Dress Code Laws

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

Cat of Cat Lauren Calligraphy and Alex of Signs of our Lives chat with Paige Griffith of The Legal Paige, contract lawyer and legal expert, about the importance of contracts for small business owners, particularly in the creative industry. Paiges emphasizes the need for clear, legally binding contracts to protect both the business and the client. The discussion covers when to implement contracts, how to modify them, and the role of AI in contract creation. Additionally, Paige shares resources available for entrepreneurs looking to enhance their legal knowledge and contract templates.

[  The Legal Paige’s 40% off Mid-Year Sale is running from 5/19-5/22 ]

Episode Links:

• Paige’s Contract Clause Checklist (free)
• Cat’s Affiliate Link to Paige’s Live Event Artist Contract - 
  use code CATLAUREN10 for an extra $10 off
• Live Calligraphy Contract

Paige’s Links:

Website
Instagram
Facebook

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

“YoU nEeD to NiChE.” 🙅🏻‍♀️ NURRR. We’re sick of hearing this advice!

When you’re first starting out, or when you’re ready to add or pivot your services, the whole “you need to be niching” thing is just NOT gonna work.

You’re a multi-faceted artist and business owner! You owe it to yourself to create what you want to create, and explore what you’re curious about. You deserve the opportunity to have multiple streams of income. You and your art should be able to reach new audiences.

Alex and Hannah discuss the reasons why it’s beneficial to diversify and stay open to different opportunities and art forms. 

So throw that spaghetti at the wall. 🍝 Figure out what brings YOU joy, and what feels right for YOUR business and life.

Link: Elizabeth Gilbert, The Curiosity Driven Life

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

Thinking about hiring other artists or being hired for events? Alex + Cat dive deep into this controversial topic that's buzzing through the event artist / calligraphy industry right now - examining the honest pros and cons of both hiring other artists and being hired yourself.

From what makes someone totally rehire-able (or not), to the weird gray areas around pay rates and social media posting, they share their experiences from both sides of the subcontracting relationship.

Plus hear about that time Cat's engraver died mid-event and why Alex once turned DOWN subcontract work (but now loves it!).

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

In this new episode series, Alex Hirsch of Signs of our Lives and Hannah Holt of Tally Mark Calligraphy share their hot takes on sharing your income online. 

With the underlying principles of “a rising tide lifts all ships,” they discuss how sharing your income online can be beneficial AND how it could be misleading to other business owners and artists (or give people the ick).

Alex and Hannah talk about price transparency, revenue versus profit, and the nuances of why and how you should and shouldn’t share your income publicly. 

Is six figures all it’s cracked up to be? What do you even want for your life and your business? Does the struggling artist stereotype need to be broken? Tune in for the *nuance!*

FTC Laws

Hannah Holt, Tally Mark Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tallymarkcalligraphy/
Website: www.tallymarkcalligraphy.com

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

Live art isn't just for brand, corporate, and retail events, folks! It's coming in hot at weddings, and we're here to tell you all about it.

Cat, resident expert on bringing calligraphy experiences at weddings, shares how weddings can be similar to brand events, but more importantly, how they can be entirely different from start to finish.

Alex and Cat discuss expectations, client education, pricing, timeline, and other important considerations when working with the timeline of a wedding.

Learn how to have your cake, and eat it too.

Need more? Sign up for Cat's email list for when her tell-all insider course launches.

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

In this mini solo episode, Alex shares their point of view of attending retail events... well, solo! Whether you're engraving fragrances at a retailer, or lettering on champagne bottles at a liquor store - communication and adaptability are key when you're by yourself! She shares her insights on what questions to ask beforehand, what to do when you're at your event, and what to follow up with afterwards to build on client relationships. 

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Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

Cat and Alex are two tired girlies trying to figure out what’s next in their businesses. After spending a summer working hard to continue elevating guest experience for clients while still showing up authentically (and chaotically) as themselves, they put down their engravers and picked up their mics to debrief together. 
 
Join them as they reflect on things they’d like to stop doing, start doing, and continue doing in life and in their calligraphy businesses. Will Cat stay part time? Are networking events still a thing we need to be doing? What is a boundary? Has anyone seen her?
 
All these questions answered and more, while sprinkling in some laughs, as always.

Highlights/Keywords: networking successes, charging your value, boundaries as a business owner, hourly rate vs package rate, clients that value you, morning routines, silly joys, outsourcing and automating, client feedback

Start/Stop/Continue Reflection Freebie
Dubsado Affiliate Link

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Follow us in all the places!

Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/

We're back from summer break and kicking off the fall season with a special collaboration episode with Shaochen and Alane from the Calligraphy Biz Corner podcast, where we chat about the diverse, in-demand live event calligraphy industry.

Join us for this exciting conversation where Cat Brown of Cat Lauren Calligraphy and Alex Hirsch of Signs of Our Lives share their experiences of growing their calligraphy businesses, niching down within the live event space, and the importance of staying authentic in business. We chat about essential marketing and pricing strategies for live events, the value of community connections, and the necessity of having a contract in place, whether it's your first or your hundredth job. 

From corporate events to private parties, Cat and Alex have a wealth of knowledge when in comes to standing out as live event artists. After getting their start by creating signs and paper goods for weddings, they expanded their services to provide live calligraphy at corporate events and activations for brands like Prada, Makers Mark, LA Magazine, Netflix, and more.

Whether you're looking to partner with luxury and corporate clients, provide on-site activations for local businesses, or even break into the world of flash tattoos, this episode has all the tips you need to create personalized, Insta-worthy experiences for guests of all kinds. Tune in for an insightful conversation packed with actionable tips as we head into busy season for live events!

Please note, if you're listening around littles, you might want to put headphones in for this one!

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Check out Nibtique for a directory of calligraphers
• Shop Calligraphy contracts at the Legal Paige (use code CATLAUREN10 for 10% off!)
  • Live Calligraphy Contract
  • Subcontract Agreement
  • Calligraphy & Stationery Contract

Listen to more of Calligraphy Biz Corner: https://calligraphybizcorner.buzzsprout.com/follow

Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calligraphybizcorner/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Follow us in all the places!

Podcast, Keeping Up with the Calligraphers
IG: https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwiththecalligs/

Alex Hirsch, Signed by Alex
IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbyalex
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/signedbyalex
Website: https://www.signedbyalex.co

Cat Brown, Cat Lauren Calligraphy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/catlaurencalligraphy/
Website: http://www.catlaurencalligraphy.com/