General Forums >> Career Advice >> Guilds/Associations... helpful or not?
Guilds/Associations... helpful or not?
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Posted 3 months ago Someone advised me to "look at" or join a professional association relalted to my field. I found a couple out there... Is it helpful? If so, for what reason, for the networking or to look good on a resume. Any advice on the next step for me? |
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| Posted 2 months ago I've joined a few, and I've found that the more you put into it the more you get out of it. You can't just join and expect to see immediate results. You still have to go to the meetings and meet people and network the old fashioned way. The first group I joined was the graphic artists guild and that didn't help me get jobs because the meetings were too far for me to get to. Then I joined the Connecticut Art Directors Club. It was local to me and I got a job at the first meeting! I would suggest going to a few meetings to see what they are about, and then decide if you want to join.
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| Posted 2 months ago How crazy !! Was just talking about this topic with a few friends moments ago.. Andy Warhol had a theory that if you hung arounf the right people you could become famous. We were discussing how an artist could market themselves by hanging out at the right clubs and promoting themselves with the right people or stuff like that. At what point are no longer selling your art but selling yourself??? Would you market yourself for your art or is that selling out??? |
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| Posted 2 months ago Why else would you market yourself if not to sell your art? You are a part of your artwork. Selling art requires a salesperson. That salesperson just happens to know more about the art that your selling than anyone else. That's not selling out at all. When selling your art, you ARE selling yourself. The art is not only a part of you, but if people like you they are more likely to buy something from you. Marketing yourself is not selling out. If you don't market yourself you'll never get a job. Just because you get paid to do art, does not mean your selling out. |
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| Posted 2 months ago palooch says ...
I have to agree with that....the guilds in my area are completely useless if you just sign up without networking. Like any other business, it's about who you know, and following up on contacts. If you have the time to make connections then definitely go for it. xoxo |