The Challenge of Blogging – Who is your audience?
The power of social media is the ability to create that special relationship with people who love and support your art. This relationship is what separates you from the hundreds of other artists.
This is not a competitive thing, it’s about your art being able speak to people in a way that no one else can; it’s about creating value and meaning.
In the past, this relationship might have occurred within the framework of institution like a club, bar, bookstore, or gallery.
In my younger days, my friends would always to go to particular clubs and bars when certain indie group returned for a local performance.
I also still remember the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at Bryan Prince in Westdale. There were hundreds of pre-teens and their parents waiting and socializing on King Street as everyone counted down the hours and then minutes to the release. It was an amazing and rewarding experience; something that marked a generation.
Finally, I remember a time when you could enter a gallery and not feel pressured into buy a painting on the spot. The owner would actually expect you to return dozens of times, educating yourself about the artist and his or her body of work. These days you are likely to get friendlier service at Tim’s Hortons than an art gallery.
So, when you are creating your blog and developing your personal narrative, reflect on who your audience might be. You will often get it wrong, but through trial and effort, you will gain a better sense of who likes you work.
While you are talking to the whole world, in reality you are not. You are trying to connect to people who are like you and want to find something interesting and different. You are throwing a party, who would you invite and why?
You need to have a focus.
Next week: How much of me should I put out there?
