When the Commissions Gig Dries Up with Leslie Neumann (#29)

Tampa Bay area artist Leslie Neumann had a real sweet deal going with Firebird Restaurants, until it stopped. She rose to meet the challenge and joins the show today to share her experience and provide a cautionary tale to others. Leslie talks about how she started working with Firebirds, and how she found a way to not only stay afloat but succeed when 50-60% of her income went away. She also talks about living frugally, playing to your strengths, and the planning and strategizing that went in to her one-woman show.

In this interview, you will hear about:

● How Leslie got her gig with Firebirds Restaurants in the first place, and how she landed her deal with them from 2014 to2018.

● Why her time with them came to an end, and a lesson when there is a change.

● The role of her art consultant, and the pros and cons of them working so closely together.

● What her production schedule looked like while working with Firebirds including payment, deadlines and production.

● How she came to pick the 10-13 same paintings that were used and replicated over the past 4 years.

● How she survived Firebirds ending although it was on average 50-60 % of her income.

● The importance of living frugally and debt free.

● The one person show that Leslie put on in June of 2018, which made her a half of a year's earnings in just one night.

● The mistake that Leslie made, and why she doesn't want you to make it — stay in touch with your base no matter how busy you are.

● What she re-established that had gotten pushed aside and how she uses her newsletter and social media to stay in touch using a voice authentic to her own.

● Leslie's strategy in the next year.

● Playing to her strengths of interfacing with people rather than doing business over the computer screen.

Resources:

Leslie Neumann http://leslieneumann.com
Leslie's Instagram https://instagram.com/leslieneumann

Firebirds restaurant locations https://firebirdsrestaurants.com/find-a-location/

Show notes and comments https://artbizsuccess.com/neumann-commissions-podcast

Quotes:

● "The production was like a puzzle, and I like that kind of stuff."

● "What was appealing for me is that I got to paint every day."

● "It always works out."

● "Stay in touch with your base."

● "Make the very best art you can and start planning for whatever it is that will provide income next."

This episode is sponsored by the 10th anniversary edition of I'd Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. Get your copy at artbizsuccess.com/irbits