| Are you the shy type who's been putting off making that art marketing video?
Me too.
Problem is, art buyers are starting to prefer to watch short videos rather than read a lot of text when they browse online.
And millenials, Gen X, Y and Z'ers?
Sorry, but they would rather endure a bad bikini wax than read our long artists' statements.
"We've all heard that people buy from artists they feel they know," said Emmy award-winning TV producer, artist, and Gen Z Media consultantGina Rubinstein.
But how do you get total strangers to feel like they know you?
"The answer is video, providing you spare people and keep yours shorter than a minute," said Rubinstein.
Emmy Award winning executive producer and Charmed Studio subscriber, Gina Rubinstein.
You're adorable and probably a great artist - so why not give everyone a pain-free way to get to know you?
If you're an introvert, like most of us artists, you don't even have to show your face on-screen if you don't want to.
Just letting potential buyers hear your voice, see your studio or see your hands at work, makes them feel like they know you. It opens the door to them liking you, trusting you and wanting to take home a piece of you home with them. (To learn how to shoot an overhead video of what's happening on your drawing board from your cell phone,click here.)
Besides, as artists we have a natural advantage when it comes to video, we came to the world preloaded with the ability to think and speak in images.
'Well Thea,' you say, 'That sounds lovely but I just don't happen to have a dream team of video scriptwriters tied up in my basement.'
That's ok, Gina Rubinstein does - at least metaphorically. They're in her head.
Here are Gina's 6 creative ways to get your digital feet wet using just your smartphone. You don't even have to leave your house or learn how to edit to make most of these.
Art Marketing Video Idea 1: "The Take Your Underwear Off The Lamp Shade and Shoot Your Studio"
You have heard the old saw before; 'give a camera phone tour of your studio!'
I only include this one here and put it first because this is a great one for video virgins to try and succeed with.
Just shove those dirty coffee mugs and bills off your work table, and you'll have set the stage for magic.
Be warm.
Be human, make jokes. Don't shoot it for the world at large, make the video specifically for a good friend who has never gotten to see your studio before.(Read thisCharmed Studio post on Letting Go of Approval: A Story for Artists That Involves Underwear or Frida Kahlo: 7 Meaningful Tips for Artistsif you need support letting the real you shine out.)
"Maybe show a quick shot of what you are working on that day," said Rubinstein. "Record a lot of little things. Most will be boring as hell. If you can edit, chop them out after," said Rubinstein. "But one or two of those details you recorded will be surprisingly powerful."
Let's Be Real About Editing Okay?
If editing will never be part of your skillset, make friends with your DELETE key.
I have. Shoot a mini-video, delete it. Try it again. Delete it.
Eventually, you'll make a cringe-free keeper.
I also do this when I record the audio versions of blog posts.
I've learned to become what I laughingly call a "one-take Charlie."
It's a pain if I mess up. But it works for me for now.
(To forge ahead and learn more about making and editing smartphone videos listen tothis smartphone video creation episode of the Problogger podcast.)
Art Marketing Video Idea 2: Millenial Magnet-Interactive Video
Want to get all kinds of people interested in your painting before it is even done?
"If you want to attract younger buyers, try this method. Art buyers under 40 tend to find this kind of interactive approach, especially engaging," said Rubinstein.
Video your progress on the same piece daily and ask viewers to weigh in on it as you're making it.
Art Marketing Video Idea 5: Interactive Video
"Video is at its best, and is best for one thing- emotionally connecting people," said Rubinstein. "And that's what this video does."
Want to road-test Rubinstein's theory?
If you love a little interaction mixed into your art-making, start and share a painting and ask your social media followers questions like: What is this piece about for you? What would you title it? Should I add some copper leaf on her head here or leave it out? Do you think this angel should carry three or five anvils?
Art Marketing Video Idea 3. The "I Really Just Wanted a Cocktail" Mini-Story
Need to inject life into your social media but aren't a fan of having people tell you what to do with your art?
Use the mini-story option.
The idea here is to tell one tiny story that lies behind a single piece of art you post. These videos are appetizers and should be under thirty seconds long.
"Tell us how hard the work was to finish because you changed it 300 times and it still looked like junk and you really just wanted a cocktail but then you figured out how to get that damn bird right," said Rubinstein. "It's okay to be yourself and be funny, in fact, dear God, please be funny," said Rubinstein.
Or keep it simple and tell us one story about what inspired some detail in one of your pieces. | 