Dan's Papers - October 31, 2008 - Learning the Business of Art from those Who've Been There

The East End has a rich tradition in the arts, having been home to many artists and writers, including both the well-known who earn a living from their talents, and the dabblers.

Now, for those who paint, draw, dance, write or do any number of creative activities as a hobby but would love to take their creative efforts to the next level, Southampton Cultural Center is offering a one-day workshop on Nov. 8 called "The Art of Doing Business in the Arts."

"This is a chance for people, not just students, but all people - mature adults, those in midlife, those who are older, the weekend painters, those who submit their work to the Clothes Line sale at Guild Hall, whose unsolicited manuscripts end up in the slush bin at local papers" to learn how to transform their talents into a career, said Warren Strugatch, part of the team that coordinated the event.

This event is no textbook lecture, says Strugatch. While the event will focus on the four key components of making a career for yourself in the arts - selling, branding, negotiating and licensing - all of the speakers work in various aspects of the arts. Rather than listening to the recitation of a dry lecture, audience members will be able to actively participate and ask questions, creating a more conversational tone.

All of the speakers are from Long Island, with the majority of them living on the East End. They include Mitchell Kriegman, an Emmy award-winning TV producer who founded Wainscott Studios; Josh Gladstone, artistic director of the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall; Bunny Hoest, cartoonist, "The Lockhorns"; and Jim Lennon, photographer. Other speakers include Vic Skolnick, who founded the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, and James Faith, a concert producer and event promoter.

To have a career in the arts, "it's not just about working hard," said Strugatch. "You know what they say, how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. But once you practice, practice, practice, you need to stop and market yourself. It's not all about talent. You need to market yourself to have a brand. Until then, you're just someone painting pictures.What you'll learn from these artists and creative people is how to break the code. They know it's not all about suffering for your art."

The speakers will teach attendees the self-marketing skills they need to have, based on their career choices. The workshop will also afford the audience the opportunity to network, both with the speakers as well as other attendees, at a luncheon at the end of the seminar.

This is the second workshop produced by Strugatch. Several years ago, he put together an event called "Out of the Question," where Hamptons celebrities - including Dan's Papers founder Dan Rattiner - spoke and answered questions in a give-and-take with the audience. "These folks were some of the most well-known out here - those that people would love to talk to," Strugatch said.

"The Art of Doing Business in the Arts" will be held on Nov. 8 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Southampton Cultural Center. Tickets are $35 general admission and $10 for all students with a valid ID. The price of the ticket includes lunch, which will be provided by Oso. For more information, go to mycareerinthearts.org or call 212-618-6375.