Tag Archives: negotiation for artists

Warholian Messsage

11 Saturday Feb 2012

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I stumbled upon this site, www.warholian.com,  through one of my FB friends. Among the many messages in this picture, lies one that can be related to negotiation.

As I’ve mentioned before, negotiation outcomes are closely tied to our relationship with the other party and to our ability to empathize with them.  If we restrict ourselves to a narrow circle of relationships with people just like ourselves, we deny ourselves the opportunity to broaden our perspectives.  When it comes time to sit down at the negotiating table,  an artist’s tendency to “mix with all classes of society” should provide an advantage in being able to relate to a broad spectrum of people.

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GYST-Ink and Negotiation Fox Partner to Benefit Artists

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

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NEWS RELEASE

LONG BEACH, CA, February 1, 2012 – Today, Negotiation Fox and GYST-Ink announced formation of a strategic partnership designed to help artists get the business skills and tools they need to succeed.  By combining their resources, the companies intend to make a broader spectrum of information and services available through their websites.  As an initial step toward this goal, Nancy Fox – a/k/a Negotiation Fox, will become a guest blogger for GYST’s Linked In group, contributing monthly tips and information on handling the business side of being an artist.

Commenting on the benefits of the new relationship, GYST’s founder, Karen Atkinson, explained, “Partnerships are an important part of gathering together a group of voices which can help us expand our support of artists, and we are thrilled to bring on a new GYST Team member, Nancy Fox. Negotiating is such a large part of our lives as artists, and Negotiation Fox will bring some important information to our resources for artists.”

Negotiation Fox referred to the partnership as “an opportunity to collaborate with one of the best resources in the field.  GYST’s work in this area has been truly groundbreaking, and I am excited to join forces with them to take business training for artists to the next level.”

Founded in 2000 by Karen Atkinson, an accomplished artist, curator and professor at California Institute of the Arts, GYST (Getting Your Sh*t Together) provides comprehensive information, resources and products for artists of all kinds in order to level the playing field and keep artists working.  GYST-Ink conducts workshops worldwide, has published a Professional Practices Manual for Artists and has developed computer software programs for artists to manage all aspects of their career and business.

Nancy James Fox learned the value of negotiation in a thirty-year career that included top management positions in the luxury goods industry and in the non-profit arts sector.  Ms. Fox founded Negotiation Fox in 2010 to bring negotiation skills training, most commonly the purview of big corporations, to mainstream businesses and the arts.

For more information about Negotiation Fox or GYS*T, please visit their respective web sites:  www.negotiationfox.com or gyst-ink.com.  Negotiation Fox also publishes a blog at www.negotiation-4-the-arts.com.

 About Negotiation Fox

Negotiation Fox provides the highest quality negotiation training and consulting services based on 30 years experience in both the business and not-for-profit sectors.  We present the most current perspectives on negotiation strategies, gleaned from the foremost authorities in the field.  We specialize in training for small business, not-for-profit organizations, artists and arts organizations.  Our full and half-day workshops include lively exercises and role plays to reinforce the learning.  Negotiation Fox also offers online courses and is available for speaking engagements.   The company’s objective is to help organizations and individuals get what they want by acquiring the confidence and skills to negotiate well in any situation.

About GYST-Ink:
GYST-Ink, an artist-run business that supports artists, has been the leading resource for professional practice, art advice and art business services in Southern California since 2000. Founded by artist Karen Atkinson, GYST-Ink is an artist-run company providing information, technology and solutions created by artists for artists. Our mission is to support artists and arts organizations with an integrated mix of software, services and information in order to keep artists working. GYST–Ink is dedicated to empowering and educating artists so that they can develop sustainable and successful careers on their own terms. GYST’s products and services include professional practices software, a blog, a newsletter, career development workshops, artist resume and statement reviewing, document and artwork documentation and archiving, a skills bank, web development and consulting services.

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Royalty Income for California Artists

17 Saturday Sep 2011

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Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking with Alma Robinson, Executive Director for California Lawyers for the Arts.  She reminded me that in 1977, California passed a law (California Civil Code 986) that entitles artists to 5% or more of the resale price of works over $1,000.   In order to take advantage of this entitlement, artists should remember to:

  1. include reference to this entitlement in the initial contract of sale
  2. negotiate the amount of the royalty (minimum 5%) at the time of initial sale
  3. include information in the contract of sale on how payment is to be made, i.e., form of payment, timeliness of payment, where you can be reached, etc.

If a seller cannot locate the artist to effectuate payment at the time of resale, the seller is obliged to make the payment to the California Arts Council, which then attempts to  make contact with the artist and arrange payment.

Laws are complicated and exclusions apply, so I urge you to seek further information by logging on to  http://www.cac.ca.gov/resaleroyaltyact/resaleroyaltyact.php.

Who knows, perhaps the California Arts Council is waiting for you to claim a royalty payment?

Humanity in the Workplace

21 Sunday Aug 2011

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Today I had the privilege of attending a meeting of the Business Renaissance Institute (www.bri-usa.com), whose mission is to “transform workplaces by adding more humanity to the bottom line.” Among the approximately 30 attendees, all but two or three had PhD following their names;  this is a group of highly educated, evolved and successful people who want to make a difference.  The topic under discussion was From Me to We, not coincidentally, the title of a new book written by three  BRI members/founders, each of whom spoke briefly about it.

I want to share an anecdote from Dr. Richard King, whose numerous and impressive credentials include a three-year stint as CEO of the Birtcher Corporation;  he was hired to turn that organization around.  Upon assuming his new position, Dr. King met individually with the six people directly under him and asked them these three questions:

  1. Are you happy working here?
  2. Why aren’t you happy working here?
  3. What can you contribute to this organization?

After these meetings, Dr. King and his team were able to effect the changes necessary to turn the Birtcher Corporation around.

As arts aficionados and practitioners, we should be living BRI’s mission to add more humanity to the bottom line every day.  Our product is the humanities.   But product notwithstanding, sometimes the day-to-day challenges of creating and delivering that product can cause us to lose sight of humanity in the workplace:  people don’t always agree, issues at home may make us cranky, and so forth.  Dr. King’s three questions could go a long way toward restoring a happy, collaborative and creative environment at work;  the kind of environment that fosters artistic output.

What does this have to do with negotiation?

1. You may not be able to let everyone have their own way, but you can hear them out and acknowledge their feelings.  Sometimes that alone is sufficient validation to elicit a more collaborative attitude.

2. By asking someone what s/he can contribute to the project or organization, you re-kindle his/her commitment. Committed people can do amazing things.  Conversely, if someone is not committed to an agreement, they will later find reasons to back out.

3. The answers to those three questions may give you new perspective and new ideas, as well.