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The Art of Business, the Business of Art

The Art of Business, the Business of Art

I’m at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe outside of San Diego for one of our Private Roster Mentor Summits. This is the second time we’ve been to this facility, and today there was a large art fair on the grounds.

My wife liked the ceramics displayed in one booth, and I asked the artist if she would ship. “Well, I usually don’t…” she whined. “I’ll give you our Fedex account number,” I suggested. The piece cost over $200, would probably break in our luggage, and Fedex could insure it. “I guess,” said the artist, vaguely. My wife said she’d return after looking around some more, which she did.

I had given my wife a credit card and returned to our room. My wife returned not long thereafter without having made the purchase. “She doesn’t take credit cards!” said my wife. When I started looking through my wallet for the cash, my wife said, “Forget it, it’s not worth it.”

How can you be in business, take an entire day to display your work, and not be prepared to ship or accept credit cards? (All you need to do is make an arrangement with any of the numerous nearby artists who did accept plastic.) This woman is engaged in a hobby and avocation, but not a business and occupation.

Are you prepared to provide the normal and expectable support that a typical business provides? Or, are you just painting pretty pictures?

© Alan Weiss 2007. All rights reserved.

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 2

  • annbell

    September 11, 2007

    Taking credit cards may actually require more planning than simply arranging with neighbors. Credit card agreements typically require the merchant to affirm that the account will only be used for their own business.

  • dsainsights

    September 12, 2007

    I wouldn’t be surprised if they couldn’t process the transaction because they didn’t have change for a $50 or $100 bill…

    You said it correctly, they are engaged in a hobby and not a business!

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