Lasting Impressions with Sian Lindemann
Jim Zuckerman Fine Art Photography
http://www.corporatefineart.com
http://jimzuckerman.blogspot.com
"What Are We Missing?"
Hmmm ... something to think about ...
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
Findings:
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.
He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story.
Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities.
The questions raised: "In a common place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it?
Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?"
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made....
How many other things are we missing?........."
Author ~ Unknown
Networking The Right Room ~
This is a poignant story, and it relates to the innumerable people, products, services and "craft" who attempt to network their craft in the wrong domain, room, venue, or other featured location.
The example is excellent.
One must "walk a mile" in another's shoes. Perception is everything. You've heard the term, "Location, Location, Location." This story defines the necessity to choose an appropriate venue for exhibition, as a FIRST priority.
Did I say "FIRST" priority?
Of course, one's work needs to be excellent, the best you can produce, both technically and from the best of tools available in your industry. Secondly, it requires being "masterfully" displayed, as one would want to comfortably place it in their own home or office.
These, too, are important aspects regarding the quality of the work, but just as in the story above, it is essential to consider the quality of the venue...and I'm not limiting that venue to an exhibition space in a "gallery."
I've done several art shows in the least likely of locations, most of which were not galleries...but were independent venues where only my work would be featured and would not be mixed with a variety of styles, or mediums. I wanted to be "exclusively" featured, so as to warrant the price tag placed on each item.
The venues I have selected, over the years, were not usually used as exhibition space, but through appropriate negotiation with the provider, I have usually been able to secure "free" space that benefited the provider in other ways.
Examples of this type of venue were:
Grouse Mountain ~ Theater in The Sky
Known as a ski resort in Vancouver, British Columbia, it is required, initially for all visitors to ride a gondola from city floor to mountain top, which allows for the most spectacular view of Vancouver, British Columbia.
The venue at the top of the mountain is actually a Multimedia Theater, used predominantly for Corporate Events, and most days goes completely without notice. Conveniently it is located next to a "sky" bar and restaurant.
The negotiation process went like this. Inquiring of the "business office," I asked if I could secure the Theater for an Event for a 3 day Weekend Exhibition. I offered no payment for the venue but in lieu of payment assured the executives that I would bring 100 people up the mountain per evening.
The benefit to the resort was as follows:
1) They received revenue from the purchase of Gondola Tickets ~ 100+ per day
2) They benefited from the sale of food and drink from the "Sky" Bar
3) They benefited from the PR of new people visiting the Ski Resort
Thus I was given the "use" of the venue free of charge for 3 days ~ Good Deal
There are many other options one can choose, but based on the story above, GET out of your studio and into the "LIGHT." It can be more affordable than you can imagine, yet the value to your company and your visibility as an artist, is priceless !
Wishing you the best of Success
Sian Lindemann
October 2009
For more information, please visit Sian's TNNW Bio.
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