The Nuts & Bolts of Running Your Business
The Nuts & Bolts of Running Your Business is an ongoing series of professional development programs, both virtual and in-person, that offer insights, guidance, and professional practices through presentations, workshops, mentorships, and portfolio reviews. Each program is open to all levels of makers — from students to seasoned professionals in the field and have been designed to give you the information and tools you need to help develop/advance your career and grow your business.
Current Programs
Income Taxes for Artists & Self-Employed
What’s the difference between a deduction, a tax credit, and a business expense? Can I really write that off? How do I avoid a surprise tax bill as a self-employed person? Farrell Parker — owner of Artist Tax Prep — answers these questions and more in our upcoming income tax workshop.
Past Programs
Business Strategies & Management
A guide to learning the business aspect of your practice
Spring 2024 / 6 Sessions / April 10-May 15 / 7 – 8:30pm EDT
The Elevator Pitch
What Sets You and Your Work Apart From Others and How to Talk About It
If you had two minutes to tell someone something about you and your work, what would you say? Join us as we share lessons on how to talk about yourself as a maker, how to speak about your work, and how to create a great elevator pitch.
Behind the Scenes
Alternative Options to Selling Your Work
A realtor, interior designer, gallerist, and business owner want YOU! We’ve invited four unique individuals from varying aspects of the field to talk with you about their insights and experiences on alternative resources and options for selling your work.
The Art of Balance
Managing Your Creative Practice with Running a Business
Whether you’re just starting out or an established small business owner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of responsibilities involved with managing the logistics of running the business side of your practice vs. actually making your art. Learn how to best manage your time and set boundaries when navigating the competing demands of running your business.
Photographing Your Artwork
Camera, Phone, Lighting, and More!
How can a great photograph help sell your artwork? This presentation is built to provide you with a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to best photograph the work you create. Aesthetics, lighting, placement, and a variety of compositions will be discussed.
Grant Writing 101
Finding and Writing the Best Grant for You and Your Practice
Does the prospect of writing a grant feel daunting and overwhelming? This presentation aims to instill both confidence and the necessary tools to ease the process, making grant writing more accessible and user-friendly.
Pricing Your Artwork
Ways to Determine if You are Undervaluing or Overvaluing Your Work
Does pricing your work feel like a challenging task or even a guessing game? What information do you actually need to include when calculating the cost of a piece? We will discuss a range of approaches, and by the end of this session, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to price your work effectively and maximize your earnings.
Shop Talk with Abby Mechanic
A guide to building + maintaining a shop facility
Winter 2024 / 6 Sessions / February 7‑March 13 / 7 – 8:30pm
Space Layout + Planning
Learn how to plan with the space you have for the shop you want!
This program is a great place to start envisioning building a new shop from scratch or converting an existing space into a shop.
Machines, Tools + Equipment
You have a space, now you need the tools to do the job!
Learn about researching and acquiring new or used machines/tools. Once you have your shop space, outfitting it with equipment comes into play.
Materials + Supplies
With a shop and equipment, now you need materials; let’s demystify the lumberyard!
Participants will learn all about planning + purchasing materials, specifically wood.
Health + Safety
Now you are using materials, so let’s discuss Health + Safety!
Learn how to prevent and respond to threats in a shop environment by being prepared and educated in essential health + safety!
Special Guest: Missy Graff Ballone of @wellnessformakers
Systems Management
Your shop is up and running, now let’s set up your systems!
Learn how to set up a Google Drive and Google Calendar and how to develop + utilize Google Sheets to keep track of inventory, ordering, and budgeting.
Personnel Management
Learn how to develop organization charts and job descriptions that align with the job at hand. This program will cover the hiring and onboarding process, using systems to create consistency and clarity. We will discuss personnel management and how to develop a positive shop culture.
Sponsors
The Furniture Society would like to thank the Schooner Foundation and The Bresler Foundation for supporting this initiative. Without their support, the Nuts & Bolts professional development programming and scholarships would not be possible!