Self promotion is exhausting! I’ve struggled with the same thing. Thank you for your very honest post. I hope you are able to find a way to live your best creative life and pay your bills.
Francis, wie immer sprichst Du aus dem Herzen. Online zu sein und sich ständig zu promoten ist anstrengend. Es kann doch nicht sein dass man fürs promoten mehr Zeit, Geld und Energie benötigt als für die Kunst, die man schafft. Ich wünsche Dir an dem neuen Ort viel Ruhe und Erholung, neue Kraft zu tanken. Ich hoffe, dass ich Zeit finde um an die Art Basel zu kommen und dir ein erstes aber vielleicht nicht letztes Mal hallo zu sagen. Liebe Grüsse aus dem Aargau, Nicci
There is definitely a hamster wheel that the social media companies have us on. In addition to penalizing selling things and links, platforms like Meta also want you to buy their ad services to get any notice and that is also questionable as a way to get the right people looking and what you offer.
It feels that we are moving to a space where relationship and connections are going to be valued where platforms only entertain and AIs generate good enough goop for people that would most likely not hire us anyway.
I feel your frustrations my friend! I do hope the salty air helps clear your mind! :-)
Francis, I am SO with you on that. I think now the social media and internet landscape has overdeveloped to a point it has become chaotic, so the chance people can find you is just.. by chance basically.
I am convinced that we are in a time people want to come back to real-life events and real connection.
Maybe we'll meet one day in France, Vendée is not so far.
Hi, I am from Taiwan. I saw and subscribed your newsletter a few months ago for some reasons I already forgot. I don't know you much, but thank you for sharing your true feelings. Although I don't work in the same field, I read every words you say and it resonates me, especially the last paragraph. Enjoy the time being with yourself and your creativity. Let's connect through the art.
I love making art (when I feel like it!), and I realize that selling art requires self-promotion; it’s a necessary evil. But - I truly hate that the big social medias basically demand that we become performance artists on top of the visual art, making reels and polished process videos showing the act of creating like it’s a tv show... And extra points if you do it in a bikini top. That’s great for performance artists, but that’s not me (introvert in my 50s). I feel your frustration and exhaustion.
I feel you, I am so tired of the relentless marketing coming at us from everywhere. I don't even want to engage on social media anymore. As artist, we need to reinvent the way we share our work and engage with the world. And not get caught up in the marketing machine that takes the fun out of everything. Your move to France is a step in the right direction. J'adore la France! Bon déménagement! And please share pictures of the French seaside for a breath of fresh air! :)
And again you speak from my soul, from my heart. I feel the same way you do about social media. What's more, I have a day job where I have to deal with the absurdities that you come across here (fake news, disinformation, hate, ...). I say “have to” because it really teaches you to detest social media platforms, but I really enjoy doing the job because it makes perfect sense. But back to the actual topic. I don't necessarily call the work I do “art” (which is definitely true in your case), I'm a creative mind that only comes up with creative ideas “in the void and free time”, and that time is scarce and unfortunately also filled with social media here and social media there. It's a vicious circle, you have to be present to sell, but you can't sell anything because then your reach will be throttled by the algorithm. I know the game and I haven't yet found a way to use social media in a way that works for me. I'll keep going and look for something that might come to me unexpectedly, because what there is to find in the normal way (research, recommendations and experiences from friends, my own experiences, accumulated know-how) hasn't had a solution for me yet.
Anyway, I look forward to receiving more of your newsletters, but first I wish you a good move to your new home and lots of time there without social media, and all the more art, creativity, time to take a deep breath and feel good.
Danke lieber Francis, für deine ehrlichen Worte. Ich fühl dich und es ist gleichzeitig so unbefriedigend. Wünsch dir auf jedenfall viel Energie für die letzten zwei Monate bevor es dann endgültig heisst, goodbye my Letter friend!
Danke lieber Francis, für deine ehrlichen Worte. Ich fühl dich und es ist gleichzeitig so unbefriedigend. Wünsch dir auf jedenfall viel Energie für die letzten zwei Monate bevor es dann endgültig heisst, goodbye my Letter friend!
Self promotion is exhausting! I’ve struggled with the same thing. Thank you for your very honest post. I hope you are able to find a way to live your best creative life and pay your bills.
Thanks Portia :)
GOOD FOR YOU, knowing what makes you happy and not doing what does not!!!!! Self care
Thanks Susan. That was not always the case but with experience I learned to listen to myself :)
Francis, wie immer sprichst Du aus dem Herzen. Online zu sein und sich ständig zu promoten ist anstrengend. Es kann doch nicht sein dass man fürs promoten mehr Zeit, Geld und Energie benötigt als für die Kunst, die man schafft. Ich wünsche Dir an dem neuen Ort viel Ruhe und Erholung, neue Kraft zu tanken. Ich hoffe, dass ich Zeit finde um an die Art Basel zu kommen und dir ein erstes aber vielleicht nicht letztes Mal hallo zu sagen. Liebe Grüsse aus dem Aargau, Nicci
There is definitely a hamster wheel that the social media companies have us on. In addition to penalizing selling things and links, platforms like Meta also want you to buy their ad services to get any notice and that is also questionable as a way to get the right people looking and what you offer.
It feels that we are moving to a space where relationship and connections are going to be valued where platforms only entertain and AIs generate good enough goop for people that would most likely not hire us anyway.
I feel your frustrations my friend! I do hope the salty air helps clear your mind! :-)
Francis, I am SO with you on that. I think now the social media and internet landscape has overdeveloped to a point it has become chaotic, so the chance people can find you is just.. by chance basically.
I am convinced that we are in a time people want to come back to real-life events and real connection.
Maybe we'll meet one day in France, Vendée is not so far.
Best wishes for your new life!
Hi, I am from Taiwan. I saw and subscribed your newsletter a few months ago for some reasons I already forgot. I don't know you much, but thank you for sharing your true feelings. Although I don't work in the same field, I read every words you say and it resonates me, especially the last paragraph. Enjoy the time being with yourself and your creativity. Let's connect through the art.
I agree with you 1000%, Francis.
I love making art (when I feel like it!), and I realize that selling art requires self-promotion; it’s a necessary evil. But - I truly hate that the big social medias basically demand that we become performance artists on top of the visual art, making reels and polished process videos showing the act of creating like it’s a tv show... And extra points if you do it in a bikini top. That’s great for performance artists, but that’s not me (introvert in my 50s). I feel your frustration and exhaustion.
Gosh, yes, all of this. All of it.
I feel you, I am so tired of the relentless marketing coming at us from everywhere. I don't even want to engage on social media anymore. As artist, we need to reinvent the way we share our work and engage with the world. And not get caught up in the marketing machine that takes the fun out of everything. Your move to France is a step in the right direction. J'adore la France! Bon déménagement! And please share pictures of the French seaside for a breath of fresh air! :)
And again you speak from my soul, from my heart. I feel the same way you do about social media. What's more, I have a day job where I have to deal with the absurdities that you come across here (fake news, disinformation, hate, ...). I say “have to” because it really teaches you to detest social media platforms, but I really enjoy doing the job because it makes perfect sense. But back to the actual topic. I don't necessarily call the work I do “art” (which is definitely true in your case), I'm a creative mind that only comes up with creative ideas “in the void and free time”, and that time is scarce and unfortunately also filled with social media here and social media there. It's a vicious circle, you have to be present to sell, but you can't sell anything because then your reach will be throttled by the algorithm. I know the game and I haven't yet found a way to use social media in a way that works for me. I'll keep going and look for something that might come to me unexpectedly, because what there is to find in the normal way (research, recommendations and experiences from friends, my own experiences, accumulated know-how) hasn't had a solution for me yet.
Anyway, I look forward to receiving more of your newsletters, but first I wish you a good move to your new home and lots of time there without social media, and all the more art, creativity, time to take a deep breath and feel good.
Danke lieber Francis, für deine ehrlichen Worte. Ich fühl dich und es ist gleichzeitig so unbefriedigend. Wünsch dir auf jedenfall viel Energie für die letzten zwei Monate bevor es dann endgültig heisst, goodbye my Letter friend!
Thanks Romana :) I have a vernissage at Markthalle on the 17th june if you want to join for a last drink :)
I really wanna come!
Danke lieber Francis, für deine ehrlichen Worte. Ich fühl dich und es ist gleichzeitig so unbefriedigend. Wünsch dir auf jedenfall viel Energie für die letzten zwei Monate bevor es dann endgültig heisst, goodbye my Letter friend!