Why YOU Should Join the Working Artists Network

Mar 28th, 2009 by A

Two Reasons:

1) To provide yourself with the best possible opportunity to succeed in your chosen arts-based, indie biz, career path;

2) To provide the financial structure needed to support, build and grow WAN.

Let’s Deal with 1) Here:

The goal of Working Artists’ Membership Program is to support artists—those emerging as well as established—in designing a life that works for them in ways that matter. By combining WAN’s efforts with strategic partners throughout Oregon, Washington and the US, we find extraordinary deals and programs for our paid membership.

Some of what you’ll receive by joining the Working Artists Network —

access to discount health care programs - both western medical and eastern practices ;
$95 to $195 off The Guerilla Exhibitor, our business course designed with the needs and learning styles of artists and creative professionals in mind;
discounts on WAN sponsored or produced workshops, seminars, round tables, presentations, programs, and more - including some @ no-cost to memebrs!;
discounts off supplies (office and art), equipment and furniture (starting in October 2008);
15% off business and self-help books for artists, designers, photographers, writers, and film and performing artists;
discounts on car rentals, Zip Cars, hotels, and more;
deals on professional business services offered by pros who understand how best to work with creatives (legal, accounting, PR, marketing, sales, financial planning, and more);
access to business loans from $500 to $50,000 for higher risk businesses like yours, as well as access to loans through the SBA;
FREE or Discounted quarterly business training designed to keep you moving forward in managing and growing your business;
with more services, discounts, free resources added every week.

Check out the pricing HERE, and while you’re on that page download the current WAN Membership brochure to get a fuller understanding of what’s available to you through WAN.

Now, Let’s Look at 2):

Working Artists LLC founder, Adrienne Fritze

Right now there is one person building, managing and growing WAN - it’s Founder, Adrienne Fritze. (That’s me over there to the left.)

I’m an old time bootstrapper, more the variety of all the other artists I know who make something from absolutely nothing for the pure passion of it, versus the other kind that finds a business or consumer niche, exploits it, and goes on to make millions.

Don’t misunderstand what I’ve written there - I THOROUGHLY ENJOY the idea of becoming a millionaire. The point is that I’ve never stopped pursuing important things because there was no money to support the pursuit.

That written, in the 5 years that I’ve been developing this program, and learning how to be a functioning, honest-to-goodness, working artist and curator, I have not drawn a salary from the business.

Like you I have worked “other jobs” to make money - teaching, marketing other people’s products/services, building websites and creating marketing materials for clients, dog sitting, fund raising for non-profits. And like many of you I could not have done this without the generous, forgiving and loving support of my immediate family and extraordinary friends and companions.

The time has come for me to leave those other jobs behind, to be 100% engaged in the business of WAN, and to leave the comfortable nest of family support, to ask you to support me directly in these efforts by subscribing to a WAN Membership level that fits your situation, and then to take advantage of what is offered to you through the program.

You do that, and here’s what it allows me to do on your behalf:

organize the Monthly Arts Biz Round Tables, workshops, seminars, and other presentations that give you a leg up in building your indie business;
continue to recruit professional and personal service providers that you want and need into the Preferred Provider Network;
further define and attract strategic partners that will change the face of how we artists are able to do business on a local, regional, national and global scale;
make deals with suppliers, retailers, buying networks, to get you the best possible discounts and deals on supplies and resources you need to produce your art and run your business;
find and work with advocates and resources to make quality healthcare a reality in our lives;
be a more focused and powerful public advocate representing artists in Portland Oregon, and beyond;
eventually employ others to assist in the administration and operation of WAN.

And selfishly, that will give me a little extra bandwidth to work on my art projects - primarily my art + written word book - “Journey to Freedom”.

So, visit the MEMBERSHIP page, say YES to valuable resources and business training designed for you the artist and creative.

And think about this: if I’ve been able to do what I’ve done so far without the luxury of being 100% focused on WAN and all it represents - IMAGINE what I will do when this is my day job!