7 Red Flags Artists Should Never Ignore
By Thea Fiore-Bloom, PhD
“No is a complete sentence.” -Anne Lamott
Most artists need help spotting red flags.
Artists like me, for example.
Back in 2019, an annoying person told me,
“Thea, you’re a magnet for whack jobs.”
Her comment hurt.
Why?
Because she was right.
Back then, I did resemble one of those bug zappers, you know, the kind that glows with that violet light?
My violet light seemingly beckoned boundary violators and other problem types to come on over. 🙂
Have you ever felt you might be sporting a similar get-up on your head?
Then get in here.
I’ll share how I (and a few members of my professional artist roundtable) now do a way better job spotting trouble in advance.
Think of this post as Red Flag Boot Camp for Artists.
Let’s cut straight to red flag numero uno.
Red Flag Artists Shouldn’t Ignore # 1
The Rope-a-Dope Maneuver
When someone sincerely compliments our work, we can feel exhilarated and restored.
But occasionally, a person who presented as a kind, potential buyer goes all Jekyll and Hyde on you.
The first day they interact with you, they’re so warm and effusive.
They may have even suggested they will connect you to an agent or a solo show, but suddenly, they turn chilly and distant.
This often leaves heart-centered artists like us baffled and wondering:
What did I do wrong?
How did I anger them?
We then prepare to dive down the whack job’s rabbit hole of madness to make them happy again.
Stop right there, girly!
Don’t jump!
Don’t cater to the suddenly chilly without first asking yourself:
Was their initial flattery- love or love bombing?
Those of you who’ve been on the receiving end of love bombing by narcissists know how it goes.
The red flag person heaps a whole bunch of nice words on you; words that make you pause so they can then quietly tip you over, mentally hog-tie you, and verbally jump about your head with their boots on.
(Ahem, can you tell this has happened to me?)
So what’s a kind artist to do?
Counter Strategy for Red Flag for Artists #1
Block’em, Danno!
If you feel someone you’re dealing with professionally is turning on the hot and cold tap just to have control over you, block them across the board.
Like now.
Like yesterday.
Here’s a short, easy video on how to block emails on Gmail and Outlook.
And here are a few options for quietly removing someone from your Mailchimp list.
If you need to block an email or delete a follower, potential client, student, or subscriber, you don’t have to write a note explaining or defending yourself and triggering them, ok?
You really do get to just leave.
And breathe.
And go on with your life.
As the wise Melody Beattie says:
“We cannot simultaneously set a boundary and take care of another person’s feelings.”
-Melody Beattie (The Art of Letting Go)
So now we’ve seen how a future problem buyer will give themselves away with their words.
What telltale actions are red flags?
This brings us to red flag number two.
Red Flag Artists Shouldn’t Ignore # 2
Required Hoop Jumping
How does accomplished jeweler Barbara Klar know trouble lies ahead with an art buyer?
“The biggest red flag a potential buyer is going to be trouble for me is when they try to make me jump through hoops for the sale.”
I asked Klar for examples of hoop jumping.
“Hoop jumping can take the form of buyers demanding an exhausting amount of back-and-forth communication,” said Klar. “This often happens because the client is always changing their mind. They seem like they can’t be satisfied, or they begin challenging me about my technical knowledge, or they’re objecting to my pricing.
So what does Klar do when this happens?
Counter Strategy for Red Flag for Artists # 2
If You Got Agida, Press Pause
“If you feel agida, press pause, ” says Klar.
“Run the situation by a colleague you trust, then sleep on it. If you wake up with any doubt, say no.”
Then I suggest you do this:
Take the time you would have spent on catering to a problematic buyer and instead consciously devote those hours to making new art that excites you.
Or use that recovered time to design a brand new class that thrills you with all new students.
When you refuse to hoop jump, you stay enlivened by your work (not drained).
You’ll usually prosper and avoid the dreaded bind of role reversal.
Let’s dig into what that is now.
Red Flag Artists Shouldn’t Ignore # 3
Attempted Role Reversal
Role reversal is a negative occurrence in business to avoid.
It’s a term I first heard from the godfather of coaching, Steve Chandler.
Chandler defines role reversal as a problematic situation where your potential buyer, client, or student tries to be the one making the rules for you.
For example, a problem buyer, client, or student may frequently object to when you meet, how often, why you meet, and where.
They may critique or question what they’ll pay you, how they’ll pay you, and even how you’ll refund them after they drive you nuts.
This kind of power play can throw you so off balance that you begin questioning everything, including your ability to make art, teach a workshop, be a good mentor, etc.
Don’t allow role reversal if you’re an artist or art teacher.
If left unchecked, it will dampen your spirit and damage your business.
This next strategy can help.
Counter Strategy for Red Flag for Artists # 3
If Folks Don’t Want To Adhere to Your Policies, Go Back In Your Magic Cave
You’re allowed to create and enforce custom business policies that protect your well-being.
Remember, you don’t have to give more than you feel comfortable giving- period.
Super successful yet down-to-earth artist Lola Jovan puts it beautifully:
“I’ve learned that if someone wants more than what’s comfortable or professional for me to give (without invitation, or encouragement from me and without payment from them), they can – pound sand.”
“Artists can embrace the idea of being reclusive, introverted, and mysterious,” said Jovan. “We don’t always have to answer; we don’t have to overly engage. We don’t have to give any more of ourselves than we’ve already put into the world in the form of our art or our art business.”
Sing it, sister.
Warren Buffett agrees.
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people
say ‘no’ to almost everything.”
—Warren Buffett
Ok, speaking of saying money and saying no, let’s get you help to leap over one of the hairiest problems artists face.
Red Flag Artists Shouldn’t Ignore # 4
Payment Plan Funny Business
We’ve all experienced wanting something but not being sure we can afford it right now.
Enter the payment plan.
Studies show payment plans encourage up to 30% more sales for small business owners like us.
That’s good, right?
And there are nice, normal clients who want to say, split a payment in two.
If you are fine with that, cool.
But the thing is, multi-installment, informal payment plans are catnip to the temporarily whacky.
If you make the mistake of accepting these, you may never see all the money you’re owed – unless you get surly.
And do you want to be an artist or an irate bill collector?
I pick, artist.
That’s why I stopped offering payment plans.
Until I stumbled onto strategy #4 below.
Counter Strategy for Red Flag Artists Shouldn’t Ignore # 4
Offer Payment Plans Through PayPal, Not Through You
If you want to offer payment plans, take a half-hour to set up the ability to invoice students and clients through PayPal.
Then take another fifteen minutes to get familiar with PayPal’s PayLater and PayIn 4 options for your buyers.
Both those plans allow you to get paid right away, and the client can work out low or no-interest payments with PayPal, not you, hurray!
When you use PayPal, you do pay a three percent of the sale as a fee to PayPal.
Most entrepreneurs have the client pay that fee.
Me? I gladly fork out the three percent for my students and clients.
I believe that extraordinary customer service empowers your client and your business.
(To learn more about customer astonishment, read Hug Your Customers.)
For now, we gots to move on to another doozy of a red flag that impacts many kind-hearted artists.
Red Flag for Artists # 5
Can I Return This?
Gifted American prairie artist and writer Angela Müller told me, “Like all artists, I want my customers to be delighted when they unwrap the painting. So I do my best to accurately represent my work online and in photographs.”
But original art inevitably looks different in person, no matter how good it is.
“I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side,
be an advocate for myself and others like me.”
-Maya Angelou
Red Flag for Artists # 6
I asked famed feather artist Chris Maynard this question.
Maynard told me, “I’m clear with my galleries and commissioned buyers that I don’t do reproductions.
But if a potential buyer that Maynard has a good rapport with asks him for a piece similar to one he’s already sold, he sometimes considers it.
Maynard prefers creating something new every time, but money is, of course, a factor for all of us in business.
So here’s Maynard’s strategy that might work for you as well.
Counter Strategy for Red Flag for Artists # 6
Create Something New In Concert With the Buyer
“Though I won’t do reproductions, I do welcome art buyers’ thoughts,” said Maynard.
“There are times I find a client’s ideas useful in exploring a new theme or creating something that I wouldn’t ever have thought of.”
Manard advises artists to “Experiment with loose commissions but just be clear from the start that you have the final say and if something doesn’t feel right, design-wise, or pay-wise, you can say no and explore other options.”
This brings us to a scarlet red flag I’ll end on.
Red Flag Artists Shouldn’t Ignore # 7
Bullying
Sculptor Luann Udell cautions kind-hearted artists to perk up and notice:
- Potential art buyers who make derogatory remarks about your work online or at a craft show.
- Potential art buyers who kvetch about your prices, even when you share how much work and materials go into your pieces.
Udell believes:
“My work is not for everybody. But those who DO love it, who see the stories, the complicated and lengthy process, etc., love it deeply. And that’s all that matters to me.”
– Luann Udell
Amen.
But what does Udell do when someone is downright mean?
Counter Strategy for Red Flag for Artists # 7
Kick Bullies Out of Your Booth
When people bully you online, block them.
If they’re trolling you, read my post on Tromping Art Trolls here.
And if they’re bullying you in your booth, boot ’em out.
Check out Udell’s Getting People Out of Your Booth series.
When you eject bullies from the sacred garden that is your art business, you win.
Your art practice wins.
And your lovely, normal clients win because you’ll have the time to shower them with the attention, love, and service they deserve.
So I hope these seven red flags encourage you to honor that soft little voice when it whispers to you that it wants to avoid someone.
And I hope these seven strategies help you fly forward- free- into the rest of your magical, creative life, with brighter, burlier wings.
____________________________________________________________
What do you think?
Have any of these red flag situations happened to you?
Let me know in the comments below. 🙂
If you have other red flags you’ve encountered in your life, help others by sharing them in the comments below.
Here are some other irreverent Charmed Studio Posts and Podcasts you might enjoy:
How Do Artists’ Accounts Get Hacked On Instagram? Plus 5 Minute Fix To Stay Safer
5 Ways to Improve Your Art Writing in 5 Minutes
2 Best Laptops for Artists On a Budget: Skyrocket Your Self-Esteem With the Right Computer
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. This means if you buy books or stuff via my blog I may receive a tiny commission and do a happy dance. There is no extra fee for you. I only link to items I personally use and love; products that I think help heart-centered artists.
Your 7 red flags are very similar to my way of avoiding agida. I keep the business part very simple and in stone. Most of my commissions come from people who are familiar with my work and if they aren’t I show them where to find it on social media. That is what my social media is really helpful with.
I really have two different kinds of art. I do portraits and I think of them as collaborations. If they are not happy with the result after getting everything from them that I need to do the commission they don’t pay, they don’t get the piece, and I think of the time spent as a wonderful practice. In 5 years I have had one person that was unhappy with the piece (1 in over 200 art portraits).
The other art is just for me. If someone sees it and wants it, fine. I love the freedom and self challenge. I can use what I learn on my commissioned portraits too. No money business❤️.
Wow, Vivian, this is very illuminating. Thanks so much for taking your valuable time to share your wisdom and experience with us.
I really like your portrait policy. How freeing.
Instead of insisting someone take a piece -you just keep it- an chalk it up to practice and experience. Brilliant!
It is a way to stress service/ honor over sales.
But you are also not “giving away the farm” as they used to say.
Your practice also serves and honors you as an artist, and serves and honors you as a business person and serves and honors you as a creative soul.
Brava! What’s not to love?
I think people who force you to take a product you are not happy with, are skating on thin ice.
IMO an entrepreneur should take the high road, let it go, and move on with love. You are right, You dont have to force someone to take it and pay for it.
If we dont engage in a mini war, it leaves us more time to stay calm and get right back to focusing on our work, which allows our business to blossom further anyway. And to connect with lots of other people who do want to dance with us. 🙂
Great tips, as always. And one from the wonderful Luann too 😉
Thank you! and hugs
Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know, you made my day Dawn. Love your sci-fi inspired silver jewelry!
And isn’t Luann the cat’s pajamas?
Meow!! (joyfully)
I’m honored to have my thoughts included in your post, thank you for that!
And if you ever saw what I wear to bed, you’d think, “Look what the cat dragged in!”
So, yeah, appropriate. 😀
You are so welcome, I am blessed to have your big brain in my life to call upon.
You mean we don’t have to look like Shakira in concert when it comes to night clothes? YAY!
Oh gosh, Dawn, I always always always love your comments and appreciation! You’ve offered great insights on my blog posts, too. And now I love YOUR blog, your knitting projects, your sci-fi love (“skiffie” at conventions back in the day!) and everything else you bring to the world. Thank you for being YOU!
Ah, we have a name for these whackos in Britain, we call them “tyre-kickers”. This comes from trying to sell a caravan (towing trailer in America) and people show up who have absolutely no intention of buying what you’re selling, but for whatever agenda just want to play around with you. Kick your tyres.
This is a brilliant post and confirms the unpleasant things that often happen to artists trying to earn a crust. My problem was always tyre-kickers who wanted art for free. It still happens, recently a doctor who had enough money to hire a graphic designer trying to get a free poster done by me; she’s permanently banned. Guess what? She actually is paying someone now. It’s good to have the self-respect to stand up to tyre-kickers. I wish all artists will gain that self-confidence and self-respect; you and your art are worth it.
PS Beatrice Wood, who I believe was the inspiration for the elderly Kate Winslet in the film Titanic, ROCKS. As does The Charmed Studio. Thank you so much for these wonderful posts and podcasts.
Oh the tyre-kicker!! That is a great one to add to the list. Thanks for pointing that out for us and adding a little international cache to the post. I feel proud now. Isn’t it jaw-dropping how the visual arts and even the healing arts are not seen as a profession, a discipline, worthy of proper compensation? This goes for writing as well. Ok I have to go calm down now. Thanks Marni, you are a gem.
I. LOVE. This!!!!
Very definitely a skill set learned (and still learning!) over time! Not restricted to the studio of course.
I try to apply a “win-win” filter to transactions now, and to relationships, to help keep my boundaries solid.
That is good to know and hear. We think we have to come into our metier as an artist with all this wisdom intact inside us, ready to roll. I think many us believe there is some sort of ” loving yet professional boundaries”package that everyone else ordered but we forgot to. Or at least I thought that. Thanks for your clear-sightedness on this and many other things Leigh.
Wonderful blog Thea. I resonate completely. Tough lessons learned. But I think once you get it
drawing the line in the sand becomes easier especially when we make our self preservation and worthiness priority number one. Can not help others if we do not help ourselves first.
Thanks so much for commenting Lauren, I love what you said about needing to “make our self-preservation and worthiness priority number one.” I need a tattoo of that. Hope people pop over to your website and check out your transcendent paintings. I dont understand why you dont have a solo show at MOMA as we speak. Wake up curators, she is right there! xo Thea
Recently found Thea’s Charmed Studio. And now that I found it, I’m here daily, soaking it up, catching up, delighted, and grateful. It’s a relief to find this sacred place honoring creatives and the journey. Love listening to the podcasts on my walks, go back to the blog posts for reference. Thanks, Thea always look forward to the next article/post. Enjoy the spectrum of coverage and the time range of shorter and longer podcasts. So thank you for this longer one. Helpful insights & empowering. You rock 😎
Wow Gill! What a beautiful surprise gift for me to wake up to. Thank you for taking some of your precious time and energy to reach out and let me know the blog is supporting you. That makes my month. I am breathing deeper and more appreciatively now because of you.
Oh one more red flag that a wonderful artist who wants to remain anonymous just told me:
“Beware of people that make appointments to see a painting or have a session with you and cancel. One postponement is the limit. If it goes to two….you got red fabric flapping.”
Do you have a red flag to add?
Have any of the red flags in the article happened to you?
I would love to know.
Another great podcast Thea, always a joy to listen to or read your funny, intelligent discourse.
I had a very long, narrow studio for a while. The door was on the opposite end of my work area and so with only one visitor I was trapped!
I think I experienced all 7 red flaggers during my time there, in addition to many awkward events involving family, dogs, or elderly folk!
LOL LOL, Oh I can just picture that…you at the end of a very long narrow corridor studio. Thanks for telling us about it. I want to ask you, have you always been able to spot trouble from far off? Or has it been a skill set you developed over your years in studio?