A local arts organization invited me to make a presentation about art marketing this month. I received their email newsletter announcing the event and was surprised to see myself billed as an "Art Marketing Guru." I am laughing at myself now because my first thought was, " Oh my ... a Guru .... what should I wear?"
The last time I heard myself referred to as a "Guru" was about a year ago and my friend Gaea told me, " Just don't take yourself too seriously."
I can't imagine that being a Guru would be any fun. You have to be right all the time and know all the answers. This just won't work for me now. I am enjoying making friends with my inadequacies. It is a much easier way to live.
Plus, the world of marketing is so deliciously chaotic right now. I would venture to say that no one really knows "what is what" and what will happen next. Calling ourselves experts or hoping that there is a know-it-all out there may be a way of managing our anxiety.
I do admit to a passion for marketing, technology and watching it all unfold. I do admit to a love of creatively sharing what I have learned with others. I do admit to finding marketing just as fascinating and creative as making art, and you won't find many artists who say that!
In reality I am probably a few steps ahead of some and a few steps behind others in this field (and everything else!)
What I am best at is creating collaborations, and this is not the wave of the future of marketing. This is the now.
My art marketing and social media groups are structured along these lines - less teaching; more sharing and supporting. The group members know that if they have a question that we can not answer in the group, I will assign someone the job of finding the answer and reporting to the group at the next meeting.
Less dogma; less telling and pushing -- more connecting, collaborating and sharing.
Fewer Gurus.
We are all in this together.
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