Learning from Other People's Experience

This is a week of learning about what I can and cannot do. I'm enrolled in 'Intro to Small Business' and it's like learning a whole new language. Knowing about business is important if you want your art to make money. Years ago, I tried going into business for myself as a graphic artist. I thought "hey, my work is good, let me try to make some money". So much for following my gut instincts. With no prior business experience, after 6 months I ended up losing money. I had no idea how to price my work, or what the market would bear. Eventually I got a job with a printing company doing graphic design and practically tripled my income. Wow. I still do freelance on the side and maybe eventually I will try starting a business again.

Meanwhile, taking this small business class sounds like the smart thing to do. I read a blog by the author, Alfred Edmond Jr., the editor-in-chief of BlackEnterprise.com. His blog is http://www.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/14/the-best-teacher-is-other-peoples-experience/ He recommends reading "My Biggest Mistake...And How I Fixed It: Lessons From the Entrepreneurial Front Lines" by Marcia Pledger. She writes, "the best teacher is not experience, but other people's experience." This advice in her book is from the experience of other entrepreneurs. I think I'll get the book.

Knowledge vs superior knowledge

Going back to school, I'm amazed at how much my classmates know and how much I don't know. Sometime it's hard to keep up. The other day a classmate gave me an answer when I was stuck. I won't say that person's name but I'm thinking of an number between 1 and.... I'm thinking of a letter that's between..... It doesn't matter who it was. That person had knowledge and when the knowledge was shared I think it became superior knowledge for me. The classmate may never how I appreciated the info. It may seem like a small gesture, but to me it got me unstuck and I could move on and keep up with the class.

One semester, I sat in the MAC lab and stared at the screen for a long time, not knowing what to do next. A student rolled his chair over to my computer and simply said, "push that key" and rolled back. His gesture was so low key as if he didn't think anything of it. Magic!

I have a chance to share my knowledge about fine arts and exhibiting. This year, I was asked to be art mentor and critique high school student's work entered in a contest. I didn't want to do it because I've got school and no time. Besides I think that I don't give a good critique. I've seen other artist that teach at many different levels of school and they have great things to tell the students about their work.

That classmate, who may not think the info is much, believe me it is, taught me a lesson. The info I share could also make a difference in a high school student's work. It may not seem like a big deal to me, but when a young person comes up to you with their artwork in hand, they really want to get feed back. Maybe my little bitty knowledge can become superior knowledge for someone else. Thanks to that classmate and other classmates who say something.

Initial reaction vs Instinct

"Initial reaction vs instinct" is a note that has been on my refrigerator for years and reminds me to stop and think before I react to situations. I don't usually stop to think before I open my mouth. If I had to count to ten....well I usually only make it to one.

My father used to say "keep it down to a low roar" when we kids would make too much noise. Once my big brother said "on the count of three, we'll all roar. One..." And then I said "roar"

If someone said, "look a snake, nobody move or you'll get bit". My brother always says that I'd be the first one to get bit, and I would.

But this time my gut reaction is a guide to something good. The Brothers Quay are a very unique animation team. I won't say anymore about them except look them up and trust your initial reaction.

I first saw their work at the Philadelphia Film Festival and spoke at the University of the Arts during that same festival. You've never seen anything like it. They were influenced by Jan Svanmajer, please check out his work too. You'll be surprised who else was influenced by Jan S........

Trust me, and I never trust anyone who says that : > you won't be bit. Here are some links. I hope I will soon learn how to make a direct connection within this blog, does anyone know how to do that? Bye and remeber to keep it down to a low roar.

1. Brothers Quay
The Brothers Quay are two identical twins, Stephen and Timothy, and ... The Brothers had gone to art school but hadnt explored animation until they were 32 years ...
cbg15.tripod.com/quay.htm - 7k - Cached
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1. Quay Brothers
by James Rose - profile of the Quay Brothers ... In the ever-shifting fictional realities of the Brothers Quay, madness takes on both emotive and creative potential. ...
archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/.../quay_brothers.html - 51k –
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1. JanSvankmajer.com
One of the great Czech filmmakers, JAN SVANKMAJER was born in 1934 in Prague where he still lives. ... Svankmajer made his first film in 1964 and for over thirty years has ...
www.jansvankmajer.com/bio.htm - 8k - Cached
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Ten best animations of all time according to this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2001/apr/27/culture.features1

Zeitgeist the spirit of the times
http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=quayretrospective&mode=filmmaker