Interview With Chris Sherman, Whose “Artists Sunday” Is Like Black Friday, But For Artists!
Interview With Chris Sherman, Whose
“Artists Sunday” Is Like Black Friday, But For Artists!
By xavier_lopez_jr on May
6, 2020 at 6:25 PM
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Artists
Sunday Logo
**
Recently,
Seattle artist Cynthia Freese wrote to me excitedly about something that could,
if done right, really help out, not only Seattle artists, but also artists
around the nation. I agreed that this thing sounded intriguing and agreed
to set up an interview. I was intrigued, but I needed to know more–see
what you think!
Xavier:
This is where we’ll be doing the interview as well. Cheers!
Chris
Sherman: Gotcha!
My
background: Artists Sunday was created by Christopher V. Sherman, an
entrepreneur and photographer, with more than 25 years of entrepreneurial
experience. Christopher has built multiple companies, including a digital news
service, an online advertising network, and multiple conferences and trade
shows. He has managed business strategy, customer sales, marketing, new product
development, business development and more. Christopher’s photography clients
include NBC’s The Tonight Show, CBS Television, The State of Texas, Fairmont
Hotels and more.
Best
reference materials I can send you are the Artists Sunday web site:
1. We are
currently signing both artists and partners (non-profits)
2. We’re pleased to count June Sekiguchi, Miguel Edwards, Terry Smith, Joy
Hagen and Carol Ross among the first group of artists signed up to participate.
Xavier:
Cool! Sounds very interesting! Are you available on Monday to do an
interview?
Are you
an artist yourself?
Chris
Sherman: I’m a photographer.
**
Christopher
V. Sherman, Founder and Executive Director, Artists Sunday
**
Xavier:
Okay! So, I’m very excited to be talking with you today. Cynthia
Freese talks about you and your project very highly! Can you take a
moment to introduce yourself and your connection to the arts?
Chris
Sherman: Thank you, Xavier! I’m Christopher Sherman, I’m a
fine arts photographer and the founder and Executive Director of Artists
Sunday, a nationwide alliance of artists, non-profit organizations and sponsors
coming together to encourage consumers to shop with artists and craftsmen.
Xavier: Cool!
Can you tell me a little bit about what brings you to talk with me today?
Chris
Sherman: That would be Artists Sunday, an art-focused shopping day;
the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. It follows Black Friday and
Small Business Saturday, the day before Cyber Monday, the largest shopping
weekend of the year.
We are
a promotional effort focused exclusively on encouraging people to shop with
artists during this time period.
Xavier:
Nice! That seems like something with a clear directive that would be easy for
people to follow! But, how does something like that happen? Don’t
you have to sign some sort of petition, or make a national holiday or something
drastic like that?
Chris
Sherman: It’s a joint effort by artists and non-profit organizations
across the country all promoting the same message at the same time of the year
– Oct and Nov. We just ask that artists and non-profit organizations that
support artists sign up at our web site www.ArtistsSunday.com and
then when fall comes around we will supply everyone with a marketing toolkit to
help them build buzz and promote.
For
artists, it’s using the kit to promote their work. For the non-profits, it’s
using the elements in the kit to promote the artists in their network!
The
result is 1000s of individual artists numerous community orgs all promoting the
same message.
So,
we’re all a unified voice!
**
Artists
Sunday’s Mission – Helping individual creative artists sell more art
Xavier:
What message is that?
Chris
Sherman: For consumers to purchase from artists and craftsmen and
give unique, original, handcrafted items and/or artistic experiences for the
holidays, rather than manufactured and prepackaged goods. Shopping for
artistic gifts for the holidays can be more personal, fun, and inspirational
when consumers focus on individual, creative artists that resonate with
themselves, family, and friends.
Xavier:
Is this a new thing? Why should artists sign up with your program rather than
just ride the wave?
Chris
Sherman: It is a new thing. Well, we’re all promoting the same
messages so there will be some benefit to being involved from that standpoint.
We’re saying to artists, incorporate this into your marketing efforts or
use it to compliment your existing marketing efforts. We don’t want
people to lose their individualism and independent voice. It’s not one
size fits all. Use the elements that work for you.
Artists
Sunday is a trademarked name and a brand. Participation is free to
artists.
Xavier:
So, what do you get out of it?
Chris
Sherman: Our goal is to amplify the message of artists. We get
to help artists across the country. And as a photographer myself I hope to ride
the wave. Artists Sunday will be underwritten by sponsors. We’ll use
those funds to support the program and pay the bills.
**
Artists
Sunday slide 1 and 2 – key messages – how Artists Sunday helps artists during
the holiday season
**
Xavier:
Who are the sponsors of it?
Chris
Sherman: We do not have sponsors finalized at this time. Until
then Artists Sunday is funded by private investment.
Xavier:
Cool! So why is the name trademarked? What does that get you rather than
it being a free-flowing concept out there?
Chris
Sherman: This is an effort to support artists exclusively.
Without the trademark we would lose control of the name and large
corporations could start using it to help their sales efforts without our
permission. The trademark provides protection. It allows us to
control which commercial companies use the name and brand. It provides us
the opportunity to license it to paying sponsors who underwrite the program and
aligns their efforts with ours.
Xavier:
Very smart! So, it protects everything, all of the guiding principles of the
organization?
Chris
Sherman: Exactly.
**
Artists
Sunday slide 1 and 2 – key messages – how Artists Sunday helps artists during
the holiday season
**
Xavier:
So, what exactly, are those principles?
Chris
Sherman: Our primary mission is helping individual creative artists
sell more art!
Consumers
are inundated with shopping messages from large retailers during fall holiday
season. Mostly, Black Friday deals from large retailers. Art and
craft sales cross the country are fragmented down to the individual level with
individual artists struggling to make sales. Local communities help
support artists but there is no unified voice, which leads to limited consumer
awareness of artists!
Artists
Sunday is a unified rallying cry, a national movement & marketing message,
uniting individual artists and communities across the country in a singular
effort. A strong, vocal voice of 1,000’s across the country. All
promoting the giving of artist-created gifts during the busiest shopping
weekend of the year.
Xavier:
Okay, so I have to say that it sounds pretty good, but I’m also a huge cynic
and very protective of the artist’s community, especially the Seattle Artist’s
community, what criticisms have you confronted so far in trying to herd one of
the biggest conglomerations of cats that there has ever been?
And
don’t try to sugarcoat, artists are always getting letters from folks trying to
put something over on us.
What
makes what you are offering different?
Chris
Sherman: It’s a matter of perception and credibility. Are we just a
play to build an email database? No. Are we for real? Yes.
Xavier:
Go on.
Chris
Sherman: What makes us different. Well, there’s nothing else like it
out there. There are regional programs that promote artists but nothing
on a national level.
We’re
doing something that’s focused on Fall and right now there’s likely very little
sense of urgency. People are worried about the now. And I get that.
We have
our work cut out for us and we’re working multiple channels. Reaching out
directly to artists and reaching out to those communities that support artists
at the same time.
And
that’s my priority over the next 100+ days. Reaching out to more and more
people–both artists and the communities that support them and to tell them our
story. The more artists and non-profit orgs that sign up, the louder our
combined voice will be.
**
June
Sekiguchi and The Pulse of Water installation, currently on exhibit at San
Juan Islands Museum of Art.
**
Xavier:
Nice! So, let’s step back for a minute are you local to Seattle and how did
this idea start?
Chris
Sherman: I’m not local to Seattle. I was living in Austin,
Texas for the past 18 years and then 2 years ago I became a nomadic
photographer. This idea came to me last November when I saw photography
sales go up during of all things the Sunday after Thanksgiving. That’s when the
idea struck.
I
shared it with my good friend Cynthia Freese who lives in Seattle. She’s
an artist and a former gallery owner.
And
she’s been involved on art councils and various art orgs. She got the
idea immediately and volunteered to help.
So, in
February I pitched the idea to several people in the Seattle area! The
response was positive. Then Covid-19 hit, and I spent my time watching, waiting
and working on the backend stuff.
Xavier:
So, what do you have to say to artists that are still on the fence. Give
us a pitch for the angels, like in that old Twilight Zone episode!
Chris
Sherman: Pitch…. You sign up to participate and you do so in a
manner that works best for you. That will take different shapes and forms for
different people. As we get more and more artists and non-profits joining
us, those fence sitters will realize that we’re creditable and we’re building a
powerful voice. There’s no real downside to program.
**
Art Studio
of Artist Joy Hagen, Artist Sunday Member Artist
**
We
don’t just want to celebrate the arts. A lot of orgs say hey we celebrate the
arts but that can be vague and diffusive. We’re cutting right to the
chase. We’re saying don’t just celebrate the arts, shop with artists.
#ShopArt. We want more artists to be successful, to make more sales.
To thrive. More of America’s artists to be happy and well fed.
This is
a commerce play to help you as an artist sell more or at a minimum be
recognized that way.
Xavier: Nice!
So where do we go! How do we sign up and help spark this momentum?
Chris
Sherman: Artists Sunday sign up page https://artistssunday.com/artists-registration/
Artists
Sunday FAQ: https://artistssunday.com/artists/
Chris
Sherman: Tell your artistic friends. There is power in
numbers. We are an alliance.
**
Art
Studio of Artist Scott Wallin, Artist Sunday Member
**
Xavier:
Nice what will we find there?
Chris
Sherman: The FAQ should answer general questions.
The
Sign-up page is broken down to top (our public information) about the artists
and private information we use to communicate with artists.
We also
have a group of artists featured on the front page. Our May featured artist can
be found on the web site front page athttp://ArtistsSunday.com/
Artists Sunday –
Helping Individual Creative Artists Thrive
Artists
Sunday’s May featured partners include OneRedmond, City of Issaqauh, Art
Alliance Austin, Kent Downtown Partnership, North Bend Downtown Foundation and
Art Center of Citrus County
There
might be names you recognize or not lol. Depending on the circles you travel
in.
**
Cynthia
Freese, Artists Sunday, Director of Artists Relations
**
Xavier:
Awesome! I mostly travel in circles!
Chris
Sherman: Lol
Xavier:
Will this reach out through the media? I mean will artists feel like it is a
real thing?
Chris
Sherman: Yes, we will be conducting a national public relations
campaign in the fall. And we will provide templates to allow our
individual partners – the non-profit orgs – and artists – to easily reach out
to the local media as well.
This is
a national program, but we’re focusing or initial efforts in the Seattle
area!
Thank
you, Xavier! It was a pleasure talking to you!
Xavier:
The pleasure was mine. Thank you for your time. Good luck with this!
Seems like a worthy idea!
**
Some
Artists Statstics
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