Day 343: Twelve.Fourteen.13

A few days late on sharing these photos. Perhaps I needed the time to reflect.

Our Reel Talk: December 13 Edition was a success on all accounts. The space, the food, the film, the people…

Here’s to another day of creativity…

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Day 303: Eleven.Four.13

I just realized that One Common Unity quoted my post from way back when, on their website in the Praise for the film section. Awww, that makes me feel so good!

And what perfect timing… as today, we announced that we (ReSourceArts) will be hosting an advanced screening of the movie for our December Reel Talk event.

I’m so so so thrilled. I hope you can, and will, see the movie.

Here’s to another day of creativity…

Day 248: Nine.Ten.13

It is my wholehearted intention to share art and creativity with folks. I know, totally know, that once I get people into one of my events, they will feel it. Be inspired by it. Want more of it. This isn’t bragging – it’s not my art I’m working to share, after all. It’s just plain old fact – the people I have the lovely good fortune of knowing and working with are just uber talented and can’t help but cast their spell over those in attendance.

So why, then, is it so hard to get people to sign up for my events? (My organization’s events, really, but it’s hard to not take it personally.)

We had a successful end to the DC Artist Exchange series from a programming perspective. Attendance was light. (These were FREE events, and some even included FREE, homemade, delicious FOOD!!)

We are having to cancel tomorrow’s Reel Talk. Ticket sales were far too light.

My bff described it as such; it’s like the awkward phase of growing a hairstyle out. It started with a good idea, and it will be oh-so-lovely in the near future, but that in between time, of trying to build this thing – it’s uncomfortable and awkward.

Now these things I know:

• I have to be in one spot, building and building and building. This requires patience.
• I am trying to do something new, so the loyalty will be slow going. This requires patience.
• There are going to be near failures before large successes. This requires patience.

We don’t hear about this part of building a small business often. If we do, it’s after the fact, when successful business owners have overcome their early setbacks.

But what to do when we’re right in the middle of it?

Here’s to another day of creativity…

Day 241: Nine.Three.13

September Newsletter is out:

Below is the screenshot version. See the whole thing here: FALL-ing Into Art!

Here’s to another day of creativity…

Day 187: Seven.Eleven.13

A movie. A meal. A great conversation.

That’s what we had tonight. The first of many to come. A new monthly event series: Reel Talk.

Here’s to another day of creativity…

Day 185: Seven.Nine.13

I used to think bigger was better.

Events. People.
I used to think bigger events, were better.

Now, I’m starting to see that there’s nothing wrong with starting out small and building something lasting and worthwhile instead.

I’m realizing I won’t ever be an ‘Ideavirus’ unleasher, as described by Seth Godin. I read the book. I thought, maybe, I could be that, do that. And up until, well, tonight maybe, it made me sad that I didn’t seem to possess the magic to get everybody to jump on board and flock to my idea, event, etc.

That’s never been my way.
I don’t have a million viewers on my blog. I don’t have a thousand people like my Instagram photos.

But I have a steady group of people who support and encourage and attend, and that means more these days.

—

I have an event this Thursday – the kickoff for a monthly series my friend and I developed, called Reel Talk. (Food, Film, and Forward-Action Conversations.) We capped it at 15 people (it’s taking place at our friends house and includes cooking and watching an independent film.)

We have… five people registered. All of them are friends or family of those of us putting on the event.

Instead of feeling bad about this in the way I would have in the past, I see this as an opportunity. We have no idea if this idea will go well or not. (We have a hunch it will – WE believe in the idea of gathering people around a thought-provoking movie and delicious meal to get some connections and positive action happening.) But we don’t really know how it will be received. So starting with five people – whom we all know – will allow us to test it out and refine it in order to build the event’s success over time. It will be the right five people at the right time and will allow us to grow into ourselves as an organization. And this is all good.

In another first – I didn’t over-extend myself money-wise for this event. We kept the price low enough to get people to register but charged enough to cover our costs. This is a huge in my world. Huge I tell you.

So two pats on the back for me, for altering the way I approach my work.

And two more for continuing to charge forward with the work I believe in. Even when it feels so hard to do so.

Here’s to another day of creativity…

Day 170: Six.TwentyFour.13

ReSourceArts June email newsletter!

Here’s to another day of creativity…

Day 86: Four.One.Thirteen

First of the month means email newsletter time. This month, lots to share. We are launching a new event, called Reel Talk: A monthly Film, Food, and Forward-action event series. Here’s the logo I put together today:

For more information on the event series, kicking off April 25th in Washington, DC, you can click here.

Here’s to another day of creativity…