ASOPA membership?

Susan Ballinger · 09-21-2001, 01:29 AM

I am just starting out as a portrait artist and am looking at the most effective ways to market myself. One of the things I was thinking about was joining the ASOPA. I would love to hear some responses to my questions. Are you a member? Why or why not? Do you feel that it was worth joining? Have you gotten a lot of business from having your name posted on the membership on their site? Did you pay extra to get the thumbnail picture with a link to your website and do you think it increased your business by doing so? Plus, it'd be great to hear what has worked and what has not been worth the money/effort to drum up business. Have you had to continue to find ways to advertise, or once you had an initial customer base, did it continually replenish itself? I don't have very much money right now- my current job isn't even paying the basic bills...so I need to get the word out for the least amount of money possible. Thanks in advance for any replies I receive!

Susan

Chris Saper · 09-22-2001, 03:25 PM

Dear Susan,

With respect to ASOPA and The Portrait Society of America, both are excellent organizations to belong to for a variety of purposes, particularly educational and networking functions. If you can find a way to attend one of the major seminars, your resources will be well invested.

However, I would not look to either type of membership as likely to result in sales. For the most part your benefits and relationships will have to do with other artists, and the making of your art. It is my general impression that the few painters who place as finalists in the national competitions are in a different postition of being able to benefit (commission-wise) from their involvement. In the past however, it has been extremely expensive even to enter these competitions as you must be financially prepared to register, travel to, and attend the seminars. That being said, if your budget permits general membership fees, by all means, join both.

If your work and price structure are such that you are able to contract with portrait brokerage firms, this would a more likely way to generate commissions. However, you must be somewhat prepared to travel to your clients...as you say, you have a regular job, and you would need to gauge how flexible its demands may be.

I would also say that marketing and advertising must be an ongoing effort. Beginning in your local community is the most sensible way to start, I believe. If you decide to use paid advertising, you should be prepared to make a 6-12 month commitment to repeat ads; one-shot advertising is virtually assured to be a waste of money.

I think that you must also be prepared to do a lot of free work in the beginning, until such time as you have a body of work in people's homes or offices that may generate inquiries. Free work that hangs for example, in the lobby of a church, a civil office or similarly visible location can be valuable.

I hope this is helpful to you, as the notion of marketing and sales can literally fill volumes.

Kindest regards, Chris Saper

Darla Dixon · 12-16-2001, 01:34 AM

I have been a member of ASOPA for a year now and have mixed emotions, but overall my opinion is favorable.

The fee was $75 last year, and for 2002 it was reduced to $65 if I paid by December 31st.

They send out a Quarterly periodical, called the Signature, which has some excellent articles. I can say that there have been times when it has arrived and I have been really down on myself and my art (thinking maybe I'm following a pipe dream and need to go get a 'real' job) that sort of negative thinking...and there it comes in the mail and picks me up and gets me excited and motivated again. Just for that, I feel it's worth the membership fee.

Membership also allows for a discount with Utrecht art supplies, but I haven't taken advantage of this yet, and can't remember how much of a discount it offers.

I decided it would be good to have the membership for another reason too (kind of embarrassing, but this is the place to be totally frank, right?!?)
.....
OK, here goes: "Member, American Society of Portrait Artists" looks good on your website and on your business cards. Gives a step up, I think - and to a potential client it says you are serious about your art as a business and have made a commitment to quality. I think that if someone was 'on the fence' whether to have me do portrait work for them, versus the portrait artist in a nearby town, just having that membership noted MIGHT give an edge. Silly? Shallow? Most advertising is.

My decision to join was also a bit emotional too -ASOPA has John Singer Sargent on their logo and seal, and he's been a great influence on me since about 1978, when I saw 'Madame X' among other portraits of his at the Detroit Metropolitan Museum of Art. I still say WOW when I just think about it. When I do start painting portraits (and oh, I will) I will not be satisfied until I am at that level of expertise. I really could clog up the message boards praising him.

The downside to ASOPA is that they didn't seem to care much about my art, I sent the money in, I got membership. I think they do check your website for content, but that's about it.

Portrait Artists of America does require you to send in slides etc if I recall.

Cynthia Daniel · 12-16-2001, 01:51 AM

Darla,

Per my knowledge, neither ASOPA or PSA have a slide requirement for memembership, but will accept anyone who wants to be a member.

When ASOPA does become interested in your work is when you want a thumbnail and link to your site in their Members & Portfolios area of the site. Then your work and your site must meet a certain level of quality and must go through an approval process.

Just so you know my point of reference, I'm a member of both organizations, attend both events and am the web designer for both sites.

Darla Dixon · 12-16-2001, 01:59 AM

Cynthia, thanks! I hope I didn't make the impression that I was putting the organization down about requirements. I was just stating how it has been for me so far.

PS: You seem so busy! When do you find time to sleep?

Cynthia Daniel · 12-16-2001, 02:08 AM

Darla,

Oh no, didn't think you were putting them down at all. Just wanted to clarify. I wanted to be sure you didn't take it personally that "they didn't seem to care much about my art".

I know some societies (perhaps more in other countries?), each member's work has to meet a certain level of quality. I believe the Royal Society of Portrait Artists is like that.

Sleep? I sleep odd hours and my life is pretty much here and I live alone so there's no one to mind my obsessive behavior.

Elizabeth Schott · 11-27-2002, 11:58 AM

I noticed "Stroke of Genius" did design their site and wondered if you were actively involved with the ASOPA? I tried to contact them with questions but have not heard anything as of yet.

Darla, where do you find the $75.00 membership fee for artist? I only found Sponsorship levels.

Quote:

Per my knowledge, neither ASOPA nor PSA have a slide requirement for membership, but will accept anyone who wants to be a member.

I know this is true of Sponsorship/Patron memberships, but for an artist to be an "elected" member of the PSA, they must be juried, through slide submissions. You must have a "full" elected membership to display the initials after your name.

Cynthia Daniel · 11-28-2002, 10:13 AM

Quote:

I noticed "Stroke of Genius" did design their site and wondered if you were actively involved with the ASOPA? I tried to contact them with questions but have not heard anything as of yet.

Beth,

ASOPA no longer has "members", but instead has patrons. Anyone who joins is considered a "patron."

The level of patron sponsorship can be found here: http://asopa.com/patronlevels.htm
I don't see a $75 level there. Lowest is $50.

ASOPA has gone through some changes internally. Jennifer, who used to be the director, is no longer there. You will be hearing from them though. I just received an email from Arnold McCrae regarding your email. So, he or someone from ASOPA will be answering you.

Elizabeth Schott · 11-28-2002, 05:09 PM

Thanks Cynthia, it is fun to recognize "Stroke of Genius" everywhere!

Jim Riley · 02-20-2003, 11:30 PM

I recently found that my membership had expired for ASOPA and that explained the non-arrival of the Signature magazine. It seems that a spring conference will not take place this year. I also learned that renewals will/are not mailed anymore. Having renewed my dues(?) I also expressed my lack of understanding or reasoning to the change from "member" to "patron" for participating artists. For tax reasons it makes no difference but when I list memberships I can't see how clients would be impressed knowing that I am a "patron" of ASOPA. In fact, I got a call from someone who found my name and web link at their site but only after taking a guess that the patron portfolios link might lead to the artist.