Weighing the pros and cons helps you decide if the collaboration aligns with your personal and business goals, ensures it’s financially beneficial, and confirms you have the time and energy to commit. It also helps you avoid spreading yourself too thin and ensures the collaboration is mutually supportive.
Artists may feel reluctant to collaborate with businesses because it often takes time away from their own projects, and they might not see a clear financial or creative benefit. Additionally, some collaborations can feel like they’re giving away their creative energy without much return.
Trust is crucial in collaborations because it ensures you enjoy working with the other person, can rely on their commitments, and that the collaboration aligns with your goals. Trust helps in building a mutually supportive and successful partnership.
Considering the financials helps ensure that the collaboration is worth the time and effort invested. Artists should evaluate if the financial compensation or potential future benefits outweigh the immediate costs and opportunity costs of their own projects.
Establishing clear boundaries helps prevent conflicts and ensures that both parties are on the same page. It clarifies roles, responsibilities, and expectations, making the collaboration smoother and more productive.
An artist might say no to a collaboration if it doesn’t align with their goals, if they don’t have the bandwidth to commit, or if they feel it would take them in the wrong direction. Saying no can also be a way to prioritize their own well-being and projects.
Practicing saying no helps artists set boundaries and prioritize their own needs and goals. It also prevents overcommitment and burnout, ensuring they can focus on what is truly important to them.
Building in thinking time allows artists to reflect on whether the collaboration aligns with their goals and to assess the potential risks and benefits. It also gives them the opportunity to check their schedule and ensure they have the capacity to commit.
This week, we're talking all about collaboration. In response to two listener questions, we discuss the pros and cons of working with others, whether they be galleries, businesses or fellow artists. Collaborations can offer great rewards - as long as you ask some smart questions before committing.
Find Alice Sheridan at:
Find more about Louise Fletcher:
Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License