Minding the Motivational Mix

Minding the Motivational Mix

Overview

• Focus on the challenges faced by artist-entrepreneurs in business consulting.
• Emphasizes the unique relationship artists have with their work, impacting their views on entrepreneurship and income.

Artist-Entrepreneur Challenges

• Fear of Losing Control: Artist-entrepreneurs often fear losing artistic control during consulting.
• Identity Issues: Many struggle with the label of “entrepreneur,” despite some acceptance.
• Path Dependency: Artists may feel stuck in their ways, limiting their pursuit of diverse rewards.

Insights from Hans Abbing's Work

• Explores the motivations behind artists' choices and low-income levels:
  • Myths of Artists: Misleading beliefs that lead to financial struggles.
  • Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation:
  • Artists are primarily driven by intrinsic rewards (e.g. passion for art, emotional connection) over monetary ones.
  • Recognition and social validation often outweigh the desire for financial gain.
• Survival Constraint: Artists may lose interest in earning beyond a certain financial threshold.

Consultant's Role

• Identification of Challenges: Help artists articulate issues and prevent future problems through effective listening.
• Guidance Development: Aid in crafting and executing solutions that respect artists' control over their art.
• Key points to address:
  1. The time and energy required for product development.
  2. The importance of authenticity in art.
  3. The misconception that commercial success equates to inauthenticity.
  4. Awareness of the unique motivational mix of each artist.

Key Definitions in Arts Business Consulting (from Abbing)

• Habitus:
  • A personal value system shaped by life experiences and rewards, guiding motivations and actions.
• Reward Orientation:
  • The motivational mix behind artistic and professional choices, influenced by both external and internal factors.
• Motivational Mix:
  • A distinct combination of product types, reward types, and sources that reflects individual preferences.
• Path Dependency:
  • A tendency among artists to avoid embracing new products or revenue opportunities, limiting their potential.

Addressing Artist Resistance

• Understanding the paradox:
  • Artists need income for sustainability yet may resist blending art with financial motivations.
  • Explore new revenue streams that align with the artist’s motivational mix without compromising their artistic integrity.

Learning Outcomes for Students

1. Consultation Approaches: Evaluate successful and unsuccessful business strategies used with musician-entrepreneurs.
2. Motivational Mix Identification: Determine an artist's unique combination of desired rewards and product types.
3. Connections to Economic Myths: Explore the impact of societal myths on artistic success and income.
4. Revenue Stream Innovations: Use the Motivational Mix Matrix to propose creative revenue strategies based on the artist's motivations.

Lesson Plan Structure

• Prior Readings:
  • Abbing, Chapter 4; case study preparation.
• Discussion Approach:
  • Breakdown discussions into small group analyses based on the readings and Jason Harrod’s website.
• Application of Motivational Mix Matrix:
  • Small groups to propose new revenue streams for the client based on identified motivational attributes and community engagement opportunities.

Employing the Motivational Mix Matrix

• Considerations:
  • Explore existing revenue streams and the source of rewards.
  • Assess the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards associated with the outlined product types and their appeal to artist objectives.

Examples of Potential Revenue Streams

1. Merchandise creation, leveraging existing fan appreciation (e.g., T-shirts, album art).
2. Alcohol-free house concerts, creating an inclusive environment (e.g., for those in recovery).
3. Workshops or fundraisers in partnership with local faith-based organizations.
4. Engaging fans through community-centric events to enhance connection and support.