stateyourpoint

I tried to post something about this at the OS forum, but don't recall if I was successful, but Injeun has seen to it that we have no Silly BS to contend with here, so I'll try again.

I believe Misty mentioned TuTu Tango, and I replied that it is, indeed, still there, still an eclectic artist enclave (with some mighty fine food...try the pecan crisps with pears) and sadly, one of the few such places in the metro.

As a matter of fact, it's really hard to find out what's happening in any arena of the arts that falls outside the Official, Mainstream Arts Button-Down Crowd, which tends to gather more to be seen than actually see anything themselves. There are many small galleries and venues where talented artists are creating and exhibiting their creations, but even the alternative press often gives the arts community short-shrift.

Anyway, The Art Is Out There; you just have to work a little bit to find it. If Orlando is gonna progress out of the small-market mentality and fully embrace the things which make larger cities exciting and vibrant, the artistic community is going to have to get louder.

Okay, I'm game. Here's what I tried to post a bazillion times on the OS board:

There are several reasons that local art is hard to find. Artists don't generally make good marketers. And if the artists don't tell the alternative press about events, the press doesn't print it. Also, advertising costs dearly. Local artists tend not to have a marketing/advertising budget. We spend all our discretionary income from our day jobs on art supplies that there's not much left for advertising. And time -- precious free time is more enjoyable spent creating than selling.
That said, there are some local artists/organizers who are very good at getting the word out with the resources available.
Surprising to me is that 3rd Thursday has been an event since at least 2001 yet many people who I talk to have never heard of it. It's advertised on the radio stations. People don't hear? Or they've not heard it enough to notice? Hmmmm....

AbbyLou said:

And time -- precious free time is more enjoyable spent creating than selling.


Sounds like your reward is in the doing/creating. Your are fortunate then, it seems to me.....at least in that regard.

Don't get me wrong. I do the happy dance whenever I sell something. I don't need that validation but I enjoy it -- and spending the money is cool, too. :-)

Sounds like the best of both worlds.