Measuring Success

WOW! This is a pretty big topic to take on, so I believe I'll just dip a toe in and see how the water feels.

In the last fortnight I attended the opening at the Museum of Florida Art and I had a booth at the Boards & Waves Expo. Both events were fabulous good fun, as far as I was concerned. However, the big issue always comes up: SALES. "Are you selling anything?"

This is how some (okay, lots) of people measure success. Money in the art world is tied to myriad definitions of success. Maybe success is making enough lighthouse paintings to make the mortgage but not have a day job. Maybe success is huge worldwide recognition and acclaim with all the ass-kissing in the world. Maybe success is making the booth fee.

I don't know. Truth be told, all of those thoughts flash through my head at some point or another in the process. It's pretty easy to go from a Vincent state of mind (one sale in his lifetime) to Salvador success (everything that man touched was pure gold) in the blink of an eye.

Did I make my booth fee? Sort of. Did I recoup all my expenses? No. Did I make new friends and find new creative ventures to explore? Yes. Do I believe that the venture was a success? Yes. What do you think?

I'd like to close with one of my favorite quotes:

"Love what you do. Believe in your instincts. And you'd better be able to pick yourself up and brush yourself off every day." -Mario Andretti