The Artist’s Elevator Pitch

Stefanie Kirlew
Jul 21, 2017 · 5 min read

Reach the Heady Heights of Self-Promotion with Our Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide

As a bona fide English gal, I was somewhat flummoxed and confused when asked to delve into and subsequently examine the concept of the Artist’s Elevator Pitch. My initial (and somewhat ignorant) ponderings led me to believe that I would be researching how to construct some sort of uplifting, encouraging motivational speech.

I envisaged myself standing up on stage in front of a sea of despondent artists, paintbrush in hand, raised above my head, channelling DJ Khaled and bellowing ‘YOU SMART!’, ‘YOU LOYAL!’, ‘YOU’RE GRATEFUL!’ Transpires I’d significantly missed the mark and in turn got completely the wrong end of the stick, although I suppose the ‘(up)lifting’ (for the uninitiated, in the UK we call an elevator a lift) element wasn’t totally off kilter.

In a nutshell, it’s a thirty-second verbal synopsis of your practice and what you do and is thus named due to the approximate (and limited) time one would have to speak to another whilst travelling in an elevator. Or a lift. You learn something new every day, it seems.

Top Tips for Constructing the Perfect Artist’s Elevator Pitch

  1. Keep It Short and Sweet

As a rough estimation (with the help of the trusty Internet), thirty seconds of speech is only approximately sixty words, depending on how fast you can babble. As tempting as it is to try and squeeeeeze in as much information in as possible, I’d advise to keep your spiel clear and concise in this instance, hitting your listener with some clear and memorable lines.

2. Define What You do

Defining your practice is probably the key element of your elevator pitch so you need to consider the best way to get what you do across. If you partake in a multitude of activities, try and think of an umbrella term to cover them all as a whole in order to save a bit of ever-so-valuable time.

3. Get in a Real-Life Example

If you’ve created something or worked with someone that can be defined as truly epic, let the rest of the world know! A show at a gallery? Speak up! Collaborated with a well-known company/brand? Don’t be shy…shout it from the rooftops! Being able to bolster what you’ve achieved with a ‘real life’ example is worth its weight gold and will add vast amounts value to your speech.

4. Don’t Use Confusing Jargon

I know this sounds incredibly rich and hypocritical coming from myself (as the undisputed queen of alliteration and superfluous word-age) but try not to use extra words, and/or confusing/technical terms that others may not understand and will subsequently need explaining. Consider all of the valuable elevator time you’ll be wasting! Keep it brief, basic and to the point.

5. Revise If Necessary

Don’t be afraid to edit, re-edit and then re-edit again! Palm your piece off on friends and family and see what they think. It’s often helpful to have outside input. Others might be able to put into words the things you can’t quite get down on paper and remind you of the great things you’ve done that may of somehow managed to slip your mind.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Read your piece over and over and over again. Read it in your head as you’re out in public, sitting on the bus or pounding the streets. Read it out loud when you’re alone in your flat, or recite it to the mirror, if you so fancy. Rope in those oh-so-useful friends and family members… by the time you’re finished, they’ll know it better than you. Say it until you’re blue in the face! That way, when you need it the most, it’ll roll off of the tongue with the greatest of ease.

7. Extend Your Time!

If you really feel you’re unable to pack all of your achievements into such a short space of time, always keep a business card handy which you can pass over and allow whoever you’ve cornered to jump on the Internets at a later date and explore the true breadth of your practice.

8. And Finally, Believe in What You’re Saying!

Conviction is the key. It’s imperative that you truly believe in what you’re saying in order for others to be convinced too. Be clear and concise when you speak and project your voice with the upmost of meaning. They won’t fail to be impressed.

Some Great Examples Here:

· http://www.brit.co/41-elevator-pitches-that-worked/

For the Artsy Entrepreneur: “Painter turned fashion entrepreneur. California and Seoul native. Art lover with an MBA. Bringing comfort and ease to women living 24/7 lives who wear the pants.” — Eunice Cho

· http://faso.com/fineartviews/27578/the-elevator-speech

“Hi, I’m Greg Peters and I’m a visual artist. I produce artwork that begs to be touched. Here’s my business card which will take you straight to my web site where you can see what I do. I could talk for hours about my art, but seeing it is better than thousands of words. Take a look for yourself when you have a minute and drop me a line if something catches your eye. I can always be reached by phone or email. “

And for Some Extra Help and Support:

Brilliant video examples and a step-by-step guide:

https://indyarts.org/artists/artist-resources/item/artist-s-elevator-pitch

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Stefanie Kirlew

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