019: Photographer Erin Bell embraces life as an art-maker

Erin Bell talks with openness and honesty about her journey from a life constructed around corporate consulting to a life constructed around making art, theatre, and her new business, Bull City Photography. Erin generously shares valuable marketing tips that she picked up from her work in market research and strategic branding that can be used by artists at the local level.

Erin Bell graduated from Duke in 2011 with a bachelor’s in Psychology and a masters in Management Studies. After working the past 5 years as a marketing and business strategy consultant, Erin quit her job in February 2017 to pursue artistic endeavors. Erin now works with Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern as a stage manager, webmaster, and graphic designer, and earlier this year she founded Bull City Photography. Support Little Green Pig via their Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/littlegreenpig

This episode is brought to you by the Soapboxers, the official patrons of the Artist Soapbox. If you like these episodes and want more, get on the Soapbox! Podcast recorded at Shadowbox Studio in Durham, NC.

Time break-down:

(Note: This episode was recorded at the end of 2017, so when Erin mentions “Earlier this year…” she’s talking about 2017.)

[0:00] Episode intro and Erin’s bio

[1:05] Erin’s path: College degrees in biz and psych, careers in market research and strategic branding, taking a sabbatical from the day job and getting back into art

[7:48] Bull City Photography: a new venture. Erin’s visual sense and the value of professional photography and design

[13:23] How did Erin manage the transition from a tightly constructed schedule (in consulting) to a wide open space to fill?

[15:30] Recovering from “the cumulative wear and tear of not being my own person”

[21:13] The fun and joy of photo shoots

[24:05] Marketing and Business Tips for Local Artists: timeline, costs, analytics, goals

[28:33] Why don’t local artists do these things?

[31:45] What to prioritize in marketing? Design and Collaboration!

[34:03] What’s next for Erin?

[35:23] Thank you and sign-off

*If you’d like to book a session with Erin, mention you heard her on Artist Soapbox and you’ll get an ASBX discount.*

Artist Soapbox podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you listen, please support the podcast by sharing episodes with friends and contributing via our Patreon campaign.

If you have feedback, questions, suggestions, please email artistsoapbox@gmail.com. FEEDBACK IS EVERYTHING TO ASBX.

Artist Soapbox

Artist Soapbox is a platform for original scripted audio fiction and an opportunity for artists to discuss their creative work in their own voices. We do this through our interview podcast, our blog, live events, and original audio dramas.

Artist Soapbox is an anti-racist organization. We believe Black Lives Matter. In addition, as a podcast production company, ASBX has signed the Equality in Audio Pact on Broccoli Content.

Artist Soapbox is more than just a podcast.

We lead writers groups, accountability support, workshops, and events. We produce and create audio dramas too! Listen to the Master BuilderThe New Colossus Audio Drama, Jesus Pancake, Declaration of Love, Food for Thought, and ASBX Shorts. Stay tuned to hear about more projects written by the Soapbox Audio Collective Writers’ Group.

Audio Dramas

Jesus (1400 × 1400 px)-2

Jesus Pancake

Jesus Pancake is the newest scripted audio fiction series from Artist Soapbox. Nine episodes of zany dark comedy.

IG-Size-The-New-Colossus-Gull-Photo

The New Colossus

The New Colossus Audio Drama is a totally unhinged dark comedy reboot of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL.

MASTER BUILDER300

Master Builder

This audio drama was adapted from Tamara’s 2018 stage play produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and inspired by Henrick Ibsen’s classic, The Master Builder published in 1892.

DOL-logo

Declaration of Love

Co-producers Aurelia Belfield and Tamara Kissane of Artist Soapbox commissioned eleven NC playwrights to craft short audio scenes based on the prompt “Declaration of Love.”

FoodForThought_GeneralIG

Food for Thought

Three pilot episodes of new scripted audio fiction series inspired by the prompt Food for Thought.

ASBX-shorts-1

ASBX Shorts

ASBX Shorts are six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone excited about Jesus Pancake, our new audio fiction series in development.

Scroll to Top