The basic ArtSmart PeopleMap is a visual representation of all your personal and professional connections. Done with consideration and kept up to date, it is one of the most important tools in your kit. 

This tool is very popular with my clients. It reminds us that we are all more connected than we think—and that our circle is ever-expandable. This tool isn’t just about people in your art life. It’s about all the people that you know and have ever known: family, family friends, kids you used to babysit, someone who wrote about your work, a neighbor … It will help you look at your network with new eyes. 

Our connections are one of our greatest assets; most people want to be helpful if they’re able. Interestingly, studies have shown that it isn’t your close ties that are likely to benefit you most, it’s your weak ties that have the greatest impact on your career. 

Building an ArtSmart PeopleMap

I suggest filling out the ArtSmart PeopleMap over a few days—keeping it easy to access on your computer will let you come back to it time and again. 

To capture as many contacts as possible, think about your closest friends and family, as well as any acquaintances, and professional contacts, then comb through LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, the recesses of your mind, and even old digital and paper address books. 

Get ready for a voyage of rediscovery (and hidden gems!). 

Consider what each connection means to your development. Do they write? Are they a curator you haven’t reached out to in a while? Do they work for a bank that has an art collection? Do they build websites? Does their sister run a metal workshop?  

You will be using the ArtSmart Triangle goals of support, money, and exposure to establish a key. What you’ll end up with is a view of your extended network, strategic alliances, and maybe even where your strengths and weaknesses lie. You might notice that you’ve got a lot of support potential from your network, but very little money potential—something to think about. 

Some people may be helpful in various ways (support and money; money and exposure), but the ArtSmart PeopleMap works best if you identify the most important goal: for instance, your aunt might tell all her art-loving friends about your shows, but it’s her municipal government role that can get you an inside scoop on local arts funding. 

To be effective, your ArtSmart PeopleMap should be updated regularly—I recommend no less than once a week. Doing this certainly doesn’t come naturally to me, so I set a calendar alarm: “Update PeopleMap” every day. Who did I meet at that dinner last night? Who was I just talking about on that Sunday hike? It only takes a couple of minutes, and I’ve made it a habit. Small disciplines applied consistently over time are what bring success.

Don’t skip doing the PeopleMap!