Moderated another Artist As Brand, Rise of the Artist Entrepreneur panel discussion at the San Diego Comic Con, with a stellar group of artists, and writers, (from l to r)- Todd Lockwood, Me, Vincenzo Ferriero, Aaron Horkey, Ray Chou, Jess Schnabel, Daniel Monster Davis. A big thank to everyone involved. Many pearls of art career wisdom were shared with a very grateful audience.

Every year we have "wins" even if they are small ones. Sometimes we are so focused on experiencing the big win, that the little ones get pushed aside. Stop and smell the roses my friends!I have some accomplishments to share with you from AAB participants who were with me over a year ago. These individuals have much to show and tell so I am going to present them one by one over the weeks to come.

Sandra Chang-Adair is a force of nature.

I am going to let her share what she has been up to. You will learn much if you read it through-"This may be interesting for your students. My husband, Dustin, is a 3D animator who worked for 10 years doing special effects in Hollywood. Seeing the eventual outsourcing of visual effects to foreign countries, he decided 2 years ago to try his hand at developing an iPhone game. So he created "Poker with Bob", a poker game with a 3D Pixar-like character talking "smack" back to you. He launched the game after programing and working nights and weekends for 2 years in May of 2011. By July, Caesar's Palace contacted him, bought the IP from him and hired him as a consultant on the game. We packed up and moved to Las Vegas. So the lesson here is hard work and dedication does pay off, we should all learn from his focus and concentration. Anyway, I will recap what I've accomplished this past year and what I've learned. I updated my sandrachang.net and Banzai Chicks websites.1.) Did extremely well selling Banzai Chicks merchandise at the San Diego Comic-con 2011. Made a big splash with my 2 Mord'sith (Legend of the Seeker) costumes as well (I actually sold more stuff to guys on those days). I shared a table with my husband (you can see his Poker with Bob) stuff. I have to show off my costumes (it cost a lot to get them made), I know it doesn't have much to do with Banzai Chicks, but it's fun!2.) Did also very well with Banzai Chicks at the Wondercon 2011.3.) Got into Unique LA (a hand-crafted design show) in the summer. Didn't do as well as I hoped, they stuck me along the narrow hallway near the bathrooms, so my space was not as visible from the main showroom. I did learn that a design/fashion show was probably not the best venue for my stuff as much as comic book conventions, but it could be that my location was bad or too much competition with jewelery.4.) Did the 2 day Pink Parlour show at the Santa Anita Racetrack (a show geared towards woman and Kitsch). I did fairly well. Got to put some of my stuff on consignment at the Pinky Star store in West Covina (the proprietor of the show owns this store). The Banzai Chicks merchandise didn't sell as well, so in September, I removed my merchandise. To my disappointment, they had stuck labels underneath the arm holes and ruined some shirts with holes from the plastic tags. I think if any of your students want to put stuff on consignment, they have to be careful with whom they are dealing with.5.) I got my stuff into Happy Six, a Kawaii type boutique in Santa Monica. I had my eye on that store earlier this year and I met a friend of Diana Levin's who knew the owner, Sophie Snow. I befriended her on Facebook and Sophie started following my tweets on Twitter. So I sent her a message asking if I can be in her store. She agreed right away. It's consignment, but Sophie is a great person to deal with. She is meticulous with the invoicing and consistently sends you an inventory of goods sold and a check  every month. She is also expanding to an online store which she requested I participate in. She is a good example of how networking on Facebook and Twitter can work to your advantage. I also got a deal going with an Australian publisher through Facebook called Centauress. He wants to publish art journals and license my artwork on the cover. He is in the process of making his company public and rewriting the contracts for the artists.6.) I sold a few items wholesale to a boutique in Burbank called Audrey K and a boutique somewhere along the 5 from LA to San Jose, but when I inquired about more business, I never got a response. I had stuff in a store in Highland Park called Studioroot 66, but they closed down because of the bad economy during the first quarter of this year. When I moved to Las Vegas, I was at a carwash called 7 Hills and I noticed they had handmade jewelry for sale. So I have some of my Banzai Chicks jewelry for consignment there. It's an odd place, but who cares. I will have to do my homework and scout out for more places to sell my stuff in Nevada.7.) I met a friend of my husband's at the San Diego Comic-con that works at Applehead Factory, a Branding Company. As a favor to my husband, he agreed to help advise me on branding Banzai Chicks. He said my next step was creating a bible and later a style guide. He sent me some examples of transmedia bibles for other intellectual property as samples. So I am working on a Banzai Chicks Transmedia Bible. So I started developing  the  Banzai Chicks universe and characters in more depth and plan to lay it out in a cohesive package. I designed and reworked some new characters and mascots. I'm hoping that he can help me shape this into a viable property for licensing. It's going to be a lot of work. 8.) I developed some new Banzai Chicks jewelry. I engineered Interchangeable Magnetic lockets and rings. There is a magnet inside the locket or ring and I have my characters inside glass lids with washers attached to the backs of them. You can switch out the glass lids on the locket or ring. This is my best selling item at conventions. I also designed three types of bracelets and dangle glass earrings.kawaii-mika-the-punk-girlbanzai-chicks-glass-interchangeablesweet-cartoon-girls-hearts-charmcute-cartoon-geisha-chibi-glass-pierced9.) After neglecting my Etsy store for over a year, I decided to give it a big push in December (just in time for the Holidays). I bought a macro lens for my camera and a lighting kit off of Amazon. I bought background paper from the scrapbooking department in Michael's and studied product photography (as well as a layman could off the internet). I worked on improving my photographs to make my Etsy store look better. I also bought search ads, but I discovered that the best trafficking tool is to constantly listing new items so they show up on the front page. The shop stats on Etsy really helps.10.) I created a Zazzle store that has sneakers (and stamps) and a Spreadshirt.com store to sell T-shirt designs I don't have the money to manufacture and screen print myself. I learned how to create artwork for a flock print (a t-shirt with a velvety, soft surface) using vector art created to certain specifications. I get occasional orders from these online stores.zazzle.com/banzai+chicks+giftsspreadshirt.com/banzaichicks11.) Besides Banzai Chicks, I sold 4 painted sexy girl pin-ups to Hustler Magazine.12.) I finally signed a contract with SQP Publications with Sal Quartuccio, the owner, for a 48-page sexy pinup book. I've been trying to get this deal going for 3 years now, and I was able to connect with him during the San Diego Comic-con. Persistence pays off. The book is slated for an end of 2012 or early 2013 release. I can fill about 1/2 the book with paintings I'm created before, but I have about 22 more paintings to make between now and the end of next year. I love doing Banzai Chicks stuff, but the other part of me loves making realistic fantasy paintings. Here is a painting I'm working on for the book, it's not finished yet, but it's coming along nicely.

13.) Did a 3-day art exhibit, San Francisco Erotic Art Exhibition, in September. This was crazy because I just moved to Las Vegas and two days later, I had to drive up to San Francisco. I didn't sell anything, but met some great people and the exposure was good. The show was on Mission Street and was in a high trafficked area, but over all, very few pieces of art actually sold. I also participated in several smaller art venues, the One-day Character's Show in Hollywood hosted by Diana Levin (You Go, Girl!) in February; Women on Top, An All Female Artist Exhibition in Oxnard hosted by Patty Arellano in April; and Ladies Night, another all female art show in Oxnard run by Gloria Centurion in June.14.) So that's it. I'm a full-time artist now in Las Vegas. I was able to quit my stressful graphic design job. On the personal side, I got two certificates in kung fu at my school, Beijing Taichi and Kung fu Academy in Santa Monica before I left (had to test on a bunch of forms and fighting) -- a Certificate in Traditional Kung Fu and a Certificate in Traditional Weapons. My school does not issue black belts unless you win in a national tournament in an advanced division and I didn't compete. In Las Vegas, I joined a kung fu school recommended by my Los Angeles Sifu, the Sifu at the new school is a 32nd generation Shaolin Monk from China...how cool is that? After 2 months, I'm already a yellow sash and have learned 3 new forms."

Did I mention that Sandra was a force of nature?! Thank you Sandra, your an awesome inspiration.Onward and upward everyone!Greg

Photo by Spalenka

I met Ric Meyers at the San Diego Comic Con two years ago where he hosts the annual Superhero Kung-Fu Extravaganza. Here you see, learn about the art and history of Kung-Fu through dozens of film excerpts. Ric was the first non-martial artist to be inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.He is a talented, sweet natured intellectual with a large heart. I had an opportunity this last week to spend a few days with him in his Southport, Connecticut home and was able to dive into some philosophical questions about life and the artist path. I feel Ric represents strong Artist As Brand principles in that he is his own artist, and goes his own way.

Ric Meyers started his career assistant-editing four magazines and twenty-one comic books. He continued by writing a dozen non-fiction books about television and movies, as well as several dozen science-fiction, mystery, war, horror, fantasy, and thriller novels (under his own name and several pseudonyms). He eventually started working for television networks and channels, including CBS, ABC, A&E, Bravo, Discovery, Cablevision, and Starz Encore. That led to DVDs, for which he’s supplied more than four hundred international audio commentaries, interviews, liner notes, and/or cover copy.Throughout the decades he’s taught at Brigham Young University, City College of New York, and the University of Bridgeport, while presenting seminars at movie studios and pop culture conventions in both America and Asia. Most recently, he has scripted a new film documentary "Films of Fury" set to premiere in 2011 (along with the book), and is completing two new non-fiction books and a graphic novel … among other things.

Greg: You have traveled the world learning from Masters of Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and other Asian practices of self-empowerment. What did you learn from these Masters about empowerment?Ric: Well, first I learned that it’s not self-empowerment, it’s self-improvement. They taught me that the desire for power, self or otherwise, runs counter to inner health and balance. They taught me to organically unleash the energy (which could, I suppose, be translated as “power”) that we all already possess – which I was previously blocking or polluting in various ways, physically and mentally.

G: I define empowerment not as an egotistical desire but as a confidence in an individual's ability to accomplish goals. Utilizing this energy as you say can allow for infinite possibilities to manifest. How do you define artistic empowerment?R: When you stop getting in your own way. The difference between successful and unsuccessful artists, I’ve found, is that the successful artists think practically and realistically about the work they are doing – not the work they hope for or dream about or plan on doing. They love the art they are working on, not the thought of the riches or fame it may elicit.G: Beauty is in the doing! We are very much in agreement with that. You are very much respected as a writer, having had both professional and critical success. How do you define success?R: Success is two-fold: first, creating a work – be it book, article, graphic novel, audio commentary, performance, class, seminar, TV show, radio show, film, DVD, or whatever – that I enjoy and that communicates the thoughts and feelings I hoped to convey … then, making a living so I can continue to create.

G: Your skills as an educator are appreciated in scholarly (colleges) and professional (publishing, film, entertainment industries) arenas. What do you enjoy most about teaching, and what has teaching taught you?R: As I tell my students in every endeavor – whether I’m teaching martial arts, film, or literature – is that it’s not about winning or losing, right or wrong, it’s about learn or not learn. Since my goal is always to make whatever I work on as good as it can be, I’ve always loved finding someone with enough knowledge, experience, and honesty to teach me more, so I can make my work better. So, as a staunch believer in the golden rule, I try to pass that on. As my first novel editor told me way back when, “The difference between you and me, kid, is that I know the names of the problems.” He was great and kind enough to tell me -- and I was smart enough to listen, not blindly or foolishly defend my “work”!G: We have had some interesting conversations about living from your heart. What does this mean for you?R: Well, mostly that I don’t do it enough! Just as “kung fu” means “hard work” (not “martial arts,” as many seem to think), “tai chi” means “balance,” which I strive for in my life, and therefore in my work. But the heart is a powerful thing, and, given my “difficult” childhood, I have to be cautious not to let my heart overwhelm my mind with emotional hysteria. I’m more partial to “living from your soul” – that is, understanding that money is something we created to distract ourselves from a more fulfilling life’s work, which is the inner journey, learning, improving, creating, helping, sharing, etc.G: I love “living from your soul”! That is beautiful. Self-motivation is key to independence. 
What has been your experience of this?R: At a recent pop culture convention, I had occasion to co-chair a panel about “Breaking the Ice with the Opposite Sex.” In other words, nerds getting the courage to talk to geeks, or vice versa. I suggested a mantra along the lines of “Remember, I’m gonna die someday.” Those who manage to get over that paralyzing thought will hopefully then face their fear of success or failure (about anything from talking to a guy/gal to starting to write/paint or whatever) with a jaunty “Hey, why not?” Since the age of twelve, I’ve trained myself in what I’m calling “mental martial arts,” where the moment I start fighting myself, I become my own referee and trainer.G: Living a freelance existence takes courage and tenacity. What are your thoughts on surviving and thriving as an independent artist?R: As I tell my students, “Do what you have to do to finance your dreams.” But to a writer, everything is research, so if I have to waiter, barista, greet at a Walmart, whatever, to keep food in my mouth, clothes on my body, and a roof over my head, that’s what I’ll do.G: How would you describe artist sustainability?R: I wouldn’t, really. I keep shifting from genre to genre and medium to medium as they change or interest me.G: Shifting genres and mediums is a valid form of artist sustainability, but how do you handle fluctuating economic factors in the professional corporate world?R: Personally, I diversify. Many of my literary friends who concentrated on one genre are no longer writing for a living. I’ve done science-fiction, mystery, horror, thrillers, non-fiction books, magazine editing, article writing, radio, TV, video, internet, consulting, performing, etc…. not because I had to, but because I wanted to. My goal is to communicate, and it doesn’t matter to me what the medium is.

G: I believe you have created a brand around who you are and what you love. What other creative talents have created a profound impact on you or the world?R: My editors and mentors: Jeff Rovin, Warren Murphy, Donald E. Westlake, Jim Frost, Brian Thomsen, William L. DeAndrea, Christopher K. Browne, Steven Hartov, Donald Maass, Al Zuckerman, Stephen Watson, and Kate Liba. Then there’s Adam Carolla, who said “If it doesn’t make you happy or make you money, don’t do it.” Not to mention Kurt Russell, who told Craig Ferguson that “What’s on the other side of your fear is you.” And, of course, my father, Stanley Meyers, who taught me in word and deed that “Hey, why not?”G: Any last pearls of wisdom?Understand that, given the way your eyes are set, the world literally revolves around you, but also keep in mind that you will never see your own face. You can’t read others’ minds, but you can read your own; therefore, spend as much time as possible doing just that.

• Don’t ask yourself questions you can’t answer.• Don’t ask others questions that you don’t want answered.• Don’t ask babies any questions. They can’t answer and it’s frustrating for them.• Don’t force things and don’t fight things. Remember that water doesn’t choose its path down a mountain.• Stay strong, smart, and serene.• See every so-called setback as an opportunity to learn and improve.• Work doesn’t have to be “work.” It can be “fun effort.”• Be honest with yourself -- if you aren’t, who will be? -- but don’t be too hard on yourself, either. Forgive yourself, learn from it, and move on with style.• Balance, balance, balance.• Always go home with someone you love (even if you’re going home alone).• Understand that life’s journey is making yourself the best “you” you can be … and that is neither automatic nor immediate. So, if you haven’t already, get started.• Enjoy everything. That’s living life to the fullest.Thank you Ric for your vital art spirit and wisdom!To everyone's "self improvement!"Greg