The Value of Mastery
Sunshowers Acrylic on Wood Panel in Solid Maple Floater Frame 13”X13”
I spoke with a friend the other day who told me that he was lucky enough to get a ticket to the Bruce Springsteen concert in a nearby city. The night’s event was $525 plus all the fees that the ticket companies charge. (That’s a post for a different blog and I won’t share commentary about that.) He thought that price was worth paying because Bruce is known to put on a really good show. I’ve been to a couple of his concerts and I agree that a Springsteen concert is a lot of fun. But that was a long time ago and I paid far less than what my friend was charged. I’m not sure I’d fork over that much to see him again. But, I think that whether you love his music or not, we can agree that he has mastered his musical style. And after decades of practice and experience, he can charge whatever he wants for a 4 hour long concert.
The alternative to going to see a big name like Bruce is to go to see a cover band. Someone who has practiced every note of Springsteen’s songs and puts on a great show for maybe $50 bucks a seat. They give you a similar experience but, it’s not the real deal. You’re not in house with Bruce and the E Street Band. It’ll be fun but, you probably won’t walk out of there telling everyone about the epic cover band you saw. And the price matches the experience. You got a good deal but you didn’t pay for mastery - at least not creative mastery. You got a copy.
Let’s take a look at mastery in the realm of sports. I marvel at the talent of athletes at the top of their game. The amount of training, practice, commitment and intensity is what separates the pros from the weekend warriors. The Olympic medalists and the pros in any sport league have mastered their craft. And even if they are the best, they know that they have to continue to improve in order to stay on top. The top means top salaries, bonuses and sponsorships. They receive the most money because they have the mastery that has the most value. The value of the players is paid for by the fans. And there are people who fly to distant cities and pay big bucks to attend events where their favorite team or player is exhibiting their mastery.
As artists we are always looking to improve our skills. Make better work. Grow our skillset in some way. It’s the job of being an artist. It’s also the job of everyone else who does whatever they do. Get better and better until you feel you have mastered your job, career, work or output. Once we’ve mastered something in our artwork, like every at the top of their profession, the work is to continue to improve your skills. It’s why an emerging artist charges $100 for a painting and a master can charge anything they want. To the art collector, the price is worth it. They appreciate the effort, experience and skill required to make the work. That’s where the value is. It is in the eye of the beholder.
So if you want to spend thousands of dollars to go to the Superbowl or have front row seats to your favorite musical performance, that’s where you find value. Our job as artists is not to convince people that our art has value. Our job is to put our best work out there and decide how much mastery we have amassed in order for the price of our work to meet the value of it to buyers. Selling yourself short is a disservice to the time, effort and practice you have committed. Honest pricing allows you to feel confident that the buyer is getting their money’s worth. It’s the sweet spot. People who connect with your work at a fair price - whatever that is - will recognize value and mastery when they see it.
Scattered Thoughts Acrylic on Wood Panel in Solid Maple Floater Frame 13”X13”
