What Not to Say in an Introductory

Email, DM or Message

And What Happens If You Do

Sending emails, DMs, or contacting complete strangers in any other way about your art-- like asking for advice, assistance, guidance, help, favors, names of contacts, shows, representation, or anything else involving their time and effort can sometimes be productive-- but only if you can make a really good case for yourself, why you're messaging them in particular, why they should pay attention to what you're doing and what you need and why you need it, and most importantly, what's in it for them to help you out. If you expect to have any success whatsoever, take some serious time to think through your requests, write them up in ways that show you actually care about the person you're contacting, be specific about why you're contacting them in the first place, and tell them what you're offering in exchange for their assistance.

As for what not to do, avoid using the following words, phrases, cliches, and requests in any introductory email, DM or message you send to someone you don't know unless you make perfectly clear what's in it for them. Even if you can make yourself perfectly clear, it's best to ease into the part where you start making requests. You might think you're being entirely reasonable by simply asking someone to look at or consider your art and respond to it, but unless you specify how they'll benefit-- and not only you-- the people you contact often see your requests in very different ways from how you want them to be seen. For example:

What you write: "Maybe there's some way we can help each other."

What they see: "How can you help me?" If you are the one who needs the help, say so. And I hate to be repetetive, but always be prepared to offer something in exchange for any help you get.

What you write: "I'm wondering whether you would be interested in collaborating."

What they see: "I'm wondering whether you would be interested in working on my behalf." Collaborating means working together to achieve a shared objective or common goal. In other words, know what your goals are, and how they match the goals of whoever you're emailing. Unless you can establish a common interest in terms of what you both want, then you are not collaborating; you're asking someone to do something for you.

What you write: "Let's work together."

What they see: "Let's help me together."

What you write: "I'd like to partner with you to sell my art."

What they see: "I'd like you to sell my art."

What you write: "I'd love to buy you lunch."

What they see: "I know how much you charge for your consulting or advisory services; lunch is much cheaper."

What you write: "I just want to reach out."

What they see: "I want to ask you a bunch of questions about me and my situation."

What you write: "Let's touch base."

What they see: "Let's talk so I can ask a bunch of questions about myself and my situation."

What you write: "Please give me your feedback on my art."

What they see: "Please take time out of your day to look at my art, critique the work, come up with some good ideas about what you like the most, what I can do to improve etc, and then write it all up and send it to me."

What you write: "I'm looking for a manager or agent for my art."

What they see: "I'd rather have someone do it for me than do it myself."

What you write: "I would be interested in exchanging links (or you liking my page, etc.)."

What they see: "I have hardly any traffic on my website (or socials); you have much more. If I can get you to follow me or get a link to my website on yours, then I can increase my traffic."

What you write: "I would really appreciate your opinions."

What they see: "I would really appreciate if you would review everything I've emailed you about my art, and either call and speak with me, or write up a report with your opinions on what I'm doing now, recommendations on how best to proceed from this point forward, and then send it to me."

What you write: "I'm looking for names and contact information of anyone who might be interested buying, selling, or representing in my art."

What they see: "Can you send me-- a complete stranger-- names of people you've known for years or decades so I can contact them out of the clear blue and ask them for stuff... just like I'm doing with you?"

What you write: "Can you send me a list of galleries in your area?"

What they see: I'd rather have you do the work for me than do it myself.

What you write: "Can you tell me how to price my art?"

What they see: "If you tell me how to do it myself, then I don't have to pay you to do it for me." What they don't realize is that it takes me longer to tell them how to do it than to do it for them.

What you write: "I'd like to pick your brain."

What they see: "I'd like to ask you a bunch of questions about me and how I can improve everything I'm trying to do." First of all, that expression is gross. What does it even mean? That you want to take a lobster fork and root around in there? Any way you look at it, if you want something from someone, be direct and convincing about why you are contacting them, why they should help you, and what you're offering in return.

What you write: "I'm open to any thoughts or ideas you might have about my art."

What they see: "Please review my situation, circumstances, resume, art, work history, website, approach to growing my following, business plan, overall presentation. Then write up a report with your ideas and recommendations and send it to me. In return, I might thank you, but only if I think your input is worth it."

What you write: "Can you give me any advice on how to sell my art?"

What they see: "I'd like you to review how I'm doing things now, what you think of my prices, and how I'm organizing and presenting my work. Then think about how I can do these things better, write up a report with your advice and send it to me. In exchange, I'll give you nothing."

What you write: "What do you think about my art, my website, Instagram, my statement, etc?"

What they see: "Please take time out of your day to focus entirely on me, do the required reading, analyze what I'm doing and how I'm doing it, and then write your thoughts up in a report along with your recommendations and email it to me. In return, I will thank you, but only if I like what you have to say."

What you write: "What do you think of my art?"

What they see: "I'm just fishing for compliments and don’t really care what you think."

What you write: "What can you do for me?"

What they see: "Tell me what you can do to improve my financial status, stature, following, profile, and quality of life. Write up a proposal about how you intend to do that, and then send it to me. I'll look it over and decide whether you're good enough for me to work with." Whatever you do, never dare people you don't know to try and satisfy you. That's an immediate "Delete".

Related article: Hopeless Artist Emails and How to Make Them Better

(art by Frank Stella)