In order to have a reason to bring your digital artwork into the physical world, you are going to have to venture into this world yourself, have conversations with people and create and negotiate opportunities to show your work.

For many years, I wrestled with the concept of networking. Networking is the idea of making the acquaintance of people who may be in a position to help you accomplish specific career goals.

I would alternately avoid or grudgingly attend gallery openings or industry conferences. In events such as these, there always seemed to be an air of desperation. You could literally see head after head scanning through the ocean of people trying to decide who looks important enough to talk to. I hated the idea of feigning enthusiasm in conversation with people that I would normally not be interested in talking to.

In recent years, I’ve changed my perspective about this whole situation. Here’s how I see it...

You’ve spent a lot of time making things that you are interested in. You’re probably excited enough about some aspect of this process that you’d enjoy having a conversation about it with an interested/interesting person. If you go to an art party, you will be surrounded by people who also make things or are interested in people who make things.

Go to the party. Have conversations with interesting people about things that excite you. Be polite, but don’t feel obligated to have conversations with people just because they are important. Amazingly, when these “important” people no longer have power over you, you may find that they are actually interesting and they may appreciate being talked to by a person who is not actively trying to get something from them.

People may act from every possible motivation, positive or negative, It is wise to keep that in mind. Some people have become so entrenched in politics that they may have virtually forgotten the passion they felt about the creative process. In the art world you are likely to encounter individuals who are willing to create situations that are the antithesis of their values, in order to gain power or social acceptance.

Nevertheless, you don’t have to play. No matter how prevalent, inevitable and overpowering this type of behavior may seem, remember that these are people who have lost perspective. They are not seeing the big picture. Creating the feeling that this behavior is prevalent, inevitable and overpowering is the only possible defense of this position.

You can do it the way it’s supposed to be done. Show up. Be polite. Say what you mean. Talk to people you like and enjoy yourself. When you are good at something, fun to be around, speak directly and honestly and act without desperation, you’d be amazed at the opportunities that can arise.

-Scott Ligon