Kickstarter revolutionized the way artists and makers could raise money for projects (though funders' biases might play more of a role in your project's success than the worthiness of your project itself), and Patreon has created a way for artists to have a sustained income stream from donors. There are so many more ways than there used to be for artists – or anyone with a product or an idea – to drum up income.
Sometimes I think Artists would benefit from thinking like Entrepreneurs – being strategic, having a 3-5-year plan, seeking unconventional sources of funding. And sometimes I think Entrepreneurs would benefit from thinking more like Artists – creating a path for their ideas when there doesn’t exist a path that fits their needs. In the end, I wonder if there are more ways for Artists and Entrepreneurs to connect with and learn from one another. Here in Minneapolis we have Giant Steps. These connections can happen in less formal ways, too. How can we get out of our social and professional bubbles and help each other be successful?