Episode 1 - Makers Together

In this introductory episode we meet the leadership team of Makers Together. 

Makers Together® is a non-profit, member-based community for makers and artisans. Their purpose is to support artisans who desire to sell and promote their creative pieces by offering education, workshops, and resources to members on business practices and promotion of their work.

Learn more at - https://www.makerstogether.org/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Meet Your Makers Podcast, where curious minds meet crafty hands. Each month we'll sit down with makers and artisans from workshops, studios, kitchens, garages, and pop-up markets to uncover the stories behind the creations they bring into the world. I'm your host, Brian Kopetsky, coming to you from the Elisha D. Smith Public Library. Meet Your Makers opens the studio door, invites listeners into the real unpolished world of modern artisans and makers. Each episode, you'll hear how ideas become objects, experiments become craft, and how everyday people express their ideas through the arts. From woodworkers to weavers to metal artists, printmakers, ceramicists, coders, and creative tinkerers, you'll hear how they got started, what keeps them up at night, and the hard-earned lessons they've learned along the way. If you've ever wanted to turn an idea in your head into something that you can hold in your hands or just love hearing how things are made, this podcast is for you. And good morning. I am here with the ladies of Makers Together. Um, with me today is Joanne Mariahzy, um Candy Teachman, and Lauren Cornell. So um, why don't we kick things off with a quick introduction from each of you and what your roles are with Makers Together?

SPEAKER_03 1:13

Um, I'm Candy Teachman. I am the president and one of the co-founders, and I've I've been here from day one.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

My name is Joanne Mariahzy. I am also a co-founder, have been since day one. I am the Secretary Treasurer and um favorite fan.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

I am Lauren Cornell. I am the current acting vice president. I was a member for two years before being inducted. It wasn't an official election. I'm not exactly sure. Right? Inducted into the role.

SPEAKER_00 1:55

All right. So could one of you tell us a little bit about what Makers Together does?

SPEAKER_03 2:03

So, Makers Together, our official mission is that we help artisans and makers learn the business side of creativity. What that means is if you come and join us for any kind of a discussion, we're not going to tell you how to do your art or your making. We're going to help you understand the background of how to promote it and how to sell it and make sure that you have all of the information that you need to do that uh legally as well as having you prepared so it's not as overwhelming as it could be.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

Okay. So what um what brought about the creation of Makers Together? What did you were you saw a need, you filled a need, but but what exactly was it that you saw?

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Um we ourselves were the need. During COVID, we were part of a um a business, a women's business group, and all of the rest of the women could still do their business just you know virtually, whereas for us being artisans and makers, our venues basically closed down. The art fairs, art shows, all that were non existent. So we had to figure out how to still be able to sell things. And little by little we came to the realization that this is a real need for not just us, but for others. And it um it it became something real. We initially started an LLC and then we went to a nonprofit. We're a 501c3, and we have trademarked our name, and we're a real, real organization. Um, like Candy said, it's important that we do not teach you how, you know, we don't say, oh, you could do this when you're painting. No, no, no. We'll say um teach you where to go to get business advice, where to get bookkeeping advice, where you know, we we have uh presentations on how to do photography for yourself and your your work and all that kind of information. Um, and our presentations are on Tuesday evenings, they're recorded, they're saved. We have a library for our membership, and um you can go back to them anytime and re-watch those. So it was a big need for us, and we decided to share what we were doing with other people.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Okay. So what's is there a typical member of Makers Together? Um who who joins um the organization?

SPEAKER_03 4:46

We have different kinds of members actually. Um so we have the community that comes and they they talk and they sit at our chats that are um around the area. We try to make sure that we hit different local spots around the area once a month. And it's it's a fun chat to just see what's going on in in the local scene, not just with art, but with creatives and with supporters as well. And then for our virtual meetings, um, those are membership-based. And the people that come to there are a variation of people who are either just starting or they've been creating for a while and maybe they've been to a couple of fairs and they've shown their work. Um, and then we even have a few that have, you know, they've been out there for a while. They came in because they wanted the community. They wanted to be able to speak with people who've been in the same places that they have and the same ideas that they have for that camaraderie, as well as answering questions. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

So I guess that begs the question of how does one become a member of Makers Together?

SPEAKER_02 5:47

Well, our website is makers together.org, and there is a form you would fill out. We usually ask for um pictures. If what you create is um, you know, artwork, or we have um people who do things that aren't artwork, so we talk about those products, but it's a it's a vetting, and we usually, you know, just have a conversation with between ourselves and then talk to the potential members and see if it's a good fit. But yeah, you would apply on our web on our webpage, it's makerstogether.org.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Okay. How is the organization itself organized? So is it a hierarchy? How how do you guys go about establishing leadership, things like that?

SPEAKER_02 6:41

Well, we have a board of four. As a nonprofit, you have to have three. So um, but we have four people on our board, and um those board, you know, the president is elected, vice president. She Lauren stepped in to fill a vacancy. Um, and it's we if you are a member and you want to be on the board, you can just let us know you want to be on the board. Um we follow our bylaws very, very closely so we don't bust those apart. But um, we are currently in the process of looking for outside advisor board members who cannot be an executive, like vice president, president, uh, secretary of treasurer, but can help us in other ways as board members. So we're we're just getting ready to start that process.

unknown 7:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

So tell me what does, and maybe maybe a day doesn't work, but tell me what what is your typical workflow like? Say over the course of a month, what is what does the process look like?

SPEAKER_03 7:51

Uh there's a lot of social media involved. If you go to any of our pages in Facebook, uh Instagram, LinkedIn, we post five days a week. So there's a a lot of planning involved. We have um Fridays, almost every Friday, we have a meeting for about two hours that we plan what we're gonna do for um you know talks like this, what we're gonna do for promoting the group, uh, recruitment, as well as planning what our events are going to be for the membership. So there's there are a lot of meetings. And then um Mondays and Thursdays are a lot of fun because we have our two-hour co-working sessions, those Mondays and Thursdays. And when our members come in, it's a it's kind of a free-for-all. You know, it's our social, it's working and and knowing that we're all doing our art or we're all doing our computer work, but it's the you know, the cooler talk, if you will. Um, and then Tuesday nights are our educational presentations and workshops. So there's a lot going on every week.

unknown 8:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:51

So focusing in on like the educational talks, is there an area that you guys have noticed that um a lot of your members, obviously, everyone's in a different place when they come in, but is there an area where you're like, geez, it seems like everyone needs to know about X?

SPEAKER_03 9:14

Every time I answer that question, we go fill it and then it changes. Um right now the big question is you know, it's the beginning of the year, and we had everybody set their goals at the beginning of the year. So this time of year specifically, it's always okay, how do I plan this out so that I can accomplish those goals for the end of the year? That one I can tell you is annual. It's always right now we're looking at it going, oh, how do I break this down? And taking the time to be able to make it manageable. Um, as far as overall, right now we're looking at filling some needs as in scaling your business. You know, you've decided that this is more than a hobby. What do I do next? What does it look like? How do I envision it? As well as what are some resources that I can use to be able to find out what those possibilities are? And that's that's one of our next steps is to fill that one.

unknown 10:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:04

So if you had to, again, looking at the members of your organization, um is there an area that if you had a wish list and you could pick one wish to grant, um, is there something where you're like, okay, our members would really like to have this thing?

SPEAKER_01 10:26

So maybe it's a brick and mortar gallery to work from, or um just putting it out there as I think that is like a dream goal to have a space where we could all have something displayed and people come through and see. And I think that that would give other people also a more under a better understanding of what makers actually does. Um, being able to see that, oh, so these people are creative, but they're actually working it as a business and not just as a hobby.

SPEAKER_03 11:03

That's that's one of the hurdles we have is that being virtual, nobody's entirely sure what it is we do. You can explain something X number of times, but when you see it, it's more powerful. I mean, that's that adage of a picture is worth a thousand words. So Lauren is absolutely right. I mean, if we had our 100%, this is what we absolutely would love. It would be a brick and mortar to have meetings and gatherings and the gallery and workshops and let people come in and teach classes too. So they would have an area to be able to learn themselves as they're growing to be able to do that there. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Um, are you are any of you familiar with I think it's Q Cooperative in Stevens Point?

SPEAKER_03 11:46

No.

SPEAKER_00 11:46

Okay. I believe they do a similar, it's a gallery space. I don't think they do a lot of the back end work that you guys are doing, but just throwing that out there as something to maybe check out sometimes.

SPEAKER_02 11:59

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 12:01

Um when you look again at your your organization, the members of the organization, is there um any particular areas of artisanship, artistry that um seem to be drawn to the organization? Or um, for instance, do you have a lot of painters or a lot of jewelry makers, or um is it just a little bit of everything?

SPEAKER_01 12:29

And I think it's a very eclectic group. There are a couple that paint, a couple jewelers, but we have aromatherapy, glass work, textile work, leather work, leather work, printmaking, printmaking.

SPEAKER_03 12:45

Yeah, I mean it's a little all over the place, which is a lot of fun, especially in the co-working, because when people are working and you see what they're doing, now I'm now I'm inspired by the color that that person used and the texture that was over there. And as a jewelry maker, I don't normally I don't normally get that right there on my screen. So it's it's a lot of fun having that kind of a variety.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

And I think a lot of our members do more than one media. Yep.

unknown 13:10

Right.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

That sounds actually like a lot of fun. Um for you guys trying to run the organization. Um, if I could get an answer from each of you, this would be wonderful, but I won't force anyone to speak. Um, what new skills have you needed to learn um to do your day-to-day work for makers together?

SPEAKER_03 13:35

My biggest one is the social media. Um I started doing the posting five days a week in uh April of last year. And um learn I had to learn to plan it out. I had to learn what topics we could use and you know what you could repurpose versus um finding out that repurposing doesn't work for us. So um you know, all those little the little nitpicking things that have to do with doing the marketing that I hadn't done before.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

For me, I would say grant writing, difficult, very difficult. Um and not that it's a difficult thing, but it's difficult for me. And um fundraising. And um I don't think for me recruitment's not a problem because I I swear if you just want to learn how to knit socks, I could talk you into becoming a member, but that's me. Um I think that for me being the secretary, the governance, I'm a I am a big rule follower. Um and we have created our own bylaws. So when we talk about creating something or changing something or doing something new, it's like, whoopie, let's see if we've already told ourselves we can't do this. So um double checking to make sure we're not busting our own rules for me. But I would say number one, grant writing and fundraising is uh a big thing that I have had to learn and am still learning.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Um for me, I would say organization and some time management. I am in a different position than Candy and Joanne, as I'm not one of the original co-founders. I stepped into the position from a member's position, and as a member, I had no idea how much work these ladies have poured into this organization, and so it is filling my bucket to be able to be a part of that. Um but like Candy said, in a typical week, we have at least our our weekly check-in. Some weeks we have marketing meetings, we have recruitment meetings, governance, government governance, governance, right word. Um the G word. So there's just a lot of making sure on the back end of it, there's a lot of organization and and time management skill that as a creative, um not necessarily my best, because I create when I feel like creating and being part of an organization, it's not when you feel like it, it's sitting down and and making the time.

SPEAKER_02 16:22

And and to Lauren's comment there, when our our 501c3 isn't isn't um sectioned as a art organization, it's an education organization. So that's what we educate creative people. So it's really, really we have to keep that in mind because we are all creative people, and then you know you're like, oh, there's a thought. No, no, no, no, wait, stay here. For right now, you have to stay here. So we all have to play double games because not only are we creative people, but we are individually small business owners, and we are also involved with makers together. So we it's a triple bucket, you know. So it's a it's a quite a organiz you use the word, it's an organizational thing, time management.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

So related, um what's what setbacks have you guys dealt with that or challenges, and um what coping mechanisms have you developed?

SPEAKER_03 17:40

I'm an introvert. So sitting here, I I I did this, started doing interviews, and we started talking to people about what makers does about a year ago. And um I would go home and hyperventilate. I'd have to turn all of the lights off, make sure there was no noise. Uh, and my husband would be like, Oh, you did that today. Okay, I'll leave you alone for a little while. Um, so it's it's been a whole year of of learning whatever techniques it need I needed to do to be able to sit here and not shake. And um, so anybody who who needs to commiserate on that, I am there for you 100%. Yeah, makers at makers together.org. I will help you out with that one.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

Well, you fake it well then.

SPEAKER_02 18:24

Thank you. She's she's had a year of practice.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Um yeah, I I was bit I've been very fortunate over the last year, and I think I've done um four different interviews, but um there's been a lot of practice, there's been a lot of uh writing, mostly because one of the things we tell our people, and that we're all learning ourselves, is that you need to have not just an idea of what it is that you need to say, you know, you need to know what it is that you need to say, you have to have the words. Um we call it you know, what's your script? And so we took a whole year um as makers together as well as members to figure out what our scripts were, and that was a huge help because then when you talk to somebody, you're not floundering for the concept.

SPEAKER_02 19:11

Exactly. And Candy and I are are a good blend because the last thing I would call myself is an introvert. I made a friend waiting for your library to open this morning. I'll talk to anybody and everybody. And um so when she doesn't talk, I'm filling up the time, but sometimes that doesn't need to happen, so she'll kick me. She's not kicking me now, but that's okay. Um I think that the learning the script is just as important for somebody who talks a lot because it reels me back into what I need to say, not just talking.

SPEAKER_01 19:56

And I would say not on a personal note, but as a organization, I think one of our biggest challenges has been in the last few months um trying to find fundraising and donors who are willing to support our cause as much as people say it's a great idea, it's a great organization financially. That's something that I think is an organization we're struggling with.

SPEAKER_02 20:23

We would be more self-sustaining if we had a few more members, like maybe 10 members, um, but advertising costs. So yeah, fundraising would be big. Uh little help would be big. We have on our website a um where you can sponsor or what's it called? Sponsor support. Support and um donations are accepted there, but also we ask for people who are experts in their field who think that they could help small business owners if they want to do a presentation. We will, oh my gosh, to accept that kind of help is great also.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

And they don't have to be creative. Like some of the examples are we had some photographers, we had um attorneys come in and talk about starting an LLC, we've had tax accountants come in um and talk about how to file our taxes. Um we've had a lot of things that are not artists and based, maker-based, but true business things that that we need to learn in how to fill out some of the forms for shows, how to write an artist statement, how to get jurred into.

SPEAKER_02 21:39

So the difference between an artist statement and a um the piece about yourself and the piece and writing about yourself and writing about your work. And that that was like an eye opener. Um, yeah, there's a lot of different things to learn. It I I say it's called artwork for a reason. You create, and then you have to market and sell and ship and do all of your supply costs and your inventory and insurance. And you do everything when you're a small business owner, and when you're a creative small business owner, you have to make your products too. And that's the that's our niche is those folks who are like, I just I just want to make it and I want somebody else to sell. That's not gonna happen. But here we can help you stay in line, we can help you, and um, that makes a big difference.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

So you guys have touched on it a little bit already, but um if we go back to the origins of makers together, you had mentioned that it was an LLC at one point, you've morphed into uh 501c3. Um tell me a little bit about the setbacks and the challenges that you've had along the way as an LLC? Either or as an organization.

SPEAKER_02 23:08

We we are very, very, very tiny financially. And as an LLC when it was tax time, oh my gosh, almost everything was gonna be paid to the IRS. And this isn't right. We're not making money, and um, so talked to a bunch of people and found out that what we do could be a nonprofit, and we just dug in and filled out that 1023 and ran into brick walls and and talked to the IRS and had a best friend who's recognized my voice on the phone, and we got through it, we did it. We were um vetted and have our final letter and all that kind of fun stuff, and then the fun happens because oh my gosh, you have to prove it to everybody. Okay, if you want to get nonprofit rates or get things it, you know, like TechSoup and all that, it so it just doesn't end. You can't put those things away. You have to hang on to them forever right in front of your face, and um, that's finance and governance on on my part. I think that that's for me to do. Um, but yeah, it's it is a lot of work and it's it's worth it. We help people. I mean, we have members who are no longer members, they've graduated. Basically, they they know if they need our help, they can ask us. But um, yeah, it's it's just been probably one of the most fulfilling things I've done in my life is to be part of this organization and to help other people, other artists and other creators the way that we've been able to help them. Keep them on the straight and narrow. Make what you want, but you gotta do it this way.

SPEAKER_03 24:58

So and to to go with that, um part of the reason we do a lot of this ourselves instead of um hiring out is so that we can literally look someone in the eye and say, we've been there, we've done it, and we've gotten through it. So for the paperwork that Joanne's talking about, um, for example, but also like we trademarked our name. Makers Together is is trademarked. And that was not fun. Um, it wasn't fun. We we filled all the paperwork out. And let me let me say right now that the people that you call to get to help you straighten things out in the government um offices are so nice. Oh my gosh, they've been so helpful. But if you have to make two or three phone calls to them, you know things aren't going as smoothly as you had imagined that they would. But but those setbacks are kind of one of the reasons that we're proud of ourselves because we can literally say we've been there. And uh if you if you have questions, we can give you some of the resources that we found and help you out.

SPEAKER_02 26:03

We offer what we call um experiential opportunities. So we're we go to the Appleton Farm Market. Last summer we went to the Appleton Farm Market, and for people who are just starting and haven't been at an art show yet, they don't have a tent, they don't know what a crowd is, they don't know how to talk to people. Um we had groups of people who would come early, help us set up, get everything out of the truck, you know, learn how to do all that. And then we would have people who would come later and take it down and you know, put back everything away. But everybody was talking to people as a nonprofit. We're not allowed to sell anything. So the only thing that they did not learn was how to take cash and sell their product. But they did learn how to hold down those tents in the windstorms. So it was, and it that's something that they wouldn't have until they had to do it themselves.

SPEAKER_01 27:02

And make that executive decision that this part of the tent should come down now because it's just a sale and not the kind of sale we were looking for, but yes, an S-A-I-L.

SPEAKER_02 27:15

Yeah. It's so yeah, that kind of experience is really important to somebody who's trying to decide do I want to do outdoor shows or not? You know, when it rains, what happens? When the winds kick up all of a sudden, what happens? Um how do you talk to people? How do you say the same thing to 10 people that come past and make it sound like you're saying it for the first time to them? So those those are big lessons and it really helps folks.

SPEAKER_00 27:46

So as we look forward or as you you look you're you're looking to grow your organization, um, one of the things that I'm sure would help that is to have more people um taking advantage of their artistic and uh artistic skills and artisanship. So um if you have a message for a newer aspiring maker, um what would that be? We'll start with Candy.

SPEAKER_03 28:15

My big one is that you're not going to have an easy time finding the resources that you're looking for. One of the reasons we exist is because none of us had a lot of fun trying to get the resources that we needed. So we've collected them in order to make that journey easier. That's why we're here. So if you're out there and you're struggling, first ask the person in the booth next of you if you're doing a booth. Ask any friends or relatives that you have that you know of that have done anything similar to you to what's going on. But if you're listening to this podcast, go to our site and see what we have available and check out when our next meet and greet is gonna be, because then you can ask your questions right then and there, and there's no cost to it.

SPEAKER_01 29:01

That was exactly what I was gonna say was check out our meet and greets. If you're local, um they're a lot of fun, and we've had people bring portfolios and examples of their work, and we've gotten to see things and and share, and people are able to ask questions and decide if this is gonna be the right thing for them or not. Um, in addition to our monthly meet and greets, we are going to be having an um open to the public virtual co-working event so that somebody could come and see what it's like to be at one of the co-workings and kind of get a feel for who the members are and um what that feels like. And is that posted on the website? That is coming soon. Okay, yep.

SPEAKER_02 29:48

And the virtual co-workings, those are the ones that are Monday and Thursday morning where we are in our studios and or in our offices doing whatever work we would be doing. It's just now I'm not doing it alone. Okay. Um, those are really, really beneficial just to have somebody else who understands what you're going through right there. Um, but yeah, to have an open one, that's that's a new one. That's new for us. Um yeah, I think that what I would say to somebody who is a creative person, number one, do you wanna do you want to sell? Do you do you want to be a business owner? And the other thing is how how much are you willing to put into the business part versus the creating part? Some creative people have got like a backlog of creations and they want to just like start thinning the herd at home. Other people have this great idea and they just want to put it out there. Both of those are are very valuable. What my thought is, no matter what stage you are with that, it's gonna take the same kind of work to get them to be sold. If you are looking to sell, it's gonna take the same amount of work. And that's what we're we're not like I'm not rich because I've sold all of my artwork, but I know when it's time to do that. I I know that I'm doing it right, I know that I'm following all the rules, and I know that my art is interesting to some folks, not everybody, and some folks buy it and other people don't. I'm good with that.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

So, final question. Um, and this is for makers together as an organization, again, um, not necessarily your personal, you know, work or artistry. Um we're looking at the future. You've achieved success, you've achieved all of your goals. What does that actually look like? We'll start with Joanne.

SPEAKER_02 32:08

The people doing the work are getting paid because we're right now a completely volunteer-run organization, um, and our membership is engaged in the projects that we do. And I know that folks look at the brick and mortar, but I get the shakes, I get the introverted shakes when people start talking about brick and mortar. I would love to be gifted a building that I never had to pay utilities or water for. Um that but as soon as I'm responsible for paying every month, I'm like, ugh. Um, but anyhow, I want the organization. My dream would be for the organization to be self-sustaining and to be able to continue, and to have um people who I hate to say this because I'm old, to have younger people be part of it so that they bring in newer ideas and they're more in tune with the things that are changing. Okay. I'm gonna get to the point where I'm gonna be the stick in the mud and I don't wanna be leading when I'm the stick in the mud.

SPEAKER_01 33:23

For me right now, I would say one of my big goals for the organization is to be known. Like for us to be able to go to any store, venue, anything in the Wisconsin area, and we can say, Oh, I'm a member of Makers Together, and they're like, You're that organization that helps the creative people. Yes, that's that's for me right now. That's I think a big deal for me. I love that.

SPEAKER_03 33:54

And it's you know, it's funny, we're all coming at this from a different direction because my thought um they all they all work together, but they're not the same. Um, that everything is set up for the next people. I love the idea of having a system in place so that if we we run with the if I got hit by a bus scenario all the time, and I want to know that if something happened, makers together is gonna be just fine.

SPEAKER_01 34:21

Did you know that there's actually a book that says if I get hit by a bus? It was on Amazon, and you fill out all of the things that are supposed to happen if worst case scenario. And I said, Oh, I'm gonna get that for candy, and then I said, Nope, I'm not putting that out in the universe.

SPEAKER_02 34:37

No buses. We avoid buses. I won't even ride a bus.

SPEAKER_01 34:40

Just gonna scroll past that purchase on Amazon and yeah. I did laugh when I saw that. Oh, that's great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:48

It is, I I mean, every organization has that exact question. We we had uh um, we're doing some consulting work with um the Wisconsin Library Association. Um actually it's not the association, but um, it's a organization called Wills, and we're working on our strategic plan. And our topic yesterday was exactly that. You know, a lot of our staff have a very specific focus, and um when something happens to one of those people, then all of a sudden we're left scrambling because we don't have backups in place for that.

SPEAKER_02 35:25

Succession planning, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:29

I want to thank you guys very much for being here today. Um, and we will get this up. We'll hopefully help make Makers Together a known all across the universe thing with our brand new podcast that uh is just starting out itself, but um, we will do everything we can to um help you along the way for your success. Thank you very much. Thank you, Brian, for having us.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

Thank you.