Puces POP's free small business seminar is back to present another round of tools for self-employed artists and designers. This edition features five local small business moguls, designers, and artist organizers, each sharing their hard-earned tips and tricks to help you bring your creative projects to the next level.

Featured Presentations:

Making it in Montreal

How do you turn your passion into a business and succeed? How can you maximize your chances of success and where can you go for help? Douglas Leahey, Business Coach at YES Montreal, will talk about structural and financial resources available to artists in Montreal, as well as initial steps, challenges, and directions that can help in realizing your business dream.

Suggested Reading: Dos and Don'ts for DIY Publishing and Dynasty-Building

A personal account of running a big, collaborative project and how to keep it glorious even when it gets messy. Amber Goodwyn is an artist from Montreal. She plays in the rock band Cobra & Vulture, is a founding member of the Double Negative Collective, founded and published Lickety Split smut zine, co-founded Slowdance Night and worked on Audio Smut radio for a while. She has has spent lotsa time at non-profits over the years and now works in the CKUT 90.3FM music department.

How to Promote Your Brand Online Without Selling Your Soul to Social Media

Angie Johnson, designer behind the clothing and accessories brand Norwegian Wood, will discuss best practices for online self-promotion, including: how to start building an online following, deciding which social networking platforms are right for YOU, working with blogs, keeping the momentum going, dealing with growth, and maintaining your independence.

Meal-Planning for the Busy Freelancer: Managing Stress and Staying Healthy When You're Too Busy to Eat

Eating lunch at your desk? Craving chocolate or a latte every few hours? Learn the tools to boost your creative mojo, keep your energy balanced at work, and get you through stressful times with ease. Myrite Rotstein is the Holistic Food Coach behind Tasty Life Wellness Coaching. She helps busy professionals get naturally energized so they can get their creative juices flowing without having to reach for coffee and chocolate to get them through the day.

Entrepreneurial Visions: Building a Home For Your Creative Project and Managing Your Business Start-up

Becky Emlaw is a partner at Arterie Boutique and co-founder of the newly opened Citizen Vintage, both in Mile End. She became involved with Arterie in early 2004 as a clothing designer and salesperson, and became a legal partner in 2007. In June 2011, her partnership with two fellow entrepreneurs, Citizen Vintage, which had previously taken the form of popular temporary shopping events around the city, opened its first brick-and-mortar store on St-Laurent Boulevard. Becky will be sharing her perspective on opening and running these two creative businesses and offer solutions to common start-up hurtles to help you make your small business dream a reality. 

Saturday, Nov 19th, from noon-5pm, at The Plant

This event is free and space is limited (first come first served). RSVP to reserve your spot: puces@popmontreal.com

Coffee and pastries will be generously provided by Cafe Myriade and Boulangerie Clark.