The Interledger Community 🌱: Briana Stuart

Creative Living for Dancers — MozFest 2022 Web Monetization Action Plan

Briana Stuart — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 21:25:17 +0000

I'm looking forward to bringing creative dance energy and wellness to MozFest 2022! In collaboration with @ericahargreave, @palexander, @loriyearwood, we are facilitating Wellness Breaks to rejuvenate digital spaces!

Each session will share wellness activities and create space to discuss challenges and solutions in creating a healthy environment while working at your computer. Sessions are:

Session 1 : Fun, Relaxing and Healthy Screen Breaks with Lori Yearwood and Erica Hargreave
Session 2 : Mindfulness with Pamela Alexander
Session 3 : Dance Wellness with Briana Stuart

In addition to the personal development and wellness focus of the my Mozfest session, I'll be sharing a bit about my passion for professional and self-development for creatives- specifically dancers in the digital sphere.

Creative Living for Dancers addresses the lack of dance entrepreneurial content made by dancers for dancers, challenges negative views and stereotypes of dancers, and provides career advice to build and sustain a successful life and career as a dance artist.

Ways in Which I Am Web Monetizing These Resources

All Creative Living for Dancers personal and professional development content is currently on cinnamon.video and web monetized through the Coil Plugin for WordPress on www.creativelivingfordancers.com.

Introduction to Creative Living for Dancers
All Creative Living for Dancers Full Episodes
All Creative Living for Dancers Teasers

My Payment Pointer Supports this Internet Health or Social Good Initiative

The payment pointer supports the ability to provide personal and professional development resources and support for creatives, specifically dancers, on the web. These resources will continue to evolve into group and individual coaching sessions, courses, presentations, etc.

I'd Love the Community Support with this Project By ...

Check out the Creative Living for Dancer's Videos and share them with any creatives you think would be interested and definitely reach out if you would like to collaborate. I'll also be doing a Dance Wellness Session during Mozfest as a Wellness Break. Feel free to join!

Let's Stay Connected (optional)

Connect with me on Instagram
Like, share and subscribe on Cinnamon

Creative Living for Dancers — Grant Report #2

Briana Stuart — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:04:31 +0000

Project Update

Overall I'm satisfied the work I've done to establish Creative Living for Dancers during the funded period.

I believe that I made a difference within the dance community (no matter how small) by serving as a bridge to new knowledge and opportunity. I also deepened my love for my fellow dancers, dance entrepreneurship & empowerment and providing resources for others. I began to see the possibilities of technology in a new way as well as the importance of finding balance (more below). I even expanded into Dance Coaching by working with my first test client.

Marketing was tough for me and I heavily relied on my established social media channels. Instagram in particular became my life and at one point became a pain point. In my interview with Amber Case, Mozilla Fellow in Web Economics in explained this "Problem of the Content Creator". The idea of putting out enough content in the pool of content to be seen and heard or even just noticed by the billions of users out there. I felt like I was scrambling to pre-schedule posts to keep up with/build my audience and to make a "sell", in this case joining Coil.

It actually made me reflect on the importance of content creators who use WM At one point. I feel the pressure to "sell" would be diminished because we would be supported through the micropayment for anyone who views our content. On instagram I felt overwhelmed, but I know that my strategy probably could have been better. I plan to take a look at my personal network strategy and take smarter steps in the future.

Although I worked with a videographer for my content and a PR expert for communication, I look forward to adding more permanent members to the CLD team. As a one-woman show I set the foundation, now I look forward to finding and working with like-minded people who believe in CLD'a mission.

Progress on objectives

Creative Living for Dancer’s successfully completed it's objective to address the problem of the lack of resources, knowledge, and financial security for professional and pre-professional dancers to be successful within their field through the completed of the professional development materials and 4 Dance Films by Dance Artists.

We were able to redirect how dancer's use and disseminate their content with the web-monetization for dancers award and increase their control over their own data and content. In a post awardee survey 2 awardees mentioned that they planned to keep using WM and the other 2 were unsure.

"Thank you for creating this project and introducing me to web-monetization. I feel supported, encouraged, and seen as an artist in a new way through the virtual platform and I will continue to utilize and learn more about the tools of web-monetization. I think web- monetization will be a huge catalyst for artists in the future! I also feel so honored to know Briana and the other awardees. I will continue to explore web-monetization moving forward as a new way for my work to be supported and accessed. Thank you to all involved in CLD! I am eternally grateful for this opportunity."

Kelsey Paschich, 2021 Creative Living for Dancer Awardee

Key activities

The Following deliverables were outlined in my original proposal and all have been completed. They can be viewed on Cinnamon or via the CLD website with Chrome's Coil Plug-in.

20 - 10 to 20 minute Testimonial Style Videos
20 - 1 to 3 minute Content Teasers
20 - Downloadable Worksheets (Consolidated to one document)
4 - Dance Videos created by Web Monetization for Dancer’s Awardees

I was very happy with the work created by the dancers. Each project provided a different take on the possibilities of dance in the digital sphere. Kelsey Paschich's project in particular incorporated motion capture technology and the Baira's research looked at virtual reality technology.

Although I didn't reach the number of views and downloads of the CLD material, I am content with those I was able to touch and connect with to spread the message of empower dancers professionally and personally in the digital sphere.

Communications and marketing

Since my first grant report I continued with CLD weekly IG Lives to continue building conversation around CLD's work.

To improve CLD Communications and marketing, I worked closely with PR expert and professional editor Victoria Jones to improve the language used in explaining the benefits of WM and breaking down step-by-step how to utilize Cinnamon. We've since improved the What is Web-Monetization page on the CLD site:

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/about/web-monetization/

As well as the Coil Membership step-by-step:

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/professionaldevelopment/

In addition, Victoria connected to over 120 dancers, blogs/podcasts, dance organizations, and schools which led to a successful instagram takeover with Dancer's Amplified, an organization dedicated to highlighting dancers and their work around the world.

During the takeover I posted moments throughout my day on DA's story and spoke more on CLD. This was an great experience that helped me spread the word of WM and got me connected with more dancers world-wide. You can still see the Takeover on Dancer's Amplified's page:

https://www.instagram.com/dancersamplified/

I also did a giveaway of Coil codes to increase engagement with CLD Content. That provided a simplified explanation of Coil and it's benefits:

Other Communications include blogs written on the CLD site:

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/2021/05/17/cld-awardees-nadine-baboy-and-kelsey-paschich-discuss-the-cld-award-and-the-shift-of-digital-communication-through-dance/

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/2021/05/02/cld-awardees-rosslyn-wythes-shaina-and-bryan-baira-share-how-web-monetization-brought-hope-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

What’s next?

I see the potential in the future of Web Monetization and would like to continue sharing it with the global dance community. My next steps include:

Building a stronger branding/image for CLD
Improve user experience on CLD website
Creating a sustainable business model/plan for CLD
Discovering/researching the best methods to introduce WM to the dance/arts community
Continuing to support new digital dance projects through the annual CLD Awards
Seeking new ways to premiere CLD dance films (i.e. online virtual space utilizing WM) and/or house all CLD Dance content (i.e. A CLD App)
Plan the next set of CLD Content (ideas: include interviews with dance entrepreneurs, Why WM & Dance Web-series, etc)

What community support would benefit your project?

I'd be interested in advancing my work through collaborations with developers & programmers interested in creating or incorporating a platform for Web-monetized Dance Content.

I have ideas regarding an app for WM Dance content our even utilizing an online virtual space for the CLD Dance Film Premieres.

Additional comments

I'd love to connect with anyone interested in Web-Monetization in the Arts and those who have connections to any communities interested in arts related content.

Check out CreativeLivingForDancers.com for all relevant links & resources.

Relevant links/resources (optional)

Check out our New WM Dance Content!

Briana Stuart — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 12:07:15 +0000

In November 2020 Creative Living for Dancers was born with a mission to empower, inspire and support dancers in the digital sphere.

We launched a call for dance artists interested in creating new digital works while utilizing web-monetization. Now five months later, these amazing artists have committed to expanding their digital presence through the release of their new and amazing works.

Click below to view and support these digital works and learn more about the possibilities of dance in the digital sphere.

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/2021-cld-awardee-digital-dance-projects/

Thanks for liking and sharing with your networks!

Briana

{Creative Living for Dancers} — Grant Report #{001}

Briana Stuart — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 16:36:48 +0000

Project Update

The Creative Living for Dancers Project focuses on the renewed spirit of innovation to empower and enrich the dance community in the digital sphere. It consists of two parts:

-Arts Funding via The Creative Living for Dancers Award - (4) 1000€ Awards to Belgium and Michigan-based Professional Dance Artists to create their own digital dance projects.

-Professional Development materials via testimonial style videos that focus on the empowerment and expansion of freelance dance artists careers.

The Call for Proposals for the Creative Living for Dancers Award was very successful with 22 applicants who were interested in creating a new dance projects. I also engaged 5 other notable dance professionals to serve as the CLDA Committee to help select the final 4 awardees. In early January, the 4 awardees began the creation of their projects and plan to release their projects on Cinnamon Mid-March. The most difficult aspect of the CLD Award process was the marketing, organization and follow-up. I took on every role necessary from web-site creation, branding, and communication. As the project grows, I hope to add more members to my team to alleviate the demands of the project.

The CLD Award timeline is on schedule however the release of the professional development videos has shifted. Instead of posting weekly videos, all 20 videos will be created and released with the CLDA projects in Mid-March. Marketing-wise, I find it is advantageous to market the 4 new projects and professional development materials as an incentive to get users to view the content on and subscribe to cinnamon.

Progress on objectives

I have met the original objectives of:
(1) gaining momentum in the successful launch of Creative Living for Dancers weekly content.

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/professionaldevelopment/

(2) and secondly, directly support artistic works by dance artists.

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/2021/01/22/and-the-creative-living-for-dancers-awards-go-to/

Key activities

The Following Deliverables were outlined in my original proposal and are currently on track to be completed.
20 - 5 to 10 minute Testimonial Style Videos
20 - 1 Minute Content Teasers
20 - Downloadable Worksheets
4 - Dance Videos created by Web Monetization for Dancer’s Awardees

As I've really focused on producing quality content for dancers most videos have ended up being as long as 20 to 25 minutes.

Communications and marketing

Currently, I'm seeking better ways to market CLD without relying on marketing via social media. I'd like to explore avenues that protect user privacy and do not utilize tracking or ads. As a result, I am no longer working with the digital marketer that was outlined in my original proposal and seeking another professional in line with my objective.

In searching for new marketing avenues, I've focused on connecting directly with my networks and discussing my project in public via multiple Instagram and Facebook lives with others arts professionals and creatives.

As well as a videocast discussing Web-Monetization & the Arts with fellow Grant for the Web Awardee, Casey Herd with Ballet Rising.

https://cinnamon.video/watch?v=512200494752465959

Considering that Web-monetization is very new for the arts community, I've written blogs and other sections on the CLD Website to best explain its benefits to the arts world.

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/about/web-monetization/

What’s next?

The remainder of the grant period will be focused on official release of the 4 Creative Living for Dancers Awardees Digital Dance Projects and 20 Professional & Personal Development videos and workbooks for Freelance Dancers.

Leading up to the release, the CLD Awardees will be building their online presence on and off Cinnamon to contribute to a successful launch of their projects. I will also be reaching out to dance organizations and contacts to discuss the professional development videos as well as the possibilities of Web-Monetization and the arts.

What community support would benefit your project?

I'd love to connect with anyone interested in Web-Monetization in the Arts and those who have connections to any communities interested in arts related content.

Check out CreativeLivingForDancers.com for all relevant links & resources.

Additional comments

Creative Living For Dancers has truly grown to be it's on identity and brand that I believe will advance dancers in ways we hadn't thought of. Thank you for this opportunity!

Web-Monetization and the Arts

Briana Stuart — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:12:08 +0000

Through support from Grant For Web, Creative Living For Dancers aims to promote web-monetized dance related content on the web. We hope to redirect how dancers use and disseminate their content through the Creative Living for Dancer’s Award and increase their control over their own data and content. Innovative and new technology like the proposed web monetization model provides an empowering and income producing avenue for promoting dancer’s work. We are proudly utilize this new and innovative web-monetization technology in our professional development resources as well as our Creative Living for Dancers Award.

Creative Living for Dancers Awardee Announcement!!!

We are proud to support four professional artists in Michigan and Belgium to create and distribute their dance projects digitally with web-monetization.

Learn more about their projects below:

https://creativelivingfordancers.com/2021/01/22/and-the-creative-living-for-dancers-awards-go-to/

Briana