I try to be realistic about what’s possible, but stay open to some “magic” and the unpredictable. I also am not a procrastinator – when I have an idea I want to jump in as soon as possible!
Ryan Davis (@indieartsvoice) is a film publicist and communications professional with ten years experience in the film industry and arts marketing. She is co-founder and Principal at Smarthouse Creative. Named by Media Inc. as one of Washington State’s most influential women in film, TV, and media, Ryan has worked with outlets ranging from CNN and The New York Times, to community newspapers and local radio. She has worked in almost every aspect of the film business–from production and festivals to distribution, exhibition and sales.
Ryan worked for Arab Film Distribution/Typecast Films where she was part of the production and release of the Academy Award-nominated Iraq in Fragments. She has worked for a variety of nonprofit arts groups and organizations, including heading the marketing departments for Northwest Film Forum and Northwest Folklife, and was the assistant director of Couch Fest Films from 2010-2014. Ryan was on the jury for the International Documentary Challenge for 2012-3, and a juror for the 2015 Seattle Shorts Festival.
Where did the idea for Smarthouse Creative come from?
The name Smarthouse was inspired by author and film writer Anne Thompson. In her book “The $11 Billion Dollar Year,” she said that what movies need to succeed wasn’t an “arthouse,” it was a “smarthouse.” Though our client base has expanded since our early days, our mission was to help independent filmmakers make the biggest impact possible, so this name seemed perfect!
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I ride my bike to and from work every day. Though I can’t be texting and emailing, the time helps me clear my mind and organize how I want my day to go. It also makes spending several hours at a desk a bit easier!
How do you bring ideas to life?
I try to be realistic about what’s possible, but stay open to some “magic” and the unpredictable. I also am not a procrastinator – when I have an idea I want to jump in as soon as possible!
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m intrigued that more and more people seem to want to have a more meaningful relationship with social media and what they consume online. Though social tools are extremely useful for artists and small businesses, that impact is being diluted by big brands sounding out the smaller ones. If consumers speak up and make sure that there is still space left for the nonprofits and organizations they want to hear from, and also seek out reviews and coverage of up-and-coming projects, it will make online media and social tools even more powerful.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Limiting my use of email throughout the day helps make me a more productive entrepreneur. Continuously checking email and responding to minor requests may feel like work, but it’s really a distraction from the big picture focus that you need to have as a business owner.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Always be your own boss.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Teen Wolf 2 is a tour-de-force from Jason Bateman.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Stay on top of your calendars. And if you’re an entrepreneur yourself, you probably have a lot of them. It’s easy to tell yourself that you’ll add that meeting later after you get back to your desk, but, as we all know, sometimes that doesn’t happen. By almost religiously updating my calendar, I ensure I never miss a thing.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
We’ve seen a lot of success from running highly targeted Google ads to reach our specific audience segments.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Right when we were getting started, we lost a client because our communications were lacking. Ever since then, we’ve made a point of getting in as many client “touches” as possible so that each and every team we work with feels valued and cared for.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
An app that lets you go through the motions of taking a picture and posting it to a photostream, after which it randomly “likes” your photo for the serotonin boost. It’s called Fakestagram and could be pitched as a “gateway app” to help wean us off social media.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently adopted a dog named Bo Dameron. I’ve spent way more than $100 making him feel at home.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
When you work with such a wide variety of clients as we do at Smarthouse, you often have to pitch outside of your well cultivated contact list, so I’d have to say Cision is one of my most indispensibe online tools to find new publications and freelancers covering a specific area of interest.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
”Real Happiness at Work: Meditations for Accomplishment, Achievement, and Peace”
What is your favorite quote?
“We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.”—Beyoncé
Key Learnings:
- Take care of your customers
- Steer clear of email
- Think strategically
- Trust the data, not your gut
- Be a leader
Connect:
www.smarthousecreative.com
Twitter: @TeamSmarthouse
Twitter: @indieartsvoice
Facebook: @smarthousecreative
Instagram: @teamsmarthouse
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.