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How to Choose the Right Mentor for your Business

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Choosing the Right Mentor

As you work to select a mentor, it’s important to ask yourself some important questions. Taking the time to do so will help you to understand what you really need so that you can make this decision appropriately. As you start evaluating individuals as possible mentors, consider the following:

4 Questions to Consider for Mentorship

Do You Look Up to Them?

As you attempt to select a professional mentor, one of the biggest questions to ask yourself is if you look up to them. If you find that you have a great deal of respect for an individual and the work that they’ve done in your industry, they may make a great mentor. However, if you don’t respect them or look up to them very much, and they’ve simply been working in the industry longer than you have, the situation may not be a good fit. Take the time to learn a little bit about the person that you’d possibly be working under and do some self-reflection to see how you feel about them.

Can You Work Well with Them?

Take the time to ask yourself if you can work well with the individual, as well. It doesn’t make sense to choose a mentor if you like what they’ve accomplished in the business world but struggle to get along with them. If you find your teeth gritting and your blood pressure rising each time the person speaks with you, they’re likely not going to make the best choice for a mentor, regardless of what they’ve accomplished in the industry. Unfortunately, some people just aren’t compatible to work together, and you can’t force it.

Can They Assist You with Your Goals?

Can the individual that you’re considering as a mentor help you as you work toward your goals? Do they have skills that they can teach you or information that they can pass on to you that will help you learn so that you can advance your career in a direction that you’re interested in taking it in? These factors are important to consider as you work towards selecting a mentor that you can work with.

Are They Well Connected in the Community?

It’s important to select a mentor that is well connected in the community so that you’ll have a person that may be able to assist you with networking, finding connections as you grow your career, and resume-building opportunities. These qualities will help ensure that the individual can be a strong mentor figure and assist you, instead of you attempting to build all of these connections on your own and struggling to do so.

As you attempt to select a mentor, take the time to consider these questions. Doing so will help prepare you for the process so that you’re well prepared to choose an individual that you can work well with and that will match up with your needs. A mentor is an important part of your employment journey, and choosing one correctly can help you quite a bit as you go on your way, so making the correct choice becomes very important as you forge your career path.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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How Positive Thinking Affects the Mind and Body

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Mind and Body

When you’re down on yourself or your business, it can be tough to even ponder positive thinking. However, there are a wide variety of benefits to focusing on the bright side. Optimism can help your business, your mind, and your body. Let’s take a look at a few of the benefits of positive thinking:

Build Skills

Positive thinking allows you to build skills that you might not otherwise be able to build, as you can focus on how to build the skill and the technique required, instead of panicking about how you’re going to be able to build it. The more time that you spend worrying about learning something and working yourself up about your lack of skill, the more time you aren’t focusing on mastering that skill. This means that once you’ve wrapped your mind around the idea of positive thinking, it becomes possible to build the skills that you need far faster than you would have previously imagined.

Boost Immunity

Positive thinking can also work to actually strengthen your body’s immune system. This means that instead of your immune system being constantly dragged down by negative thinking and stress, making you sick more frequently, you may actually be able to boost your immune system by focusing on positive ideas instead. This could mean fewer sick days, fewer doctors visits, and fewer days laid up feeling generally unwell. A strong immune system is better for your overall health, but also helps you make it through your day to day tasks more efficiently without the worry of falling behind due to illness.

Increase Overall Resilience

You can also increase your overall resilience by focusing on the positive things in life instead of the negative ones. This can help you to boost your overall resilience as a person, both physically and mentally, so that you can become more powerful and focused. Instead of wasting time worrying about all the things that could happen tomorrow, you can instead focus on the things that are happening today and managing them as well as possible. This level of resilience can help you to go much further in life, allowing you to brush problems off your shoulders and keep moving forward.

Cope with Stress More Effectively

Those who don’t manage stress effectively quickly find that it eats them alive. Stress can cause a wide variety of physical and mental symptoms if it isn’t managed well, and can lead to serious health issues such as high blood pressure, migraines, and heart issues over time. Taking the time to focus on the positive instead of the negative can help you manage the stress that you are experiencing and reframe it more accurately, in a way that you can manage more effectively.

While these aren’t all of the benefits of positive thinking, they’re certainly some of the most noticeable. For busy business owners, focusing on the positive aspects of life can sometimes seem overwhelming, but it’s often well worth the effort.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

 

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3 Powerful Ways Quizzes Can Help Grow Your Brand

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Grow Your Brand

Last year, I was introduced to the prospect of using an online quiz to help grow my brand. I’d always been curious about their effectiveness and the reason behind their rising popularity, but I never gave using them a second thought. It looked too complicated. It seemed too pushy.

And, to be honest I use to think that quizzes were mostly used for lead capture and for companies to figure out which product or products they should sell you. And while that’s a good purpose, after trying out Interact, I quickly learned that implementing a quiz was quite useful in other ways too. Here are three ways a quiz can grow your brand.

1. Gives your audience insight

When I launched my first quiz, “Do You have the Entrepreneurial Mindset? Find Out!”, I wasn’t too sure what to expect since I hadn’t used them in the past. I found the process with Interact very user-friendly and their setup made creating the quiz a breeze.

After a couple of days, I check to see that only a few people completed my quiz but there were no lead captures. And even though there were no new leads, I was thrilled to see — in the statistics overview that Interact provides in the user dashboard — those who did complete the quiz, completed it 100% and it showed the quiz taker if they had the “entrepreneur mindset.”

A fun tidbit for those who enjoy these types of quizzes and seek feedback from people outside of their inner circle. By giving your audience something to look forward to I’m sure they’ll be more likely to visit your site and tell others about you as well.

2. Gain insight into what your audience is interested in

When growing your business and working to build an audience, you’ll find it very valuable to know what they’re interested in. Using a quiz will help you ask specific questions in regard to which products they like. Is it your latest ebook they seem to enjoy or was it the recent podcast episode?

You can also use your quiz as a poll to determine which products or services are more popular than others; This is a great way to figure out how you can customize and tailor your brand to those who are interested. When you know how the audience benefits, you can focus your attention on further product development so they gain a truly unique experience.

3. Encourages people to engage with your brand


Quiz products like those offered by Interact are a great way to encourage audience and visitor engagement. Whether you’re launching a fun quiz to entertain your audience or a quiz more tailored to gain feedback for your business, this platform is the perfect option. It’s an easy go-to if you’re looking for ways to highlight your brand’s overall style, look, and tone.

A sleek pop-up or eye-catching announcement bar with a trend-worthy question might just be a solution to getting your brand the attention it needs. Even the questions and personal branding within the quiz can connect people with the uniqueness of your brand making the quiz itself an interaction they look forward to.

This year, I plan to launch more quizzes through Interact. It’s been a great experience so far and I intend to do a bit more customization on the backend by crafting new questions and themes. Overall, Interact has been proven to be an asset by showing me several ways I connect with my target audience and also increase brand engagement.

How to Use Music to Inspire Your Creativity and Fuel Your Imagination

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Music to Inspire Your Creativity

Hans Christian Andersen once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Music is universal. It transcends language and culture and allows us to communicate with each other through melodies. Music resonates in each one of us and we are born to with a natural affinity for music. Since the day we were born, our first lullaby has connected us to music. From then and until now, music continues to fire up our emotions, move our bodies to dance, and spring us into action.

But can music inspire creativity? The answer is a resounding yes!

According to studies, any music has its effect on us. Whether it’s classical, pop or jazz, the tempo of a song, as well as its major or minor tonality, affects how we feel, which could affect our performance. And the better we feel, the better we perform.

If you’re looking for ways to inspire creativity in your work, play your favorite music and feel it lift you up. Let your mind wander as you listen. Music can unlock creativity and help you with your work.

Here are the benefits of music:

Music makes you happy

If you’re a writer and you’re in a bad mood, your emotion will show in your work. Your writing may come off as angry and cold. To improve your mood, start listening to music that’s upbeat and uplifting, for example, James Brown’s I got you. Play all your favorite music, and soon you will feel the veil of anger lifting from you.

Music can bring powerful emotions

If you’re an artist and you want to add emotion to your work, you can use music to awaken certain feelings within yourself. For example, if you’re tasked to paint a serene landscape, you can listen to soft, classical music to help calm your mind. If you’re designing, let’s say, the cover of a scary horror novel, you may want to play Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain.

Music can improve performance

If you love to dance, the sound of dance music can make you want to move your body. Music can also refine your movement, timing and coordination. Take for example, the Tango. Many of the moves in this dramatic dance are choreographed and practiced along with the music. This synergy gives the performers a feeling of pleasure from the music as well as the dance itself. Music has also been proven to improve productivity, increase focus and efficiency, and boost performance.

Inspiration from music is real and most of us already instinctively know that music can get our creative juices flowing. Science explains it simply: our brain waves change as we listen to music, and the more relaxed we are, the more creative we get. This fact might be a good one to remember the next time you feel creatively blocked.

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4 Exercise Ideas for Cold Weather Days

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Ideas for Cold Weather Days

What do you do when there’s no sun and it’s just too cold to go outside for a run? Do you hibernate or plod along? Truth is, along with the chilly air, your desire to exercise can also grow cold during the winter. Cold weather can make you feel sluggish and lazy and you can lose your motivation to exercise. But don’t let the cold weather ruin your fitness goals. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite calorie-busting exercises that you can do indoors.

  1. Go for a spin  

If you don’t like the feeling of cold wind on your face while you bike outside, a spinning class might just be perfect for you. These high-energy and intense cycling classes can burn about 700 calories in an hour and even has interval sets to target your buns, thighs, calves, and core. You don’t even need to wear a helmet. So, park your bike for the meantime and try a spin class.

  1. Climb a wall

Go vertical and try indoor rock climbing! Indoor rock climbing can get your mind and whole body in shape. When climbing a wall, you use your arms and upper body to pull yourself up and grab the next peg while you use your legs to thrust your body higher. While doing all these, you also engage your core muscles to support both your arms and legs. Indoor rock climbing can also sharpen your problem-solving skills as you figure out where to place your hands and feet as you climb. Lastly, rock climbing can make you feel great by giving you a feeling of accomplishment.

  1. Try Burpees

If you’re looking for an exercise that you can do virtually anywhere, Burpees is it. Burpees do not require any equipment or any special outfit. All it requires is stamina and a never-give-up attitude. Burpees combine push-ups and squat jumps in one intense activity and it’s not for the faint of heart. You begin by crouching on the floor with your hands in front of you. Quickly push your feet back and bend your arms so you’ll be in a push-up position. Do one push-up and swiftly bring your feet back under you, then quickly jump as high and land in the squat position. Repeat this routine as many times as you can.

  1. Box the cold away

Boxing combines cardio and strength training in one workout. It also improves your balance, coordination, agility, and reactivity. A few rounds in the ring can also engage your core. In boxing, the power of a punch doesn’t come from the arms and the shoulders alone, it also comes from the core. When you box, your body needs to move in unison and that movement is coordinated by your core muscles.

The cold weather may give you plenty of reasons to snuggle up and be lazy, but don’t let them stop you from exercising. Get creative and consider these interesting suggestions to stay active.

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Powerful Ways to Make the Most of Your Brainstorming Session

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Most of Your Brainstorming Session

Coming up with new ideas takes work. And if you’re tasked to come up with fresh ideas frequently, it can be easy for you to hit a brick wall. This is when brainstorming sessions are essential. Brainstorming is the process of collecting as many ideas as you can and filtering them to get the best ones. During a brainstorming session, every idea should be heard. The goal is to just let the creative juices flow and gather as many ideas as possible without criticism. Remember that there are no bad ideas during brainstorming.

Here are five ways how you can make the most of your brainstorming session:

  1. Be clear about your objective

For a brainstorming session to be effective, make sure that you communicate your objective clearly. A well-defined objective will prevent your team from losing focus and going astray. It’s futile to gather your team, hustle them in a room, and ask them to throw ideas without a goal in mind. Effective brainstorming needs a plan and a plan must have an objective.

  1. Start the session relaxed

The mind works best when it’s rested and relaxed so start your brainstorming session on a light note. Encourage easy conversation and allow your team members to speak out. Everyone is encouraged to participate. The goal is to get people unstuck and urge them to come up with thoughts and ideas. When the mood is light, ideas are bound to flow.

  1. Time the session

To get the thought process rolling, make sure to time your session. A clock is a good reminder that there’s a deadline and this will help propel your team to think quickly. You can keep the session to as short as five minutes or it can run to as long as 45 minutes. Make sure that you make your session long enough for ideas to flow freely.

  1. Write everything down

Make sure that all ideas, good or bad, are noted down. Use a whiteboard so that your team members can see all the ideas that have been shared and add more suggestions. Do not judge or favor any idea and just welcome everything: big ideas, bold ideas, and even totally ridiculous ones. Brainstorming sessions are all about quantity, not quality.

  1. Evaluate the ideas

After you have gathered all the ideas, the next step is to evaluate them one by one and separate the good from the bad. Remove all duplicate ideas and assess all the remaining ideas one by one. Is the idea fresh? Is it unique? Does it provide a solution? In choosing the best idea, you need to go back to the objective and ask yourself if an idea meets your objective.

Brainstorming sessions are one the effective ways to come up with new ideas. If used wisely, it can a very effective tool to come up with great ideas and help take your company to the next level.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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5 Top Fitness Trainers to Follow on Instagram

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Fitness Trainers on Instagram

What’s the best thing about following fitness trainers and your “body goals” inspiration on Instagram?

Scrolling through your feed and pausing to watch a video or appreciate a post gives you instant fitspiration. You think to yourself, “If they can do it, I can do it.” And before you know it, you’re off your couch where you’ve spent too much time going through your social media feeds and off to the gym or rolling out your yoga mat.

Here are the top 5 fitness trainers on Instagram that you should definitely be following if you need motivation to get back on track:

  • Jennifer Nash Forrester | @jenniferforrester

Jennifer is not only an Instagram star but also an entrepreneur. And on top of that, she’s a new mom. In fact, she took all her Instagram followers on her pregnancy journey, proving that pregnant moms can still be active. Now her feed is also filled with her gorgeous son who often joins her on workouts! Be inspired by Jennifer’s quick workout videos and motivational quotes.

  • Amber Karnes | @bodypositiveyoga_

Amber Karnes teaches us all about self-acceptance and making body peace through body positive yoga. We love her for spreading fat positivity and proving that yoga is accessible to us all. Her Instagram feed is filled with yoga poses, and she often features the beautiful women who embody the #bodypositiveyoga campaign.

  • Tanya Popett | @tanyapoppett

Tanya Popett has a killer body that she achieved despite a business lifestyle. She gives nutrition advice and workout ideas. All the images on her Instagram feed are beautiful shots, making her not only #fitnessgoals but her Instagram account is #feedgoals too!

  • Christmas Abbott | @christmasabbott

Christmas Abbott offers inspiration daily. She’s doing it all – a motivational speaker, transformational guru, branding advisor, and professional athlete. As an online fitness coach and the creator of Badass Body Diet, expect her feed to be filled with fitness and lifestyle goals.

  • Estelle Archer | @estellearcher

Estelle Archer has been an inspiration to her followers for how she gained control of her health and well-being by battling her depression. Her focus has been to help people do the right thing. We’ve watched her go from a size 18 to a size 6 and so motivated not only by her body transformation but how she also transformed her entire outlook on life.

Who’s your favorite fitness instructor on Instagram? Are you looking for exercise tips or meal ideas? Or are you most inspired by body transformations? Tell us about it!

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5 Ways Social Media Influences Consumer Spending Habits

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Social Media Influences and Consumer Spending Habits

If you don’t believe that social media has the power to influence shopping decisions, it may surprise you to learn that consumers who involve social media in their shopping process are four times more likely to spend more on purchases. And according to Sprout Social, a whopping 74% of shoppers make buying decisions based on social media.

Sure, social media started out as a platform for people to share their thoughts and photos with their network of friends and family. However, it’s evolved to become so much more than that. We’ve listed 5 ways that social media influences consumer spending habits and you may be surprised to admit that some of these are true for you:

  • Product reviews by friends and family

Consumers are 80% more likely to purchase an item based on a friend’s suggestion. Word-of-mouth marketing is that powerful.

Have you ever posted something you bought or saw a Facebook post by your friend raving about a product? One of your followers may have seen your post and clicked the tag that leads them to the store you bought it from. And admit it, your curiosity peaked over your friend’s new purchase.

  • Social media ads

Marketers are able to place themselves right in front of the consumers they know will be most interested in their products with targeted ads. And as a person scrolls their feeds, ads that appeal to them appear either within the feed or on the side. Either way, it’s enough to call their attention and click through to ultimately make a purchase.

  • Reviews from Influencers

We love seeing what our favorite social media celebrities are wearing, eating, and hanging out. And while we recognize that their posts are probably sponsored, that certainly doesn’t stop consumers from buying the same brand of lip gloss or buy designer desserts that they too can post on social media.

  • Seeing what’s popular or trending first

Facebook and Instagram’s algorithm have changed over the years. You’ve probably noticed how posts you’re more likely to engage with appear first in your news feed. And beyond that, so do posts that have received the most engagement; these “trending” posts could be the latest line of makeup or newest gadget. Whether it is a product, service, or a social media celebrity posing in the lobby of a 5-star hotel, it gets consumers thinking. And maybe they’ll end up buying a tube of lipstick or book a night in a luxury suite for the weekend.

  • A business’s social media presence

Some businesses know how to command social media to their favor. They post content that people love to consume and share. They have strong feeds that attract more engagement. They know how to play to the fantasies of their target market. They have a way of strategically placing their product in the hands of influencers and celebrities who also have strong followings on social media.

Whether we care to admit it, social media has an impact on our purchasing decisions. While we may not buy anything on the spot, the visuals and reviews certainly leave an impression that we may act on eventually.

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5 Powerful Movies that Inspire Entrepreneurship

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Creativity Exercises Movies

Running your own business is extremely challenging. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need much more than the love of selling. You need to be passionate about your business, stand by your products or services, and stay motivated.

We’ve listed the top 5 movies that will inspire you as you make it through your entrepreneurial path. We hope these movies will motivate you to persevere, ignore the naysayers, and get you in the right mindset for business success.

1. The Pursuit of Happyness

“You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People who are unable to do something want to tell you that you are incapable of doing it. If you want something, go for it. Period”.

Based on the true story of Chris Gardner, this movie is filled with heartbreaking scenes, and it doesn’t seem like things will ever go right for the main character. Will Smith plays Gardner who has to support himself and his son during an unpaid internship.

With barely any money, they end up sleeping in shelters and at one point, on the floor of a subway station bathroom. We don’t want to spoil things for you by giving away the ending but the takeaway is never to give up, and that passion and sacrifice are essential to success.

3. Forrest Gump

“I just felt like runnin’.”

While many would think that Forrest Gump’s phenomenal business success was purely accidental, it’s his good-natured spirit behind it all.

People will tell you how cutthroat the world of business is. While that’s true, some people succeed by doing what they feel is right, giving credit where credit is due, and that your most brilliant ideas can come to you when you least expect it. This movie epitomizes how good things happen to good people.

3. Jerry Maguire

“Help me help you.”

Yes, Jerry Maguire is a romantic movie, for the most part. I think the beautiful lesson that this movie teaches any entrepreneur is that you define what success means to you. Success doesn’t mean having high-profile clients, multi-million deals, or the biggest billboards. Stick to your values, have a vision for yourself, and don’t lose them in the hustle.

4. Steve Jobs

“The musicians play their instruments. I play the orchestra.”

Every entrepreneur needs to see the reality of failure in business. This movie shows its viewers just that by being both an inspirational yet cautionary tale for entrepreneurs as Steve Jobs struggles to keep Apple a leader in the tech industry.

5. The Social Network

“If you were the inventors of Facebook. you would’ve invented Facebook”

Let’s excuse the fact that The Social Network was an overdramatized version of how Mark Zuckerberg went from a Harvard student to launching the biggest social network in the world. Watching this movie will give budding entrepreneurs a look at what it takes to get a startup rolling and how personal relationships can often get in the way.

Are you an entrepreneur? Is there a line from a movie that’s been particularly inspiring for you? Is there a movie that made you want to go into business for yourself? Tell us about it.

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5 Upcoming Art Festivals this Fall 2017

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woman yellow background

Visual arts, music, literature, crafts, tattoos, photography, and performances. The list of what goes on in art festivals is endless and don’t we just love it all?

Whether you’re looking for crafters like you or want to listen to book readings or see art in action, we’ve listed 5 upcoming art festivals that you may fancy. Pick one that interests you or make it a plan to check them all out!

  1. Art for Art’s Sake 2017

When: Oct. 7, 2017

Where: New Orleans, LA at the New Orleans Art District on 798 South Liberty Street

Don’t miss Art for Art’s’ Sake 2017, the annual street party that attracts tens of thousands every year. There’s something for everybody! At New Orleans’ Warehouse Arts District, you’ll find galleries showcasing work ranging from classic to contemporary across all medias. Magazine Street is lined with art galleries, antique shops, and jewelry stores. And the Contemporary Arts Center offers new exhibits and musical performances.

 

  1. 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival 2017

When: Oct. 13-29, 2017

Where: Greensboro, NC at multiple locations

It would be amazing if you could be there for all 17 days of this art festival as more than 70 artists spanning various art forms will throw together over a hundred events showcasing their creativity and craft. There will be live music concerts, craft beer, dance and theatre performances, body painting, visual arts and loads more!

 

  1. Hyde Park Village Art Fair 2017

When: Oct. 14-15, 2017

Where: Tampa, FL at the Hyde Park Village at 1602 W Snow Ave

Held in the upscale Hyde Park neighborhood in Tampa, Florida, the Hyde Park Village Art Fair is a celebration of art and the finer things in life. This two-day event will feature over 150 artists and crafters who will showcase their unique works. We’re talking about jewelry, life-sized sculptures and one-of-a-kind decorative pieces which include paintings and other crafts.

 

  1. ARToberFEST 2017

When: Oct. 21-22, 2017

Where: Galveston, TX at Downtown Galveston on Post Office St & 22nd St

ARToberFEST is an annual fine art festival in Historic Downtown Galveston where local and regional artists working across a variety of media are featured. Come on down and purchase an original piece from one of these artists for your collection. This outdoor art party features live music. And because it takes place right on Post Office St, you’ll be surrounded by restaurants and cafes.

 

  1. Full Moon Tattoo & Horror Festival 2017

When: Oct. 27-29, 2017

Where: Nashville, TN at Hotel Preston on 733 Briley Pkwy

Don’t want to miss one of Nashville’s more unique events and the largest festival of its kind in the South. The finest tattoo artists from across the country are attracted to this festival each year. But wait, you don’t need to be inked to appreciate the artistry behind tattoos.

This is also the best place to be right before Halloween as the Full Moon Tattoo & Horror Festival delights in the scary and relishes in all things twisted. You’ll see horror film stars and esteemed tattoo artists as they gather for 3 days of horror film screenings, tattoo competitions, and costume contests.

Art is such a broad term. What’s your favorite art and which of these upcoming art festivals will you likely be at?

 

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