In this episode, we speak with Matt Chessco, the creative visionary behind the Pop Art Cats NFT project. Matt is Montreal-based artist with a crazy-diverse background that ranges from industrial design and mechanical engineering, to venture capital and working on-set in the film industry! In January 2020, he went all-in on his artistic dreams, and has since gone viral on social media with over 1M subscribers on YouTube and 2.6M followers on TikTok!
After many months of hard work, Matt and his team recently launched the Pop Art Cats NFT collection, and they have some big plans for the future. We speak about this and so much more, including what it takes to make it as a modern-day creative professional, and the social media and Web3 strategies behind successful NFT projects today.
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Summary
“Dessin sans-dessein,” or “drawing without drawing,” was the art style that Matt became obsessed with, starting at an early age. He describes it as a form of abstract art in which shapes are formed using line and filled with different colors.
Artists must learn to run their art career as if they were owners of a business, if their goal is to create art professionally. They must be mindful of marketing, budgeting, planning, and all the unglamorous work that doesn’t come easily to most of us.
Tips for launching your own NFT collection:
NFTs are here to stay, so plan a creative roadmap and share it before launching your collection.
The most ROI from marketing comes during the two weeks prior to when your project mints. Put outsized effort into the time leading up to the presale and/or public sale, aiming to get as much attention on the project and as many followers on your socials as possible.
Collaborate with other projects before launching, especially if you are starting out as a creator without a significant following. Be creative and find novel ways to participate in NFT communities you vibe with, and organic engagement will eventually grow.
Like with any difficult goal:
have conviction and a clear vision
plan how you will manage your existing responsibilities & obligations (i.e. family, work, money, etc.)
stay true to your values
experiment and make adjustments as needed
control what you can, and set yourself up for as many opportunities for luck to strike as possible
Pop Art Cats Roadmap 2.0
Disclosure:
Please note that I (Mas) am an owner of an NFT from the project featured in this episode at the time of recording, and no compensation was accepted from the guest(s) and/or affiliated project(s).
Show Notes
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:00:29] Presenting: Matt Chessco
[01:33:00] Matt - Intro
[00:02:13] Matt - From Mechanical Engineer to Artist
[00:08:42] Matt - The Business of Being a Professional Artist
[00:11:11] Matt - The Artist's Journey Continues
[00:13:42] Matt - How to Leverage Social Media as an Artist
[00:18:45] Matt - Getting into NFTs
[00:21:22] Matt - Popping Off with Pop Art Cats!
[00:22:20] Matt - The Mission Behind Pop Art Cats
[00:25:25] Matt - What Role Does the Artist Have in NFT Projects?
[00:26:51] Matt - Thinking of the NFT Market as an Investor
[00:28:04] Matt - What's Next for Pop Art Cats? (Roadmap 2.0)
[00:30:17] Matt - Upcoming Events
[00:32:01] Matt - Upcoming Collaborations?
[00:34:08] Matt - Advice for Releasing Your Own NFT Collection
[00:36:47] Matt - Wrap-Up & Matt's Warning on Investing in NFT Collections Today
[00:38:56] Key Take-Aways
[00:40:02] Wrap-Up
[00:41:47] Outro
[00:42:46] Bonus - Matt's Stint in the Movie Industry (Outtake)Links
Pop Art Cats
Matt Chessco
Matt (@mattchessco) on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube
Keep an eye out for The Chessco Show podcast, coming soon (accounts will soon be active on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter)
NFT Droplets
The NFT Droplets Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
NFT Droplets Website (nftdroplets.xyz)
NFT Droplets on Twitter (@nftdroplets)
Mas on Twitter (@masangri_art)
Email inquiries can be sent to masaki@substack.com
Quotes
“…the next day, I went to the office, I learned how to use the printer, and I printed my resignation letter.”🤣
- Matt Chessco (final day as a mechanical engineer)
“Use your imagination because there’s no limit in what you can do…it’s a marketing game in the beginning…before you launch, marketing is everything!”
- Matt Chessco (on creating your NFT collection)
Extra Resources
Referenced
Matt Chessco & Pop Art Cats 2022 Event Forecast
As always, thank you so much for taking time to share this journey together with me into the world of NFTs. If you got value out of today’s episode, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a positive review on your podcast app of choice! 😁
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⚠ Disclaimer ⚠
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are a speculative asset class. Be aware of the risks involved and know that you could lose money. Everything I share references an opinion and is for information and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Please consult a licensed professional before making any investment decision.
💬 The NFT Droplets Podcast - Episode 6: How to Pop Off with Art & NFTs