Interview with Creative Consultant: Margo Tantau
We spend a lot of time talking about what artists should do: grow their audience, price their work, pitch themselves better. But the harder conversation is about how artists see themselves.
Because building a sustainable career isn’t just about learning tactics. It’s about understanding what you’re really building, why you’re doing it, and what it will ask of you along the way.
Margot Tantau has spent years in creative industries navigating though retail, product development, fine art, but what stands out about her is how she talks to artists. She doesn’t offer hype or easy wins. She listens carefully. She reflects things back clearly and she helps people see possibility in places they’ve overlooked.
This isn’t advice for going viral or selling out. It’s the kind of thinking that helps artists keep going for the long haul.
Here’s our conversation:
1. What made you decide to work with artists and creatives in the first place?
I’ve always believed that creativity is a language we all speak. Some of us just need a little encouragement to raise our voice. Working with artists felt like a natural extension of who I am.
I’ve spent my life in and around creative people and industries but it’s the connection to the people behind the art that’s always moved me most. I love helping other creatives see what’s possible, not just in their work, but in the way they might be able to build a life around it.
2. What do you think most artists misunderstand about growth?
That it’s supposed to look linear. Growth is rarely a straight climb. It’s more like a winding trail, full of pauses, pivots, experiments, and seasons of quiet that are just as important as the loud wins.
I think many artists mistake stillness or uncertainty as potential failure, when actually those can be the richest times. Sustainable growth is rooted in knowing yourself, not just chasing trends, algorithms, or should-do's.
3. In your view, what makes a creative career resilient? And do you see signs of the ones that you know will “make it” and the ones that don’t?
Resilience comes from community, curiosity, and the willingness to evolve.
The artists who “make it” aren’t always the most naturally gifted but they’re often the ones who keep showing up. They’re resourceful, open to feedback, and willing to do the less-glamorous parts of the work.
They stay connected to their reason why, and they don’t hide out. I can often sense this kind of chutzpah in the way someone talks about their work. Not with perfectionism, but with determination.
4. What kind of mindset shift changes everything for an artist?
The shift from “Am I good enough?” to “How can I show up for me and as myself?”
That change reframes everything. When artists stop trying to prove themselves and instead start sharing themselves, their work gains depth and then so does their impact. It’s not about chasing validation, but about creating connection.
That’s when things start to move.
5. What do you see in artists that they often can’t see in themselves?
Possibility. 100%.
I see the spark in their work. Often this is hard for us to see in ourselves. I see what they are doing that gives them their unique voice, a place in the creative space, a path forward (or not!).
I also see how much their work means to them, even when they doubt it themselves. So often, artists are waiting for permission. I love being someone who says: “You already have what you need. Let’s build from there. I see you shining.”
Margot’s insight comes from years of working alongside artists, understanding what it takes to sustain it. She’s not at all about surface-level advice. Her real superpower is in helping artists see the real work beneath the work, and the potential they might miss in themselves.
For anyone serious about building a lasting career, this is the kind of guidance that changes everything. To reach out to Margo and work with her, click here.