Molaundo Jones: Painter to Educator, Building The Clever Agency: My Friends Are Better Than Yours
Molaundo Jones is a marketing strategist working at the intersections of art, entrepreneurship, and education. He currently serves as Associate Director of Content Marketing at Morehouse College.
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Join BIG CED for an in-depth conversation with Molaundo Jones—artist, educator, entrepreneur, and author of “Art and Algorithms: Marketing Strategies and Tools for Artists.”
In this episode, Molaundo shares his journey from fine arts painter to marketing expert, his work with The Clever Agency, and why he wrote a book to help artists navigate the complex world of self-promotion. We dive deep into AI, social media marketing, email strategies, and what it takes to stay relevant in today’s digital landscape.
Molaundo discusses his new role as Associate Director of Content Marketing at Morehouse College and his upcoming teaching position at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Why email marketing still beats social media for conversions
✅ How AI can help (not harm) creative professionals
✅ The difference between followers and actual audience engagement
✅ Marketing strategies specifically designed for artists
✅ How to turn artistic skills into entrepreneurial success
Connect with Molaundo Jones:
🌐 Website: https://Molaundo.com
🏢 The Clever Agency: https://thecleveragency.com
📱 Instagram: @thecleveragency
📚 Book: “Art and Algorithms: Marketing Strategies and Tools for Artists”
#MarketingForArtists #Entrepreneurship #AIinMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #ArtBusiness #MorehouseCollege #CreativeEntrepreneurs
Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction & Welcome
1:37 – Who is Molaundo Jones? Multi-Hyphenate Introduction
2:33 – How They Met: The Brook Stevenson Connection (RIP)
3:30 – The Negril Village Era & Industry Networking Parties
4:20 – “Art and Algorithms” – The New Book Reveal
5:44 – Why Molaundo Wrote a Marketing Book for Artists
8:35 – From Business Major to Fine Arts: The Artist Origin Story
9:13 – Growing Up Poor & Choosing Business Over Art
10:03 – Art as Therapy: Painting in the Midwest
10:23 – Grad School at SVA & The NYC Art Scene
11:10 – How Being an Artist Prepared Him for Entrepreneurship
11:51 – The Clever Agency: Origins & Mission (Founded 2011)
12:02 – Building a Business with Friends (Brook Stevenson, Charles Vincent Burwell, Ramon de los Santos, James Sasser)
13:23 – Full-Service Agency: Content Creation to Strategy
14:42 – Marketing as the Most Creative Business Discipline
16:40 – Black Enterprise Feature: 5-Year Reflection
18:16 – The Evolution from Print to Digital Marketing
19:14 – AI & Artists: Threat or Opportunity?
20:11 – Learning AI Tools to Amplify Your Work
21:01 – Confronting AI Fears: The Terminator Mindset
22:24 – 19 Keys & The AI Conversation
24:48 – AI as a Tool: The Hammer Analogy
25:27 – AI is Already Everywhere in Marketing
27:28 – GPS, ChatGPT & Changing Perspectives on AI
30:16 – Social Media: Before & After
31:49 – The Anti-Social Media Social Media Marketer
33:07 – Building an Empire with Little to No Money
34:04 – Self-Worth vs. Social Media Validation
35:16 – Cyber Bullying & Mental Health Impact
36:23 – BIG CED vs. Cedric: The Dual Persona
38:00 – Followers Don’t Equal Success: Focus on Conversion
39:19 – The Joy of Educating & Coaching Artists
40:24 – Dr. Dale Allander: The Mentor Who Changed Everything
41:01 – Becoming an Educator & Loving It
42:29 – What is Curation? Creating Artistic Experiences
43:21 – Curating Art Like Making a Mixtape
45:37 – Learning the Word “Curatorial”
46:07 – Writing the Book: Timeline & Process
47:04 – Losing a Job & Finding Time to Write
48:05 – Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
49:08 – Choosing to Serve a Niche Audience
49:50 – Soft Launch at Face-to-Face Conference
50:23 – The Final Three-Month Push
51:00 – Future Book Plans: Updated Editions & PR Guide
52:33 – The PR Book Idea
53:03 -BIG CED Book Ideas: “The Attempted Assassination of BIG CED”
54:12 – Overcoming Industry Obstacles & Staying Relevant
56:49 – Different Skill Sets for Different Success Paths
58:32 – New Role: Associate Director at Morehouse College
59:00 – Managing Social Media for Dr. Cornel West & Ava DuVernay Events
59:26 – Upcoming: Teaching at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts
1:00:12 – Appreciation & Impact of Milando’s Work
1:01:47 – Most Effective Marketing Tool: EMAIL
1:02:30 – Email vs. Social Media: Sustainable Power
1:03:18 – The Power of Email Lists & Longevity
1:04:43 – Contact Information & Where to Find Milando
1:05:22 – Final Advice: Master Your Product or Service
1:06:12 – Closing Remarks & Sign Off
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Molaundo Jones is a marketing strategist working at the intersections of art, entrepreneurship, and education. He currently serves as Associate Director of Content Marketing at Morehouse College.
As a marketing coach and consultant, Molaundo has led workshops for thousands of artists and coached hundreds of individuals with institutions including New York Foundation for the Arts, Creative Capital, and Queens Council on the Arts. His book Art & Algorithms: Marketing Strategies and Tools for Artists offers artists and creative entrepreneurs best practices in marketing designed to grow their audiences and careers, drawing from decades of experience working with artists and cultural institutions.
Molaundo has worked with several mission-driven cultural organizations, including Flushing Town Hall, Art21, Black Girl Ventures Foundation, Fractured Atlas, and the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. He has also served on grant panels for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Museum of Arts & Design, and Brooklyn Arts Council. As Founder of The Clever Agency, he has partnered with global clients on marketing projects and has served as President of the Board of Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) since 2021. He holds a BA in Marketing from Morehouse College and an MFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts.
My Friends Are Better Than Yours Featuring Molaundo Jones