Technical Assistance FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Technical Assistance Sessions

What is the difference between a technical assistance session and a consultation? There are three major differences:

One, the technical assistance sessions are focused on hands-on projects that can be completed (or started) in about an hour. Consultations are more open-ended opportunities to seek advice, guidance, and direction on the business side of their career as an artist. 

Second, they are also offered in-person only at the Vickie Benson Resource Lab at our St. Paul location.

A third difference is that you'll be assigned a qualified and vetted technical assistant, depending on who is available. You are generally able to choose a specific consultant when you schedule a consultation. Because of the nature of these sessions, you'll be assigned one.

Is there a cost?
For the session itself, no. Depending on the topic, there may be required payment to another vendor or service outside Springboard. For example, setting up a website may require you to buy a domain name for a year for $15, or registering a copyright may require a $150 fee to the Copyright Office. We'll let you know beforehand what expenses you can expect. If there are expenses, you'll need to have a payment method available at the time of the session (usually a credit card, debit card or account for an online payment platform such as PayPal).

What should I bring?
You don’t need to bring anything with you, though we strongly advise you bring anything you need during the session for taking notes (notebook, digital device). You’re welcome to send your consultant some links, work samples, documents and other materials before you meet, though they may not have time to review them thoroughly.

Can I meet remotely on Zoom instead of in-person?
No. At the moment, these sessions are only offered in-person at the Resource Lab in St. Paul.

What if I'm running late or I need to reschedule or cancel a consultation?
If you need to cancel or move a session, please contact Andy at andy@springboardforthearts.org directly with at least 24 hours notice. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, it’s possible that we'll ask you to reschedule at the discretion of the consultant. At the moment, these are one-time sessions, so we can't reschedule. 

Can I choose which technical assistant I work with?
Because we only have a certain number of assistants available for any given block of sessions, we can't guarantee you'll be able to work with a specific individual. However, we have an excellent roster of assistants who are vetted and qualified. You can see the full roster here, and if you'd like to work with a specific individual, we'll do our best to accommodate you. 

How many free sessions can I get?
Every Minnesota artist is eligible for at least one free 55-minute consultation. Because this is a pilot program, we're asking participants to limit themselves to one session.

How many people can attend a session?
The sessions work best one-on-one. In some situations, the technical assistant can meet with small groups of 2-3 collaborators working together on a single project (artists, support staff, etc). If you have a larger group and would like to work with Springboard to present a workshop or presentation, please fill out the form here, and we’ll get in touch with a quote.

Can I schedule a session even if I don’t live in Minnesota?
Yes, though because they're in-person, you'll have to physically be here in St. Paul. We do prioritize Minnesota residents for these sessions. However, if you live  in a bordering community (Fargo-Moorhead, the St. Croix River Valley of Wisconsin, Sioux Falls, SD) and largely work in Minnesota, we may be able to work with you on a case-by-case basis. Let us know beforehand and we'll see what we can do.