Meet Duncan McDaniel | Artist/Business Owner and Operator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Duncan McDaniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Duncan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After graduating from art school in the mid 2000’sI moved back to Nashville and found work as a free lance harthandler helping the Frist Center with their exhibit turn arounds. Over the next 4 years or so I was added clients like Cheekwood and the Airport and the TN State Museum. I was sort of building a reputation as the go to guy for art installation. Sometimes I would be invited to project planning meetings. As all the parties were being introduced around the table it got to me and I would introduce myself as Duncan and when it was expected to state who I was with or representing I would just say “I’m with me, I am just a local art handler” after awwardly doing that a few times and getting doubtful looks it dawn on my I might seem more impressive if I was “with a company” so I founded Art Up Nashville and got licesnced, insurend ect…. and have been evolving and growing clilents ever since.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In the beging I was just a man with a spirit level and a hammer riding aroud from client to clent in a little black nissan versa hanging art. Deffintatey simpler times as other than my living expeses I had no real overhead on the business. If I worked, I got paid, so my only real stress was finding enough work to more or less fill my schdule. Fast forward 12 years to where I am now managing a much more complex structure of employees, sales, equiptment, work flow and systems ect…. Expanding to this point hasnt been smooth sailing to say the least as I didnt have any real training or idea of how to run a business. There have deffinatrely been some stressful years and I have made many mistakes along the way. But learing and adapting has been key to persevering through years of growth. There are not very many organizations like ours in the region so we are sort of left to our own devises to figure out how to be the best art handling company we can be. The hardest part is learning how to let go, to trust others to do their job. Especially the administion part (I actually still struggle with this part) In our next phase of business I want to focus on maintaining and finding new realtionships in the southeastern art sphere. I want Art Up to be a regional force in the fine art service infrastructure.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We live in Madison and always take peopl from out of town to Dee’s. Its wonderfull crusty corner that houses great music and people from all walks of live. Deffinately a good snapshot of Nashville. And there is always the obvious lower broadway which is fun if you don’t leave Roberts Western Wear. I’m a huge fan of the Parthenon and cential park. Also love the Warner parks and places like that.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I come from a family of entrepenours and sort of grew up with the crazy work schdules insibilty and hustle that goes with the territory. When It bcame time to start my own business, Art Up Nashville, I had a plethera of good advice and experience from them. I would love to give a shout out to my art handling mentors Johnny Nelson, Scott Tom, and Todd Greene. They taught me all the skills I needed to become a halfway decent art hanlder. Also Institutions like the Arts at the Airport Program and Metro Arts commision, they have continued to beleive in and suport our company going on a decade now.

Website: www.artupnashville.com

Instagram: artupnashville