In today’s multifaceted world of blacksmithing, two distinct yet interconnected realms are shaping the craft: the professional blacksmith business and the as a professional online influencer or as an artist blacksmith. Though both operate within the same foundational knowledge of blacksmithing, they cater to very different audiences and pursue contrasting goals. Few do both, but the audience has a hard time realizing who is who as they see them as the same thing, and they are not.
The professional Artist Blacksmith
Business is grounded in the tradition of metalworking, focusing on creating custom ironwork for a select clientele. This blacksmith’s shop is a place of craftsmanship and precision, where theoretical knowledge is applied to produce high-quality, functional items tailored to specific customer needs. Their expertise is reflected in custom pieces that embody both skill and artistry, built to withstand the test of time. This business is not seeking to produce content or an audience. Their focus are clients as they are are hired for the work.
On the other side of the anvil...
Online influencers
Shaping the public perception of blacksmithing through digital platforms, these smiths leverage their knowledge and skills to create engaging content that resonates with a broad audience. Their forges are often visible to thousands of followers who tune in for edited tutorials, demonstrations, and artistic showcases. For them, the craft is as much about captivating an audience as it is about the forging itself. In the demand for more content, dramatic themes, concepts and regurgitated ideas, these smith's make up in presentation for what they lack in original ideas. Although their exposure to the audience helps keep the next generation of blacksmiths aware of the craft as the tools of social media are just that, social and sharing digital media.
Two Smiths, One Cup
Despite their shared knowledge of the craft, these two types of blacksmiths navigate their work through different lenses. The professional blacksmith focuses on the meticulous application of techniques to meet client specifications, while the online influencer prioritizes creating content that entertains and educates.
Understanding the distinctions between these roles reveals how each contributes uniquely to the blacksmithing landscape. While the "blacksmithing" business emphasizes custom craftsmanship and client relationships, the influencer’s forge is a stage for creative expression and community engagement. Both approaches are essential to the evolving narrative of blacksmithing, each bridging the gap between heritage and modernity in their own way.
Neither are wrong in this modern world we are experiencing. Some blacksmith's ride the line and experience both worlds, some start forging on side and end up on the other. The narrative is the same in the end: forging iron, completing the task at hand and getting the work done...most of all getting dirty.
If you are just getting started, whether with your own online presence or business, it's important to stay the course and walk the path. It might lead you somewhere you don’t expect, but with persistence and dedication, you’ll discover new opportunities and unlock your own unique forge of success.
In the beginning of the project we all start with the same material, its up to you how forge it.
-Rory