Art Marketing. It's a topic that makes most of us artisans perk up our ears. What is it good to do? What's worth our time and effort? And how can we make a living doing this? I don't know an artist who doesn't ask all those questions on a regular basis. I heard a story about a Canadian music producer who quipped, "I earn half my salary as an artist, the other half I just don't earn".
So it was my plan to write a little piece here to share my experience of doing my first artisan "show". You know the kind, you pay for a space up front and hope you've chosen your event well and that all the other unknown factors come together to make it a worthwhile weekend. I was going to write about getting ready for the show, do a little post during the show and then the post mortem of how it went.
I can talk prep here. The only "market" style thing I have done was years ago in a windy outdoor venue here in Victoria. While the jewellery sellers next to me filled their wallet and the air brushed hat seller on the other side sold a wack of hats, my sales of visual art were rather slim. I gathered from this that people are more willing to drop a little cash decorating themselves than their living spaces. That was probably 10 years ago. My art has changed and I thought it was time for another kick at the can. It is a known fact in the art world that visual art is just a harder sell. That's why clever, talented people like Starry Eyed Studios from Victoria create some "functional art" (magnets, pendants) as well as hang-on-the-wall art.
From doing a couple of in home shows (which are great because they require no dragging of stuff anywhere!) I have learned that small works, reprints, cards and journals are good sellers. You will probably also sell a few larger pieces or at least connect with people who may later buy a larger work. I have also learned that it is impossible to predict how things are going to go. You just make your choices, do your set up and remember to have fun. Sometimes you do well and sometimes it's just a big hazy mystery!
So I got all my prints and journals and cards ready for the show. I printed some 10% off coupons and made some little art magnets for the goody bags that will be given out at the show. I selected a painting to give to the Silent Auction for cancer. I created a sign to use on the front of my table. I bought the cutest Japanese Shoji screen room divider to display my art on. I had some nice looking price signs and baskets for displaying all my art wares.
I chose the "Make It" Show in Vancouver because it seemed like a good mix of artists. It was billed as a no "doilly" show which appealed. I think you need to choose your "show" carefully. Who is the audience? Who will be displaying with you? If it's not the right fit for you, you're gonna wear it like a bad hair day. If you're wedged between kleenex box holders and apple pies, it might just be a waste of your time and money. But sometimes that's how we learn. And sometimes we can choose wisely and people still look at you like you have 3 eyes. That's just life. And it's okay. Best to learn what we can from the experience and throw the sour grapes in the compost heap.
But instead of winding our way towards the part of this post where I say, I'll see ya tomorrow at the show. I'm going to say "swine flu", that's right you heard me I oinked. So all this swine flu news and the prospects of 3 days of crowds.... made me a little nervous. I fall into a category of people (due to recent illness) that makes me much more susceptible to viral infections. There it is the wild card, that no one could have predicted. So to make a long story, slightly less long, when I weighed it all out, I sided on taking care of my health and being a little cautious. Sadly the producers of the show could find no exceptional circumstances in my situation (where I offered a little more detail than here) and chose money over good will. No refunds, no exceptions. Half off next show, if you're interested.
It's instructive for me when dealing with my own customers. A little good will goes a long way. When friends missed a theatre date, simply because they were so busy they forgot and The Belfry gave them tickets for another night. Man were we impressed! And you can bet my friends told this story to a few folks, just as I'm passing it on here. We all have a warm smile when we think of The Belfry Theatre now. And on Etsy, vendors tend to send hand written thank-you's with the purchases and often some small treat. I know I always throw in an art card or two or a magnet or something fun, when I'm sending off an order. It's the little extras that make people remember you, the small kindnesses you offer to the world.
So there's the story, choose your venue carefully so it's a good fit for you, do lots of pre-show prep and have a variety of price points to offer goods at. Have business cards and a little bio and even some little freebie treats (book marks?) if you can. Collect email contacts at the show, make friends and have fun. And when I do a show it will be fun to share that with you. Until then my venue is quite virtual.
This piece looks like a painting, but it isn't. It is a combination of a fabric-scape and sandbrushing. The fabric-scape depicts modern day Five Finger Rapids. The boat image is from a historical photograph (1898) of The White Horse and it is sand-brushed onto the
This stunning and moody woman reminds me so much of a childhood friend that it made me take a second look.
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