Bluffton Art and Seafood Festival

Comment by Michael Lee on December 18, 2009 at 3:52pm

I was also at that show but I had really good sales. I have been on the circuit for just over three years now as an oil painter. I learned these words of wisdom my first year doing shows from an exhibitor who has been doing this for 35 years. He said "weather permitting every show is somebody's best show and someones worst show, the rest of the exhibitors fall somewhere in between."

With that said I have participated in some huge expensive promoter run shows where I thought I would do really well and did terrible. On the same token I have participated in some large, medium and small shows some have been great others were ok then some were a disaster.

This is a gamble for most every vendor none of us are selling something people just need to survive. I too try and do as many local shows as possible to keep down travel cost. I was in marketing and advertising for 20 years. I gambled when I would design an ad then run the ad in a market I felt would generate the best return on the dollar. Sometimes I would score big other times I would flop then have to try and justify why I wasted the clients money on such a bad decision.

This business is exactly the same except the money I am gambling is mine. (my wife is the client in this scenario) I have to explain to her why a show did not work. So maybe do what I do, be optimistic learn from mistakes if a show did not go well for you then either try and figure out why or decide not to do it again. I judge a show based on a lot of different scenarios, like traffic, other types of vendors, quality of vendors and promoters.

In this economy most all of us are struggling but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I have had really bad shows and some decent shows. So give it some time the economy will get better and your sales will get better. Your choice was not bad it was just your experience during this show was bad. Once you have done this for a while you will learn to judge a show by more than just sales. Hang in there you either will really love this business or you will really hate it there seems to be no middle ground in this business.

Comment by Jennifer Simpson on December 18, 2009 at 4:09pm

I'm so glad someone did well there Michael! I guess it was just me and my immediate neighbors that I talked to that didn't lol. I think it was really well run and even hesitated to write the review because I wouldn't want someone to not try there just because I didn't do great. Since it was my first big show I probably made a lot of rookie mistakes too lol. I've been selling prints of my work at 2 different local weekend markets for a couple of years now and and only sold canvases at galleries, etc. So this was the first time I'd set my booth up with canvases only on display. Then I'd read somewhere, I think in the forums here, that you shouldn't bring prints of the canvases you're trying to sell because people will buy the image in the smallest, least expensive version possible. So I didn't bring prints of the canvases, just prints of some of my other work, and not a good selection. I think that was a mistake..... I went expecting to sell big expensive canvases only and didn't put any thought into print selections. If I could do it over, I would have displayed differently, stood somewhere other than where I stood, and brought prints in all sizes as well as notecards. What do they say about hindsight? lol. I have a new booth plan now that I'll be putting to the test in January. It's a learning process isn't it?

Comment by Michael Lee on December 18, 2009 at 4:32pm

Yes it is a huge learning process and no one will tell you how to do it. There seems to be a code of silence in this business that I do not agree with. We all are selling something completely different and if we are not then we are buy sell. I am too still learning and always will be. I do remember seeing your work. I did not see you or maybe you were talking to someone but I remember it stood out in my mind. It was really bright and colorful and looked nice. I try to walk each show whenever I can and I only go into booths that catch my attention.

Like most vendors I have what I call my break even work, prints magnets, etc. Items under $30.00 so at least I can make my booth fee. Originals for me start at $125.00 so that is a big jump from $30.00. It has been a tough year for me but each year gets a little better. I was lucky I sold the most expensive painting I have every sold in my life at that show.

I stopped painting large canvases because of the economy but I have change my thoughts on that. So here I go again trying to figure out what will work. I cannot speak for other artist but 2D artist have to constantly change what they think will sell. Some people will buy big work others want something small. Yet some do not want to pay a lot for a small painting but the big paintings are too big.

There is no magic formula other than to keep trying and find what works for you. This is still better than a real job for me any day. I would not take a 9-5 desk job again no matter what the pay was. There are no guarantees in that market either.

Comment by Mike Brown on Friday

Hello Michael and Jennifer,

Like what you both said about the festival thinking of trying it this year. I'm a wildlife and landscape painter and maybe it will work just don't know until I give the show a try. And like you said Michael there isn't any formula to selling or guarantees. My smaller paintings start at the $125.00 point but I've had larger sells but mostly prints and that has covered my show cost.

Thanks for the info, Mike

http://www.mikebrownstudio.com/

 

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