Now for the real stuff-my dear artist friends, what do you want? Sales! What do you want your customers to do? Buy! Do they have to buy? NO. Do they want to buy? Maybe. It's clearly a buyer's market now. Not a seller's market. Does this community have the means to buy? Maybe if they are not overextended. Will some of them buy? If you have want they want/need for themselves or their family/friends.
I saw paintings, sculpture, small bags, just about any size of purchase go down the street. Qualified customers, just not as many as needed for most of us. Was weather a determinant? You betcha. Undoubtably when there are bitter winds blowing down the street and it's chilly out people contract. Can't control the weather. Along with musicians who often continue performing in the rain, this is our platform: the outdoors. That puts us in a problematic state that you either have to accept, dodging raindrops as you go through the show season, or realistically make the decision to get out. Of course grumbling is what most of us do!
Have you noticed how sales associates are relating to their customers lately? I have noticed that they are super friendly lately, seemingly really interested in 'me.' This is the paradigm for selling now in the recession environment. It's all about them and their family/friends and their wants/needs, not about us. If you haven't grasped this and continue think your art is going to sell itself, you will be disappointed. Adopting a persona of genuine interest in your customers, engaging them in a non-threatening way, keeping patient, knowing your market and whether the public will have an interest in your work along with having fresh new work is a start in this new business climate.
Everything has changed. Have you changed to adapt to it? Learning what to do is the challenge. The POTENTIAL is still there. Fortunately people love ART! It lifts their spirits, gets their imagination going, and gives them, actually does give them a reason to spend money over and above spending money in other venues. Realizing that one basic fact, if you love what you do, gives you a lot of mileage on going forward. Yes, people are cutting back. So give them a reason to spend. Be passionate about what you do. Keep positive even if sometimes it's impossible. Search for solutions as they are always there. Continue to have fun and enjoy your art, your work, your expression. This could be the Golden Age of Art as we are transitioning to a new era of global awareness and communication!
Comments
THANKS,,,,,,HEY I LIVE IN KEY LARGO.......MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN WOULD BE GREAT TOO...THANKS FOR REPLY
whats a good space to ask for at the september show....birmingham....