Always stay on the bright side. It's tough at times and YEAH these are tough times!
Its all in the numbers and percentages. Right?
Look at the 20%/80%. 20% of artists make 80% of the bucks at an art fair. This could be true. But with fewer patrons attending art fairs this year and of those that do attend, even fewer people spend, our percentages or luck at being one of the 20% goes down big time. So how do we make up for that decrease? Maybe more exposure to more people to make up for that decline. How? Wholesales? More in studio Open Houses? Galleries? More Art Fairs? Art Fairs more "targeted" to the type of work I do? Different work-cheaper/more expensive "I've heard it both ways"? More advertising? Store fronts? Art Gallery co-ops? Create different work?
Some of these cost money like advertising and booth fees with no guarantee of success.
This is what I've done so far:
Added a new line of much less expensive work. The what I call "break even" stuff. That has worked to a degree in my last two art fairs. Looks promising.
I'm going to look into the wholesale game and market both the "break even" stuff and the higher end work.
Offer what I create into new applications like lighting. I'm working on that one.
I have a studio next to the house with some room so I'm putting up a little gallery in it. The studio is only 15' from the street so I should get some walk in sales but I won't just rely on that. I will put up some inexpensive signage to draw people in. Also going to look into some advertising for it.
I figure that I'm here quite a bit of the time so what the heck!
I feel its a constant exploration that will never end.
What are your thoughts?
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I am considering offering art lessons in my studio over the winter months. And seeking more places to sell works like specialty gift shops, restaurants and professional offices. Then I thought of perhaps targeting a specific audience (like my large customer base) to generate sales and commissions. It is up in the air still but all in consideration. I have found that "break even stuff" you mentioned, has become the bread and butter in the last two years. As long as it , works Im not changing it.
Greg Heihn > Pauline RossOctober 24, 2009 at 10:09am
Hi Pauline
At my last open house I put out a sign up sheet for classes. Unfortunately so few people came that the percentage thing worked against me. So I'm thinking some kind of newspaper advertising.
Classes are a good idea and one artist friend of mine feels thats where the bucks are.
I'll keep on trying.
Good luck, Greg. Sounds like you live in a busy enough area to do a little gallery. That is wonderful and does not cost any extra. I think classes are a great idea. I have taught people an engraving class and they still buy from me.
Hi Greg.... yes, a tough year for all. Other than having a website (a must methinks) I have found having a local gallery or shop has kept me from financial fiasco in the last two years. I am fortunate to live in a small town (10,000) that has high tourism during the summer & fall. During the winter I always give my locals great discounts and they have kept me out of the red. I had my art for sale here years before I quit my "real" job and began art shows and now solely exist on art sales for my income. During the winter months I include workshops or special displays etc. just to revitalize interest during the boring snowy winters. I will add however, during the busy art show and tourist season, it is important to keep good track of inventory and not let it slide for the sake of show preparation. Many summer months this year my sales at the gallery have been double or more the sales from the shows (disappointing show sales).
I will re-state: I am fortunate to live in a tourist area for the draw. One year I expanded and leased some space at an art co-op kind of place 70 miles from home, in a non tourist area in a metro area of about 75,000. That was a disaster as it ended up most of those shoppers were looking more for home spun high end craft items rather than fine art photography to hang on their walls. Medium type, location and demand are very important when deciding where to display and hopefully sell your art.
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At my last open house I put out a sign up sheet for classes. Unfortunately so few people came that the percentage thing worked against me. So I'm thinking some kind of newspaper advertising.
Classes are a good idea and one artist friend of mine feels thats where the bucks are.
I'll keep on trying.
I will re-state: I am fortunate to live in a tourist area for the draw. One year I expanded and leased some space at an art co-op kind of place 70 miles from home, in a non tourist area in a metro area of about 75,000. That was a disaster as it ended up most of those shoppers were looking more for home spun high end craft items rather than fine art photography to hang on their walls. Medium type, location and demand are very important when deciding where to display and hopefully sell your art.