Hi there, I've been following AFI for awhile and really appreciate the wealth of knowledge, information, and the imagination shared on this website. If you have any thoughts on this subject, I'd like to hear from you.
I'm a painter living in the New Orleans area, and pretty much make a living local shows and doing commissions for clients. I started freelancing as an illustrator/graphic designer in the late 80's, but it was almost 10 years ago that I started making a living full time as an artist. Never a dull moment, as you all know! After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, we had a lot of new community art events and markets start up, part of the rebuilding of the city itself. Many people had lost all the art and decor in their homes, and so business was great!
In recent years, several local art markets have allowed more buy/sell (flea market) vendors, and I've noticed that their presence really hurt my sales. My tent is full of new original paintings and archival prints, but the person next door selling junk jewelry and candle warmers is selling hand over fist. Many reliable markets in the past are allowing more of these vendors in, and I have been forced out due to low sales. Last fall, a buy/sell vendor actually complained to me about "artists keeping HER out of markets, due to jurying..." But the jurying is inconsistent, even in the "higher end" art shows --- perhaps motivated by booth fees, or reluctant to draw a hard line.
As summer moves into Fall this year, I think about the art markets I used to during the Holiday Season, and am dismayed at how many are no longer on my list. Should I contact these art market managers and communicate my concerns? I know a lot of artists here that have been affected by this, but there are growing numbers of buy/sell vendors out there too that get upset at being marginalized.
Replies
That is an excellent idea, Robert! I know a lot of fellow artists and craftspeople that feel as I do. The problem seems to be twofold: the persons running the show don't want to be burdened with jurying and "sorting the wheat from the chaff" (they already have full time jobs, etc.), and they have people over them that want more vendors of any kind, and more $$. A new show is being started here by a friend who is also an artist, and she has a vision for marketing local, original work. I'm in from the start, I hope it succeeds.
It's happening all over the country..buy/sell vs.the Artisans and Craftsmen. As sickening as it is, I just try to educate my customer...letting them know it's personally made by me, I source my materials personally-so they are hypo-allergenic, nickel and lead free, design the piece and create it. I push the "locally made", "hand-crafted" label HARD. Lots of people have the "I could get something cheaper at Walmart or Costco" mentality. My response is usually, If you want cheap goods from China, with Nickel, Lead and goodness knows what else, then by all means"- said with a smile, of course. "However, if you would like a personally crafted, one of a kind item that NO ONE ELSE will have, then your in the right place." I chose my shows carefully- we have some great festivals here during the season- and we all do well at those, so it's not as much of a big deal. But I agree that when I apply to a hand made/ hand crafted show, Juried Art show, or Artisan Fair, it really irks me that buy/sell is even there!
Thank you, Karole. Food for thought...
Different scenario for me down here in Australia ... unless the market actually states HANDMADE they let anyone in! So I come across this all the time, and the result is as you have described - people buying cheap imported rubbish hand over fist while the quality work goes unsold apart from those who recognise it.
The best I can do is include signage that its made by me with quality materials and one of a kind; have a better display than the others by looking more professional; and tell people that I make it when they come in and look around.
Many people recognise there is a business opportunity to trade (buy/sell) rather than create and sell and they eagerly pounce on any show that comes up. I do one yearly show that has great promotion, is well run and well attended. It's not a cheap show to do either - but out of around 80 booths, only 2-3 are made by the artist/artisan themselves. The rest are buy/sell and those vendors look disbelievingly at you when they find out you've actually made it... like, why bother!? And, as for their advice to have a cheaper range... yeah right.
This has made me very picky about which shows I go to - I also concentrate just on the local area and like you after having done it as my 'job' for the last decade, have at least got marketplace recognition of my work which helps sales - but it doesn't stop the attendees at shows from buying the cheap buy/sell items instead.
I think part of it is the economy - they still want to spoil themselves with a little purchase but can't necessarily afford to spend it on a quality piece. My gripe comes in when the neighbouring booth sells their buy/sell for the same price as mine ... and people buy it!
Dear Annette, thank you for your response. I guess it's comforting to know that I'm not alone in this, and I appreciate your comments. I have recently had several lovely customers visiting New Orleans from Australia! Your suggestions about improving my display and the "local, hand crafted" signage are a good idea! I tend to focus everything on creating and framing my paintings, and on art market day it's just the banner on the tent, and my aluminum graphic display panels. I saw someone at a recent show that had fabric slipcovers over her display panels, and punched through them with curtain hooks to hang the paintings (like mine, are under glass and heavy). It looked elegant, I might try it.