money - Forum - Art Fair Insiders2024-03-29T05:25:51Zhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/feed/tag/moneySeeking help to transport our cargo trailerhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/seeking-help-to-transport-our-cargo-trailer2018-03-18T14:22:25.000Z2018-03-18T14:22:25.000ZSteve Cebulahttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/SteveCebula<div><p>We have a 5x8 enclosed cargo trailer and need to get it to the huntersville, NC area by May 18th and can pick it up around that date.we are seeking an artist who will be in Florida around May 1st to take it from us and is doing a show or lives en route from destin, fl to huntersvile, NC. We will be traveling from destin to huntersville on or about May 17-18 and doing a show there the 19th and 20th. We are located in the Tampa, FL area and are leaving on the 3rd of May for shows in Fernandina Beach then Destin and do not need to have it with us until NC. It will contain our stuff to set up our summer studio space in MI, so no worries about delicate inventory etc. so, if you fit these criteria and want to make some $ for your fuel heading north give us a shout.</p></div>Left out in the cold in sunny Floridahttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/left-out-in-the-cold-in-sunny-florida2014-02-06T02:03:31.000Z2014-02-06T02:03:31.000ZTim Niewiadomskihttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/TimNiewiadomski<div><p>Hi,</p>
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<p>First off I would like to introduce myself as a new contributor to artfair insiders.</p>
<p>I am Tim Niewiadomski, segmented wood turner, living in the northeast Ohio.</p>
<p>Please forgive any misques I may make. I have been one if the infamous lurkers here for a few years until now. The reason I have finally taken the plunge from lurker to contributor is quite simple, I have encountered a serious situation we all need to be aware of.</p>
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<p>This past weekend while participating in the Fort Myers art fest I had some difficulties processing credit cards using my Way Systems POS unit. No matter what I did when processing a charge, I would get an error message 'registration error'. So I proceeded to complete the transaction offline which I have done before with no problems. After a few minutes went by, I tried to upload the transaction to receive the same error message. Multiple attempts to upload charges resulted in same error. So I attempted to contact my credit card processing company only to have numerous problems connecting to anyone who could help.</p>
<p>As the time passed and no resolution to my error problem I was finally able to contact Way Systems 24/7 help line. Oh did I mention, the show ended for the day and I was back at the hotel nearing 8:00 PM. When prompted by there marvelous voice messaging center I was informed that as of Feb 1 my service had been terminated with my credit card processor. This is the first I had heard this was going to take place.</p>
<p>To keep this post flowing I was unable to contact a live person until Monday morning when finally one devoted member of Way Systems did return my call for help. Turned out this wonderful person was not whom I needed to contact and was given another phone number to contact.</p>
<p>So another call made. After 30 minutes of explaining I was unable to process any charges and being told my service was terminated as the reason for my problems. I was told that I was informed of this impending cancellation of services in writing as far back as September (which I confirmed when arriving home no such message was included in any correspondence from my Card Processor), this so called help finally figured out that I had processed the charges off line and the credit card processor would not be able to help. I was given a case # and told someone would be in contact with me. Here we are 5 days later and informed Way Systems is working on the problem but no clue on how long this will take.</p>
<p>Sooo here I wait to hear from Way Systems about a resolution to my (and numerous others) problem.</p>
<p>The moral of this story is to be prepared for unforeseen problems as best you can. Have a plan B for processing credit cards. Have any and all contact numbers easily accessible (Thought I had these covered).</p>
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<p>Oh yeah, I had 3 charges for the weekend 2 of which I had the foresight to get phone numbers leaving me with 1 charge in need of processing. </p>
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<p>Anyone out there using Way Systems 5000 POS, better check with them to find out if your processing functions are working. Don't be caught with your shorts down!!!!!</p>
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<p></p></div>Is it possible to earn a living doing art shows?https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/is-it-possible-to-earn-a2011-03-23T19:56:52.000Z2011-03-23T19:56:52.000ZLynda Wallishttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/LyndaWallis<div><p>I sometimes have the feeling that this question is the elephant on the table. I've supported my family since 1989 as an illustrator. It hasn't been easy, but it has been a joyous choice. This summer I'm making my move into the summer art show circuit. This is a big leap of faith for me. I've been accepted into a number of shows-thrilled! But the question remains...will enough people give me $ for my paintings? I do not have a partner that helps support the family financially, so every dime I earn comes from drawing. It's been 22 years tough.</p>
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<p>My question to this community is, is it possible to earn enough $ to support ones family simply by doing the art show circuit? How many of you out there do it without an additional part time job? Without the financial contribution of a partner? Without a trust fund?</p>
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<div style="xg-p: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;" class="mcePaste" id="_mcePaste"><img/></div></div>Art Fairs are all about money, not art...https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/art-fairs-are-all-about-money2010-08-02T00:06:29.000Z2010-08-02T00:06:29.000ZMichelle Sholundhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/MichelleSholund<div>Hello! I just wanted to share with you all this very interesting debate that I think many talk about and debate about even. So much so I listened to a good one via a podcast through NPR via a British Debate symposium (I think) that does regular debates but the one that caught my attention was regarding the topic - Art Fairs are all about money, not art. The link to the podcast is <a href="http://www.intelligencesquared.com/subjects/the-arts">www.intelligencesquared.com/subjects/the-arts</a> if you want to check it out yourself (you don't need an ipod to listen to a podcast, just a computer and podcasts are free - if you didn't know that). I would like to throw this topic out for debate here though. Just as 6 people did a great job of debating the topic, I feel there are some artists here that probably have a lot to say about the topic. <br/><br/>Me? I am kinda undecided - we all need money for an art fair to run, but does it necessarily mean that the show isn't focused on the art? Let's debate... - Michelle<br/></div>Managing Scheduling & Show Fees - How Do You Do It?https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/managing-scheduling-show-fees2010-03-01T16:19:38.000Z2010-03-01T16:19:38.000ZJacqueline Websterhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/JacquelineWebster<div><p>This is my first year of festivals and I'm finding myself fixated on trying to manage two things:</p>
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<p>1. Scheduling - show deadlines, applications & show dates. I can't seem to get them all in one place that makes sense for me. (FYI - I do better with paper - it's the whole out of sight, out of mind thing with computers) What kind of system do you use to keep track of everything? Or do you just wing it?</p>
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<p>2. Show fees - trying to stay solvent with all of those checks floating around out there is giving me ulcers. How do you do it? Is everybody living on credit and overdraft protection this time of year? How do you deal without knowing who's going to cash which check when?</p>
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<p>I'd love to hear from everybody on how to manage these things, especially the old timers (pardon the expression). I'm convinced that there has to be a way to do it that doesn't include ramen noodles and sleepless nights.</p>
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<p>Thanks!</p>
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<p>Jackie</p></div>If you had the money, what would you buy for your art/craft business?https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/if-you-had-the-money-what2009-07-14T19:55:53.000Z2009-07-14T19:55:53.000ZMichelle Sholundhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/MichelleSholund<div>Money is on my mind, what can I say? In thinking about all the things that would be nice to replace IF I HAD THE MONEY (but you are settling for what you have now because you have to) - what are some things you would love to replace say in your workshop, display fixtures, vehicle?</div>Money (budgeting and buying) Tips or advice???https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/money-budgeting-and-buying2009-07-14T14:55:11.000Z2009-07-14T14:55:11.000ZMichelle Sholundhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/MichelleSholund<div>Hey all. I want to think I am pretty good with money (when I was starting out it was a slow process - spending and paying off things , as I am sure I am not the only one), but for awhile was doing well with money - only buying with what I have and earned ...
At the beginning of this year, I decided to change a few things with my business - aside from a name change (which was greatly needed), I changed my labeling/hangtags, business cards etc. (things really don't cost much as I design and make my own and is a normal cost anyway). However, I did a new website (leaving the old one up as you never know) and the biggest expense was buying a new display - items from Woodland Marketing. Although I had the money for the simple things, and of course paying for some shows too, I thought I would have the money in a month or two to pay off the new display, especially after a show I was doing in March.
Well, that is when the financial slump started. The show ( in March) which cost approx. $500 for the space (and was local so my only other "real" travel expense was gas), I only earned $450 (still better than what others did at the event, but not great really). With that and a few other minor expenses my debt (which there wasn't any up until Jan.) ended up being $2,000. I have been slowly paying it off - that is the good thing - as I am meeting milestones each month either by earning extra money at a part time job (which I am loving and also aids in bringing in income as I am able to sell my work there too) or sales at shows or orders. I am able to pay about $500 a month down. I am close to paying off that debt by the end of the summer but am in desperate need of a new canopy (I posted the discussion Death to my EZ-UP). I have decided to get a Trimline as the more I hear testimonies, watch the videos in how it is set up and everything else in between, I am sold. However the price is $895 (or so). A big ouch! However this is something I need to do my August and fall shows and other futures shows to boot. Should I bite the bullet and just buy it or wait?
On top of that I badly want to participate in 2 events, a wholesale gift show and a Thanksgiving time "Christmas/holiday" Art fair. Both are big ticket items and since I am trying to NOT go into debt again - something I can't stand - I am thinking of doing one. The other question - which is best option? The wholesale show costs more, but is a great opportunity to sell a big number of items I have (holiday items are my biggest sellers) and a good chance for landing wholesale accounts - good for future business. Or go with the Thanksgiving time show which is cheaper (but still high priced for me) and at least get full price for my work, but not guaranteed much.
I have been toying with this issue of money regarding saving and spending<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1062325869?profile=original" alt="" width="414" height="334"/></p>
and need help from fellow peers on this. My mind is thinking - I want I want I want trying to justify I need I need I need, however my heart is aching in the sense I don't want to go back into debt. Thoughts??? I need help.
Michelle
P.S. Money photo is from crooksandliars.com</div>