I was talking to another artist during last weekend's show and we were both commenting on how many people came into each of our booths saying "I remember you from last year and bought XYZ" and then left without even really wanting to look at any of the work that was new since last year. He then remarked that these comments indicated he shouldn't come back for at least 2 years. He's been doing shows for about 20 years and went onto to tell me that he always changes out at least 30% of his shows each year, there are some he regularly goes to every other year, some every three years, etc.
I've seen lots of comments on this site about artists having a good following at certain shows and we can relate to that. We would be reluctant to give up those shows even for one year, but then again it makes me wonder if the sales the following year would be even better.
So, as I was considering this I wondered what works best? How many or what % of shows do you change out each year? I'm not counting those shows that we decide we're never doing again because sales were dismal, but those shows where we've been successful, are we getting into too much of a rut, assuming we'll continue to have the same success? How much of our schedule should we change each year?
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We change out approximately 20% of our shows each year in order to have some "virgin status" shows each year. I think it also may depend on the size of the market....if it is a large city/community it may not make as much of a difference than in smaller markets where it is easier to saturate the customer potential more quickly/easily.
Based on my sales results in late 2010 and early 2011, I'm dumping most of the shows I do in Florida other than the ones within two hours' drive of Fort Myers. Several of the deep-sixed shows were strong in 2008 and 2009 but fell off the table last year for no apparent reason. I'll leave them alone for a few years before I return.
I'm replacing those shows with a mixture of gallery shows and photography workshops, which make almost as much gross with almost nil overhead.
New work will always sell, it is the key to any successful adventure.
Geoff. Cheez son! This not a dig at you, but! Why do outdoor shows at all if you can make that kind of money at galleries and workshops. Of course, I am assuming you are talking about doing $2K or better on any given weekend.
First off folks, you are not going to get into every juried show you apply for, even if you did well the year before. So by that nature alone, you are going to have to replace the show you were juried out of, which means ipso facto pepto bismo, you are going to do other shows to make up the gap.
But sorry, if I did Mt. Dora five years in a row and was doing ,say, $3.5K on average, I think I would keep coming back with NEW WORK. That is the key. As we all know, not a lot of our bretheren are actively making a whole bunch of new stuff, nor trying new directions. If you want to survive, you must evolve or fall by the wayside.
I stumbled onto this post again by accident when someone responded today (3/18/2012), so I thought I should update my original response. Nels' point was correct: the gallery and workshop money I was hoping for was not materializing this fall and winter. I did two gallery shows and had nearly zilch for sales. I spent $350 advertising and promoting individual workshops and classrooms, with very little ROI (return on investment).
The Ft. Myers gallery scene is not vibrant (largely due to the economy, but that's not the only reason). There is a very popular Friday "Art Walk" program downtown and I'll be participating in that through a local gallery in 2012-13, but that's it. As for photo workshops: Lots of folks doing those in Florida, and I love doing them. But it's a big risk to take off a show weekend in high season in hopes that I'll fill my van full of enough workshop students to make that a more profitable scenario.
I hold to my original contention (in my biz plan) that I need three income streams to thrive financially. So I'll continue developing my teaching chops and networking, and we'll see what happens.
Interesting, we're having entirely opposite results right now Geoff, we added a new gallery that had a grand opening Jan. 14th and we're already restocking, a good problem to have, and just got a frantic call from our best selling gallery that they are out of stock on 4 designs and have a special promotion next weekend, please send more products!! Yay, a great call to receive when things are slow. It's not our "high season" for shows so we're very thankful that our galleries are filling some voids and it's also good feedback on our new designs, what's selling and what's not selling.
"$2K or better"!!?! Wow! I've done five shows so far this summer, and averaged around $500 each (if you discount the first one that zilched). Albeit, I'm still a newb, and my area (I stayed in Wyoming), is not exactly a mecca for painters, but that might change next week at Jackson Hole. I'll try to do at least three of the same shows next year. I figure if they see me again they'll think they're missing out on something if they don't jump on my band wagon soon. The dismal one's I'll skip, and try to replace with some of the more affluent shows in the surrounding states (except for 'Cherry Creek"... why bother?). I'm not ashamed to break even my first year out. I've made new friends, new contacts, and a better idea of what people are interested in and willing to spend.
It ain't no whirlwind, but I've got my name out there now. I don't mind being a starving artist, I just don't want to be set up next to a BBQ stand again.
You get the picture.
Larry Berman
Larry, you hit that proverbial nail on the head. We always try to have something different. If we see a product falling off, we'll ditch it. Maybe next year we'll have something completely different and nothing from this year.
New songs for the old fans.
That's because I like the promoters I do shows with. Some have become personal friends. I refuse to travel halfway across the country for a show I read about and asked some stranger about, and have that be the basis of my decision to do it. Today that's far too risky.
So when sales fall off for reasons other than the crappy economy, it's time to adapt. it's a shame not enough are willing to do that.
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