I wonder everyday about one subject matter the economy and how it affect the art shows.
It seems at first that is going well and strong but still I dod not see any improving where it matters. So far I feel we still stop in the same boat or little worst and do not take my word for it. There are plenty articles that will tell you the same and how people are concern about the pending inflation. Also the how people purchase change 10 years ago when we hit the recession.
Art show artist keep thinking that best approach is produce expensive art work or very cheap, basically nothing in middle. That concept alone is wrong in so many way because it show the evolution of our social class. We basically telling ourselves that soon it will poor, lower middle class, high middle class and high class or 2%.
Here are somethings as 2d artist I consider: my customer are between 30 to 50 married couple with empty wall space. Anyone with empty nest is looking to down side and no matter how much 401k and IRA accounts are doing it wont matter because they are not my customer. Lets eliminate the poor or basically earning less than 25,000 per year they are not buying. If I move the next bracket where people have some spare money to go out but still live check to check it is not my customer or the will buy something in low end. I think that person may earn around the 50 to 60K. The customer that I am looking really is the people earning close to 100k or higher. This customer income may be different between state to state but you want the person that can purchase something with wondering if they can cover the bills. This is not a 2% this what I consider upper middle class or lower high class. So the question I ask how many of those people are walking the shows.
I am feeling that Florida market is much older but I am looking for the person with a second home and recently retire at worst. Midwest is more my couple type customer. For my work I looking for the tractional area and conservative area. Having the 45 in WH is good for my business since this folks feel better about the direction of our country regardless of my beliefs.
The only thing I hope is that government chaos do not affect my sales as it did last year (my personal experience).
My first month had not finish I can tell you it already double my number from last year. The main reason I choose Cape Coral or Beaux Arts and willing to drive to Florida and back to Chicago to take care of my install customers. I am feeling encourage because after dealing with scam I find myself believing again. More important I believe that I putting my best effort, keep creating and moving forward. Not let the noise influence my spirit when it comes to my income. Maybe the biggest thing is that I trusting my choices regardless what my friend my think or do. The reality we all have different path to arrive to same place.
Comments
The usual thoughtful analysis, Oscar. Thank you. I tend to see it the same way. Now, I am older and have continued to work, but most of my friends are retired. I do have disposable income (and of course a home full of art from all these years), semi-spoiled because of all the years in this business and all the wonderful things I have see. Yet, I and my friends are still looking for the beautiful, fine things. The Midwest was always the best market for us also. We lived here and have a regional taste. Florida is not looking for brooding, subtle (in general.) When in Florida wed sell to the East Coast northerners.
I shop and buy not only for myself, but for gifts, legacy items, memories. Frankly, and obviously, you are on the right track.
McKenna Hallett, I paid attention and try to sale to anyone and not guide myself by concepts. I just saw norm in my sales. Does not mean specially in Florida that I need to target everyone that stop and look as potential sale. The empty nester that I was referring is the one that had been retire for while and had decorate his retire home to max because that is the only time they can touch the 401k or IRA Accounts, I should been more clear.
I agree with the majority of your comments, Oscar. My only caveat to your ideas is getting ourselves involved too heavily with "affording" vs desiring. Desire can ALWAYS make a purchase become affordable.
If we get too far into some strong belief about who is likely to buy and who is likely to not buy when we are in the public selling, we can "assume" ourselves into lost connections which can lead to unexpected sales. Of course, it is important to understand the "ideal customer", but I make sales all the time to non-ideal customers.
I believe that EVERYONE wants to collect things of beauty that are represented in hand-made craft and art. Art, unlike most purchases, has a unique place in the "commodities" world. People stretch to buy "things" all the time: cars they can't afford, phones they don't need (but this one is the new one!) and most women have more jewelry than they will ever wear if they wore a new piece every day for a year. That doesn't dampen the buying spirit.
Again: Strong desire ALWAYS becomes affordable. We put off the phone purchase so we can buy this art instead.
An ART purchase breaks down to a desire to "feel", not just buy a "thing".
So I must protest against ignoring anyone who shows affection for a piece of our art. For example, you said: "Anyone with empty nest is looking to down side and no matter how much 401k and IRA accounts are doing it wont matter because they are not my customer."
This entire category - empty nesters - is growing at a huge pace. To think that they, as a group, are less associated with buying or "accumulation" of goods is an attitude that serves no one well. ART is not a "goods" to be accumulated. Yes, they are downsizing, but they are also still buying things that will make their remaining years more enjoyable.
Please remember this: Art Changes Lives. We owe it to our artful selves and to those who can appreciate our artful expressions to make that appreciation of our art become a lifetime of ownership. A lifetime of touching our collector's artistic souls is a goal worthy of pursuing. You might even want to say that out loud to an empty nester! Why not?
Finding homes - any homes - where our creativity can live on within the soul of the collector is a unique and wonderful responsibility.
We all hear it: No Wall Space. I will post some thoughts on that in a post soon on my blog. Meanwhile, I hope this thread is worthy of additional comments.
Thank you for sharing. I think you make some good observations.