S. Brian Berkun posted a blog on Too Many Shows that got hijacked into a broader discussion. The problem of new shows coat-tailing successful shows dilutes the market IMO as Brian pointed of with the Denver example. Town fathers issuing permits are part of the problem. Promoters' greed for jury and booth fees are part of the problem. IMO artists flocking to do shows are also part of the problem. No sales or only enough sales to make jury and booth fees is not a business plan for a professional artist. Barry Bernstein added his insight on who is an artist. There is always room at the top of any field for competent determined people. The elephant in the room question is should you keep on doing art shows if your work doesn't sell? If it isn't selling are you in the right market and have you done your research? Is your research flawed? Or, is the public just not willing to spend money on what you do? Tough questions? I don't mean to discourage any one from trying this business but if there are too many marginal artists supporting more unsuccessful shows, it seems that the cycle will continue. Some of us will continue to be consistently successful, and others will keep flogging shows with little success. Are we in a post 1990s cycle where a lot of folks saw art as away to make some easy money? Then the downturn comes and the field is over saturated with more people competing for fewer dollars. This happens in other areas and is/has happened in art. You can read other comments on S. Brian's original blog.
Thanks for commenting Carol Larsen. Sounds like good research. The problem of wholesalers selling to anybody with or without a business license should be discussed in another thread. It is a problem in the leather business as well and deserves discussion. There are wholesalers who are also manufactures, in my case tack and saddles, that compete with the same craftsmen they supply. I do as little business as possible with these outfits but sometimes they are the only resource for an item.
...Are we in a post 1990s cycle where a lot of folks saw art as away to make some easy money? Then the downturn comes and the field is over saturated with more people competing for fewer dollars....
Whew...could I say it any better??? NO
Recently in one of the associated hobby magazine - someone decided to write a detailed article of how to start your own XXX business - a sub part of mine (which thankfully relies on that and many other more creative pursuits to make my income), I wanted to puke when I found out the article was being written and the rush of countless people to do just that has been outrageous.
I used to have a fabric store back in the 80's, tiny barely getting by for about 8 years. It was so painful when my wholesale companies would distribute to someone living in their house 2 blocks away $35 at wholesale. I remember this incident so vividly because it was SO petty what they sold her, and what she had to "save" money on because how dare I charge $.39 per piece at that time. Embroidery floss. Yup...to this day I still remember how proud she was when she walked into my tiny store where I carried that product from the exact same distributor announcing that because she did "art" shows, she convinced my supplier to sell to her at wholesale, and she in turn was reselling at the price she paid to all her friends. So in essence I had no more sales of said product. I called and discussed with 10 other similar stores all withing a 200 mile radius and we put pressure on the company to raise their minimum opening order or we would all go elsewhere. It worked. But this was before the internet. I just had a similar discussion with one of my suppliers, trying to explain that more customers flattened the desire for their product from their long time customers like me. They listened politely but didn't care. The lack of exclusivity makes carrying their raw goods questionable to me. So, I am once again in search of new companies for my sources (although I never stop looking as that would be poor business practice anyway).
Now, as you say, with the shows, I track a show for several years before I apply if it is still in its infancy. I map it, I look at their whole marketing, demographics, track the returning exhibitors versus those who didn't (especially the ones I know have been around for a while) and the list goes on. A show costs me way too much to attend to waste my time on those that are only flattening the market. Heck, here in Michigan there is a show related to my product NOW 20 times throughout the year - all targeting the exact same customer not the exact same "type" of customer but the exact same customer. Because every customer can travel to any of those 20 events within a few hours. And, there sits all the exact same exhibitors with long depressed faces - with lack luster sales and I think - DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I get asked all the time why I do only 2 shows in this state and I laugh and say...how many times do you purchase from the same person in one year? And they get that "ohhhh" response.
Mark Loeb, sounds like you have done the research to increase your success. I too have found with leather that the 100-150 space shows are best for my medium. There is usually none or maybe one other leather artist and our work is quite different. I focus on 6-8 shows during the summer and I look at minimum sales of $2K with the range usually $2-4K. The block busters are always a nice surprise. I like your comment about specific subject matter. I just sent off an application to a new event for me, Elk Fest in Estes Park, CO in late September. I do a Labor Day show there that is a good one and this one draws proper to Rocky Mountain National Park to hear the elk bugle - there are lots of elk in town too. My inventory will have more than usual elk hide products and more carved elk images than usual. The really interesting thing about this show is that it is late September and it could be beautiful fall mountain weather or we could be standing in a foot of snow in our muckluks. I'm taking my heaviest expedition parka LOL.
I get asked by people if I think that they could make a living as artists at least once a month. My answer tends to be that there are appropriate level shows for almost every work. If art is your passion you can likely find a schedule that will meet your needs. Just like the real world, some get wealthy, some starve. Are there too many shows with too many artists? Possibly. I try to have very focused events- limited mediums, specific subject matter... so that I am pulling a specific audience. I then limit the number of artists. Even in my largest shows 130 seems like a good number to present variety while keeping competition low.
Gwendoly Hope-Battley, there is always room at the top for talented, energetic and determined artists who focus on success. Develop your business skills as you pursue your art.
I thought about this, and I don't see how shows will become a better source of income. I see other professions and how they are going, and we are no different. Just have to keep up with change.
There are enough people who will continue to do these shows, making small amounts of money, for whatever reason. There will always be someone to fill a space. I run into artists all of the time who split up and do two shows in the same weekend. Those who do this for a living will probably have to do two shows at once to make enough money. It's a lot easier to split your inventory into two shows if you don't plan for either show to be a very good one!
I also see photography becoming more important, for jurying, sure, but also to be used for other ways to market. We are going to become artists with a portfolio of pictures on the internet of our work! I acquired a digital slr camera about 6 years ago, and I could not continue without it!
Comments
Gwendoly, If you are an artist and are considering shows, by all means go and do it!
I just came out of a bad show (Manayunk) this past weekend, so I may sound a little sour,but otherwise, shows have been good to me.
There are so many and it takes more work than I believe it should, to figure out where to go and invest money and time for a mere 2-3 day space.
Ohio publishes an annual entire BOOK on shows. All ranges, from church bazaars on up.
Good luck!
...Are we in a post 1990s cycle where a lot of folks saw art as away to make some easy money? Then the downturn comes and the field is over saturated with more people competing for fewer dollars....
Whew...could I say it any better??? NO
Recently in one of the associated hobby magazine - someone decided to write a detailed article of how to start your own XXX business - a sub part of mine (which thankfully relies on that and many other more creative pursuits to make my income), I wanted to puke when I found out the article was being written and the rush of countless people to do just that has been outrageous.
I used to have a fabric store back in the 80's, tiny barely getting by for about 8 years. It was so painful when my wholesale companies would distribute to someone living in their house 2 blocks away $35 at wholesale. I remember this incident so vividly because it was SO petty what they sold her, and what she had to "save" money on because how dare I charge $.39 per piece at that time. Embroidery floss. Yup...to this day I still remember how proud she was when she walked into my tiny store where I carried that product from the exact same distributor announcing that because she did "art" shows, she convinced my supplier to sell to her at wholesale, and she in turn was reselling at the price she paid to all her friends. So in essence I had no more sales of said product. I called and discussed with 10 other similar stores all withing a 200 mile radius and we put pressure on the company to raise their minimum opening order or we would all go elsewhere. It worked. But this was before the internet. I just had a similar discussion with one of my suppliers, trying to explain that more customers flattened the desire for their product from their long time customers like me. They listened politely but didn't care. The lack of exclusivity makes carrying their raw goods questionable to me. So, I am once again in search of new companies for my sources (although I never stop looking as that would be poor business practice anyway).
Now, as you say, with the shows, I track a show for several years before I apply if it is still in its infancy. I map it, I look at their whole marketing, demographics, track the returning exhibitors versus those who didn't (especially the ones I know have been around for a while) and the list goes on. A show costs me way too much to attend to waste my time on those that are only flattening the market. Heck, here in Michigan there is a show related to my product NOW 20 times throughout the year - all targeting the exact same customer not the exact same "type" of customer but the exact same customer. Because every customer can travel to any of those 20 events within a few hours. And, there sits all the exact same exhibitors with long depressed faces - with lack luster sales and I think - DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I get asked all the time why I do only 2 shows in this state and I laugh and say...how many times do you purchase from the same person in one year? And they get that "ohhhh" response.
I get asked by people if I think that they could make a living as artists at least once a month. My answer tends to be that there are appropriate level shows for almost every work. If art is your passion you can likely find a schedule that will meet your needs. Just like the real world, some get wealthy, some starve. Are there too many shows with too many artists? Possibly. I try to have very focused events- limited mediums, specific subject matter... so that I am pulling a specific audience. I then limit the number of artists. Even in my largest shows 130 seems like a good number to present variety while keeping competition low.
Oops! "making small amounts of money-"
I meant- SMALLER amounts of money
sorry.
Thanks, Richard.
I thought about this, and I don't see how shows will become a better source of income. I see other professions and how they are going, and we are no different. Just have to keep up with change.
There are enough people who will continue to do these shows, making small amounts of money, for whatever reason. There will always be someone to fill a space. I run into artists all of the time who split up and do two shows in the same weekend. Those who do this for a living will probably have to do two shows at once to make enough money. It's a lot easier to split your inventory into two shows if you don't plan for either show to be a very good one!
I also see photography becoming more important, for jurying, sure, but also to be used for other ways to market. We are going to become artists with a portfolio of pictures on the internet of our work! I acquired a digital slr camera about 6 years ago, and I could not continue without it!
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