As self employ you need to wonder how things will change next year. One thing I know since I am hispanic I am expecting some backlash from a minority white group. I am hoping to be doing better art fairs next year and increase my art installation services in Chicago will improve my bottom line. I really hope to eliminate Postmates but it is important to have other sources of income.
The one thing I know for certain the debate about middle class and disposal income not been there has created a lot interested on my part. There is no doubt that Trump won the election because the working class is in need of help and democrats had become coast party and pushing social issues. The only issue that matters is income. The middle class are people that proud of earning and producing honest income. There are lot mis information going on but people want to work and earn income. There are some many jobs that basically vocational jobs that need to be fill. There are jobs that will be a dinosaur because of technology. I am hoping Trump become a great president because the middle class need him to be great.
I know when I go town to town I see towns that make me sad. I head to place to do an art fair I wondering if my exceptions should lower. It had been a while since I go to show feeling that it will be good show because people are happy. For the last eight years I saw people change there spending habits and people telling me I need to walk to the show because I just lost my job and need to feel hopeful.
The truth is I do not what to expect next year. I do not know if middle class would come back.
I am just hoping for the best because I depend on couple that own a place to come purchase my product. Since the art shows buyers are middle class I need them to stay a float and do great.
As self employ I want the next administration to do great but the same time I hope they are good to all the people that live in USA because he divide the country even more and pointing rich people to control government it reminds where King and Queens control the land.
So how much you expect things to improve next year.
Comments
The point is that Trump does not have to be great. This is a revolution of which he is merely a figure head. It is the new dawn. The people are taking back what the politicians have been taking from us for too long. Color, ethnic backgrounds, etc. they are not important. What is important is that it is up to us. I remember back to the days of Lyndon Johnson (yes that far back) and the Great Society and the "War on Poverty." More than 50 years ago. All that talk and so little to show for it.
"10 Killed, 29 Wounded in MLK Day Weekend Shootings" is what the headline said. WTF? And, the government with its "strict" gun laws is helpless to do anything about it. This is not acceptable. It has become apparent that whether it is an environment so rough that a mother can't let her children out of her home in the inner city, or whether it is creating small industries, like ours, it is clear - the solution is with the people. We have to band together, stop making decisions based on skin color, ethnic backgrounds, etc. We have to work together. It is our time, and Trump is the face of the movement...right now. We need to hold all politicians to higher standards and ask them to get out of the way while we, the citizens, do the right things.
Thanks Oscar, Keep the faith, lenses clean and the eye sharp. you will do well in 2017, that is my prediction.
pam
just a little humor, but I guess it missed the boat. I do not know all your life experiences, I do know mine. As a female I have had my share of discrimination, both to my advantage and not. Evil exists in this world, and no matter what anyone does, it will always be so. (Wish it wasn't but it is here and each of us must deal with it. How we deal with it is what makes us either stronger or weaker. Being female, I can understand the undertow of resentment that you feel must towards being a subject of discrimination. It will eat you up if you let it. don't
As for Art shows, I somewhat agree that the middle class of the 80 and 90s are gone to the most extent. The country seems to be divided into lower income, those just getting by and then a wide gap to the more affluent buyer. The uber rich use to stroll an art show as it was an event, now with so many shows we are less likely to see them on any given show. As a flat artist, I am competing with the decorative art market as well. (which I can not because I produce all my product in America) I have to be convincing to the client as to why they should spend additional funds. In addition, the baby boomers are now retiring and thinking I can do art shows now, there is a steady influx of tenants for any given art show making it much easier of the promoter to raise the prices without delivery a good return.
You are especially impacted by this as everyone has a camera or and iPhone and thinks that is all that is required to be a selling photography. Shows seem to be putting more photography in which makes it more difficult to get the sale. I also see a similar trend in the number of watercolorist attending a show.
It has been my experience that 40% of my shows do not deliver my internal target for gross sales. This along with other factors determines whether or not I will return.
I do see a bit of a upturn in spending, and we will see if that translates into better Art sales. wishing you the best in the new year Pam
It amaze me when you said anything opposite you dismiss things that have some logic.
My question you be part of Art Fair in Flint Michigan? There is flat out sample what politics affect you. The policies that government enforce make a difference in people life. Those people are your potential customers. Will you go to place where 50% of employ force just got laid off by mayor company in the area. Those are factor I consider when I apply to a show or adjust my exceptions when I arrive to show.
Let not be insulting, I am assuming that we all put our heart and tears into our work. We make an effort to make the best presentation possible. You walk into your booth and people only said wow to your work (more than 50%). So after the show you need analyze the show and make a proper resolution. I will never talk about politics during the show, race, etc. Does mean that will not think about and factor that into the show.
Pam Sharp, making blondes jokes is a lot different than race. I not worry about my race when I am at the show or how people react to me. I can tell you this I am worry about my traveling safety. Last year I have very strong experience so when I traveling I am more scare now and it started when the election started. It had been a factor in my life I get you do not get it. They use to hang people because you look at white woman. Those folks are still out there. Things in general are costing more (health care include) and wages are not increase. I think that Obama had been the best President in my life and I also think That Bush Jr have a rough start and did what he believe was the right thing. GOP policies is what make the market explode and do not blame him for that. I just can tell you,Trump is putting in charge the same people that put us in the mess that explode 8 years ago. I guess that you did not notice that insurance goes up every year because of your age and cost. This happen no matter what. I can tell you that ACA had help somehow the slow down the spike.
I just know that I work my ass off and make an effort to make a honest living. I enjoy what I do. I select show that have potential to be good base in my years of experience. I stop listing to noise about a good or bad show it is. I go with my feeling and experience. After I set up I know that I done everything in my power to have a decent show. After that is up to God and the public.
May I ask, where is everyone getting their information? I believe that we don't get what is spot on news anymore- but instead to drive us to- want more news??
I posted this in another thread that seemed to disappear- I did a show shortly before Thanksgiving, after election, in Rochester NY, museum holiday show. That should be where people - ahem- that supposedly did not like the election results should have been. I had a great show, I sold out of my raku and horse hair raku less then halfway through the show. I sold primarily decorative pots, and so-so functional, which I did not have much. No signs of any problems here.
I'm still shipping pots out.
You may want to make the art that you want to make, but if you want to make a living from it, you need to think with a business mind. Some will be selling well even in a poor economy, and some will not make it. Some of that difference is the mindset of how you are running the business end of your business.
Politics and Art is a tempest in a tea pot IMO. If you have good, interesting, original, etc, work, do your market, demographic and show research etc, your odds of success in this business will be better. If trump gets in after 12/19/16 it won't change my business plan that much. I will be stocking a wider variety of holsters for the gun nuts. They are still going to need belts and suspenders to keep their pants up. People may be in a buying frame of mind as an escape from the world outside the art show?????????
I do understand why Oscar feels that way....I understand that if you want to make it an issue of why things are they way they are and use it as a factor on sales then go ahead. It is a great challenge to overcome any stereotype. the color of one's skin is not the only one. All stereotyping is unfair. But we do not live in a "fair" world. One just needs to soar above it and understand that it not a reflection on the person being stereotyped, but on those that feel the need to stereotype others.
I personally got tired of all the blonde jokes, now that they are gone, I kind of miss them. Oh, I can not forget the Ole and Lena jokes either.
So Oscar, if the middle class gets better paying jobs, and more people are working and have disposable income the obvious conclusion is that they will re-enter the art/craft buyer category. If the middle class does not have to pay into Obamacare for no care then they get more disposable income. (please Bernie, I am not saying Obamacare was a bad thing, I am saying that it was designed not to give care and put a huge tax on the American worker. Having insurance and being able to use it, are two different horses).
I am looking forward to seeing some of my old clients return. It has been a rough 8 years for most of them. They still come to the art fairs to talk and say hi. I also understand that I am competing with the world when it comes to middle income clients.
I get it Bernie, you did not vote for Trump....I get it you like Obama. I get it that you have never met Trump(or maybe you have?), or know him and are judging him by what others say...are you not falling into the same stereotyping that you seem to say you dislike?
as for reporting on good things anyone has done by the media...well that is devoted to the last 10 second sound byte at the end of the broadcast. Because we equate good deeds and telling about them as bragging and they do not drive ratings. Years back they had a good news program on with John Tesh (I think) it only lasted a couple of years. It was positive and upbeat on the good in what people are doing. I was a faithful watcher.
I wish you the best in the coming year.
Al personally I feel the same way than you,. I am praying that I am wrong because money wise I am hoping that people feel better and start spending more money. This year I decided to have items lower than 100 and higher or closer to 1000. The in between those not move anymore and I am doing better.
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