Back in the dark ages of this site I hosted a tele seminar for newcomers to the business where I answered the most frequently asked questions that they sent me in advance. Then we turned that seminar into an e-book that we sold on this site and our other sites. I looked at a few weeks ago and it was embarrassingly out-of-date so I am rewriting it (thoroughly).
While I'm at it does anyone have a question or topic that should be addressed about how to go about starting in the business. What is something that stymied you when you started, where finding the answer was a problem?
Best question will receive a prize ...
Replies
A few you may consider...
*This may sound silly but if you can't afford a van, create art that will fit your current car. Due to space I will have to create many smaller paintings to fit in my car next year. My Pro Panels are exactly 5 inches too long.... well now we do have a little problem. (Hubby looking to getting a truck-yeah!)
*Set up the entire booth at the house to see how it will look at the show. Nerves are fried as it is and a picture will help you stay on track and know where to hang everything. I love a plastic sleeve!
*Weather...spring- wind...Summer- heat- bugs.... Fall-lovely.
*Transporting art, it will get dinged no matter how well you handle it.
*Have back up pieces, if a big piece is sold you will have a large amount of real estate on your wall to fill.
*Be friendly to your neighbor ALL WAYS. You may exchange or need things from each other and it keeps peace. It keeps you calm to speak with your admirers of your art not in a stew fest with a red neck.
*Listen to the client, they are the best critics of what they need. Walk home stores to see if your art is nothing like what they can purchase. Hobby Lobby ect. "You can get that at so in so cheaper."
*Marketing is so important, I leave business cards with my check at the restaurant in that town and ask to put info about the show at the lobby.
*They will never remember your name only what type of art you do. "That crazy crab chick artist girl." Ah the internet.
*When you do well in a show in the spring remember you have art show fees due in January-hold back funds in your business account.
*Keep the booth clean and uncluttered. You will need a check out area, small but professional.
*Smile all the time, I was told at a art show I was too friendly. "You are supposed to be a professional artist and aloof, so I tried it and sat in the corner for 2 hours." It was terrible, put on the soft charm stood up and sold 2 pieces. They want to be approached but not smothered, it takes some time to find your opening statement. (The have heard Welcome-Hello for 14 booths before yours, if they see a fish painting, I may tell them "I caught the fish with my bare hands"-humor.)
*Set verbal seeds for purchase. "Now what room are you thinking, what is the wall color?" "I love to collect art in the towns where I take a vacation-memory." Gift for a friend-staying at a friends condo ect. Verbal ques by you will jog a reason to buy. They are in your booth for a reason you just need to tap into it creating a good reason for them to purchase your art.
*I know this one is very controversial to some artist but I do it anyway. If they spend a large amount on a painting $500-$1600, I will reach over and grab a small painting 6x6 and let them see me wrap it. (I know- the horror giving a painting for free.) I tell them this offer works for this weekend only and for their friends. I watched a women that purchase a large piece text someone and she hurried down to the show then bought a large piece also. This gave me $1150 in a few hours...the point is we all love a little sursy. I know some of you are totally unable to do this, but a bookmark or your bio on a sheet is good also.
Beginning artists might feel more comfortable showing close to home instead of far away. Local shows might not provide the best mix of customers for your art. People are different EVERYWHERE YOU GO. North Dakotans are very different than Californians. People living in San Francisco are different than those living in Palm Springs. Same with Floridians: people in Carrabelle are different than those in Pensacola and Gainesville and Miami. All four communities are quite different, in fact. So don't judge how well you are doing based upon how well you did at the show across town or 45 miles from home. Climbing out on a limb by taking a chance far away from home can be liberating and certainly eye-opening. You might just be more successful in Florida than you are in your home state of Ohio (or wherever), and you might not do as well along the Space Coast of Florida as you do in Central and Panhandle areas.
Be daring with your art. Pushing art principles and breaking rules aren't usually the best business practices, but they'll benefit your art and understanding of it and so will the shows. Don't be afraid to push the boundaries. When you do you'll at least have a crowd of people let you know how grateful they are for seeing something different than what they normally see, and that keeps patrons coming back again and again. You'll win more awards most likely, too.
Look for shows that offer good awards with money winnings attached and get into some of them. We do more shows offering awards since if we don't sell well we might win a nice award. And that helps pay the bills. Selling well and also winning an award is really cool. We refer to this is going from ZERO TO HERO.
Our motto is "From rags to riches, but always back to rags." And that means we're hell bent on making better art and not always considering how to make a better business. It also means we know we're gonna be loved one day and not seen the next. It's just a fact of the art life. It's a real possibility that one day you'll be rich and the next you'll be broke. It'll keep you focused on making better art, for sure. It'll keep you focused on working to keep expenses as low as possible, for sure.
Vehicles will last a lot longer than most people are prepared to drive them. Used vans cost much less than new ones. Shop around for a deal that you can snag for cash rather than having a car payment looming in the background all the time.
Make sure to investigate and book your hotels when you apply to the shows, not once you are accepted. Investigate the hotels in the beginning rather than after getting accepted and paying the booth fee. Sometimes shows are located near HOT SPOTS for sports events and stuff, and finding affordable lodging or any at all can be a problem.
Connie, I saw this article today and although its aimed more at crafters (and in the UK) there are lots of valid points for artists there too. What to Tell People Starting a Handmade Business
1) Did you take that photograph?
How about the advantages of taking credit and debit cards to boost sales? It seems some artists and crafters are hesitant about this considering the processing company takes a percentage. It is not necessarily newbies. I have met people who have been in business for years who do not take cc or dc.
Also, when I started out I didn't know all I needed to know about figuring all my costs associated with shows.
Advice on approaching retailers to put our products in their stores---finding the right fit, figuring wholesale pricing that remains profitable, how many stores in one city = oversaturation of my product, etc.
1) Are you looking to have a real business or is it a hobby?
2) Are you ready to take on what ever you may face at a show ie, storms, hot weather, rude customers, rude neighbors, someone running over your booth?
3) Are you prepared for disappointment if you bomb at a show?
4) Do you understand that just because you love your work, that does not mean everyone else will?
5) Are you prepared to work 60 to 70 hour weeks?
Lovely. Let's connect with reality. Thanks for those ideas, Rich. Will be included.
You don't want the Romantic Literature version of this (Pride and Prejudice), but the Realist Literature (Madame Bovary).
Well, the start up was slow. Did a lot of sub par shows in my area - not travelling too far and my booth looked rather ugly back then.... Most of my shows in my first year were about $100 shows. Yes, just $100 in sales... Some shows were even less than that!
So, I should include some images and you are suggesting this as a "beginner's booth", Scott?
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