So there you go -- 10,000 people have joined our community. Welcome to each and every one.
Goaded by my son, Scott Fox, to start an online community over six years ago I finally launched ArtFairInsiders.com in the fall of 2008. I was skeptical about it being worth my time. He believed that people would be interested. I do believe he was right. Parents can learn lessons from their children.
How did we do it?
- I focused on the concept of a site where an actual offline community could meet online and the people I knew best were the art fair artists. The site would be like those "behind the booth" conversations we always have face to face. I was fortunate, I knew a lot of artists.
- I committed to building a site that would always be free to artists, then sat down at the computer and climbed in, spending hours writing, researching, answering emails, encouraging people to join, learning how to work with jpgs and some html along the way. It's been pretty much a full time job.
- The site was meant to reflect the personality of the artists, full of useful information, artists helping artists, teaching the basic tenets of marketing art at art fairs. Artists are very generous with what they have learned and they stepped up and shared reviews, dos and don'ts, stories, YouTube videos, music, jokes and great images.
- Together we created content that is useful in learning the business of being an itinerant artist. Because the site is helpful it gets passed on word-of-mouth, behind the booth. We are helping each other to be smarter and learn from each other's lessons, from veteran to newcomer.
- The goal: to build a sense of community, embracing the shared emotional connection through our common work. Artists work alone in studios. Those brave enough come out to face the crowds at the art fairs, they need and can use a place to learn about other's fears and successes. This site is meant to strengthen and teach.
The gist of it is:
- 10,000 members
- over 4000 blog posts
- over 4700 discussions
- nearly 15,000 photos
- 10053 subscribe to our emails through the RSS
- videos and podcasts
Good job, folks!
Everyone here owes a big thanks to all the generous people who have contributed their time to teach and share and explain. Here are just some of those who have made a difference: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/page/featured-members
What does 10,000 mean?
From Amy Elizabeth's blog, Breathtakingly Beautiful
My personal thanks to all the show directors and advertisers who have supported this site, keeping it free to the artists. I surely could not have done it without them. I speak for all of us in thanking you.
Also thanks to Jacki Bilsborrow who welcomes all new members to the site, writes each "Tip of the Day", participates in discussions and along with Pat Finney chooses the weekly "Post of the Week." Thanks to Larry Berman who is the gatekeeper, deciding who gets in as a member keeping the spammers away and also brings valuable tech advice and expertise. I totally rely on both of them for their help daily.
What do you think? Has this community been helpful to you?
Comments
I'm excited! Can't wait to meet you all!
I'm trying to build a page on this site where you can download a quality JPG of either image... I've got it started and now am being challenged to finish it, tech issues. I'll let you know when it is correct.
Sounds great. I will be proud to display one at all of my shows. Will the red bus show up on the red dot?
I will print them out myself and send AFI a $3 donation. That seems only fair. Just let me know where or how to send the donation, online or mail. I hope everyone puts it on their tent. What fun this will be meeting fellow AFI artists!
20,000? Oh, my.
How about if I add the jpg to the "Red Dot" section above for both the AFI logo and the Red Dot? People could print them out themselves or purchase them from us for $3 @.
I really like the logo. It will look good on a 4 X 4 sheet and will be easy to laminate. So will the Dot. Either will be fine or both. People could choose which ever they want. Good Job Connie and CZ.
That's a good one. Which one do you like best? Let's do it! I'm ok with either printing it ourselves or buying it from you. Doing it ourselves would save a lot of work sending it US mail. Either way, lets spread the word. Other artists are going to see it and ask about it. Hmmmmmm 20,000 members by July? :oD
That should work, CZ. Of course the bumper sticker is already shiny and would stick to something, maybe a piece of velcro? So you could adapt the sticker also.
Here's the logo:
Connie & Carrie, I just printed out the "Red Dot" AFI sticker on card stock, at 3" x 3". Looks good and is eye catching. All I have to do is laminate it, put a velcro sticker on the back & on the tent leg and it's good to go. What do you think ?
I'll leave that up to you as I haven't seen the logo. I would like to meet you some time. Maybe you will be at a show that I am doing. That sign just might expedite that.
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next