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?
