For many artists this is the down time of the year until the Spring shows come around. How to make productive use of it?
- Get your vehicle ready. Clean it out. Refit it so stock packs easily for in and out.
- Go through your inventory, clean everything, put new price tags on, make new signs. Remove anything that has been in your stock for over a year.
- Analyze your 2014 sales to find your best price point and create work for that niche. (Listen to Alison Thomas and Leo Charette on this podcast to hear their tips.)
- Prepare new images for jurying. Review your Zapp/JAS portfolio. Share it with a friend or a person you respect and get feedback. Rewrite your Artist Statement.
- Get out a calendar and plan your year's schedule. Remember this is a business, be systematic in your choices. Does it seem a place where you can earn a profit? If you are new to the business do not overextend yourself financially. Be conservative. Here is a varied list of events in all price ranges: www.CallsforArtists.com.
- Review all of your insurance: vehicle insurance, health insurance, business insurance, studio. Try ActInsPro.com for event insurance and RLI.com for small business insurance. You saw the stories on this site this year: high winds blowing through shows, bad auto accidents, robberies, medical problems. Be prepared.
- Review your business cards or other print materials you hand out to customers. Design/order new ones.
- Close your books. Get your paperwork together. Renew sales tax licenses for the states you visit.
- Find an open jury to attend. Read some books on sales.
- ________ help me out here. What else?
Bored yet?
