Do people really think we can't hear?? How many people come to your booth, start observing your work, they even ask the medium you use, and then you hear "oh honey, you can make this" yikes!!!!I just heard a grandma telling her granddaughter "grab a business card so you can go to her website and copy it". Seriously????? I just stood in front of the 14 year old and told her "I want that card back, I don't appreciate people who come to my booth to try to steal my work". I'm also tired of being the photo police. I mean, I understand if you are interested and want to send the pic to your husband or wife or whoever and they even ask you before, but the ones shooting with their phones left and right...Come on...show some respect. At least common sense. I feel the same when they try to bargain. What are we? Gypsys? A flea market? We are professionals, working probably harder than anybody. Creating all day, working Extra hours, weekends, holidays, sometimes until 3am and on top of that, drive all over the place and try to set up. Ha! Setting up is a b#%*^%h! Who can do all that?! Damn! We are so talented. So, do you want to "copy" my work. Go ahead. Good luck!PS and please if you have your kids with you,teach them to observe, not to touch with sticky fingers, and if they touch, don't laugh. It's not funny.Just venting!
we have all had this experience- mine was a women who brought over her nanny and asked me to tell her to make the item, becausecshe was crafty!on a similar subject- how about people who recoil at your prices?
This for Gloria, If someone asks for a discount put it back on them and say, "What were you thinking of:, this puts it back on them and they probably will ask for something less then what you were thinking. If they ask for too large of a discount just saw, "I couldn'tpossibly do that because of the materials cost, time to make the object or paint the painting, etc. then you say, "I am sure that you can appreciate that." Then you can offer a small discount, if they are not happy with that then you don't want the sale. Always practice a script that you will say if some one asks for a discount.This way you are not caught off guard and you will have no regrets. People have this skewed idea of what an artist time and talent is worth. If someone is really annoying, I ask them what do they pay a plumber to come to their house, I bet $60.00 an hour. Enough Said!!
When cell phones first came out I couldnt stand the rude people talking so that everyone around them could hear. I even bought an illegal cell phone disabler from Israel. It worked well. Today every third person coming into my booth is gabbing away on a cell phone. It seems almost normal.
Now phones have been combined with cameras. I originally hated them and a person snapping away in my booth. Now everyone does it and take pictures of anything and everything........pictures of passing dogs, squirrels in the tree behind me, and strange cumulus clouds. Yoi. Its seems normal now and who cares. Let them snap away and chill out. They are not going home and duplicate my work.
There is now a copy machine that can copy a 3D object and exactly reproduce it in 3D. When they put that on a cheap tiny camera I will draw the line.
As a fiber artist (wearable) I've had women (usually) examine a piece, try to guestimate measurements, write things down. Sometimes I tell them that they'd have to hand weave the fabric first. But at one very frustrating show - late on a Sunday - having had few sales - I said, "You know, it would be easier to copy if you bought one and took it home". She just walked away. No, I'm usually not that rude, but sometimes you just have to let it out!
Geri, I too know of an artist friend who had a person come into their booth and say "I have that picture" The artist asked which show they bought it at & the person replied:"No show, my friend took a picture of it and enlarged it as a gift to me." I would have asked for that persons name & address and then sent a "nice" letter to him,
As for the "I can do that" statement, I very sweetly say "Really?, do you spend as many hours on it as I do? I would love to see it". They shuffle their feet a bit and leave.
I don't have too much trouble with camera bugs because my work is done with hard shelled gourds and just finding the right shaped gourd to make a copy of my work is not that easy. But I do get edgy if they assume they can snap a photo without my permission. I also hate it when they ask for a discount. I'm not a good one for saying no but I'm sure learning. I let one woman talk me down on a piece at my last show and after I knocked off $20 she wanted me to knock it down more. Idiot that I was I gave in and sold it to her for less than it was worth and have been kicking myself ever since. I'm going to practice saying no, no, no I can't, no before every show now. People have no manners anymore.
When I see someone trying to take a photo without asking, I always ask what they plan on doing with the picture. Then I say "If you would like a picture of the piece, why don't you get in the picture with it.." That way, they can't shoot the whole piece..
Debbie - It would be great if you could have a sign prominently - but tastefully - posted near the entrance to the show. Also, the flyer that is always given to customers could include a notice that it is illegal to photograph artists' works without their permission. Any additions to this statement (like the penal code) would be a nice touch, too. Beyond that, I think we just have to let it go.
I am new Fair Director and wondering if there is anything we can do to discourage these photo bugs? Signs, newspaper articles reminding people to be considerate? I would love suggestions, as I had a few of my artists this summer concerned about the same thing. Give me some thoughts on what management can do! Thanks.
Comments
This for Gloria, If someone asks for a discount put it back on them and say, "What were you thinking of:, this puts it back on them and they probably will ask for something less then what you were thinking. If they ask for too large of a discount just saw, "I couldn'tpossibly do that because of the materials cost, time to make the object or paint the painting, etc. then you say, "I am sure that you can appreciate that." Then you can offer a small discount, if they are not happy with that then you don't want the sale. Always practice a script that you will say if some one asks for a discount.This way you are not caught off guard and you will have no regrets. People have this skewed idea of what an artist time and talent is worth. If someone is really annoying, I ask them what do they pay a plumber to come to their house, I bet $60.00 an hour. Enough Said!!
When cell phones first came out I couldnt stand the rude people talking so that everyone around them could hear. I even bought an illegal cell phone disabler from Israel. It worked well. Today every third person coming into my booth is gabbing away on a cell phone. It seems almost normal.
Now phones have been combined with cameras. I originally hated them and a person snapping away in my booth. Now everyone does it and take pictures of anything and everything........pictures of passing dogs, squirrels in the tree behind me, and strange cumulus clouds. Yoi. Its seems normal now and who cares. Let them snap away and chill out. They are not going home and duplicate my work.
There is now a copy machine that can copy a 3D object and exactly reproduce it in 3D. When they put that on a cheap tiny camera I will draw the line.
As a fiber artist (wearable) I've had women (usually) examine a piece, try to guestimate measurements, write things down. Sometimes I tell them that they'd have to hand weave the fabric first. But at one very frustrating show - late on a Sunday - having had few sales - I said, "You know, it would be easier to copy if you bought one and took it home". She just walked away. No, I'm usually not that rude, but sometimes you just have to let it out!
Geri, I too know of an artist friend who had a person come into their booth and say "I have that picture" The artist asked which show they bought it at & the person replied:"No show, my friend took a picture of it and enlarged it as a gift to me." I would have asked for that persons name & address and then sent a "nice" letter to him,
As for the "I can do that" statement, I very sweetly say "Really?, do you spend as many hours on it as I do? I would love to see it". They shuffle their feet a bit and leave.
I don't have too much trouble with camera bugs because my work is done with hard shelled gourds and just finding the right shaped gourd to make a copy of my work is not that easy. But I do get edgy if they assume they can snap a photo without my permission. I also hate it when they ask for a discount. I'm not a good one for saying no but I'm sure learning. I let one woman talk me down on a piece at my last show and after I knocked off $20 she wanted me to knock it down more. Idiot that I was I gave in and sold it to her for less than it was worth and have been kicking myself ever since. I'm going to practice saying no, no, no I can't, no before every show now. People have no manners anymore.
When I see someone trying to take a photo without asking, I always ask what they plan on doing with the picture. Then I say "If you would like a picture of the piece, why don't you get in the picture with it.." That way, they can't shoot the whole piece..
Great suggestions! Thanks.
Debbie - It would be great if you could have a sign prominently - but tastefully - posted near the entrance to the show. Also, the flyer that is always given to customers could include a notice that it is illegal to photograph artists' works without their permission. Any additions to this statement (like the penal code) would be a nice touch, too. Beyond that, I think we just have to let it go.
I am new Fair Director and wondering if there is anything we can do to discourage these photo bugs? Signs, newspaper articles reminding people to be considerate? I would love suggestions, as I had a few of my artists this summer concerned about the same thing. Give me some thoughts on what management can do! Thanks.
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