I made almost $1500 selling my photos out of my booth that I setup in my driveway.
Read on.
i live in a historic, almost 100 year old house in Ybor City. Ybor is a historic district of Tampa. Now known for bars and cigars.
Across the street from us is a vacant 18,000 square foot factory building.
I heard thru the Ybor grapevine that a Christmas craft show was scheduled to be there on December 2&3.
by coincidence, I had no show planned for that weekend.This event was charging admission, was gated, complete with food trucks and beer and wine sales. Crafters were being charged $200 per day to sell there. They claimed they already had over 1000 online paid ticket admissions. They expected to have more than 2000 people come.
i liked the prospects, but I was a little skeptical about those numbers.
In years past, Ellen and I have had an open studio sale in our house for two days. Both times we did it we were lucky to get about 100 people to attend and we barely would sell $500. Not a great return.
so I salivated about the prospects of several thousand people mingling across the street from us.
can you say “scab?”
OK, let us just call me a savvy opportunist.
So, last Thursday, after golf I got my Lightdome tent setup in the driveway complete with my walls.
I then attached a tall panel adjacent to the booth. I attached it to the corner pillar of the porch.
I hung two 30x40 framed images there. Good curbside appeal.
The booth showed off well. I had a lot for my handcolored iconic images hung there in 16x20 frames, think PeeWee, Christopher Walken, et al. (Threw a Little Latin in there).
on Friday, after golf (I get to play a lot more in the fall, light show schedule), I added two more tall panels to two more porch pillars that bordered our front stairs. Again, I hung six 16x20 iconic images on them. More curbside appeal.
on the front walls of our porch I hung four 30x40 framed photos. Yummy curbside appeal.
to cap it off, I planted two pole flags with the words “gallery Open” on the curb in front of the house.I wanted those fish across the street to sniff our bait and run over to us.
We had Ellen’s work hung on the hallway and living room walls.
We also had four tabletops full of flat and blown glass, ceramics and wooden items priced low, to go.
after all that, I zipped up the booth and parked Ellen’s van up against the front so nobody could get in,
We sat on the porch and drank wonderful Manhattens while hoping our efforts would bear fruit.
Early Saturday morn, I rehung frames on the outside panels and walls, unzipped the booth and made it pretty.
Beside the two flags we had a sandwich board sign that also said “Gallery Open”.
I put that in the driveway, close to the street. Ooh, we just oozed with curbside appeal.
Their event was 10am to 6pm both days.
I was ready by 9am.
I sat in my directors chair. With my IPad in lap.
By 9:30 the crowd was lined up on the sidewalk two blocks away from the ticket gate. My booth was directly across from their gate.
I smelled money.
Mind you, these people were paying $4 to park in the nearby Ybor garage, then they had paid $10 for admission. Some paid $35 for a VIP pass that included food and booze.
these people were coming here to buy $10 candles, custom jellies, designer salsas, Christmas wreaths, lowend pottery and other objects, most priced $20 and under.
my lowest price was $20 for a 8x10 matted photo that I usually sell for $30 at shows. I also had 11x14 matted photos at $40, which I usually sell for $50. I had my 16x20 mats at $60, usually at shows for $85.
my 16x20 framed photos were priced at $125, at shows they are $150. I had 24x30 framed photos marked down to $225, usually sold at $295. Finally, I had 30x40 framed at $375, usually at $500.
my goal was to make $500 or more.
Some people in line spotted me. They ambled over and I told my stories. By 10am I had made $150.
After that, I knew I had to be patient and wait for them to come out, and then see if many of them would amble over.
Amble over they did. I drank wine, told stories, and even sold a large framed Fallen Angel for $350.
Many even went inside the house and Ellen worked her magic.
At day’s end, I sold $1100 in the booth, and Ellen sold $300 inside, plus we got to drink a lot of wine, plus the judge awarded me best in show. It was our yard cat and I gave him extra kibble. Plus, I am invited back for next year, no jury fee, no booth fee.
Just kidding, there was no judge. The cat got extra kibble, all six of them, don’t worry, we got all of them fixed.
Sunday dawned, and I yawned.
And that was the tone for the day. Smaller crowds, way smaller sales.
we still had fun. I started teardown at 3:30 was done by 5pm and they were still open to 6.
My sister knew the promoters. She said that they blogged on Facebook that they had 1800 paid attendance on Saturday, and another 800 on Sunday.
I estimate I lured about 300 of them my way.
We ended up with total sales inside and outside about $1600.
Not bad for zero overhead costs, plus I got to drink wine all day, and I finally tore my Lightdome Monday,after golf.They are planning this for 2018, if we are still in Ybor, I plan on doing it again.
Oh, we are selling the Ybor house—but, that is another story.
The purpose of this blog was not about bragging because I made money in the driveway, it was about seeing unexpected opportunities when they come your way, and then capitalizing on them.
Later gators.
Comments
Have a safe trip Connie.
May you and your's have a great time and enjoy any holidays you may celebrate.
Well, I'm off to LA to visit my kids for the holidays. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday! Love to all.
Peter, Very well put. Thoughtful & articulate.
Do you see a direction beneficial to both promoters and artists, that can be guided towards?
I believe none will be successful, long term without the cooperation of both promoters and artists.
Nels.
I've done nothing to insult you.
Whoever you know or are friends with on this site, makes no difference.
Anyone with class and intelligence understands, in a discussion or debate, you may attack the ideas, NOT the person.
1) Legal does not equate to Moral.
2) Did you acquire a permit?
3) You would not have stated being a"scab" had you not thought it wrongful, in some manner.
4) Trying to cover your anal orifice now, by claiming you do plenty of home setups at this time of year, yet claiming you knew about the opposing show and used it... furthermore you claim to be planning on doing it again next year.
Nels, try to straighten out the BAD attitude, with your shouting and insults. My initial and repeated inquiry was how you justify the fairness in this.
Now it seems to be you don't. Instead you choose to lie and change your story and reasoning. Then attack another when it is pointed out.
If you feel what you did was right or fair, in your mind. Kindly state amiable, backed up, reasoning for such.
Insults, shouting, showing and documenting your own dishonesty does not win any debate.
It is unfortunate you chose to directly attack me.
I much prefer pleasant, adult conversation.
Let's get back to a polite, reasonable discussion, if you can show, you are capable.
I wish to quickly toss my hat in the ring, here, and make an observation or two. It seems to me this discussion is illustrative of what is sometimes called " end of cycle" phenomena, or the divisiveness that appears as the pie has been cut too many times into smaller and smaller pieces, making bouts of discord inevitable between the guests sitting at the table. I hear endless comments on how the outcomes of shows fail to match expenses, a certain desperation is detectable, with acrimony a breath away, between the commentators. When a "field" has matured, this is what happens. I smelled it back in 1998, when things were getting way, way, WAY, too easy. Nothings, NOTHING, works this way for long. Pretty soon the field gets crammed with too many aspirants on both the promoter and exhibitor end, distortions appear, costs rise without commensurate outcomes, and the cycle starts the long trip to where we are now. Nerves are frayed, and losers start outnumbering winners. I feel bad for everyone here, including myself, as I and my wife could write a book about our round trip adventures in the street show racket. As this cycle comes off the rails, which it WILL do, there is no telling how tomorrow will look. This situation is inherently unpredictable, but I strongly believe this is what we all need to prepare for, and stop indulging what I see in the paragraphs posted above.
I must have acquired mine in the "bargain Cave" at the flagship Cabelas in Hamburg, PA.
It was back when it could point in a desired direction. The place I grew up learning to hike towards. Being informed of the surroundings, following that compass, without straying, I've been able to stay the course.
My destination is no imagined place. It is a place of old. One that can still be found. The place I wish to occupy, share and help grow.
I choose not to go down the wrong path. There is enough beauty, wonder, interest and good on the path I follow. I believe there will be many artists along this path. Perhaps capturing, perhaps adding to the great landscape.
Welcome to the dystopia, goombah. I bought my moral compass at Cabela's BEFORE they ever thought of the idea of selling out to Bass Pro Shops. So mine points true north, too.
Barrie, you are correct as to the accurate / original Slang meaning of the word scab. It was repeated because it has always had the connotation of an unapproved or illicit work, by the general public. As it was initiated by Nels and brought about the acknowledgement of a wrongdoing.
The debate brought forth was, while Nels acknowledged the wrongdoing he also promoted the opportunity and profit of said wrongdoing.
Now, many are stating the good of performing such. Does benefit & profit dictate whether or not something is just or fair business practice?
this is NOT to state what Nels did was akin... Remember what I just stated...
A drug dealer on the street, a pickpocket, an inside trader, embezzler, scam artist - these are NOTHING like what Nels did. However they are nothing more than "
CAPITALISM.
FREE ENTERPRISE.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"
Where do we place our thresholds? If performing an acknowledged wrongdoing, then due to profit and social acceptance we can justify it, where do we move the threshold?
Because we win, does not mean we are right.
Are you stating that if you were in a show and outsiders set up across from you, stole away your business, you would commend them? you would support them? You would praise them?
What would happen to our way of life and the business of shows if this became the accepted norm. If it became prevalent, would it enhance or damage our business?
Hypothetical: So I'll just stop paying the jury and booth fees. I'm going to research properties in close proximity around shows. Make arrangements with the property owners. I'll setup my booth at these locations. Ii'm sure all of those who approve of the choices in this thread, would welcome me doing this at the shows, they paid to be in. They would cheer me on, support me. None would damage my booth, disparage me nor flame me on this site. I would be complimented on my wise use of capitalism.
Many times, over the ages, society has heralded the victor, justified their methods due to being victorious. As we become enlightened is this just?
Artists are not just about profit nor selling "pretty" things. I would hope many are trying to continue what has been throughout time. Artist share a message. Their works promote thoughts, ideas & values. Often leading to awareness and perhaps social change. How we represent this is important. How do we promote values and ideals through our art yet sacrifice them with our actions?
This may seem strong. Much that starts small can have great impact.
Go Nels! Yes, I remember the pufferfish episode ... you were really trashed on that one and it drove a lot of people to comment. In fact, I was traveling out of the country, and you left a bunch of messages on my phone asking me to delete the post. Not sure if it is still on the site, many years ago, but if anyone is interested in search for "Nels blogs" and you might find it.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next