Is it only me, or do your feelings get hurt at art shows? Do you find being an artist a little lonely sometimes, especially if you had a corporate job?
I used to love to write and while drawing for a living has been very rewarding, I'm finding I've really let my writing muscles go slack. I'm misspelling words or even using the wrong words. I think sometimes the visual focus takes over and the verbal skills can atrophy a bit, at least for me!
To combat my degrading writing skills and to entertain myself, I've started writing a blog about being an artist and what it was like to make the transition to a full-time corporate career: http://www.pencilenvy.blogspot.com/
I'll bet that some of my fellow artists can appreciate my experiences, especially in today's post, which is partly about the pain of watching busy jewelry booths get all the attention while wonder if you'll break even:
http://www.pencilenvy.blogspot.com/2012/05/boo-hoo-water-balloons.html
A warning... I have a rather juvenile sense of humor and my language can get a little bit dicey. Also, let me also say that I buy jewelry at almost every art show... I mean no disrespect to jewelry artists!
I hope everyone has a wonderful outdoor art season... mine is just starting and I hope I have less crying fits on the way home than I did last year.
Comments
Alison...good point! I do think of myself as a good neighbor...and the only reason I ask my neighbors how the show is going is to learn from my artist neighbor professionals...and they always know that that is where I'm coming from...just to get a pulse if all sales are down, or just mine...and engage in good neighborly camaraderie. In the whole scheme of things, it really doesn't matter how they did...it's how "I" finished the show. Since we always have different mediums...it's whatever happens that day by fate...it's not like we are pooling our profits. I guess I ask just to be friendly and gain experience on if this is the right way for me to be spending my time. But you are totally right...it isn't a bad show until close on Sunday. That shall be my show mantra...."it isn't a bad show until 5 on Sunday"....EXCELLENT!
Since my pieces are large and people tend to want to buy them on their way out I rarely make sales before 3PM. I honestly don't know how a show is going to be for me before then. I have to stay positive. The one thought I keep in mind is - it isn't a bad show until 5:00 on Sunday.
When I'm asked how it's going, regardless of my sales, I usually say something along the lines of "it's a beautiful day and I have a good reason to enjoy being outside, what could be better". It keeps my frame of mind positive and reveals nothing.
All the articles I have read about improving show sales say never reply negatively when someone asks how sales are going, even if you don't think any customers are around to hear. So a reply of "Sales are great" doesn't always mean sales are even sort of O.K. The artist you asked may be gritting his/her teeth while saying it.
Jacki, I think it so depends on the spirit of the question. If you are asking how things are going in a friendly way and you've developed a friendship with your neighbors, I think it can be just fine. When you're having a bad show, it's hard to be reminded of it. It only takes one fabulous sale to make us all feel better, right? Like one beautiful shot in golf. Not that I know about that personally.
Carol, if you were ever so inclined to share some of your knowledge on selling here I think everyone would appreciate it. Also, like Geri, I also didn't know how the "how are things going" question may be coming off. Sometimes I will go to a show and try to talk to artists when they are free to see how the show is. I like to have a little info to report back here if I do a write up on a show. I don't want to come off nosey or intrusive just want to be helpful in reporting back here. I guess I will have to be careful on my wording.
Ah, there you go Courtney! Thanks for that vote of confidence. You made my day.
Like in Wendy's opening story here, it is mighty quiet here at my computer, and it does get lonely. When I get out you'd think my friends would all hide because I can't stop talking.
Love the idea of "media envy." When we started out we watched a potter selling like mad, he'd take the stickers off each sold piece and put them on the arm of his chair. He filled up those arms. We were mighty impressed. As years went by and I watched my potter friends, especially those who did functional pottery, I decided that they really were selling clay by the pound. No way was I ready to do that.
Carol--- YOU ARE MY NEW HERO! Amen! Would love to go to one of your seminars. Yes we have 16 - 18 hours to sell as much as possible, there is no time to waste. As far as good info, I dont need to get it from a neighbor at a show, I can get it here on AFI.
Don't even get me started on all the things that steal precious customers....the one I listed above was the most aggregious but I have a boat load of "loss prevention" that people never consider because they haven't had the luxury of the training I went through years ago at the corporate level in retail on top of my degree and many many years of teaching at local universities on the topic.
PS I know the difference between a sister vendor purchasing from me or wasting my time. I have been at this for a very long time. Most wishing to purchase are equally busy, pull the item, ask me to hold it and they fly back in when they have a second. Or they wait until closing to finalize the sale.
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