A year ago Connie asked me to explain all the features of the chat function and I'm finally getting around to doing that. I wonder how many of you even realized there was a chat feature to AFI?
First of all, the chat feature is either open on your screen or it's closed in your status bar at the bottom of the page. It's labeled "Art Fair Insiders Chat and next to it it tells you how many people are on this web site. If you click it, the Chat dialogue box will open. It's best feature is that it will tell you who is lurking about on the site. This is the list of members on the right side of the box. I always look to see who's here.
On the left side is the public chat function. Connie has been posting a welcome message to everyone when she gets on in the morning. You should all try saying hello when you get on AFI. On the left side there is a box at the bottom underneath the smiley face. Click in that box and your cursor will appear there. Start typing. Don't be afraid, someone might actually see your greeting and feel good. See the smiley face (called an emoticon) you can augment your post with an emotional symbol. If you click the smiley face 12 emoticons will pop up. You can add one at any time expressing how you feel. Go ahead add that angry one when you are mad at the world. You will feel better. Next to the emoticons is the sound icon. When someone types something in the chat box and then clicks the Enter key on your computer, your message will appear in the above box and everyone will hear the sound. You can increase or decrease the sound so that you can hear when someone is sending a message to the group. If you find this annoying you can turn the sound down to the bottom and you won't hear a thing.
If you want to have a private conversation with someone, just click there name in the list on the right. A drop down list of functions appears under that persons name. Profile--you can access a persons profile. Give a Gift--you can give someone a gift from here. In between Profile and Give a Gift it says Private Chat. I'm going to send Connie a silly private chat message. When you click the Private Chat function, your Chat Box gets divided into two parts. On the left is the main/public chat box that everyone can see. On the right is the private chat box with the persons name. I just sent Connie a silly private message that I only want Connie to see. She knows I messaged her because she heard the funny little bell that lets her know I messaged her. If she responds while I'm writing this I will here the ding and go to the chat box to see what she said. When you are done with your private session, you can end it by clicking the X on the far right of the persons name who you are having a private conversation with.
There are two other functions that I should explain. At the top of the Chat dialogue box there are 2 icons. The first is a box with an arrow point to the upper right. You can pop the Chat box out so you can move it around the screen and keep it out of the way. You can also maximize this to make the Chat Box full screen. The second icon has a green dot in it and it says offline. This gives you the ability to turn off the chat feature altogether. This is good when you are being inundated with messages from people because you are extremely popular and everyone wants to chat with you. If you go offline, you can just click it again and viola, your chat box is active again.
It's that easy Happy Chatting.
Comments
Hi Everyone, General question....first of all about me..I've been making jewelry for another artist for 20 yrs. before I went out on my own in 2009. Been doing well and last winter took the plunge and went to FL and worked all day and went to Farmers/Art Markets Sats and Sundays and did real well....so.....FL was great and I'll go back this year and do the same but i am also wondering if anyone knows of any other state that has these every Saturday markets..I've been looking around considering Nc or SC or Savannah....where I stopped on way home and fell in love with; but a lot of these places close down Jan and Feb and start up again March to oct or Nov. I need to sell in the winter and being from OH all is closed down here. FL was great but just wondering if there's any other places artists go to make money in winter.
I have to say it is hard work. I worked all day to keep up inventory and sold a lot at FL shows and also had to make sure I had enuff inventory for Spring shows back home. I love love love it but it is hard on your own! Anyway, thanks for reading and any responses would be greatly appreciated..... Happy arting to all!! Patty
Barry, thanks for this highly informative and useful article.
BTW If you are fast, you can copy yourchat and paste it into a Word doc you have waiting and open. I was having a fabulous business discussion of which I wanted to capture every word; and did jut that.
Leo, you can always undock the chat box and enlarge the screen.
Connie, I doubt that when you disconnect from the chat, you disconnect for everyone. Disconnecting and then connecting again, clears the screen of previous chats. Nels, I got my stuff. Parking in front of your house is safe and free. I ate at Bernini's again last night. Great place. Today, I'm in St Petes on the way to the Dali Museum since it is raining.