Thinking about 2011 - what's next? - Blog

For most 2D artists the art fair season is quite slowed down, while the 3D folks have a better crack at the holiday shoppers. Most of you are reflecting back on this year's shows and making decisions about your 2011 shows. Can you answer these questions:

Is the art fair business quite changed from ten years ago?
Have 2009's economic woes affected your business?
What adjustments are you thinking about for 2011?
Tell us where you found your best shows: East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, Florida, South, Southwest. Are there differences in buying at art fairs in different regions?

All of us would appreciate the usual thoughtful analysis from you. We are almost 4000 strong now and we can help each other in the business by sharing this information. How can we help each other to make next year better?

Will you go first?

Comments

Kelly Crosser Alge December 8, 2010 at 1:24pm

I have been doing shows for 9 years, (16 shows, jewelry and glass) I too have noticed big changes from when I started, the main one being that people are no longer impulsive. Much of my past sales revenue was from customers purchasing for themselves. The "me" trend (I deserve it) has fallen away and has turned into a more gift-focused buyer group. (which is nice for society, not nice for artists' wallets) Lots of artwork falls into a scary category for those buying gifts; if it tests the giver's ability to know the receiver's taste, or if it requires a space commitment on the part of the receiver. It is personally hard for me to choose a painting or large bowl type item for anyone other than myself.
As a jeweler, I think it's easier to get someone to buy jewelry as a gift than it would be to sell a painting. I've heard artists in other media complain about how jewelry artists sell like crazy. However, I can't help but think how they don't realize how high our expenses can be, or how much expense we have tied up in inventory that hasn't sold. A jeweler I spoke with at Winterfair in Columbus last weekend told me that he just ordered his casting grain for next year's work... $41,000.00. Suddenly a $4K show might not be quite what others think. My total sales are up some, not much from last year, although some shows are down. My plan for 2011 is to replace some of my mediocre shows with new ones, and see if a new audience will respond better. Also, I vow to make some new, knock your socks off pieces this winter, and continue to increase my customer base through facebook ads. I live in Ohio and currently drive only about 3 hours max for a show. I have 4 kids so I can't be on the road all the time.
I used to take a double booth to most shows, but this year only once.
My average sale is around $50, my show income has ranged from $1k- $8k per show this year. My expenses totally suck. :) My work sells for an average of $10 less on a $50 piece than it did 9 years ago. I love being a full time artist. My husband is a teacher. We will never be wealthy, balancing budgets will never be easy, and it's ok.
Alison Thomas November 22, 2010 at 3:40pm

After my win at Disney I've decided digital art is the way to go for me. I've been doing more and more modifying and really only have two straight photography pieces that sell well for me. One will most likely sell out the edition this spring. Winter Park forced me to change my category back to photography (and then rejected me) because my website still had a great deal of straight photography on it so some major website changes are in the works. The public doesn't seem to care what I call it but judges and jurors seem to like my work much more when I call it digital art.
Mark MacKinnon November 22, 2010 at 1:03pm

btw- I should add that I found the best way to travel was to do so in a small RV equipped GMC van. full amenities to include fold out beds - bathroom, shower, AC, stove, microwave, etc. I dont have to plan lodging, stay in Walmart parking lots on the road, save time and money looking for a place to sleep, and more convenient having all your stuff with you. I pull a trailer with the work, and usually can stay right at the show, for free! I did 26 shows in 2010, and put 25,000 miles on the van.
Mark MacKinnon November 22, 2010 at 12:52pm

Starting to fill out my schedule in Florida for the winter. Did not get into a couple shows I wanted to do, but it is still worth the trip from New York. I did 11 shows in 12 weeks last year, Jan-March and it was profitable. You never know which shows will hit, so being in the game and not on the sidelines has worked for me. spending the winter in the snow makes little money, and I have Nov and Dec., to prepare for 2011... Texas was great in the Fall, hoping to head there after Florida, then to VA, MD and back to New York.. I'll skip the midwest for the most part, since it does not work for me, although Old Town is on the list, since I will keep going there as long as I can. I tried Sausalito the last two years, and it turned out to be my best if not one of the best of the year for me, but the haul is a commitment not to take lightly! The expenses are huge, but I'm not afraid of that if the reward leads somewhere.

The Artists Project at the piers in NYC in March is a stab at a high end market, another big ticket entry, and close to home, so I'll forget about Florida in March and concentrate there, before heading to TX, TN.... I'd really like to find more venues that catered to the collector or high end decorator market, indoors, then continually moving around the country setting up in the street.
MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK November 14, 2010 at 10:20pm

Larry, a small detail: when I make up my show list for the coming year, I list the shows by the show date, then the name of the show (your list does the opposite). In this way, I can visually scan the list to see what's coming up, which helps me start planning production, when I have to leave, etc. I then transfer the show names to a wall calendar so I have a large visual aid to track upcoming shows. Also, I reserve lodging almost immediately when I get my acceptance notice (it can save me a lot of money, since motel/hotel fees often go up during the show area's busy season and online deals can sometimes disappear) and then put this info on the wall calendar so I know that I've booked a room for that show. I try to leave nothing to chance, except for weather, booth location, show attendance, sales, did I say weather? the local economy and the weather.
Sara Aune November 14, 2010 at 8:18am

2008 and 2009 our established customers sustained us, we picked up very few new ones. 2010 turned that around. We view that as a good sign. Perhaps #1 in the top ten survival list---- continue to surprise your audience with something new.....
Andie Freeman November 11, 2010 at 9:32am

Wow! This has been helpful, scary and eye opening! I am at a crossroads in my career... I have been a graphic designer, mom, and painting for several years. The last 4 have been more concentrated on painting but more on a commercial/children's art arena. The last 2 I have been working (slowly) on a real body of work (20 years after receiving my BFA, lol!) so that I can really focus. I hope to do my first show this year but am totally scared to death of it all. Overwhelmed, and really need to start making at least a little money! Thank you all for your candor. I will still move forward, but keeping as many options open as I can. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
steve appel November 11, 2010 at 8:38am

I have been selling my artwork since 1989 and yes things have changed. This past year most of the shows were not full. The biggest change i have seen over 20 years is that there is a LOT more buy/sell at shows. Talked to a fellow artist at last show who had a basket from africa got it in a show in boulder city, NV. and his complaint was that a lot more supposedly artist are just lying about doing their own work. New promoter said she was going to clean up the show. yeah right, not likely.

I was told by my acct that i am doing better this year than last so that helps. i did less shows this year than in the past. I used to wholesale to over 30 galleries, well that is nolonger so, I have stopped doing wholesale shows like rosen, and wholesalecrafts. I got tired of giving the promoter 2,000 and writing less and less orders. Several years ago i did Rosen Buyer Market in Feb. got there set up, and it snowed. Airport was closed thurs, fri and most of sat. saw very few buyers, and promoter said it was best show she had. The aisles were empty. Good for her, bad for me. Now i email friends who still do the show and less and less buyers are showing up. Lot of the galleries i was in are gone, mainly do to the economy.

I am out of AZ. my best shows have been in NV, and UT. i used to do 15 shows a year now down to 8. Got a big order (corp) in march and it made my year. Also got another big order at end of year. I have a xmas item so hoping get orders for the next month or so.

As far as 2011, i am going to do a few more shows. Might even venture into Calif. I am going to redo and come up with more ideas for pieces. Am also going to try to go on more vacations. Finally going to fix my homepage. The internet has been a lifesaver for me.
Colin Murray November 10, 2010 at 8:17pm

@ Barry: I like your thinking!
Barry Bernstein November 10, 2010 at 8:00pm

I believe 2011 is going to be a good year because the economy is getting stronger. We did well during the Clinton years because people made a lot of money in the stock market. There was plenty of Personal Disposable Income. (PDI). Many of the corporations have reported nice increases in profits in this quarter and the market is doing well again. The auto companies are showing profits. GM just reported a $2 billion profit for this quarter and the government is selling its shares to the public on November 18. Volatility is down, stability has set in and that makes people less nervous about their future. That leads to increased consumer spending. Companies are starting to hire, albeit slowly. As corporation start to do better, they will start hiring at an increased pace. So, I think we will show a small increase in sales for the first part of next year. By the summer, if there are no glitches, like a terrorist attack or a new war, we will be reporting very successful shows.