Just curious as to what Artist mostly do during the show off season? A lot of people go to Florida for shows, some just take a break and/or work on their Art, others try to dig deep for small local shows or venues like Home shows or Flower Shows, or get a temp job? Since I'm tired of watching my bank account dip this time of year Im considering a new strategy. I mostly take a few weeks off, work on updating new product, applying to shows and doing my taxes. How about you?
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I'm rebuilding my belt inventory for summer shows. Our first major show of 4 we are doing is in late May. I've finished all of the plain belts, and I am now doing the carved belts. When that is done, it will be everything else: holsters, canteens flasks, reins, billfolds ....... For the here and now, I am finishing two white trick saddles and have 3 more to build/finish by spring. With restoration work, I have two heirloom saddles and an antique plantation saddle to rebuild. I also have two antique saddle rebuilds of mine to finish and sell. The new schedule of only 4 shows (our best money makers) and no saddle work during the summer, I hope will give me time between shows to create some new products ..... at least that is the plan. The other thing new for the year is I am taking back control of managing my investments. I love doing the analytical research (and making money LOL).
Well this year I'm moving. But after that I plpan to work on new work, try and get ahead on stock for the season, re-work my booth, work on my website. I applied for shows in Arizona in late feb-early march but didn't get in so I'll work on doing some ambitious new work for St. Paul ACC.
In this off season I am still selling on Etsy. I have a studio that looks like a bomb went off so I need to get in there an clear out and clean up so I can create in there. This is "Studio A", our 4th bedroom that has been my studio since we bought this home in 2011. We now have "Studio B", our climate controlled patio. It has a much better view than Studio A, with 2 sides have a full bank of windows. We have slowly been working more out there because dh is getting more into making hubcap clocks. They are quite cool. Each one is quite unique because we all know that each hubcap takes on a look of its own after being on the road.
So today my plan is to make a LOT of headway in Studio A. I want the order returned so I can get in there and do some creating for the upcoming show season.
Ruth, when is that off season for bills? I keep missing it.
Off season? There's an off-season? Sure hope it coincides with an off season for bills!
I'm going to look into listing on ebay, put some small shippable pieces on Daily Paintworks and update my Etsy shop as well as a sprinkling of teaching workshops. I also am going to try a new venue. Our local Home Builders have a Home and Garden show in a couple weeks and they invited artists to have booths. They are calling it the "Red Carpet Area", so I'm hoping to connect with folks building and decorating new homes as well as local interior decorators. We'll see how it turns out. Fingers crossed. It's a 3 day event, so a lot of time invested if it doesn't reap any rewards.
Great question for this time of year, especially for those of us in the Northern states. I'm working on a few things but the big push of Holiday sales is mostly over for me, so now it's more of a supply and demand type of thing. I am thinking of taking a class or two though, figure this is a good time to learn something new and start evolving...maybe even start meditating, see if that helps.
Depending on your offerings, one could consider teaching or offering lectures or presentations to the many service organizations or groups that are always in need of speakers. This is a great way to get the word out for your work, and also it lends itself to a show and tell. This can lead into your telling of your future show schedules, and also a way to pick the brains of your customer base of what is trending.
I look at this as a time to be in my workshop creating inventory for upcoming shows while having the opportunity to experiment with new designs for both my work and my display. I like to keep my booth display updated just as my work needs to keep from being the same designs people see all the time.
Many times i have heard visitors to a show mention that they see so much of the same stuff year after year...and i don't want them to think that of my work..
I don't have to or want to be concerned about deadlines as much as during the busy show season.
I don't want to search out any additional shows since doing around 20 a year is enough for me personally. Any more would just cross over into the burn out zone. If I decide I want to do a few more the one-day art markets that are from 30 minutes to 60 minutes away are a good option.
Work on new illustration projects and new paintings for the show season, mostly. This is really the only time (except during the dead of summer in July and August) that I have to work on new pieces.
I've completely sworn off Florida shows. My work doesn't really appeal to that crowd.