Well, since this has been a very slow year for me, I cannot apply for any shows for the next season since the money I made went to bills so now I have to wait until something comes in and call the last minute to see if I can get in a show when I have the money. This economy is really taking a toll on me and everyone including the buyers. Will we be extinct within 10 years? I'm not quitting, this is the only thing I know how to do. Also, I hurt myself very badly on my back setting up my booth. I travel myself, and set up myself with a show-off canopy so it is no picnic. My worry is also if I can set up my booth by myself. I'm having a rough day.....Here is one of my new pieces:
Debbie we have a pretty lenient refund policy. In fact one of our events is held the same weekend as Winter Park and if any artist gets in Winter Park from the wait lust we refund fully. For other events we give everyone who informs us within 30 days of the event a refund, the closer we get to the event we make different arrangements for health/family reasons we will refund fees, for some other excuses we consider 50% refunds and 50% credit for the future events and sometimes we may give out 100% credit for a future show. However, it is unlikely that we send out refunds to last minute cancellations.
Hey Sara, welcome to the world of a professional artist! Don't give up. It takes 3 years for a newbie to start up. See how your shows do for you and if they are okay, give it another try next year. People like to see you a few times before they buy and don't forget the holidays are around the corner. Things start to pick up in late September. It just sucks that you started in the way the economy is now and the same way I bought my house when it started to suck! Just try harder, its the only way know and it will change!
I am grateful to know that I am not alone. My venue is "Fried Cats" (unique ceramic cat sculptures). Other than Main St Ft Worth, my shows have been less than - all of my earnings going to bills. We are seniors on a fixed income. I am on the wait list for St James and cannot pay the electric bill. Right now I do not have the funds to even apply to shows, much less pay booth fees. I tried a sale on my website (20% off) and that generated a lot of lookers, but no sales. Right now I am filling my inventory with small, $95 to $195, items that people can seem to afford. I can only trust in God and do what I do best.
A well-attended Farmer's Market in the right community can be an excellant return for the money! Don"t know about your coast but Sarasota and St. Pete have Farmer's Mkts. with alot of craft/art.
Nancy, appriciate the thought but I'm a fine artist, not a crafter (no insult intended, just stating a fact). I have alot of prints that sell for less then 50 so thats my bread and butter at the shows these days along with an original or two. I stick with one subject, I am known for that and I paint what I want to paint not what the public thinks they want. I have been doing this for over 30 years and traveled all over the country. I stick to were my type of work will sell, I have very high end clients as you call people with more then one home. They have been hit hard also with the economy, they are watching their money just like we are and not digging deep yet. Don't forget, they have alot of real estate that are losing value, stock market, IRA..you get the picture and they are being hit as well but in a bigger scale then we are. I believe in my work, it will pick up and then we can all wright or type up comments like I have soo many commissions I need help! Meantime, just plugging along. And I can only do a minimal amount of shows a year since it is killer to do for me and I travel alone.
Due to medical issues I cannot do a regular 9 to 5 job and I don't sit around and eat bon bons, I watch my diet(I weigh 114 pounds) and don't eat sweets. I paint and draw everyday and work off my website, have commissions now and then and sell small stuff on ebay. I'm not going to work at a job for min wage when I have to be building inventory for future shows., murals I won't do, can't go up and down a ladder. I have tried every outlet, I'm in a few galleries/ Michelle, Im not waiting for something to happen, I make things happen, just going to take time. I have arrangements for my insurance.
Comments
Have you ever tried working with sports teams or associations? Trying the sports venues?
Best to you,
Melanie
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next