Craft show

[tripperfunster]

*sigh*

Well, it wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't really a success either. My booth looked great, the art looked great, I was organized and ready to sell, there were lots of people there and …. nothing.

Well, not nothing, but pretty much zero sales, aside from the person who had the booth across from me, and after staring at my Rick Grimes art for 6 hours, finally came over and bought it. She also commissioned me to cut some giraffes for her daughter.



The good news: A lot of people really liked my stuff. If I was just there for the ego stroking, it would have been the best $35 I'd ever spent. No, really. People gushed and gushed and gushed and then moved on without touching their wallets. :(

And lots of people took the cards I'd made up, promising that they would call to commission me to do a portrait of a family member or pet. I guess time will tell if they actually follow through or not.





Here are the latest. I also have a Dianara (sp?)and Big Boo from OITNB but I haven't photographed them yet. One of the other sellers at the sale does comicon and he said that I would KILL there. I could easily charge twice as much as I was at this sale, and he said I would sell out, no prob. Sadly, Comicon was last month. So I have a bit of a wait for that. There IS a brand new Horror Con here in Feb, so maybe (If I haven't moved yet) I'll give that a try.

I also have another craft show next weekend, so fingers crossed that it goes better! Or, at least I'll get a good ego stroke, regardless! :D

Comments

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

Art is always a tough sell, so while it's natural to be disappointed, it's the way it usually goes on your first outing. Once you've done a couple of these and get a feel for what people are buying, your sales will go up! And hey, ego boos are a wonderful thing. :)

(Not at all surprised the hot-ass Rick Grimes sold. No indeed.)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I will try the sale this coming weekend and see how it goes. Then, I think I will possibly gear up for a convention. Maybe Horror Con will be more my target audience, and if that works, hey maybe a comicon or two. (Or I'll be stuck with a zillion paper cut pictures …..)

[venturous1.livejournal.com]

these are amazing and so fresh and fun! I'm amazed they're not selling. I mean, Grumpy Cat? Darth Vader? C'mon? Me? I want Walter White. (how much?)

I am having trouble selling gifty art this year too. Like pulling teeth! people want to spend about $5.00. not enuf for original art.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I suppose a craft sale is EXACTLY the type of place where people think they can buy a gift for $5 or less, and that probably didn't help.

I actually had quite a few people even say that the prices were very reasonable (I was charging $50 for a commissioned paper cut) but none of those people have yet to call. ...

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

there are some cool arts and crafts fairs out here in the bay area, I think people here would appreciate your art, come out and visit me sometime. :)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I would love that. Sadly, even at conventions, crossing into the States and doing anything REMOTELY business-like is very taboo. They don't want us foreigners stealing Amercian jobs!

I remember getting raked across the coals when I was on my way to a con in San Fran a few years ago. They asked if I was going there to work, and I said no. Then they noticed I had a whole bunch of pencils with me, and asked why. I told them I was volunteering at the con, doing a drawing tutorial.

They were all: "YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T WORKING! YOU LIED!"

Um … I'm not working, I'm doing it for free.

THAT'S STILL WORKING!

Huh. Who knew Americans worked for free? ;)

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

oh FFS. I'm sorry you had to deal with such fools.
actually I had an AMAZING birthday last year due to Canadians working here, I got to go see the Trailer Park Boys live! :)

[synn.livejournal.com]

"Huh. Who knew Americans worked for free? ;)"

But you just proved there's a market for that task, so now we'll get someone in there charging for it right away. Why do for free what you can charge for? That would be tots un-American you know!

Sorry you had to deal with that, and also that the show was disappointing. But, I think, it's the nature of craft shows. It takes a bit to find the right shows/audience for your work. You know, the folks who are aware of what handcrafted art costs, and not looking for $5 gifts like someone else mentioned.

The giraffe's look adorable though!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Isn't your entire economy based on working for free? :D

I guess I just really don't want to get a REAL job, so I was hoping this would get me through … oh well.

[synn.livejournal.com]

"Isn't your entire economy based on working for free? :D"

If we're talking after taxes, then yes, I suppose so :P