Com Meh Con

[tripperfunster]

Comic Con was so/so. It was super busy. Tickets were sold out all weekend, which was nice, but my sales were much lower that crappy little Horror con here in Winnipeg.

I'm honestly not sure exactly why, but I was paying attention and picked up a few new things to try at the next con in Regina next month.

Just like the craft sales, there was no lack of people oohing and aahhing about how amazing my art was, how talented and patient I was, how original the concept was and how photorealistic they are. Then they would walk away without buying. I ended up lowering my prices to EVEN LOWER than I was selling the here, when I had really hoped to be able to raise the prices by a good amount.

I even had one of the guest comic artists visit my booth and tell me how amazing I was. *sigh* Well, better than people telling me all day that I suck. ;)

Anyhoo, one thing that I think I will add to my booth is the sale of prints. Having a lower price point might draw more people in. Ideally, they would be prints of some amazing paperstuff, but that will take a bunch of time, so instead I did one paper cut poster and thought I'd dredge up some art from the past.

So, which of these posters do you think you might be tempted to buy?




I gotta say, I'm proud of that Rick one, because it is 100% a paper cut! It looks like a digital print, but it's paper! I need to re-do the writing, it's a bit wonky, but I really like the way it turned out.

So things I learned: Engage the customer! One guy beside me had so-so art posters but sold tons of them because he never stopped talking. He compliments people's costumes, took photos of them and then offered them a 'discount' for taking the time to cosplay. Worked like a charm. I will totally steal this. :D

I also found that, aside from a couple of things on my table, my pictures were on a large stand behind me, and people would often walk right past and not even look. Lot of booths in artist alley had the merchandise on a stand ON the table, almost like the Peanuts "The Doctor is In' booth. Right in the customer's face and that seemed to work, so I will switch it up that way too.

Any other hints/trips/tricks are much appreciated.

Comments

[badbastion.livejournal.com]

I love all your print options, but I think the Rick one is the best : ) I'd buy one if I were at a con!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope to have a couple more paper-print options by then.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think having things on the table in front of you is a big one, because I know from exhibiting at conferences, people like to browse first THEN talk/buy/engage, but if they feel they have to effectively walk into a shop and commit right away, they will just take a glance and walk on by.

I can also see how the strategy of the guy next to you would work because your first contact would then be about the customer (which is a) flattering and b) disarming!). It's a nice way in to starting up a conversation which is more likely to end up with them buying something because they like you as much as they like your wares.

I love all those posters! I'd suggest you get all 4 printed because having a selection will widen your appeal. The lettering on the papercut looks good - the slight wonkiness looked deliberate to me!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Well, I DID have stuff ON the table, and even had some cuts out of the frame, so people could touch them (which they seemed to like to do), but having stuff MORE in front, than behind seems to work for some booths. I will try it.

And yes, I think disarming people is ALWAYS a good idea!

I hope to have a couple more print options ready by then too.

[evilmissbecky.livejournal.com]

I've seen lots of artists create a book of their work, just a regular binder with a print in one of those sheet protectors. That way you can flip through it at your leisure and see all their work and then find the one you want. Usually that's how I decide on what to buy.

And good luck! You ARE amazingly talented, and you deserve all the sales. <3

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Yes, yes and yes! Both booths beside me had those books to flip through and I thought that I would have one of my paper cuts like that. Last time, I had quite a few cuts that I didn't have space to display, and that would have fixed that problem, with the added STAY AND BROWSE option.

This was also already on my list of new things to try. You are 100% right.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Avengers and Democracy would both sell well, I think.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I hope so! I would like to have a Supernatural one too. There were TONS of young (and not young) girls who literally stopped and screeched when they saw the paper cut of Dean. But being young, didn't have the $40-50 to drop on a paper cut. I think they would drop $10 for a print, though.

I think I need a print that showcases Dean better. I didn't have some stickers on display, and the "Rice Kripkies was one of them, and it got a lot of attention.

[luvscharlie.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're learning lots of tips and tricks for getting people's attention. I love your paper cuts and the skill they show is pretty much out of this world.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

thank you dear. Now I just need to get people to buy them! ;)

[synn.livejournal.com]

I think the 'not a democracy' one seems more likely to sell for a poster; it's more current/on trend (compared to the simpsons, not the avengers), and it's more dorm-like?
The simpsons avengers I personally like better, but I think it's more suited to, say, a postcard, in terms of selling.

Def. putting something on the tables as you noted.

A couple vendors at the last SPN con had discounts/giveaways that were tied into social media - one girl had posted to twitter that the next three people to her booth to mention the tweet would get a free t-shirt, and another had posted (to the convention facebook group) that the first night of the convention, anyone who said the secret word (given in her post) would get 15% off their purchase. I've also seen people do raffle-like drawings where they win something from the shop -- enter their name during the convention and the con is the last day.
Of those, I can tell you the one most likely to get me to actually buy something, personally, is the discount.

I think items, like prints, that are lower cost than the full cuts are a good idea (though I totally get not wanting to invest too much in them before knowing if they'll sell either).
What about simplified cuts as cards? I'm thinking something like just a cut-out of a character's head on a white card, with a simplified single-color background behind it for contrast (kind of like the spn cut you did where sam, dean and cas each had a food behind their head?). Single card + envelope - I don't know about other folks (maybe anyone else reading wants to weigh in), but I'd be willing to pay $4 for a card like that, so if that would be profit for you it might be worth trying.
Or, smaller prints of the papercuts as cards or postcards, sold in small sets. I'm suggesting cards only because I know some folks don't want to go for larger works they have to transport home, and some folks like 'useful' things, as opposed to a straight up poster/artwork.
OH, a sticker or magnet of the 'not a democracy' one might be cool.

/rambling.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I really like your card idea, but I think it might have to wait for next time. I'm a bit worried about having too much diverse stuff? Even with just paper cuts the table was crowded. I'm afraid with cuts and prints and cards it might get overwhelming. I wasn't even going to bring the stickers this time, just to keep it clean.

*sigh* I don't know. *has no convictions*

[synn.livejournal.com]

I get what you mean; it's a balance between too-full/overwhelming and too sparse. Maybe the binders would help with space (in the future :) )
I don't know if you already do this, but you can also keep some things under the table and only pull it out when requested - eg, just display originals, but keep a sign that X sized prints are available for X amount, and have the prints under the table. Or vice versa. That could save you a chunk of display space.

[synn.livejournal.com]

oh, one thing. Not that I think *you* really need this, but I have to say it:
when you're talking with people, make sure you stay aware of the other folks looking. I can't tell you how many times i've walked away from a vendor because I had a question about an item, but they were too engaged in another conversation for me to ask. (Even just making eye-contact sometimes is enough; at least then I know you're aware I'm there, you know?)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Oh God, yes!

That is one thing that makes me walk out of 'regular' stores all the time. I don't care if you're busy, or on the phone, I am more than happy to wait, but MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH ME, and by such, let me know that you are aware that I am here and waiting.

I will happily wait for 10 minutes, if you have had the manners to give me a nod and a smile.