Joseph Bennion on tue 10 nov 09
Richard and Mel,I am happy to see this sort of thing catching on. For some =
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time now when I have conducted workshops I have pushed the idea of "taking =
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back the markets". I believe that for too long potters have depended way to=
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o much on show/fair organizers and gallery/shop keepers to sell their work.=
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Artist organized shows have done well here in Utah. I don't go to them bec=
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ause things are so good here at home. I sell 90+% of my wares from my own s=
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howroom. I hold 3-4 home shows a year and sell to drop in traffic. Of cours=
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e I helps that I live in an area that allows me to leave the shop open for =
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people to drop by. I know there are other potters in rural settings who do =
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that.Here is a blog entry I wrote some time back that relates to this.
http://www.horseshoemountainpottery.com/joe/blog/?p=3D3D647
Joe the Potter
Joseph Bennion=3D20
=3D0AHorseshoe Mountain Pottery
=3D0AMom's Stuff Healing Salve=3D20
=3D0APO Box 186 =3D20
=3D0ASpring City, Utah 84662 =
=3D
=3D20
=3D0A435-462-2708=3D20
=3D0Awww.horseshoemountainpottery.com
--- On Tue, 11/10/09, mel jacobson wrote:
From: mel jacobson
Subject: thank you richard/ group shows
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6:44 AM
yes, richard, creative marketing, in bad times.
it would also be interesting if potters approached smaller
art centers, museums etc...and promote group shows, with
real `sales` attached.
in my last show at hopkins center for the arts i had tables
full of pots that could be taken from the show...buy, take, out
the door.
a box of pots under each table to fill in.
the art center made a gob of money.=3DA0 so did i.
i am promoting a show of 5 women potters, same deal.
show and sale.=3DA0 the eyes of the director get really big
when you give her a check for several thousand dollars.
commission.=3DA0 they had 50 shows and never made more than
50 bucks.=3DA0 who buys paintings, goofey sculpture...?
i have been to three shows there this past year...no red dots.
but, folks you cannot sit on your hands and wait to be invited.
i just marched right into the directors office a few years back
with an outline and a sales proposal.=3DA0 this is how we will do it,
this is how much you will make...you do this, i will do that.
then do it.=3DA0 fulfill all the pledges in the contract.
rather easy actually.
just like getting a hotel for nceca.=3DA0 contact, sales proposal, keep
your word.=3DA0 do it.
it is called business.=3DA0 do you really think that galleries in new york
are in it for the `love of artists`.=3DA0 hell, most of them don't give a d=
am=3D
n.
bottom line rules.
mel
=3DA0=3DA0=3DA0there is no such thing as being `discovered`.=3DA0 it is har=
d work,
promotion and getting after it.=3DA0 it does not mean ego.=3DA0 it is basic
`letting the world know you exist`.=3DA0 who else is going to do it.?
if i do not work ridatick, it will not sell.=3DA0 r.e.i. sports stores
just came on board
this last week.=3DA0 hard work.=3DA0 that will be like 50,000 units.=3DA0 a=
nd, th=3D
at
is our third big hit this fall.=3DA0 took 5 years of bloody hard work.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link:=3DA0 http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
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