mel jacobson on tue 22 dec 09
(if you never sell, and work only for great art, don't read this:)
my 50 mile circle has gotten very small this year.
i have gone through checks and it seems that about
90 percent of my sales come from about 10 miles
from my house. (remember, i live in a high density
population area, upper middle class.)
my 50 year show garnered me lots of new
people, that live near me. (as i wanted and planned)
my participating in a lake minnetonka studio
tour got me some more names.
(it is a crawl sort of thing, and i won't do
it again...far too much b.s. and politics and
it has that quality of a jr. high teachers meeting.
you know, i,me, i ,me, i, me.)
a winter show in minnesota puts you at odds with
the weather. so, keeping that list growing close to
home has been successful for me. it does take time
and effort.
i got a very nice full page write up and picture in
the local `lake minnetonka news`. and, that is
worth gold. (of course i called them, talked to
a free lance writer, looking for a story...and how
else would they come and take pix? you have
to do it. this is not ego, it is advertising..free.
i never understand how people will not `get it`.
i personally do not give a damn about pix in the
paper...but my pottery business does. being
shy, under the table does nothing for you.
one of the local flag ship stations `drive home`
guys did 15 minutes on ridatick this fall. he has
followed up twice now with comments about
the potter mel in minnetonka...he calls me his
art adviser. `what is that worth?` about
5 grand a minute. think of taking an ad out
on your top radio station. it is beyond expensive
per minute. that twenty minutes of air time
cost me two plates and a mug...gifts to the
show stars and their helper. (of course
i drove over to the station and handed the gifts
to the people...they were really excited. so,
good business practice.)
and, why would i not act as a professional
business person? it is not that hard to do.
and, if i did not act professionally i would have to
answer to chris campbell, and she would smack me
at nceca for being a dork.
there is a sort of euphorian theme that runs through some
artists: `oh, my work comes from my soul, i cannot
sell it or promote my work, that would be unfair.` bs.
i have heard that `soul` stuff far too much, and then listen to
the whine...`no one supports my wonderful work.` well,
no one knows you even do wonderful work, how can they?
remember, i can do a cover story for cm and not make
one sale because of it. i do the local rag and i get
phone calls for a month. i was in the hardware store the
other day and a lady stopped me..`oh, i saw you in the paper,
your that famous potter`...hmmm, ok, yes. `stop and
buy a pot one day`. `can i, can i`.?..yes. and she showed
up this weekend and bought a mug. she will be back.
you would think i was picasso or something...perception...
a funny concept. local fame, in your 50 mile circle is a good thing.
anyway you can promote your work, do it. i even do garden clubs.
it pays huge dividends.
don't pretend you are a great poetic philosopher with your work.
try some simple business practice. get off your tower..get to work.
advice from an old potter. or, do nothing, up to you.
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
Sue Beach on tue 22 dec 09
While the over all number of people who bought pottery from me this Decembe=
r
is down, those that did buy bought lots of pots. So while the number of
customers was down, the total dollars of sales was up.
There was a nice article in the newspaper the weekend before my sale and
that brought out a few new people. Friends, family & regular customers
dropped by at various times outside the hours set up for the sale.
It is a very slow process, it seems, to grow my business. We live in the
country & people have to drive to reach us. Snowy weather did not help
either.
So while it would have been nice to have attracted more people, I'm pleased
for the most part.
Every year I learn more about what works and what doesn't.
Sue Beach
Beach Pottery
Muncie, IN
SueBeachPottery.com
Evonne Smulders on tue 22 dec 09
Up here in Canada we call it shameless self-promoting. This month we
managed to get 2 articles in the next to local paper. We run our
gallery in a "small" town 10 minutes from the "big" town. With the
first article, I sent an email to the reporter about our "small works"
show and how important it is to support artists in the community. She
did a great article about buying local and buying handmade.
The next week we had our handmade day where absolutely everything
handmade was 20% off. We also added a fundraiser for the food bank.
Usually our amazing knock your socks off gift wrapping is free, but
that one day we asked everyone for a $ 5. donation to the food bank,
in exchange for the wrap job. We told everyone our goal was to raise
$500. Well one local gal came in bought a book by a local author had
it gift wrapped and put $500. in the food bank piggy bank. We didn't
know this till the end of the day when we counted the donations. When
the dust had settled raised $1200. So...... I sent another email to
the reporter and got another article the next week. Yes I am shameless
and I love this biz!
By the way Mel, you are absolutely right, people read and connect,
then they come and buy. Everyone wants to be part of a positive story.
Cheers
Evonne
Evonne Smulders
evonne@terracottagallery.ca
www.terracottagallery.ca
On 22-Dec-09, at 7:44 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
> (if you never sell, and work only for great art, don't read this:)
>
> my 50 mile circle has gotten very small this year.
> i have gone through checks and it seems that about
> 90 percent of my sales come from about 10 miles
> from my house. (remember, i live in a high density
> population area, upper middle class.)
>
> my 50 year show garnered me lots of new
> people, that live near me. (as i wanted and planned)
> my participating in a lake minnetonka studio
> tour got me some more names.
> (it is a crawl sort of thing, and i won't do
> it again...far too much b.s. and politics and
> it has that quality of a jr. high teachers meeting.
> you know, i,me, i ,me, i, me.)
>
> a winter show in minnesota puts you at odds with
> the weather. so, keeping that list growing close to
> home has been successful for me. it does take time
> and effort.
>
> i got a very nice full page write up and picture in
> the local `lake minnetonka news`. and, that is
> worth gold. (of course i called them, talked to
> a free lance writer, looking for a story...and how
> else would they come and take pix? you have
> to do it. this is not ego, it is advertising..free.
> i never understand how people will not `get it`.
> i personally do not give a damn about pix in the
> paper...but my pottery business does. being
> shy, under the table does nothing for you.
>
> one of the local flag ship stations `drive home`
> guys did 15 minutes on ridatick this fall. he has
> followed up twice now with comments about
> the potter mel in minnetonka...he calls me his
> art adviser. `what is that worth?` about
> 5 grand a minute. think of taking an ad out
> on your top radio station. it is beyond expensive
> per minute. that twenty minutes of air time
> cost me two plates and a mug...gifts to the
> show stars and their helper. (of course
> i drove over to the station and handed the gifts
> to the people...they were really excited. so,
> good business practice.)
>
> and, why would i not act as a professional
> business person? it is not that hard to do.
> and, if i did not act professionally i would have to
> answer to chris campbell, and she would smack me
> at nceca for being a dork.
>
> there is a sort of euphorian theme that runs through some
> artists: `oh, my work comes from my soul, i cannot
> sell it or promote my work, that would be unfair.` bs.
> i have heard that `soul` stuff far too much, and then listen to
> the whine...`no one supports my wonderful work.` well,
> no one knows you even do wonderful work, how can they?
>
> remember, i can do a cover story for cm and not make
> one sale because of it. i do the local rag and i get
> phone calls for a month. i was in the hardware store the
> other day and a lady stopped me..`oh, i saw you in the paper,
> your that famous potter`...hmmm, ok, yes. `stop and
> buy a pot one day`. `can i, can i`.?..yes. and she showed
> up this weekend and bought a mug. she will be back.
> you would think i was picasso or something...perception...
> a funny concept. local fame, in your 50 mile circle is a good thing.
> anyway you can promote your work, do it. i even do garden clubs.
> it pays huge dividends.
>
> don't pretend you are a great poetic philosopher with your work.
> try some simple business practice. get off your tower..get to work.
> advice from an old potter. or, do nothing, up to you.
> mel
>
>
> from: minnetonka, mn
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
Bonnie Staffel on wed 23 dec 09
Hi Clayarters,
Mel, your recent post was of great interest to me. I can see that we =3D
travel
a similar road in the business of being a potter. Since we located in a
vacation area, I didn't have to elect the 50 mile radius as my audience =3D
was
ever changing as well as word of mouth among the summer residents and =3D
the
yacht people. We spent 20 years in this location, building our business =3D
as
pioneers in the area. It was quite a challenge. The first three years =3D
were
pitiful as for income, but it did grow from business practices we =3D
introduced
in our work. I gave talks to local clubs, distributed our posters in =3D
store
windows, and issued press releases to the newspapers. We were active in
starting a potters' organization and also were instrumental in the =3D
beginning
of the now very attractive and active art center, serving on the board =3D
in
the early days. My husband and I also served as judges for the local art
fair for a number of years.=3D20
Due to many circumstances we were forced to close our studio/gallery and =
=3D
I
left for other pursuits in North Carolina and a new exciting life. The =3D
local
newspapers recorded the event, with very nice words about our endeavors =3D
in
the local art world. Having been gone for ten years and then returning =3D
to
the area as well as receiving an invitation from a gallery to sponsor my
work, I was overwhelmed by these same three newspapers publishing with =3D
my
picture announcing, "Bonnie's Back" covering the entire front page. =3D
These
recent years in my old stomping grounds I continue to work as energy =3D
allows
and have four galleries showing whatever I can produce.=3D20
I believe in "tooting your own horn" and often talk to other newbies =3D
about
this practice. If one exhibits confidence in their own work, practices =3D
the
Golden Rule, and offers work at a fair price, it will reap dividends in
success. So here's a toast to you, Mel, for being a standard bearer of
good business practices. Keep up the good work and perhaps as artists, =3D
we
can turn this economy around soon.=3D20
Best wishes for a happy holiday season and New Year.
Bonnie
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD=3DA0 Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD=3DA0 Introduction to Wheel Work
Charter Member Potters Council
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