Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild on sat 18 aug 01
Many people seem to be looking for alternatives to craft
fairs and craft shops... one idea is to organize your own
events.
In the SF Bay Area, we have an annual event called "Opn
Studios," where artists open their studios to the public
for a weekend show. (I understand many communities have
similar events.) The umbrella organization produces
maps and publicity. I've gotten together with 5 other
artists to participate in this event for the past few years.
Over time, we've found that about 3/4 of our traffic comes
from our own publicity, and only 1/4 from the Open Studios
map. Our small group has started running a holiday boutique
on our own, and found that the traffic and sales are roughly
the same as our Open Studio. We're now confident that we
can run a successful show on our own. (We've even managed to
get our events featured in some of the local community
newspapers.)
I also participate in a large pottery-only show each October,
which is organized and run by the students and faculty of the
ceramics program at our local community center. The event
has become very popular, and customers line up for the doors
to open at 9:00 AM on the first day.
Finally, the recently formed Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
has organized several shows and sales in local businesses and
public libraries. (My own work is currently on display in
one of these shows.)
My point here is that a handful of artists, working together,
can create their own venues for sales. These occasional sales
won't entirely take the place of other venues, but they are a
good way to build a steady local customer base. Since you are in
direct control of your expenses, you can keep the overhead very
low.
On a slightly different but related topic:
Like most groups, we rely heavily on postcard mailings.
We've spent a number of years building up a mailing list.
We are now just starting the process of rolling over to an
e-mail list, or at least using e-mail as a supplement. (E-mail
is essentially free to send, versus postcard printing and mailing
expenses.)
We also tie our publicity back to our web site. For example,
we've found that live demonstrations are a good draw for our sales.
On our web site, we have a schedule of planned demonstrations, along
with pictures. Our publicity materials refer people to our web site
for the complete schedule, maps, and so on. It's a way of getting
out lots of information with minimum printing expense.
I'd be interested in hearing how others are using websites and
e-mail lists, and what the results have been.
(For those who are interested, you can see my group's web site
at http://www.couling.com/sac/ ).
Philip Poburka on mon 20 aug 01
This sounds good.
Another thing that might also fit somehow, is for a bunch of local Potters
to pick a Charity, and once a Year do a Fund-Raiser for them, where all the
proceeds go to the Charity.
Could be a 'Silent-auction' where one bids on 'cards' that go with the
piece.
Even a total of say a Hunderd Pieces, could 'fill' such a Show...seventy
even...
The Press and the Tee-Vee will likely take an interest, and it would BE a
'Show' as well, in which one's identity and wares may become known, where
otherwise they maybe were not .
Plus the Charity would be pleased to have your favour and the attentions of
the Media and of the people who would attend...Invite the Mayor...the
Sherrif...the Art-groups...the district Attourney...hell, invite anybody you
think MIGHT want to go, or to be seen there...they may just come, and they
may just like what they see.
Next Year...Pick a different Charity, and it will grow from there.
This would not take too big a bite, and would be a nice way to let the
Cummunity know that you are there, and maybe that you are a good sport too.
You will find many attending who may never go to a Pottery or Art 'Show', or
who would not have till then.
I did this with a Partner last December...with makeing unconventional
Dolls...we organized the event, and had a maybe dozen more people in on it.
I made whacky Dolls as Tremetodes and Helminths, Ticks and so on, and others
did as they saw fit...
It was a mighty sucessful 'fundraiser' for the Non-Profit who got the
proceeds, and I got a whole bunch of comissions I turned down, and everyone
wanted us to do it again next year...
I think it would work well for Pots, and was fun too.
Do your own Press-Kits and Publicity...shop around too...have Lunch with
whomever as IS interested from the local Newspapers...or the tee-vee...Radio
too...local Magazines...they would likely take a wholesome interest...AND
write all the 'copy' for them that you can, so they don't screw things up
too bad...
It will fly!
Philip
Las Vegas...
> Many people seem to be looking for alternatives to craft
> fairs and craft shops... one idea is to organize your own
> events.
>
> In the SF Bay Area, we have an annual event called "Opn
> Studios," where artists open their studios to the public
> for a weekend show. (I understand many communities have
> similar events.) The umbrella organization produces
> maps and publicity. I've gotten together with 5 other
> artists to participate in this event for the past few years.
>
> Over time, we've found that about 3/4 of our traffic comes
> from our own publicity, and only 1/4 from the Open Studios
> map. Our small group has started running a holiday boutique
> on our own, and found that the traffic and sales are roughly
> the same as our Open Studio. We're now confident that we
> can run a successful show on our own. (We've even managed to
> get our events featured in some of the local community
> newspapers.)
>
> I also participate in a large pottery-only show each October,
> which is organized and run by the students and faculty of the
> ceramics program at our local community center. The event
> has become very popular, and customers line up for the doors
> to open at 9:00 AM on the first day.
>
> Finally, the recently formed Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
> has organized several shows and sales in local businesses and
> public libraries. (My own work is currently on display in
> one of these shows.)
>
> My point here is that a handful of artists, working together,
> can create their own venues for sales. These occasional sales
> won't entirely take the place of other venues, but they are a
> good way to build a steady local customer base. Since you are in
> direct control of your expenses, you can keep the overhead very
> low.
>
> On a slightly different but related topic:
>
> Like most groups, we rely heavily on postcard mailings.
> We've spent a number of years building up a mailing list.
> We are now just starting the process of rolling over to an
> e-mail list, or at least using e-mail as a supplement. (E-mail
> is essentially free to send, versus postcard printing and mailing
> expenses.)
>
> We also tie our publicity back to our web site. For example,
> we've found that live demonstrations are a good draw for our sales.
> On our web site, we have a schedule of planned demonstrations, along
> with pictures. Our publicity materials refer people to our web site
> for the complete schedule, maps, and so on. It's a way of getting
> out lots of information with minimum printing expense.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing how others are using websites and
> e-mail lists, and what the results have been.
>
> (For those who are interested, you can see my group's web site
> at http://www.couling.com/sac/ ).
>
>
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