David Hendley on tue 9 dec 03
There is no good reason for a potter to spend time, money, and
effort promoting an art fair. And, by participating, you are promoting it.
For every dollar you would spend on jury fees, entry fees, travel,
eating out, and motels to do a show, instead spend that amount
promoting your work and your location.
For every 4 days you would spend traveling to and from and sitting
at a fair, spend 4 days working up promotions, sending out press
releases, and putting your name out to the public.
If you are in this for the long run, it will pay off beyond belief in
a few years. If you currently rely on going to art fairs for your
income, try doing what I did: drop one fair a year and instead
put the resources towards self-promotion. In a few years you
will be free of all the hassle and uncertainty of art fairs, and have
your customers coming directly to you.
As Mel mentioned, it does not really even matter that much if
you plan a studio sale and the weather turns nasty. You will
still be on people's minds and they will visit another time.
I sometimes have trouble remembering this when I am racking
up expenses of over a thousand bucks planning for my Christmas
Open House. My wife has to remind me that contacting all my
customers will bring in an extra thousand dollars worth of sales
before and after the weekend of the open house.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
> carol, another reason to start doing
> your own shows, home shows. promo your
> own work. rent a storefront for a weekend.
> (lots of dead storefronts.) be in charge of
> your own promotion.
>
> no, promoters never obligate anyone.
> they set a show, and if it does not
> work, snows, hurricane, the artist is out.
--------------------------
> if no one shows up next weekend at my home...well,
> the studio is clean, the pots are made, and i would
> be out 300 bucks for postage. but, then, because
> i mailed out those invites people have been stopping
> all week...get a jump on things...and i am already
> into a nice profit.
> mel
mel jacobson on tue 9 dec 03
carol, another reason to start doing
your own shows, home shows. promo your
own work. rent a storefront for a weekend.
(lots of dead storefronts.) be in charge of
your own promotion.
no, promoters never obligate anyone.
they set a show, and if it does not
work, snows, hurricane, the artist is out.
the `uptown`, here in minneapolis, big promo, lots of artists....what
happens if it rains for three days? the artist
is screwed...days of travel, work ruined. it have seen
paintings flying down hennepin avenue in strong storms..it does
not matter to the folks that run uptown...it is
just another year, fees paid. they plan
next years show. if you do not show up, 200 other folks
want your spot on the mall.
if no one shows up next weekend at my home...well,
the studio is clean, the pots are made, and i would
be out 300 bucks for postage. but, then, because
i mailed out those invites people have been stopping
all week...get a jump on things...and i am already
into a nice profit.
mel
as i have said, i saw this happen in 1963. and i decided
to get out of the show rut. best thing i ever did for
my work. promoters do not give a damn for the artist.
just their margin. and, like always, the artists are their
own worst enemy. they love to be punished.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.com
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