For too many of the years that i have been working as an artist i have gone back and forth with my desire to participate in/my need to participate in/my questioning of the value of art and craft markets. I have spent some of those years avoiding them completely and focusing on gallery exposure, but then there are years like this year that i have applied to as many as i figured i could handle.
This in turn equates to a reality of 4 christmas sales in just over a month. And just when you think that the theme song from the tv show intervention should be playing in my head and friends should be stopping by to question my sanity; i’ve accepted a last minute spot in yet another chirstmas sale.
This one in a concert arena. This one with likely the largest crowd of them all. This one at the end of all the other sales when fingers crossed I’m not just left with odds and ends. But this was the year that I said I was going to give it my all, take my lumps, smile the smiles needed to close the sales and in the new year look to see if it all payed off or not. Then and only then will i address the potential need for plan B.
It seems only fitting though that the following video is making it’s rounds on the internet, mocking me and my positive outlook, reminding me of the often sad and true reality of craft sales (especially the glitter part), and wishing i had just stayed in bed a bit longer as that would likely have put me further ahead in the end… : )
So i would like to ask all of you your thoughts on these sorts of sales. Does it really get better once you’ve done the same sale a few years in a row? Does it pay off for you in the end? How far are you willing to travel for a sale? Or do you stick close to home? And what sorts of “drinks” do you need to get you through the long hours?
Thanks!
I do enjoy doing craft fairs. I like chatting to people, laughing at my own cheap jokes, and meeting up with fellow designer-makers. What I really don't like is schlepping pots like a coolie. I don't drive and the logistics of travelling can be tiresome.
Craft Sales or Fairs can be a lot of fun. I have found it necessary to choose the ones I like. Either by location and also make it worth the time and effort of schleping my wares to the location. I have always left a couple of weeks between sales to give me time to restock the popular items.
The video was a good laugh. I usually get- 'ooo I love your work. Do you make french butter dishes? Because I was really looking for one today..'
Anyhoo. I've done some shows away from home and found that people don't know me or my work enough to really make it worth my while during the show (ie I was only able to cover the costs of me doing the show/shipping/travel, etc). The benefit I got out of those shows was that I entered a new market and got into some new galleries.
I think some shows are certainly better than others. This year I chose to do 1 big show instead of a number of smaller shows partly because I knew the show had a lot more money to spend on marketing and I was looking for extra exposure. We'll see if it really pays off…
love it.
Added to my page , hope I don't appear bitter.
But i am…. some days 🙂
Thanks for the youtube video! I re-posted it on my site.
Tomorrow will be my first outdoor show in 10 years. I didn't like it in the past, but feel it is necessary to add to my income sources. I don't like the schlepping of work and booth, as well as the potential weather hazards like tomorrow when I will be setting up in 20 degree weather with chance of snow and selling in 40 degree weather with chance of rain. I do like customer interaction, though, as long as it isn't like the one in the video!
I hope to have just one outdoor and one indoor show each year from here on out. One is enough – and I intend to find other means of income to help out. It just seems that a show is alot of work, and if it is far from home, it is time away from making. Too many shows and I don't think it pays off, even if there is immediate gratification with that weekends income.
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Elise
I started doing craft fairs immediately after college in 1995 and immediately after doing a few years of them decided this was not the way to go. First the big shows were hard to get into, and then EVERYONE knows a product you should make and wants you to match their kitchen or living room. I've had fabric swatches and paint samples come into my booth and the one big show I got into The Central PA Festival of the Arts provided me with steadily dropping sales. 4K fresh out of college to a dismal $900 4 years later. I quit doing Art Fairs and moved to Renaissance Faires. Often up to 1-12 weeks of paycheck at a time and you get people who love craft as well as people who want a souvenier. It's not for everyone, but it works well for my style. Now I find I am doing equally as well online as I am on the faire circuit, which has allowed me to cut back on the Ren Faires that were not doing as well and focus more on production, I find the type of customer featured in the video is very very rare. People request odd things, but ultimately it's easier to write a response to them saying "I'm sorry I can't help you" than it is to have a meandering conversation with a person who has no clue or interest.
I love making pottery and I make 2-3 tons a year of it. It's finally starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere.
I've been doing craft shows for 6 years now. I try the ones recommended to me by people who know my work and the work at the show and suggest that mine might be a good fit. I have a pretty good idea of who my market is so I seek out shows where they are, one is 7 hours away. Its important to understand your market and where to find them. It can be very expensive to just try random shows. In my experience, if my sales don't go up every year at a show, I don't go back (unless it's obvious it was for other reasons, like the weather). For me, this means there are only a few shows I do every year. It has also been my experience, that people may want to see you once or twice before they will start buying your work. They want to know that you'll be back again so they can get more from you later on down the road. If I have a good response to my work but sales are just "meh", I'll go back again to see what happens. Usually sales will increase the next year, unless it's really not my market. I have also found that it helps sell my work in the galleries that carry it. I meet people from all over at the shows, and they may not want to buy from me then, but I can direct them to where to find my work later.
Shows can be physically exhausting, but also a great way to actually see your customers interacting with your work. You can watch them and see what they are saying, what they like, what they don't like, etc. I think this is really important.
If you have a really low tolerance for stupid craft show attendees, then I wouldn't recommend doing shows. You need a lot of patience. A LOT! As well as the right attiutude and to know how to sell your work. If you're the kind of person who likes to sit in the background and let the work sell itself, then maybe shows aren't for you.
Basically I look at shows as an evil necessity to help round out my income!
Greetings from Israel!
I'm new in business, and make a living mostly from teaching. But I did a few craft shows. Doing it is so important! To hear what people have to say, to sell a cup or two, to get some new students, and above all: to remind us never do it again!!
I love the video: It is fantastic!