[ Poll ] Artists Alley Information Compilation

Most intimidating thing about your first AA?

What if I don't sell anything?		23.5%	[ 133 ]
What if I don't break Even?		12.0%	[ 68 ]
What if they HATE my work?		26.6%	[ 151 ]
What if I sell out of prints too soon?		4.1%	[ 23 ]
All of the other artists are going to think I suck!		21.9%	[ 124 ]
Other (Please share!)		12.0%	[ 68 ]

Total Votes: 567

[DarkishStar]

Look

Darkish star: I think people would prefer laminated/plastic book marks more. You can try charge a little more, but I won't go for too much, since the majority stays below $2 range.

Yeah, I was thinking $2 because $3 might be pushing it. xD;; Thanks for responding.

Lissa Quon: I think most cons do need them, I know AX does, but I won't file till later. Most ask for a supplier and that's usually the print service you use and you won't know that till much later. XD They might ban you from the alley if you don't do that.

One more thing, if I want to share a table with a friend, legally, and with a contract, how do I go about doing that? Especially for AX.

[mitchxiao]

just asking if how can i post my drawings in art arena? i dont have any idea.......please send me a pm on how to.... lol its mah first tym....anyone?.... biggrin tnx a lot.....l heart heart heart

[Look]

DarkishStar: I just checked that in AX's forum, it said both of you need to have a seller permit, and you need to let AX staff know you are sharing a table.

[Poizun]

I've been reading the thread on-and-off. And even though I'm not in the US, it definitely gave me some ideas of what to sell during conventions 3nodding

Thank you~! heart

[StarMasayume]

Quote:

Wow--I wish this was set up when I was first wondering what to expect and how to prepare. I made a topic and got some helpful advice here and there though that was over a year ago. ^_^ I've got a handful of artist alley experience now. I don't know if I have anything new to offer, a lot of what I've learned has been said, but I'll fill this out anyhow.

Part A- Getting the table:

1. How many months in advance do conventions usually release tables, in your experience?
What people have been saying--usually at least 3 months in advanced.

2. How much does a table usually cost?
In my experience, $20-$75. I was really concerned about paying the $75 one, but the sales I made was great and made up for it.

3. How quickly are the tables reserved?
Depends on the con. I've heard for some of the really major cons they can fill up almost immediately (I hear of many dissappointed people who missed reserving), while others might still have openings up until the con itself.

4. What complications should one be prepared for?
Metrocon has a great system for picking exactly what table in the set up you want... but it's not always perfect. I think the section I was going to set up in was moved or someone was already set up at the table I'd be at so they put me elsewhere. Con volunteers are your friend, find one if you need help! Also try and know how many chairs they have there/if you need to bring extra for a friend for example.

5. Anything else?
Don't be afraid to split a table! Especially if it's your first time or you won't take up a lot of room. Well, I can take up a lot of room, but I still find it fun to share a table. This is also a good solution if all the tables are reserved if you can find someone who's willing to share to cut costs.

Bring snacks for yourself for when you're hungry--it's no fun being stuck there unable to get food. If you're with friends, have a cell or a way to contact them. Also it's good to be friendly with the surrounding tables--often you can help each other out (whether for keeping an eye on the table for a bathroom break or lending scissors).

Optional: What skill level would you suggest entering the AA at? If possible, please provide examples.
If you're just a light doodler, it's probably not worth it. If you're there just to have your work be seen and you don't care whether you sell anything or make up for the table cost... than go for it.

If you have just decent quality artwork but have good ideas for fanart, than you'll probably still sell. I'm sure the better you are, the more you'll make, but a lot of it can depend on the people at the con and what you have available to sell.


Part B- Preparing to sell:

1. What sort of merchandise would you advise selling?
KEYCHAINS -- they're the most popular thus far of what I've sold.
Stickers -- cheap and fun
Anything small and useful like bookmarks.
For prints, I recommend a variety of sizes. I usually get the most of 4x6, some of 5x7, and a few of 8x10 (more ratio for the prints that are fanart) that I keep in a filing box.

2. What sort of merchandise would you advise against selling?
What other people have said... best to stay away from more expensive stuff (over $20).

3. What sort of stuff sells best?
Fanart XD For merchandise, I find small and useful things like the keychains or stickers sell really well.

4. Where would you suggest going to get things printed?
Staples! Under $2 for an 8x10 Glossy Print. 4x6 I get done at Walmart (usually 19 cents for a certain quantity and above which is really great). I usually get the clear protectors to put the prints in when I give them out.

5. If printing at home, what preparations should one make?
I gave up on this idea XD Other places were cheaper and a lot less work than at home.

6. How far in advance should one have one's merchandise finished?
Eerr... I'm a bad procrastinator.. but the 1-2 weeks thing sounds good XD

7. Anything else?
Yes, quite a few people are interested in commissioning small sketchers or artwork for the duration of the con! If you think you'll have time, or things are slow and you want to keep busy, try offering these. Bring sketchbook, pens, markers or anything else.


Part C- At the Con:

1. How early should one arrive to be sure of reserving a good table?
An hour sounds good to me.

2. When setting up one's table, what sort of layout would you suggest?
Something that attracts people and shows of your work to it's best advantage. I have a frame stand that my dad made me with a couple of my best framed works (it's two sided) as well as one area for basic prices (Warning, even if you have you're prices out, people WILL still ask). Have a binder or something they can flip through as well as any small merchandise, prints, or small frames. If people can see your artwork from a glance a ways acrosss, than that's a good thing.

3. There are some pretty bratty congoers out there. How would you suggest dealing with assholes?
Haven't really met any =/ Most people either really want to chat and be social, others just look through your stuff with a stoic expression and leave. If anyone is really being an a*****e, I might try and get one of the volunteers.

4. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. What issues should one be prepared for when running a table at the Artists alley?
Bring paper, tape, scissors, markers, things to occupy yourself, anything you can think of that you may end up needing. Once the frames I had shattered in the suitcase I brought them in.


+How many prints should I have? I'll probably only have, at most, about ten pictures that I'll be selling, but I have no idea how many are likely to sell.
This is one of the toughest questions. I'll usually get around 10 4x6, 5 5x7, and around 5 8x10, but things that are fanart or some of my better/more popular original art I'll do about twice that. In my mind, I rather have more than I'm to sell since there's always another con I'll have them for. As you go to one or two cons, you'll get a good idea for which art you need more of.

Oh, keep in mind if there's going to be any voice actors or guests related to certain anime. It'll often make anything with that anime more popular. For example I had a parody-crossover for Full Metal Alchemist (not my best work--more humorous), but the AFO con had FOUR of the voice actors (and they just happened to be the exact characters I had in this piece). Needless to say, I wish I had more of that one at the end.


+Should I have a display?
YES. Anything that helps your art be seen.

+Should I have numbered prints? My style changes pretty quickly - my table next year will likely feature nothing that I've got right now. A friend told me she sold limited prints faster, so I wondered if that was wise at all.
I have no idea XD Never thought or tried it.

+What sort of prices are people usually willing to pay, IN GENERAL? I know quality has a great deal to do with it, but I'm looking for a range here, I suppose.
Well... these are the prices I've settled on.

4x6 Print: $4 or 2 or more for $3
5x7 Print: $6 or 2 or more for $5
8x10 Print: $8 or 2 or more for $7
Keep in mind how much the print cost you. I've seen 8x10's from $8 to $20.

+Glossy or matte paper?
I like glossy mrgreen

[StarMasayume]

DarkishStar

[
One more thing, if I want to share a table with a friend, legally, and with a contract, how do I go about doing that? Especially for AX.

Just a thought, but I think smaller cons don't care if you share. Some cons I know of even sold by half the table--if you wanted full, you had to pay for both halves.

I never really thought about for larger ones, so I guess this is good to know XD

[DarkishStar]

Look

DarkishStar: I just checked that in AX's forum, it said both of you need to have a seller permit, and you need to let AX staff know you are sharing a table.

Thanks. But I'm wondering, do you tell them day of? Or can you send them an email? It's a little unclear. Dx

[DarkishStar]

StarMasayume

DarkishStar

[
One more thing, if I want to share a table with a friend, legally, and with a contract, how do I go about doing that? Especially for AX.

Just a thought, but I think smaller cons don't care if you share. Some cons I know of even sold by half the table--if you wanted full, you had to pay for both halves.

I never really thought about for larger ones, so I guess this is good to know XD

It's only because AX is located in Long Beach this year and I hear the fire marshal is a pain because he's such a stickler for fire safety. When AX is in Anaheim, they sold half a table as well. AX doesn't care if you have friend sit there and watch your table, but they do care if they sell their own artwork. It's considered a breach of contract. XD;; I guess it makes sense since AX is one of the largest anime conventions. Especially on the west coast.

[Look]

DarkishStar

Look

DarkishStar: I just checked that in AX's forum, it said both of you need to have a seller permit, and you need to let AX staff know you are sharing a table.

Thanks. But I'm wondering, do you tell them day of? Or can you send them an email? It's a little unclear. Dx

They said you can tell them on the day of the con. But to be on the safe side, I'd recommend email them ahead.

[Lissa Quon]

DarkishStar

Look

Darkish star: I think people would prefer laminated/plastic book marks more. You can try charge a little more, but I won't go for too much, since the majority stays below $2 range.

Yeah, I was thinking $2 because $3 might be pushing it. xD;; Thanks for responding.

Lissa Quon: I think most cons do need them, I know AX does, but I won't file till later. Most ask for a supplier and that's usually the print service you use and you won't know that till much later. XD They might ban you from the alley if you don't do that.

One more thing, if I want to share a table with a friend, legally, and with a contract, how do I go about doing that? Especially for AX.

As far as I know you and your friend can both put your names on the table and split the cost. As far as a contract, thats between you and your friend.

Quote:

I think most cons do need them, I know AX does, but I won't file till later. Most ask for a supplier and that's usually the print service you use and you won't know that till much later. XD They might ban you from the alley if you don't do that.

Er...I don't recall having to list any supplier on my tax forms.

But anyways, you don't file until after the con but you do need a tax payer number for the state you are working in. Some cons have started asking for this number when registering a table.

[[Kako]]

Thank you to StarMasayume, and everyone else who's filled out the form recently!

[Shadow Ivy]

Lissa Quon

Something else important I forgot to add: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR TAX FORMS AND BUSINESS LISCENCE IN ORDER.

I know alot of cons SAY you need them and don't check. But still since you are making money in someones tax district you legally have to be registered to do so. It's a technical detail taht if you skimp on it might bite your butt later.

Huh...I didn't know some cons required this. Most of the ones I've done AA at didn't; that being said I would like to hit up more AAs, and with the local con here (Anime Weekend Atlanta) getting bigger, I suspect it's a matter of time before they require tax forms and business licences...so, my question would be how would one go about obtaining these?

[Look]

Shadow Ivy

I suspect it's a matter of time before they require tax forms and business licences...so, my question would be how would one go about obtaining these?

google for the board of equalization in your state. They should have something for temporary seller permit.

For AX, I go to http://www.boe.ca.gov/ to get the temp seller permit and tax form. I would think each state has something similar on their site..

[Moe SahChan]

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOUUUU!

*scans thread/bumps*