[ Poll ] Artists Alley Information Compilation

Most intimidating thing about your first AA?

What if I don't sell anything?		23.6%	[ 133 ]
What if I don't break Even?		12.1%	[ 68 ]
What if they HATE my work?		26.6%	[ 150 ]
What if I sell out of prints too soon?		3.9%	[ 22 ]
All of the other artists are going to think I suck!		21.8%	[ 123 ]
Other (Please share!)		11.9%	[ 67 ]

Total Votes: 563

[Fiammetta Rey]

You can have the open side face you, or face out. It depends on your needs. If you have it face you, you can put stuff inside of it (Cash box, merchandise besides what's on the table, supplies) and put a print on the outside. If it faces out, you can display some sort of 3D art there (like jewelry or other crafts).

Advice: when you don't have the open side facing you, don't put a closed side on it at all. That way, you don't have to go around to the other side of the table to take merchandise off of the shelf that it forms, you could just reach through.

[Vicemage]

I really need to remember to print out the paperwork at work tomorrow (I kind of don't like to buy printer ink... >.> ) and get my check mailed in to Detour before they kick me... I do sort of hate how they run their AA.

with the cubes, it really depends on how you're using them. If you want them as shelves to hold items, put them with the open side out. If you want to clip prints to them, put the open side in. If you're using them to hide s**t like I am, open side in. wink

[Kasyrrah]

Vicemage: I'm not sure. That's why I was asking if anyone else had experienced something like that.

I'm going to try to maybe make the cubes connect at the top somehow and hang stuff there.

Another display question: I make a lot of badges, and almost all of my badges have profile/text on the back of them. I'd like a way to display the badges and make it clear that people should look at the back of them so I don't have to point it out to people who come up to my table. I always feel like I'm being too pushy when I do that, but especially for my original art badges, the text is a major selling point. My cousin suggested making a poster that had previews of the front and back of the badges together and display that and just pull badges out if they want one, but that seems a little awkward to me. Do you guys have any suggestions? What do you think of the practicality of the poster idea?

Sorry my question was so long. @.@

[Fiammetta Rey]

I was thinking have two of each badge on display, one with the front showing and one with the back showing, and make it clear that they're the same thing (like have a small Post-It that says "back" on the back one). I guess the poster thing is kind of the same idea...

[Vicemage]

For the badges, hang two right next to each other, one with the front out, one with the back out... that's how I've seen others do it, and when they're grouped close together, it does make it pretty clear that they're the same badge, just different sides. smile

[Kasyrrah]

Thanks for the answers. I like the idea of having both badges out over having a poster because I think people like the fact that I'm ok with them touching what's on my table and they can pick up the badges. I want to keep that, because that is one thing I've found people have liked at every convention I've been to. My one worry about that though is space--my 8 foot table at AWA was full covered from end to end and the cubes were completely covered, and my table at AUSA is going to be smaller. I need to upload my pictures from AWA because my husband actually got a picture of my table. I'd love to get some constructive criticism on my setup. I'm not a very organized person naturally so I just tend to throw stuff out there...

[XxX_KOOKI3_KILLAZ_XxX]

what if they hate my work. sad

[Kyousouka]

ashley_XxX12346: That's unlikely, even if you're really bad. If no one likes your work, then you'll just end up with no sales, that's it. Maybe you'll get a few weird looks if your art looks unfinished or scribbly. If you're not good enough, it just means you'll end up wasting money on getting a table, making prints, etc. No one will kick you out or anything like that. Still, the monetary loss would be unpleasant, so it's best to make sure people like your work.
Try posting some in the pricing assistance forum to see what kind of prices people give you in both gold and $$$, and try the picture post for feedback on the images themselves (but do not forget to ask whether people think it'll sell at cons). These aren't sure-fire ways to find out, but if your art is really bad, you'll know.
Of course, the best way is probably to just research artists who to to the Alleys (particularly those who sell well) and see how your work compared to theirs. If it's a lot worse, then you might need to work on your art more before you make the plunge.

[Kasyrrah]

Ashley: Keep in mind too that what people like is subjective, and frequently will vary from piece to piece and place to place. My art isn't amazing, but I make up for that with novel interpretations for my fanart and original stuff. I try to have stuff that no one else has. I make sales because I'm the only person in AA who has <insert obscure or older series here> or because they like the concept.

[Kyousouka]

If you go the fanart route, don't just draw all obscure or older characters too. A lot of times, people will point out pieces featuring such characters to their friends, but they won't buy them because they'd rather spend money on characters they like more. There are of course those who want art of a specific niche character, but they're hard to find. It's good to have art of niche characters, but make sure you have a lot of stuff that appeals to more popular tastes as well.

If you want to sell original art, it better be something special :/ People will buy bad-looking fanart, but they will usually ignore original art since there's nothing there to grab onto... unless it's very well done xP

[Kasyrrah]

xd I sell more obscure weird stuff than mainstream stuff--not saying the mainstream stuff doesn't sell, but it does really depend on the people at the convention. I don't have a single piece that has consistently sold well at every convention. It's been different at each one, and it's not always the popular characters that sell best either. Like at Animazement one of my best sellers was Lain from Serial Experiments Lain... that's old and obscure... Kyousouka's advice is good in general, and works for a lot of people, but it's not the only way to do things in AA.

[Vicemage]

(edit: Whoops, wasn't supposed to say that yet. biggrin )

[Seijaku_Ishida]

Vicemage

(edit: Whoops, wasn't supposed to say that yet. biggrin )

I think you said something I was about to say. xd