[ Poll ] Artists Alley Information Compilation

Most intimidating thing about your first AA?

What if I don't sell anything?		22.1%	[ 135 ]
What if I don't break Even?		11.8%	[ 72 ]
What if they HATE my work?		28.8%	[ 176 ]
What if I sell out of prints too soon?		4.1%	[ 25 ]
All of the other artists are going to think I suck!		21.3%	[ 130 ]
Other (Please share!)		11.9%	[ 73 ]

Total Votes: 611

[DarkishStar]

Flakurio

Ok, just for the heck of it: this is an awesome thread. I've been considering going to a con to sell art for a while, but I could never find enough information to actually go. Everyone involved just seemed to automatically "know".

I haven't seen Alphagraphics mentioned in this thread for prints, though. Our art teacher uses them for prints, and for a 12x9 the cost is 79 cents, lower the more you order. Has anyone used them to print things for this?

If the quality is good and it will save you a lot of money, I say go for it. xD

I'm going to cut my costs really low by getting things printed at Costco except for my bookmarks of course.

I think I need to invest in a paper-cutter. xD

[DarkishStar]

Shadow Ivy

fanartist

I sat next to a guy during Fanime last year, and he had a bunch of his sketchbooks out on his table.

He recently told me that most of his sales come from selling sketches he had done throughout the year.

I'm thinking of doing that this year, since most of the stuff I draw is fanart anyways.

I had actually considered doing the same thing myself, since I had some people show interest in my sketches last year.

Any idea how much he sold his sketchbooks for?

I think she meant that guy was selling each sketch, not each sketchbook. That would be too little profit, since it's pretty hard to fill up a whole sketchbook.

I think if you sold a single sketchbook though.. I think anything from $20-30 is okay. Not too much, but not too little either. Each page essentially counts as a commission to me.

[Shadow Ivy]

DarkishStar

Shadow Ivy

fanartist

I sat next to a guy during Fanime last year, and he had a bunch of his sketchbooks out on his table.

He recently told me that most of his sales come from selling sketches he had done throughout the year.

I'm thinking of doing that this year, since most of the stuff I draw is fanart anyways.

I had actually considered doing the same thing myself, since I had some people show interest in my sketches last year.

Any idea how much he sold his sketchbooks for?

I think she meant that guy was selling each sketch, not each sketchbook. That would be too little profit, since it's pretty hard to fill up a whole sketchbook.

I think if you sold a single sketchbook though.. I think anything from $20-30 is okay. Not too much, but not too little either. Each page essentially counts as a commission to me.

Re-reading it; I see what you mean. That makes more sense, from a profitable point-of-view. And still a neat idea, too. I may have to give this a shot!

[fanartist]

Shadow Ivy

DarkishStar

Shadow Ivy

fanartist

I sat next to a guy during Fanime last year, and he had a bunch of his sketchbooks out on his table.

He recently told me that most of his sales come from selling sketches he had done throughout the year.

I'm thinking of doing that this year, since most of the stuff I draw is fanart anyways.

I had actually considered doing the same thing myself, since I had some people show interest in my sketches last year.

Any idea how much he sold his sketchbooks for?

I think she meant that guy was selling each sketch, not each sketchbook. That would be too little profit, since it's pretty hard to fill up a whole sketchbook.

I think if you sold a single sketchbook though.. I think anything from $20-30 is okay. Not too much, but not too little either. Each page essentially counts as a commission to me.

Re-reading it; I see what you mean. That makes more sense, from a profitable point-of-view. And still a neat idea, too. I may have to give this a shot!

OH.

XD XD XD Yeah, I meant each sketch >>;;;;

If someone wanted to buy a whole sketchbook from me, they'll need to dish out some serious cash. I might consider for $500+, but still... there's some stuff I'd rather not part with.

[DarkishStar]

fanartist

OH.

XD XD XD Yeah, I meant each sketch >>;;;;

If someone wanted to buy a whole sketchbook from me, they'll need to dish out some serious cash. I might consider for $500+, but still... there's some stuff I'd rather not part with.

xD Glad that's clarified. Yeah, it's true, I would still consider $20-30 per sketchbook really low. Most sketch books are.. 100 pages at least? And then.. you draw on both sides.. so since I'd sell a sketch for $2.. that's like.. $4 per pages.. times a hundred.. which is $400. O_O

Yeah, craaaaaaazy. xD Yeah, I'm going to attempt to sketch things that I'm willing to part with. xD And scan them into the computer too as well.

[DarkishStar]

Shadow Ivy

Re-reading it; I see what you mean. That makes more sense, from a profitable point-of-view. And still a neat idea, too. I may have to give this a shot!

Go for it. xD I think it'll be a really good way to make sure you have enough money to break even. O_O And it won't take as much time and effort as serious commissions will. O_O

[Shadow Ivy]

DarkishStar

Shadow Ivy

Re-reading it; I see what you mean. That makes more sense, from a profitable point-of-view. And still a neat idea, too. I may have to give this a shot!

Go for it. xD I think it'll be a really good way to make sure you have enough money to break even. O_O And it won't take as much time and effort as serious commissions will. O_O

Exactly. 3nodding I can work on something like this at just about any time too between cons, so it'll guarantee that I'll have something to sell once the next con rolls around.

Man, this thread rocks. whee

[DarkishStar]

Shadow Ivy

DarkishStar

Shadow Ivy

Re-reading it; I see what you mean. That makes more sense, from a profitable point-of-view. And still a neat idea, too. I may have to give this a shot!

Go for it. xD I think it'll be a really good way to make sure you have enough money to break even. O_O And it won't take as much time and effort as serious commissions will. O_O

Exactly. 3nodding I can work on something like this at just about any time too between cons, so it'll guarantee that I'll have something to sell once the next con rolls around.

Man, this thread rocks. whee

^^; Glad I could be of little help, though I have no experience in Artist's Alley at all, though I have been in them before and really enjoy them. x3

[[Kako]]

bump for usefulness.

[Look]

I just created a google group for AA listing, mostly to update info about when AA reg opens, etc.

Would you mind if I post the info from this thread on the group too?

group address: http://groups.google.com/group/artist-con?hl=en

AA info listing: http://groups.google.com/group/artist-con/web/otakon-07-aa?hl=en

Artist listing:
http://groups.google.com/group/artist-con/web/2007-attending-artists-list?hl=en

Print service list: http://groups.google.com/group/artist-con/web/print-service-listing?hl=en

[[Kako]]

No problem, go ahead. Just be sure to add a link to this thread. biggrin I never got around to finishing the site for the collected information... I should probably do that.

[insomniel]

Thanks for posting this. I think it's the most useful thread for actual artists on this forum so far. I've always wanted a table of my own, but didn't know where to start. Not that I intend on starting anytime soon, my art is not salable. I just wish I could... *sigh*

[DarkishStar]

Thanks so much for the links Look! I joined the group just now. It's so fun looking through the listings and everything. =)

[Look]

I'm going through the posts to find info to post in the group as well. smile

[leloi]

Look

I'm going through the posts to find info to post in the group as well. smile

How is there an artist attendance list for Fanime when the Artist Row Registration hasn't even been posted for that convention? <scratches head> Unless they just assume they'll get a table. And the city's name is San Jose. It's "Saint Joseph" in Spanish.

But it is a helpful list.