Artists Alley Information Thread

Selling at Cons is best during the...

Spring	11.6%	[ 83 ]
Summer	30.3%	[ 217 ]
Fall	7.0%	[ 50 ]
Winter	5.3%	[ 38 ]
Any time!	45.7%	[ 327 ]
Total Votes:			[ 715 ]

[InstantOatmeal]

Okay, okay, I know we've already established that Artscow=good, but I feel the need to add a bit more so I can at least pretend to be contributing to the thread.

So, my friend and I ordered our first group of free prints from them (the 100 4x6s of this, and the 50 5x7s of this.) We sort of lost track of the time, but we got them about a week from when we ordered them. At first, I was worried that they would turn out looking dull or whatever, but I find the quality to be really, REALLY nice.

Yesterday around 6PM, we ordered some 8x10s and some 11x14s. I checked my email notifications about an hour ago and they had finished and sent the order at 2AM this morning. I'm impressed.

They also keep sending us coupon/discount offers and such, some of which are kinda useless to us, but others are really nice (really cheap canvas prints, etc.)

All in all, I like them. I like them lots. wink

[AEAcomics]

That's good to know. I'm hoping to get the rest of my prints finished and everything ordered this weekend. Then I don't have to worry about it.

So far I've got bookmarks and a flamingo!

[InstantOatmeal]

I love the flamingo-girl. Gorgeous concept!

[ninniku]

I would like to contribute a site (maybe someone already has): Got Print. What I love them for is their postcards.

I've ordered twice from them before, and the quality is Excellent. If you want just normal 4 x 6s, then artscow is probably the way to go, but if you're looking for front and back printing (b&w or color-I've only gotten b&w), then got print is the way to go. 3nodding

I get the post cards to hand out for free for my webcomics since they look cooler than business cards and are something that even an established fan might like. 3nodding

They also seem to have a pretty good price on business cards, but I've never ordered those myself.

[InstantOatmeal]

Postcards...Gotta look into that. XD

[ninniku]

Get a website up first. biggrin

One thing at a time.

Also, sometimes conventions will have a business card table where people just go and leave their promotions. And a post card with nice art is more likely to draw the eye, no?

[InstantOatmeal]

Actually, my friend and I are about to publish a Wix.com-based website...like, we might have it up tonight... which is why I'm looking into all of this. wink

[Xelephyna]

I have a question...

When you want to do something at the con but you have a table to tend to...what do you do other than ask someone beside you to watch it for you?

I've heard it's hard to enjoy a con because of the artist table you have to keep watch of...

[Fiammetta Rey]

Well... you shouldn't ask a random stranger to watch your table for you...

You could either make your stuff easy to pack up and take it with you, or you can have a friend with different interests come with you and watch your table (like, if one person wants to meet voice actors and the other wants to go to the concert, each could watch the table while the other is away).

[Vicemage]

Easiest solution is to bring an assistant or share a table... and to understand that yes, you are going to lose most of your time at the con to the table. (Don't be a jerk and leave the other person at your table the whole time, that's just rude. And yes, I've seen it done. "Yaaay we're gonna have a table! Oh, we're bored now, watch this for us? We'll be back to help close up." wink

The last con I did, I lost my assistants/shared people last-minute so I ended up alone at my table, and it kind of stunk. Not because I didn't really get to experience the con, but because I couldn't even leave for food for most of the time I was there. (Luckily, thanks to the head of AA knowing me and my absentee assistant, I received their badge anyway and was able to pass it off to friends so they could monitor the table while I took short sanity breaks, but normally you won't be quite so fortunate. The rest of the time, if I needed to run to concessions or the restroom or something, I made friends with my neighbors and asked for help.)

Really, to be totally honest, you shouldn't start doing a table until you've done a couple of cons. Get the "fun stuff" out of your system first. biggrin I used to be at panels, dances, concerts, photoshoots, the whole nine yards. But I started to get bored with the panels, too old for the dances, and my fandom of choice waned for photoshoots (plus, for personal reasons, I stopped cosplaying for a few years). I still enjoyed going to see friends, though, so it's then that I picked up the table. Unfortunately, I'm now finding new panels to attend, I'm cosplaying again, and my fandom is picking up again, so I'm finding myself a bit torn, but I'm dedicated to my table and try very much to minimize my time away.

[Fiammetta Rey]

There's one guest I absolutely have to meet at the con I'm going to... I hope at least one of my friends will watch the table while I'm gone. + there's the issue of waiting in line for autographs... since it's Otakon I may need o get there a few hours early... ugh...

[Xelephyna]

Wow...well thanks for the answers you guys! I was really curious....man I was also thinking of sharing a table with a friend but iono bout now...I'll just have to check at the next con's events and see if anything interests me..

[ninniku]

I guess it depends on the size of the con, but sometimes I'll just get up and leave or put up a sign "BRB"

Both of the ones I've done that at have been pretty small though, and nothing was taken. xp

[AEAcomics]

I'll have a good friend there with me, so if one of us needs to dash off, the other can watch the table. I can probably convince my sister and her friend to watch it too, if need be. And my set-up will likely be something I can pick up and pack into a box in around 5 minutes. xd

I've yet to see an event/panel at this con that really interests me, so I just plan on being at my table most of the time, unless I go do something with my friend.