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 ]

[[Kako]]

I'd like to mention - if you do wind up sharing a table, you should sit down with your tablemate and plan who's going to be responsible for the table at what time as soon as you get the convention schedule. This doesn't mean that you have to plan out your entire weekend and stick to it like glue, but at the very least discuss it. At my last convention, my tablemate would come around every time it was her turn to watch the table and say "I'm really sorry, but could I keep wandering around the convention instead of watching the table?". As far as I could tell, she wanted all of the benefits of having a table with none of the responsibility or work. : The worst part is, after the convention she complained that she wasn't being given her fair spot at the table.

[Vicemage]

I've seen that a lot, Kako... sadly enough.

With the person I often share with, we frequently want to attend the same events, so that causes a bit of difficulty, but we're also often with people who don't want to go to those events, and can watch the table at that time. When I'm on my own with an assistant, I rarely leave them at the table alone for any length of time (partly because I find it rude, and partly because it's all my own work and I feel I should be there to represent it)... and for the points when I am going to leave, I warn them in advance, "I want to go to this and this, so unless it's busy at that time, I'll leave you to watch the table." (I generally pay their badge, or I wouldn't be saying something like that... ^^;; )

Likewise, I watch tables for my cohorts when they run off to look around or something... usually for a panel, I'm not able to watch both tables, but if it's a shared table I can and have managed the whole thing.

But really, if you want to be at the con, be at the con. Don't get a table and screw someone else out of their time by making them watch it for you. Not unless you're going to pay them, and most of us don't make that kind of money. smile

[Fiammetta Rey]

I can't do this...

Not only m I all the way in the back corner, but I'm next to professional artists who probably think I'm so horrible I'm an insult to art and life because I suck so much. If they can't move me, I'll have to give up the table. I don't care if I don't get a refund. I'd rather die than be humiliated like that.

[InstantOatmeal]

Starre257

I can't do this...

Not only m I all the way in the back corner, but I'm next to professional artists who probably think I'm so horrible I'm an insult to art and life because I suck so much. If they can't move me, I'll have to give up the table. I don't care if I don't get a refund. I'd rather die than be humiliated like that.

Jitters. That's all. You might as well go and get it over with. Don't be intimidated and don't go in for the money. Don't try to be better than everyone around you. Ask for constructive criticism.

Go in because it's a new experience. You're in the wrong mindset. There's a first time for everything and you'll develop an understanding of running this mini "business" and you WILL enjoy yourself, darn it.

[Vicemage]

InstantOatmeal

Starre257

I can't do this...

Not only m I all the way in the back corner, but I'm next to professional artists who probably think I'm so horrible I'm an insult to art and life because I suck so much. If they can't move me, I'll have to give up the table. I don't care if I don't get a refund. I'd rather die than be humiliated like that.

Jitters. That's all. You might as well go and get it over with. Don't be intimidated and don't go in for the money. Don't try to be better than everyone around you. Ask for constructive criticism.

Go in because it's a new experience. You're in the wrong mindset. There's a first time for everything and you'll develop an understanding of running this mini "business" and you WILL enjoy yourself, darn it.

QFT. I felt this way and was all nervous and "Oh God what am I doing?" the first time I went in, too. You will NEVER feel ready until after you've jumped in and done it, so just go for it! Have fun, be personable, make a new friend or two, and enjoy yourself!

[Nyawyn]

Just curious, how many of you are going to be at Otakon either attending or Artist Alley?

I'm going to be wandering about, as I wont have a table myself (Although I'm considering putting a few things in the art show. Trying to weight the cost/benefit of it)

(Starre: youre going)

[Kaxen]

Anime Expo! It looms!

Well, now I got everything printed out, but I keep going back and forth in the prices I will set.

"OH GOD! I SUCK! NO WAIT! I SPEND HOURS ON THIS!" so on and so forth. sweatdrop

I'll probably lose my shirt if any particularly skilled hagglers come to my table. O_o

Though I already plan on doing 3"x5" ball-point pen head sketches for free since I have itchy fingers anyhow.

4"x6" print designs (how they are in my DA gallery isn't exactly like the prints because of proportions.)
1, 2, 3
I'm the most indecisive about these... on one hand, they cost like 13 cents to print. on the other hand, I'd rather to be closer than farther to breaking even. >_> Well, I question my ability to break even, but it's a preferable outcome.

8"x10"
1, 2
I dunno. Would $5 work?

My vague idea for commissions is like $5 for chibis (my sort of chibis can get busted out in like a half hour. >_o I think I might have a mad temptation to sell kind of low since I do draw some things pretty fast.) and $10+ for more complicated work. I probably won't be doing backgrounds. I will probably only do lineart or maybe throw in a little simple shading with my greyscale copic markers since those are the only colors I have with refills.

For the comic books, I've been thinking like $4 or $5? ((I always want to jack up the price because this comic book took bloody forever, but I don't think that would sell. >_< wink )
It's 20-pages, full-color, 5"x7.75". Some of the comic is here. http://uos.smackjeeves.com

crying and my dolly's new outfit isn't going to arrive in time it seems. Damn!

[InstantOatmeal]

Kaxen: For some reason, none of your links are working for me!
D8>
I dunno if it's just from my end or what. I'm trying to see them though! XD

[Kaxen]

Oh whoops! >_<' I accidentally put quotation marks. The links should work now

[InstantOatmeal]

Kaxen: LOVE "Seducing Them Vurgins." (Just faved it on DA.) I'd be willing to bet you could make that into a sign or something. You have very strong design pieces, but your more artistic pieces seem to lack strong composition, if that makes sense. However, I'd definitely buy some of your 4x6s!

EDIT: Sorry if this has already been covered, but... matting your work. How much should I expect to pay for matting? (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14.) And does anyone know where to get decently priced ones/good deals online and whatnot?

[AEAcomics]

Hah, finally finished coloring the last print and the test copy looks good! I'll put them on DA in the morning, and get them all ordered this week.
Just down to comic pages now. And some commission samples.


Wow, I haven't matted anything since high school art classes, but I did buy a big piece of black mounting board for less than $5 about a month ago. It was 20 inches by 30 inches, I think.
I've no idea about online sites for the materials, though.

[Kaxen]

My 8x10s are 8x10s on 8x12 paper (thought they'd be on 8x10 paper...) and I can't figure what to do about the awkward looking 2 inch strip up top. At the very least, they are at risk of bending since my album/portfolio is 9x11 maximum... neutral it sticks out...

[Seijaku_Ishida]

Slice it off? Get a paper-cutter if you're worried about it coming out crooked.

[AEAcomics]

Yeah, see if you can get access to a paper-cutter. Lots of my stuff will need trimming too.

Okay!

Bookmarks, I've got 8 designs, a boy and girl for each season. They're gonna be slightly larger than 1.5x5" once laminated. I'm planning on getting 25 of each. For price I was thinking $1

Flamingo, Macaw, Cockatiel, Crane, and Peacock.
These ones I want to get 5x7" and 8x10" prints. I was thinking 10 each 5x7" and 5 each 8x10" Do you think that's too few for a con of around 1000 people?
For price I was thinking $5 for 5x7" and $10 for 8x10. Is that too much?

[InstantOatmeal]

I'd say that's a little too much just from what I've seen unless they're gonna be nicely matted or something.
I was thinking about selling my 8x10s for 5. Where are you getting them printed?