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 ]

[shiroiusagi]

That's a really nice outcome! Awesomeness! biggrin

[ninniku]

shiroiusagi

Kako

shiroiusagi

I got a question and super curious, which site to go for prints is the best? XD It seems like alot of you guys went to artscow, but my prints are 11x17. x-o I don't think I have the patience to cut off trims. XD I got so many links saved from this thread, I can't figure out which else printing is good. XD Now if I think about it I remember hearing STAPLES was good too, (but I think internet is cheaper) and I TOTALLY DO NOT LIKE the Kinkos in my area, their printing is absolutely horrible and expensive. It seems I have CatPrint bookmarked too, are they good with their quality? XD I need to start kicking things into gear and start preparing my junk for an AA that I have no clue it would be yet. XD

The quality of Staple's Prints is pretty nice, but the service you get with them is really luck of the draw. For Fanime, I went into the same staples on three separate occasions for prints. Here's a summary of what I ran in to:

1st: There was only one guy in the copy center. He cheerfully took my files, sized each one properly, then rotated and placed them so that the most possible would fit on each page. Then, because he decided he liked my work, he gave me a better weight of paper than I was actually paying for. He chatted with us while the images were printing.

2nd: Again, only one guy in the copy center. Different guy. He took my files, and printed out a test copy at entirely the wrong size. It took up the entire paper, when I only wanted 5"x7"s. When I pointed this out, he said "Oh, our programs aren't capable of sizing the images. We can only print them like this." I brought out my prints from a few days before and argued that their programs were, in fact, capable of it, at which point he started claiming that another employee had screwed with the settings, and that's why he couldn't size them. I asked when he thought that the settings would be fixed, and he said "Oh, well, when we fix the settings we still can't size the image." =_=; I left.

3rd: The guy from the second time and one of his managers were there. The manager hurriedly took my files, then shooed me away and said that they'd call when they were done. When I got back, the images were sized... approximately. There was as much as a half-inch variation on every size I had requested. Not only that, but even in cases where the image was three inches wide, they used a single, full 8.5x11 sheet for it. (Probably to maximize profits.) Finally, they actually printed a ton of files I had told them not to, which I had to pay for, about doubling the cost of my order.

Staples: Your Mileage May Vary.

Wowies, those are huge differences you got there Kako sad Such horrible horrible service after the 1st guy. :<

I've gone to Staples several times . . .

I believe it is general policy at Staples to NOT resize things. If you want multiple images on one sheet of paper, you should size them yourself and put the two or three that will fit in the same 8.5 x 11 file so there is no confusion. You should just think of Staples like a big printer, without relying on the human component to do much to your files, and then things should turn out fine. I have had the experience that if the printing is wonky on your prints due to some cause of their printer, they will reprint them for free.

[Skye River]

Vicemage: I see what you mean about bringing in/distributing food. Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll remember to grab a bite before the convention.

Before I forget, is it possible to take a break from the table for a break or to browse around the convention ? I'm pretty sure the bathroom isn't near the artist tables.

[I MeatBall I]

This Art Alley Guild sounds pretty good, do you know when if ever it would be made?

[Vicemage]

Holy s**t the spam's still visible when you go to post... >.<

DarKlaw> Congratulations! biggrin I love it when someone does well without fanart!

Skye> I generally toss something in with my AA stuff... usually small, easy-to-eat and clean items like fruit/dried fruit, Clif/Luna/Lara bars (all three brands actually taste pretty decent), bags of cereal and/or candy, and some water... I never actually eat everything I bring with me, and don't eat much at cons, so I tend to go high-calorie, and one "complete" item like the Clif bars that will get me sufficient nutrition to keep functioning through the day. (Even without being diabetic, I've been doing work either at a con or at home and forgotten to eat for SO long that I've had low-blood-sugar symptoms... it's not good, don't do it! biggrin )

Regarding breaks, generally you ought to have an assistant for that, though rules at different cons will vary. The last con I attended, for instance, you had to have an Alley badge to be behind the table, so technically I couldn't just invite a friend behind the table to help me. My assistants bailed about a week before the con, so I was alone back there, too... but the Alley organizer was very nice, and someone I've met a few times and gotten to know a bit just through multiple cons, so he gave me one of their badges so I could give that badge to the friends there with me and have them watch the table. ^_^

Additionally, you can make friends with your neighbors on both sides. Be friendly with them, and they'll generally cover your table for you (and may ask you to do the same) if you need to step away for a minute or two... I wouldn't suggest leaving them watching your table for several hours while you go to panels, but for a bathroom break, it's generally fine, and I never mind watching (and have also asked at a few solo cons).

And sometimes the Alley organizers will also have a system in place to watch your table for a minute, though again, it's pretty much for bathroom breaks. ^^ That's something where you'll need to just check the rules for that particular con/alley.

[AEAcomics]

I'm not 100% sure but I think I held my own with the tables that were doing all fanart.
The fact that I was doing on-the-spot portraits and commissions was what brought in most of my business. I just need to work on sales skills.
And get those wire boxes to hang stuff from, everyone else had those.

It was a blast and I want to cosplay next year too. whee

[Skye River]

Vicemage: That makes a lot of sense. I'll look into some of the convention rules in advance so I know what to expect.

[CuteyHoneyChan]

San-Japan's in less than 12 hours......(Starts hyperventilating....)

Just kidding, I got my wire boxes today, and yesterday by some miracle I got my books from Comipress too!!!

I will be selling my comic, about 5 prints, some buttons, stickers, and bookmarks....

Me and two other friends are coming so someone will always be watching the table....

Oh, and about food, I'm leaving a box of free candy on my table, (every other table had one last year.) I bought some yummy pastries and drinks from the Japanese store....and I might bring a lunch (Heh, NO ONES starving on MY watch.....)

I just gotta go make a quick Wal-Mart run and I should be all set.....

[Vicemage]

DarKlaw> It seems like commissions are always a good way to bring in money. I don't even sell prints period and I seem to do okay on them.

HoneyChan> Good luck! Sounds like you're prepared. And I've noticed that somehow ComiXpress always comes through on time, though it's usually right down to the wire.

[Shadow Ivy]

Seijaku_Ishida

Actually, I did some searching and found that http://www.vistaprint.com/ does stationary and notebooks and things.

Aha. Seems like they're the most solid bet since they're one of the few. Thanks for looking that up for me. surprised

[Seijaku_Ishida]

Shadow Ivy

Seijaku_Ishida

Actually, I did some searching and found that http://www.vistaprint.com/ does stationary and notebooks and things.

Aha. Seems like they're the most solid bet since they're one of the few. Thanks for looking that up for me. surprised

I'm considering on getting a few of those sticky note pads >>