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 ]

[Fiammetta Rey]

3 1/2 weeks until the con. Should I be freaking out and working on stuff for that instead of NaNoMangO stuff? Why, yes, yes I should. Am I? No.

Derp.

[Vicemage]

Sounds like the kind of stuff I do... except that I'm slacking on NaNo too. Just remember, 3.5 weeks just SEEMS like enough time, it will run out on you faster than you expect...

[Fiammetta Rey]

Yeah, I know. I'm just devoting the time until NaNoMangO to get this thing planned, then I'm going to work like crazy on AnimeNext stuff.

I'm extremely underprepared for MangO. So that's why.

[Kyousouka]

I'm underprepared for NaNoMangO AND ANext.

What table do you have, Rey?

[Fiammetta Rey]

I'm at table 25, in the back... not the best location, I guess, but there's electricity. And I could have switched with this one guy who wanted to, but his table was really close to certain infamous artists I'd rather not be near. So I declined.

Currently freaking out because my eBay listing sold for the first time, and I have no idea what to do... it seems shipping is going to be about the price the person paid for the item, which is about half of what it's worth, according to other similar listings... Ugghhhh I feel so stupid.

[Kyousouka]

I'm table 18, in the dark north-east corner, so we're not so far apart. Come by if you have time ;D

[Fiammetta Rey]

Were you the one who was saying somewhere that you weren't freaking out because your table location was so bad you wouldn't sell anything anyway?

You know what you could do to make your table stand out? Add lighting.

I'm bringing a powerstrip with two clip lamps, and 18ft of rope light. Since the room is so dim,I thought it would help. And if you're in a dark corner, it might help for you, too.

What you could do if you don't like the look of the rope light is also fairy lights/christmas tree lights. Maybe with those little lantern things on them. Wouldn't be as bright though...

[masao-the-dog]

@Fiammetta Rey: That's a good idea, though I didn't notice who originally was saying that. Unfortunately for me, AWA has just made it hugely expensive to even get electricity at your table><. That's the main con I go to.

[Fiammetta Rey]

Well, the reason lighting is important for AnimeNext is because the Artist Alley is in such a dim room. It's in the hotel ballroom, not the convention center.

[Kyousouka]

Rey: Yep, that was me, on the ANext forums.

I do not have access to lighting, sadly. I am thinking of buying some sort of paper lamps or something, just as an accent. Since I am selling mostly Senka stuff, I'd lke to try to decorate my table accordingly. Sadly, I don't know if I'll have time to prepare since I'm leaving on a road trip tomorrow and might not be back until there are only a few days left until ANext, and I have NaNoMangO stuff and art to finish...

[Fiammetta Rey]

Printer + Photoshop = I want to die.

It's not really the printer or the software that's the problem, it's my lack of knowing how to use them.

I kind of figured it out by now... after accidentally deleting really good changes to a picture.

[Vicemage]

Kyou, in the case that you see this before you leave for your con, try battery lights in your paper lanterns. It shouldn't be too tough right now to find some cute smaller lanterns, and battery operated tealights are generally always available in discounted multipacks in the bridal section of craft stores (even better if you snag a coupon for them). If your lanterns are small enough you can just drop the light in; for bigger ones, tie them to the inner wire strut so they dangle in the middle.

[Konbanwa_megami]

Vicemage

Kyou, in the case that you see this before you leave for your con, try battery lights in your paper lanterns. It shouldn't be too tough right now to find some cute smaller lanterns, and battery operated tealights are generally always available in discounted multipacks in the bridal section of craft stores (even better if you snag a coupon for them). If your lanterns are small enough you can just drop the light in; for bigger ones, tie them to the inner wire strut so they dangle in the middle.

wow that's a really cool suggestion ^ ^ I might steal that idea ninja

[MrsMica]

It's been a while since I've sold art at an anime convention, but recently my husband and I started a business as leatherworkers. Our first booth was at a gun show, and besides the obvious holsters and things like that, we also sold more artsy things like this:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mr.mulington.the.3rd/Leatherwork#5466007141359221890

Our experience at various Artists Alleys really helped with our first show. We had a vertical display that passerbys couldn't help but touch and comment on, and I noticed people fiddling with the other stuff on the table more after I made it non-symmetrical. I'd learned at AA that symmetrical, even displays make people unconsciously afraid to touch it for fear of messing it up. One other take away from AA and this show was that people loved to watch us work at the table.

If any of you are on deviantart I'd love to see you there:
http://ketlin.deviantart.com/

And our business website is
lonelymountainleather.com