One of the tricks to making a living with your art, is to know where to sell it and who you are selling to.
A few weeks ago, if you remember, I participated in the
Unique L.A. show. Between the time spent lugging and hauling, cost of the booth, all the supplies to decorate the booth and outfit it for in person selling, I left the first day of the show with minimal sales. I was no way near breaking even. Needless to say I was exhausted and disheartened. To be honest, I seriously thought about calling it a day, packing up my creations and spending my Sunday at home instead.
On the other side of my disappointment, I hit one of those "I give up" moments. And while hitting that kind of disappointment is never easy, the "I give up" part not only creates instant relief but it also makes room for new ideas to come through. And my idea was this: I felt at this point I had nothing to lose, I was going to re-decorate my booth.
Once I got a feeling for the kind of customers that were attending Unique, I sensed that my color scheme and overall booth feeling was not quite what I like to call L.A. hipster. And by L.A. hipster, I mean more modern with cooler, more subtle colors. The kind of colors that have grey in them. Also I had chosen to display some prints that might be a better fit for a child’s room, than an adult’s.
So I got up early for the second day, arrived at Unique as soon as it opened and did a quick and dirty re-do of my booth. I switched my table cloth from red to grey. I switched out the prints on my wall to resemble more of a monochromatic scheme. I cut the amount of product on my table almost by half. I kept the ceramics I had on display also in a limited color palette.
And I left that day selling five times what I sold on Saturday. Whether it was my relaxed, "I have nothing to lose energy, so bring it" ~ or the changes I made to my booth, it worked.
How many times have you left an event, even put your work up in a certain venue online, have it not sell, only to start doubting yourself and your work? While I’ve known all to well that the location you sell your art whether online or in person can have an affect on what sells, I never was able to see it in action quite like this. Usually I haven’t had a chance to completely change a set up in one day during the same event.
My understanding especially of these kinds of shows is that sales can vary drastically from show to show, even within the same venue, and time of year. Still, knowing who you are selling to is important, because at least you are giving it your best shot. It’s nice to know that just by tweaking your display a little that you might sell more.
I wanted to share this experience with you, {to show you my booth as promised}, but also because every artist I know has experienced this at one time or another. So if any of this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. {and don’t be sad} Turn the disappointment into an opportunity to learn. A big portion of what we do as artists and business owners is experience trial and error. You have to always be willing to try, and be open to changes if that’s what is needed, whether changes in your attitude or booth, or both :) Also sales of your art are not always a reflection of your creations, but simply a reflection of where and who you are choosing to market and sell your creations. Yes, you want to create great, strong work that you LOVE (most important). But if it is not selling in the way that you expect, be willing to take a good look at the "display". Selling creativity in any form is as much about the art of "display" as it is about the work. You are not just selling what you create, but you are selling a feeling to the recipient. I’m a big supporter of selling what is authentic to you, but you see inauthentic examples of this all the time. Either way it’s called branding, and it is important to every business owner.
Just some thoughts to leave with you as we head into the weekend. I think it helps to share these experiences, so clearly, we can learn from each other, but also so that we don’t feel alone. Honestly if I didn’t have Sean and my group of creative friends to turn to, you’d probably hear a lot more from me on this blog :)
If you’ve had similar experiences and tricks you’ve learned, please share them in the comments below. Until next time, here’s me wishing you a very happy weekend!
**Update on the e-course: it’s officially sold out. To my students, first THANK YOU, second I’ll be in touch again when I return from Squam in preparation for the first day of class, June 18.** As it turns out, I’ve needed a few more days to un-plug.
It suddenly dawned on me that just in the last five weeks, everything I’ve participated in, events, shows, teaching, launching e-courses has all been brand new territory. When you put yourself and your work out in such a new way, weeks in a row, it is not only exciting, but somewhat exhausting ~ unless you pause to take it all in and re-charge.
Re-charging is where I’ve been, and it’s been nice. Let’s just say that along with surfing, bbq’s, visits with friends, new and old, and a couple of long naps ~ the holiday weekend, plus an extra day I decided to take = good timing. And I will continue to use this week to re-charge, because I have yet another new venture of teaching at Squam next week, and I want to be refreshed and ready for my students.
But! I also promised to return with an update on the
e-course. I’ve reviewed the amount of students I have and have decided that as of this Wednesday morning I have room for 8 more people. So if you’ve been on the fence...come on! It’s going to be fun in the "fish bowl". :)
I hope those of you in the states had a great, long holiday weekend. Maybe you also took some time to re-charge?
Helloooo and Happy Creative Thursday!!
I didn’t mean to disappear from the blog for an entire week. Truth be told I’ve been a little overwhelmed (in the best possible way) with the enthusiastic response to my
e-course. I’ve been speechless, except for
twitter posts :) and a
guest blog post over at Christine’s. There are still some spaces left, and I’m presently reviewing the class to decide how many that will be. I will be back with an official update soon. Until then all I can say is thank you. And to my new students: I’ve read through all your emails, and am so inspired. It’s truly an honor to be able to share six weeks with you this summer. And to those of you joining me at
Squam, I can’t wait to meet you in just two weeks.
Aside from dealing with earthquakes, (always fun), and taking a personal day, I’ve also been trying to put my creative hat back on, experimenting with new techniques, mediums and surfaces...I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it always becomes clear how vital the "daily" practice of any type of creating is. It tends to keep the creative juices flowing. Having taken a two week hiatus, it’s been a bit of an effort to get back into the swing of things, even though my head is spilling over with new ideas. Sometimes it’s good to take a break to let new inspiration come to the surface, and sometimes the practice of constant creating is exactly what feeds the inspiration.
Since today is Creative Thursday, and some projects are needing my attention, creating is officially on the agenda. I’ll see you back here soon.
Remember this statement? and this post? Well, it’s time.
3 years ago this month of May, I started a little podcast called Creative Thursday. I can still remember the day I decided to do it. I was so excited, because I knew ~ I knew this was the chance for me to fulfill a mission that began almost the same instant Creative Thursday began, the chance to encourage others to follow their creative dreams.
Some people are content privately doing the work they were meant to do and some people feel compelled to take that work to be a voice in the world. I’ve always felt compelled. And believe me when I say that if you get within earshot of me, there’s a really good chance that I will start asking you about your dream and then I will do everything in my power during our time together, even if it’s minutes, to convince you to follow it.
I can’t help it really. It’s what I do. It’s what I’ve always done. Just ask the doorman at the Improv Comedy Club here in Hollywood. I’ve often wondered if we might actually have a chance at achieving world peace, if simply more people on this planet were following their true path in life.
So, I started a podcast with the hopes of making a difference, growing a following and eventually growing that into an income. As it turns out, during the process of sharing my creative journey, my creative journey became a thriving business. The thriving art business took over the time alloted for the podcast, and in all my best efforts I was not able to make it back to that intent and mission of Creative Thursday.
I’ve been skirting it long enough, dipping my toe into the world of sharing my voice when time allowed.
But now it’s time. Creative Thursday, the art business is ready to stand on it’s own a bit more, while I revisit my other passion of supporting others to follow their dreams. Sometimes, I honestly feel that one of the reasons I was so passionate about starting and succeeding at a business I love, was just so I could confidently say to other’s, yes it’s true, YOU CAN DO IT.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s go!
This was my very long introduction to announce my e-course. I know we are now heading full force into a time of e-courses. I am not the first and I won’t be the last. And I think it’s wonderful and amazing that technology is enabling so may of us to share what we have learned with each other, all over the world. The more we can learn from each other, the more likely it is that we will begin living the lives that we truly want. I’ve been waiting until I finally felt that I had the experience, to confidently share what I’ve learned with you.
You may know Creative Thursday from the time I started my podcasts and my blog in 2006, but Creative Thursday began the moment I stepped out of college and worked my first creative job. The drive to become self-employed doing work that I love, compelled me on a journey that brought me here. And while there were days when I wished it would’ve happened sooner, I wouldn’t trade a minute of it, because I now know that every bit of experience I have had on this path is going to serve the teaching that I am beginning to do both in person and online.
A few details about class.
In the Fish Bowl:: Life as an Artist Online
What’s the e-course going to be about? Marketing, Making a Living and Maneuvering Online, while staying true to who you are. I will be touching on every one of these subjects. For this first course I also will be personalizing it for the group attending.
Why did you call it "In the Fish Bowl"? I was sitting outside with Sean one evening when I said to him, "being an artist online is like being in a fish bowl" and the more I thought about, it the more the metaphor made perfect sense. Being online you have to be willing to be transparent, and much like a fish in a fish bowl, you must find a contentment within that transparent world. Finding your place and comfort within this rapidly changing online world, will enable you to take advantage of all the amazing possibilities that exist within it. And it goes without saying that developing smaller communities, we’ll call them fish bowls, of authentic friendship and support within the whole is vital.
Why should I teach this course? I’m not a big fan of long lists of accomplishments. I would rather let my podcasts, blog and business speak for itself, and let you decide. I will say that I grew a business that sold one greeting card during a holiday season into one that now sells thousands of pieces of art all over the world in 2 1/2 years. And I did it online.
This is a limited enrollment e-course lasting for six weeks, and beginning Creative Thursday, June 18. You can find all the details here as well as register. Please don’t hesitate to email me or leave any questions in the comments below.
So, I’ll see you in the Fish Bowl!!!
This is a girl opening night of her show, relieved that all of the work is done. This is also a girl and her man trying not to pose for a photo, and being silly instead. {isn’t the wall color awesome?}
Fun is on the agenda for today and then tomorrow I’m back with a Creative Thursday announcement that I can keep under wraps no more.
thanks so much for all the show well wishes & to everyone who was able to make it in person! & see you back here tomorrow then
I have "The Night Before Christmas" poem running through my head this morning, except for the "stockings being hung by the chimney with care", my paintings have been hung "in the gallery with care".
Yesterday afternoon in one final blast of work, I painted a wall installation, and hung all of the paintings. That’s it, months of work, completed. Just a few final details to finish up and then it’s time for fun! mani/pedi, shopping for a dress to wear, going to a dinner party. It’s going to be an especially good day.
You can now
preview {almost} all {I had a last minute creative burst and some of the paintings are still being added to the site} of the paintings
online. If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact the
gallery. And if you live here in L.A. and can make it to the opening, come by and say hello!
3137 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
I achieved a small milestone this week, and I’m now going to take a moment {to notice and appreciate it.}
have an especially good weekend!
a detail of my wall installation...I’m thinking, painting a wall mural{s} might be fun...
Love when I have days when I feel like this.
Once again a quick hello, as this week feels busier than last, but it’s all good! I’ve decided the
Unique L.A. show was great! There were moments there when I wasn’t sure, but in the end it was very fun. I plan to share photos along with some thoughts on what I learned from this show, including some experiments I did with my booth, so stay tuned. If you can’t wait until the post, I also
tweeted quite a bit about the show this morning, well more than 9 tweets in a row, is a lot for me. {I almost forgot that twitter wasn’t my blog there for a minute}
So, I’ll see you when I see you, as I prepare for my gallery
show this Saturday. In the meantime, this is a new print that’s over at the
shop, and I’m sure you’ll be able find me on
twitter. ;) and you can find a new interview with me about blogging, over on
artists who blog. {thank you again
Stephanie!}
hope all is happy & well in your worlds!
helloooo! It’s late. I’m a little delirious, but could not let the day go by without mentioning that this weekend I’ll be showing at Unique L.A.. I got a sneak peek in between setting up today. Some great indie artists & designers to see {275 to be exact} If you’re in the area, come by and say hello!
Also, peep and sheep, newness & cuteness in the
shop!
have a great weekend!
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