Whatever direction you decide to go with your artistic vision and when you are all set and ready to display your work, what is next? Well, basically you go to the shows sell your stuff and make lots and lots of friends. That’s what I want to talk about with you. It is really important at your shows or displays that you network with your customer base but it is also super important to make friends with your fellow artists.
I recall the first show that I displayed at, to which I was completely unprepared, I met several fellow artists who I’m sure felt sorry for me and offered me all kinds of advice for someone just starting out. What I realized at that show was that the other artists although hungry to sell their work were just as hungry to share the information to a successful showing and display and socialize with other people doing the same thing as they are. So really for us, the idea of a show is primarily to make money but secondarily we use the time to hang out with each other and share processes and information back and forth.
At that first show, I sold one piece of artwork that paid for my table cost but in turn, I developed a plan for display with help from people at the show, I got the name and contact for my printer that I use for all my printing and I got several contacts for a lot of new shows and display opportunities. I got emails from a lot of new friends who answered questions I had along the way and gave me encouragement to keep going through the difficult time of getting prepped and ready to show my work as well as product information to find to help me with my displays.
Now as part of my plans, anytime I go to a show my goal is to network with at least 3 new artists get their cards, and contact them following the show just to debrief and make that personal connection. It is always good to follow each other on the various social media outlets as well as find out other shows they attend and how “good” they think they are. These things always help build your brand as well as your own personal network and allow you to be better known throughout the community. The more buzz you can build about yourself and your brand, obviously, the better, but also the more friends you build the more help you may have as far as shows and various display opportunities go. SO to review, build friends as well as a customer base and it will help you go even that much further.
SO what is next? I think we talk about overhead and pricing, but that is for next month. Until then, keep hustling!
