top of studio desk
The summer trolley hops are the best! Such interesting people wander in and out. I always ask the question, "how often to you trolley hop?" and from the people I've spoken with, first timers make up 90%. Not sure how significant this tidbit of info is, but I figure Trolley Hop is missing something for repeaters.
There is an outdoor art fair coming up in 2 weeks at Mellwood and I think I'll interrupt my current processes in order to make some brooches and small 4x6 postcards to move. Maybe 25 of each. Sadly the winter trolley hops are not anywhere as active or interesting and summer is coming to a close so I figure I betta not be content with allowing the opportunity to pass me by.
I've figured out that my intended audience for my art is primarily curators, exhibit judges, and gallery owners, followed by the general art buying public. A couple of years ago I had an interior designer interested in my work but I just couldn't afford to "wholesale" it in order to make it worth my time and materials. The business side of art making is like the hip pain that isn't bad enough to stop me from walking but hurts just enough to say take an aspirin. Now that I'm no longer sharing the studio...I'm thinking of trying to move small pieces each month to cover half of the studio rent. In other words, the push is turning into a shove. I will not rehash my reluctance to address marketing again but do hope I can find an acceptable compromise. I'm opening up my space by the hour to other textile artist who need a temporary space to dye fabric and I'm also offering demo'ing/teaching intro to basic dyeing for ubber beginners. There are smaller studio spaces available but these 4 sinks are just 5 footsteps from my door and I do not want to increase physical challenges by getting further from them.
I'm going to take a page from Deborah Grayson's blog and list my business goals for September here:
1. Have 25 postcards and 25 fiber brooches ready for sale by Sept. 9th. scrapped the brooches but did the postcards
1a. backing, sealed, on placards, etc. related to above
1b. on cards, take 5 to retailers. decided against it due to dropping prices on postcards.
2. Flyers on renting space by hr/intro to dye in lobby and Mellwood/LAFTA email list.
3. Make up price list completed
4. Complete applications for 2 exhibits (still working it out)
4a. 2 pieces quilted and completed (1 piece used for postcards, still working on it)
4b. Ade to photographed (need to retake them)
5. Begin putting together a cd portfolio. (still working on it)
I can't commit to doing this each month but at least for September.
Good for you - I am in such a state of malaise, but you are inspiring me.
ReplyDeleteCD portfolio is a great idea! I wish that I had photo documented all of my works when I was sewing for the public. Or even when I first started sewing. People are always telling me about something that I made for them and I have no idea what they are talking about!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you just moving and grooving along having fun in your space. How much are your post cards going to be, and do you ever sell on line?
ReplyDeleteExcellent goals. My fingers are crossed for you that you will be able to find a market for enough work to keep the studio affordable, without eating too much into your productive studio time. Whew, that was a killer run-on sentence!
ReplyDeleteSeems to me you have consistently shown a strong talent for setting goals that are concrete enough to develop workable options for meeting and completing your intended aims. Yet they also contain just enough fluidity to keep from boxing yourself in to a point where you miss opportunities for ongoing growth and refinement. I really admire that about you and feel strong confidence you'll do good work getting this particular list manifested.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of listing monthly business goals. My problem with yearly or 6 mth goals is I get caught up in all sorts that I don't remember the plan I had and before long I'm so far off of it. Love your analogy comparing the business side of art making :-)
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