Wednesday, January 12, 2005
It's becoming obvious that the best arts business to be in, is one that makes money off artists. Many working artists are being squeezed by the lame economy and rising fees to show their work. Artists just starting out are overwhelmed by the cost of entry just to get work shown or trying to sell it. A photographer who does art fairs, said it's best to start with $10,000 if you want to get into the art fair business and she's right.
Most competitions and exhibits, charge a fee to enter and if you get accepted they of course get a commission of 35% to 50% on anything that sells. Most likely nothing will sell. If it's not local you have to ship the picture and pay to get it returned.
Art fair fees are totally out of control. They start at $100 for some small show and go over $1,000 for well known shows. I've done the $100 shows--it's not worth it. To really sell to make your booth fee and travel expenses and cover other costs you need to get into good shows that are much more expensive. Besides the outlandish booth fee, you have to pay a jury/application fee that is $25 to $50. For many of the art fairs you have to send in your fees with the application months before the show with no guarantee that you'll get in. If you're not accepted, you get your money back, minus the jury fee, but they hold your money for months. Some artists who have been making a living doing the art fair circuit for many years have to now supplement their income with part-time jobs.
Vanity galleries are another way people make money off artists. I just received an invite to have my own solo show in Montreal. I would only have to pay $1,980. This gallery's website is very nice and they have a full calendar of shows. Obviously it's working. Many vanity galleries around the country operate this way.
For someone like me, who works enough to cover living expenses so I have enough time to work on my photography, this situation seems insurmountable. I can't imagine spending a year working full-time at a stressful office job to save up money so I can market my work properly or have enough money to do 15 good art fairs.
This is why the website and blog are a good thing. I can make a few sales and people can see and hopefully enjoy my work on the website and blog. I only spend $125 per year for the site and url. I've kind of gotten to the point that I may just use the internet to show and sell my work. It's definitely not the best way, but what else is there?
Even though I get frustrated with selling on ebay I haven't written it off. I can sell some work and it's very cheap compared to other venues. And actually the selling prices are just below what I could get at art fairs, with a fraction of the cost and I don't have to leave home. Also, I've managed to sell a number of 11x14 matted prints for $50 - $70 each. So I know people are willing to spend money on what I have to offer. The nice thing about ebay is buyers can get a good deal, because prices don't have to be jacked up to cover high expenses.
So for now it seems the internet is what I'll do indefinitely. It fits my lifestyle perfectly and it's low cost and my work is available to millions. I probably could have come to this realization sooner, but the little voice in my head keeps telling me "this isn't the proper way to show and sell art, you must follow a traditional route."
***This feels real good to write down. It's like I've allowed myself to follow this path--yes the one I'm following. Whatever, I'm a psycho, and I put it on public display.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If you're looking for an interesting book to read, check out "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn. It's about people who run a carnival and want to create their own freaks, so the wife ingest all sorts of fun stuff during her pregnancies--she has many. The book chronicles the lives of the family after the kids are born--and yes they managed to create their own siamese twins, a flipper boy, a hunchback albino dwarf, a kid with telekinesis, and many unsuccessful offspring that float in jars of formaldehyde It's a wonderful book.
Most competitions and exhibits, charge a fee to enter and if you get accepted they of course get a commission of 35% to 50% on anything that sells. Most likely nothing will sell. If it's not local you have to ship the picture and pay to get it returned.
Art fair fees are totally out of control. They start at $100 for some small show and go over $1,000 for well known shows. I've done the $100 shows--it's not worth it. To really sell to make your booth fee and travel expenses and cover other costs you need to get into good shows that are much more expensive. Besides the outlandish booth fee, you have to pay a jury/application fee that is $25 to $50. For many of the art fairs you have to send in your fees with the application months before the show with no guarantee that you'll get in. If you're not accepted, you get your money back, minus the jury fee, but they hold your money for months. Some artists who have been making a living doing the art fair circuit for many years have to now supplement their income with part-time jobs.
Vanity galleries are another way people make money off artists. I just received an invite to have my own solo show in Montreal. I would only have to pay $1,980. This gallery's website is very nice and they have a full calendar of shows. Obviously it's working. Many vanity galleries around the country operate this way.
For someone like me, who works enough to cover living expenses so I have enough time to work on my photography, this situation seems insurmountable. I can't imagine spending a year working full-time at a stressful office job to save up money so I can market my work properly or have enough money to do 15 good art fairs.
This is why the website and blog are a good thing. I can make a few sales and people can see and hopefully enjoy my work on the website and blog. I only spend $125 per year for the site and url. I've kind of gotten to the point that I may just use the internet to show and sell my work. It's definitely not the best way, but what else is there?
Even though I get frustrated with selling on ebay I haven't written it off. I can sell some work and it's very cheap compared to other venues. And actually the selling prices are just below what I could get at art fairs, with a fraction of the cost and I don't have to leave home. Also, I've managed to sell a number of 11x14 matted prints for $50 - $70 each. So I know people are willing to spend money on what I have to offer. The nice thing about ebay is buyers can get a good deal, because prices don't have to be jacked up to cover high expenses.
So for now it seems the internet is what I'll do indefinitely. It fits my lifestyle perfectly and it's low cost and my work is available to millions. I probably could have come to this realization sooner, but the little voice in my head keeps telling me "this isn't the proper way to show and sell art, you must follow a traditional route."
***This feels real good to write down. It's like I've allowed myself to follow this path--yes the one I'm following. Whatever, I'm a psycho, and I put it on public display.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If you're looking for an interesting book to read, check out "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn. It's about people who run a carnival and want to create their own freaks, so the wife ingest all sorts of fun stuff during her pregnancies--she has many. The book chronicles the lives of the family after the kids are born--and yes they managed to create their own siamese twins, a flipper boy, a hunchback albino dwarf, a kid with telekinesis, and many unsuccessful offspring that float in jars of formaldehyde It's a wonderful book.
Comments:
Post a Comment
