- I'm a newbie to the world of shows, and I feel like I'm
prepared as far as what to bring for supplies, but are there
instances that come up unexpectedly that I may not be ready for?
I assume you have a well thought out checklist of supplies to
bring to a show. It can be helpful to organize this by their
function this will assure you have the tools you need. But alas,
you know what they say about the best-made plans; well you just
have to make yours better. Before you leave home go on line and
Goggle hardware stores, copy centers and any other supplier you
may think you’ll need in the zip code or location of the show. You
could also contact the presenters and ask for names and addresses
of businesses you might need, they should have this readily
available; you won't be the first to ask. Also remember your
network, no doubt you will have friends at the show who may be
able to assistance with an unexpected need. You will also want to
talk to the promoter about the rules and regulations of the venue
housing the show and if it is in a union venue.
Union policies, which will vary from venue to venue, may be
more troublesome for you. These policies may prohibit you from
painting your booth on site, draping a table, installing your own
lights (seldom are you allowed to plug them in a union hall),
moving your freight from the dock to your booth. There may be
personnel of the venue to help move your freight, be very clear as
to whether you have to pay extra for their services. Some venues
charge per box for delivering shipped in freight, know these costs
before you decide to ship with a commercial carrier. There are a
number of art movers who will pick up you booth and materials at
your studio and deliver them to your booth; they deal with the
unions and all that.
- Copper is my medium, and about April of last year
my costs skyrocketed, but I was unsure of how to go about
compensating to make up the difference. In the end, I didn't raise
my prices and suffered greatly because of it. How do you go about
raising your prices if your costs suddenly jump?
Let’s face it, unless we have a trust fund we can't do what we
do without generating income to support our selves our families
and staff. The people you do business with understand this too,
why did the supplier raise the cost of copper? This is a good time
to check your terms sheet and be sure it states that prices may
change without notice do to factors beyond your control. I would
not suggest you change prices without notifying your account
anymore than I would want you to lose money making beautiful
things at a loss so a retailer can make money and the customer pay
less than the fair price for your work. So get on the phone call
your wholesale accounts and tell them that as a result of a sharp
increase in the cost of materials you have raised your prices
effect immediately. Then send them a new price list and revised
copy of their order reflecting the new prices, let them decide how
to proceed. If you sell your work at retail raise the prices to
reflect your increased costs.
- I attend a large quantity of shows each year, and
it never fails, I always have at least one person visit my booth
who is there to simply VISIT. Meanwhile, I have many buyers coming
in and out that I'm unable to talk to effectively, because the
"talker" continues on...and on...and on! What are some polite ways
of breaking the concentration and concentrating on those people
who are there to do business?
There are always chatty people who seem to enjoy being with
artists. Often they have no sense of the inappropriateness of
engaging you in long conversations. I believe they haven't made
the connect that although you are in a public place in a social
situation you are working. I think the "chatter" is hard to offend
and urge you to excuse yourself to talk to other customers.
Alternately you could pick up your duster and excuse yourself
saying, "I can't believe how dusty it gets in here" and go to
work. Or get the glass cleaner or reorganize your merchandise, you
get the picture. Soon the "chatter" will be off to another booth
pleased with themselves for having talked to an artist.
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