A-Kon and the Value of Artists

I just got back from A-kon, and I'll work on doing a write up tonight (we're about to go to the park!)

Right now though, I'd love to address a phenomena that I saw happening around the Artist Alley. There were tons of amazing artists selling their wares. Many of them selling beautiful prints for $4-$5 each, and custom work drawn on the spot for a similar pittance. Now, everyone sets their own price, they were selling oodles of stuff, and it definitely didn't affect my business or anything but this is something I noticed. One morning while setting up super early, I overheard a few artists talking about how many people who were commissioning them were getting very aggravated because they weren't able to instantaneously produce a full piece of work for them when they paid their good $10.

The problem here is two fold. When artists undervalue themselves, people begin to undervalue the artists. When artists are undervalued, people begin to think that what we do is easy, a trivial thing.

After sitting and musing over that around sales, I decided that this was a problem that is just too wide spread for one person to do anything about it. I carried on, and business was good. I almost forgot about the whole conversation.

A few hours later, I had a gentleman come by and browse my table, then ask if I take commissions. I told him that yes, I do, but I don't complete them on site. When he asked how much it would cost to have an ink drawing of an elaborate scene done, I gave him a fair price considering the time and research that would go into what he was wanting, with a little discount because the subject matter was actually very interesting to me and it's something I'll really enjoy working on. He was taken aback, and asked about my pencil prices, and I gave him that quote. Once again he seemed astonished - and why shouldn't he be? Folks throughout the room were charging $5-10 for pencil art of original characters. I explained to him that, unlike many of the great artists in the room, I am a full time artist. This is what I do for a living, and I put a lot of time, and pride in all of my work. He looked around a moment longer, and agreed. We continued talking about his project, and in the end, I walked away with the commission with a fair price paid in advance, and a project that I think he and I are both looking forward to. I think that I earned a good deal of respect from him as well.

The lesson here is this - When you take yourself seriously, other people will as well. Don't be tempted to undersell yourself in a market that's highly saturated with other artists who do the same just to have a chance to compete, but also don't lash out against them. My sincere hope is that each one of them is getting what they actually feel their work is worth, and since I realize many of them are hobbyists, they probably just enjoy that people love their work enough to buy it up, and they're able to make a bit of side cash as well. At the same time, as long as you as an artist charge incredibly low rates for custom work, expect people who don't understand all that goes into it to think that what you do is an easy and trivial thing, whether it is or not.

Big thanks to these great Etsy sellers

With only a week till A-Kon, I've been working my bottom off getting ready. Today, among a slew of other things, I sat and organized four different really awesome raffle baskets. About two months ago I put a call out asking for donations for raffle baskets to carry to A-Kon to help spread the good word about Etsy, and the response was phenominal. The winners will be lucky people indeed!

Here is a list of all of the shops that contributed, you can expect to see some interviews from many of them to start popping up in Etsy Reviews once I get back to updating it next week.

alamodestuff
AlasMyDear
AndromedaDesigns

bagotags
beadbooty
bibliophile
bjeweledbysusan
blandysnorhal

coloradocatniptoys
cooljewelrydesign
crescentwench

DesignByNora
DesignsbyTami
DogmawGlass
dorkdesigns
dzfantasy

fashiongreentbags
FeltLikeStitchin
franticmeerkat
FreakyOldWoman

HandmaidenBC
heartworksbylori
HopeStudios

ItsyBitsyChicago

jkpdesigns
junck

littlelilly
LittleSun

Madhatterspottery
MomentsByMartha
Moodwax
MsKittyFantastico
MsKittyLeftovers
mybellebijoux

NayaDesigns

PhotosByLori
poetsandprophets
PrettyLittleShop

RachelRene
rougepicotenoir

savonara
staceywinters
struckmyfancy

trendytreasures

UniqueCharm

zephi

Where have I been?

I've been working my bottom off, that's where ;)

Buttons are made, mirrors are made, but what I've been spending most of my time on is the website! It's coming along by leaps and bounds, but I'm probably going to put it to the side until after A-Kon, just so I don't get pressed for time. Next week I'll be back to work on the coloring book. Just one page left to go!

My little sister will be graduated from Texas A&M with a business management degree this Saturday, so we're heading to College Station tomorrow evening. Mother's Day will most likely be Morrigan's first trip to the Zoo, and Monday is David's job interview! I'm so excited, I really hope he lands this job.

It's official!

I've been holding on to this news for a few days (though it threatened to make me explode with anticipation). I got verification yesterday that I will most definately be selling in the Artist Alley at A-Kon in Dallas. This is big news for me, since I'm just starting to do shows. For everyone heading to A-Kon, be sure to come by and say hello! I'll be sitting at my table for at least 12 hours a day.

I've got a lot of work to get done before then, so I better get off to it! I've got a new post for everyone tonight, so be sure to check back!