Maker S.O.S.

[Jillian Moore]

For those of us who don't go the teaching route non-traditional methods of survival are always employed, but we can always hope for sales here and there to keep a glimmer going at the end of the tunnel. With the economy in the worst shape it's been for possibly two generations, I know I'm not the only one left wondering how to keep the show going.

I also know I can't be the only one reading gleaming reports from all of the major craft expos and wondering if I'm trapped in some parallel universe? SOFA, Niche, and other major events keep boasting high attendance as well as sales, but for those of us on the bottom rung of the arts/craft ladder it seems like we're terribly far from the action. Are collectors only buying from established venues/artists, or (and I hate to posit this) are these reports a bit of hot air? I understand if the purpose is to sow the seeds of confidence, but when some of us (and not just the first-fivers) are struggling to keep the lights on it's hard not to feel frustrated.

After a helpful conversation with a friend, I'm trying to approach this proactively. As makers, we need to devise some really meaningful strategies to approach collectors, cultivate new ones, and find ways to make the work of the less-established more appealing. So I'm working on a starting point for that conversation. And I'm looking for others who are feeling the same pinch, or not and can talk about their experiences either way.

It's a problem we all need to tackle--and to play devil's advocate for a moment--is it even ethical, in this economic climate, to try and make the case for the purchase of artist made jewelry/objects? I don't ask because I want to rile people up, but in a way I do. We have to resolve that problem for ourselves on a personal level if we're to succeed as advocates for ourselves and our field.

My goal is to turn this dialog into some meaningful text that advises artists as well as collectors on ways to introduce emerging/struggling artists with collectors, incentivize purchases at new/struggling galleries, help increase sales for those of us not already famous or dead, or learn some sweet barista skills to pay the bills.

So I'm asking the masses of Crafthaus--we either need to come up with strategies to turn this ship around, or I need to search for (another) day job!

[alice simpson]

 Rather than giving your card to potential or reluctant customers, it is more important to get their card or info. The possibility of their contacting you again is limited while you, if ambitious, can be sure to let them know when you have new work, an exhibition, a sale or just to say "thinking of you." That's the way to create a customer base.

Offer time payments, as well, if your work is expensive.

It amazes me how many artists on-line don't respond to requests to purchase their items.

The secret to success is "SHOWING UP."

 

 

[alice simpson]

You said it, Jillian.  Famous or Dead seems to be the only way, unless you are in that inner circle.  Exhibitions, even Call For Entry, turn out to be very expensive; entry fees; shipping back and forth, and then you're lucky if the work doesn't come back with a foot missing (clay).

Don't give up what you love.

[Jillian Moore]

Sorry--AJF is Art Jewelry Forum
http://www.artjewelryforum.org/

[Jillian Moore]

If all goes as planned, I should find some time soon to turn all of these lovely suggestions into a series of articles for AJF. As it stands, I'm in the middle of my own Plan B assisting a friend and visiting artist at the University so that I don't find myself without utilities in the middle of the nastiest part of summer. I hope everyone else is finding ways to keep the lights on in the mean time.

[Emanuela Aureli]

i am not sure what it is, but something has to be addressed in a new light..there are all those shows, deemed 'prestigious', where only the same selected few seem to have access to and sure we can name names if we want....evanston, the pma...and in my view all that pulls is of course the money, no real innovation there, quite a conservative approach to the work and such a tendency to close in.....there is this stiff 'established' arena of classical venues, yes like the pma, the smithsonian, and a handful of others, with acc lately struggling to catch up with.
then there are sites like etsy and tons of others that offer and promise all these 'potential' possibilities. i tried etsy, along with quite a few other sites, with absolutely NO return whatsoever.
now i landed on the artfulhome.com site and waiting to see if anything happens on that end.
everybody really needs to tailor whatever they do for their needs, approach to the work , etc, but i think a return to venues that are really more 'accessible', not only in a spirit of new and innovative work, but also in the approach of making it all more accessible to the people who might want to visit.
maybe a guerrilla mode approach?
and maybe there just the ones of us who fit a predetermined mold...and some others just don't belong anywhere...
to be continued...not sure where, but just wanted to add a few cents..

cheers,

emanuela

[Miriam Rowe]

I agree with Gabriel Craig- this whole "tough economy" thing is a bit of an excuse- the rich are still rich, and I think it's about finding creative ways to reach the people with money. I've done home-based jewellery parties that have gotten a lot of new people to see my work. I'm doing a lot of internet-based things too (running a blog, using facebook, etc...) but I haven't seen a whole lot of sales from that yet- it seems like there are just too many things online for me to be able to make a breakthrough, but I suppose there's a good chance I'm not doing something right.

Interesting discussion starter- thanks for posting!

[Deborrah Daher]

Me, too - carrying lots less finished work (especially gold!!!) and doing more custom designs. I haven't entered a show in over 3 years now. I have been waiting to test the waters again. While I am saving lots of money, I am also missing all my out of town customers. Feels like a Catch 22.

[kerin rose]

I have also scaled way down, offering my work on a 'made to order' basis and basically letting folks know there will be a turnaround time...I just don't want to 'own' all the metal that I used to and have it laying around.....

[Fluxplay Jewellery]

Hmmmm, interesting. This post really caught my attention, as the UK is on equally delicate ground. For about the last 11 years I used to make about a third of my income from making and selling my own work, a third from private teaching of jewellery / smithing techniques and third from teaching at the Art College I still teach in now. I liked the balance of that. I now make enough from my own work to keep making my own work. Private teaching dried up and private clubs / groups / schools / projects cut back / scaled down or closed down. My College teaching is all that supports me now. I can't afford to take part in the bigger high-end shows at the moment (stall prices have TRIPLED in the last 4 years). What am I doing about this?;
* I sell at more shows that are smaller in size, more affordable to enter and attract the kind of audience who used to buy my work at the bigger fairs but are now also tightening their purse strings. I do well at these which Im glad about because they're a lot of fun to do too.
* I'm learning different subject matter from staff-development courses where I can (eg photoshop, web-design) and from good old fashioned books (crochet for example...dont laugh, it's addictive and I have mad ideas for it), and by swapping knowledge with friends and even my students, as a way of stocking up on knowledge that I can use in different ways in the future, either to branch out a bit from what I do or develop what I already do. Learning learning learning.
* Im keeping going in my field by not going away, becoming more sociable in the craft world (in real terms and internet terms) instead of working all the time in my workshop and ending up a poor, grumpy old, lonely old soandso.
* Im entering appropriate competitions, and opportunities as I find them, to maintain my confidence in myself among other reasons.

[2Roses]

Hratch wrote: "stop doing shows that costs so much and start doing the ones that cost nothing, when Asked he said and I quote " like a Tupperware party at your wealthy patrons homes"

Hahahahaha, we LOVE this! The last time we brought this idea up in a discussion, a fellow artist excoriated us for introducing such a ridiculous career-killing concept. Imagine! No REAL artist would ever stoop to such methods.

Well, we did.

And we made a s***-load of money. And we gained several new collectors who have been buying our work for years. And we made several museum contacts through those collectors that led to shows that led to more sales and...its a vicious cycle.

But we can get away with such antics because we're not real artists.