Every year I learn a bit more. I note what other artists are doing that seems to work, or something I like about their setup. I also found helpful information through the posts of other artists, specifically through One Fantastic Week (run by Pete Mohrbacher and Sam Flegal. Great resource. If you don’t already know about it, check it out). Then at future shows I try and change things up a little to improve on what worked or try something different in an effort to change what didn’t quite work. At Gen Con this year, I changed up several things.
I grouped my art.
I’ve tried this other years, but I think it worked better this year (possibly because I had more art from which to create groups). The art on the panels were grouped by originals and prints. I also tried to group like with like (similar color, theme, or feel) so I also had a sub-group of creatures or creature related art.
I cut the B Squad.
I have a series of paintings I call Foundlings. Many artists have similar creations where they create something from the leftover paint on their palettes by starting with abstract blobs or other shapes. This year I only displayed the best of these little paintings.
I displayed up and out instead of flat.
I liked what I was seeing other artists do which is to have more art facing out either by putting them on table top easels, or having a tiered display rack. In speaking with some friends last year, one of the ideas behind doing this is that if I have a few print bins and a flip book only one person can look through a bin or flip book at a time. If I have more of the art on display, more people can see it.
This year I created a second tier on the table. I was then able to display prints facing visitors on little easels on the table and on the second tier. That gave me room to display 8 prints on the table (more behind me on the panels).
I engaged more with visitors.
Being mostly an introvert, I’ve developed skills to act more extroverted at shows. In the past I got hung up on what to say to people at shows so I often defaulted to “Hi, how’s it going” or “Having a good con?” Nether of these directs a visitor’s attention to my art. In talking with some friends last year I decided I needed to try having a pitch, some way to engage with people more.
Over the year at different shows I tried out different ways to talk with people about my art. At Gen Con this year I started with an audible and friendly, “Hi!” like I usually do, but then with something like “Most of the art on display is from personal projects. In the bins you’ll find some of my commercial work including card art I made for Fantasy Flight Games’ Arkham Horror, Game of Thrones Card Game, L5R.” Then I either let them look for a bit.
I also had a special tool. After the quick pitch or after they looked through the art I immediately followed with “This year I’m doing something different. Would you like to weigh in on what I paint next? I’m curious to know which sketch people at this event favor.” I had a printout displaying the 3 sketch options, and a tablet set up with a simple offline, secure survey. I didn’t require an email, just a first name so I knew it was a unique vote. If people did give me their email, they could also choose to opt in to receive my semi-quarterly-ish art updates.
Doing these things helped me feel more comfortable talking with people because I had a plan. It didn’t have to be an elaborate plan. I didn’t do it every time because some people just looked like they wanted to be left alone, or I was running out of extrovert energy and needed to refuel.
Another contributing factor could be that this was my 5th year in the Gen Con Art Show helped. There were some repeat customers.
Placement?
This year I was placed on the end of a row next to part of the hall walkway. I really don’t know if it makes a difference where I’m placed because in previous years when I was at a similar spot I did very poorly with sales. It might have contributed a little but I think a larger factor was that I engaged more with people.
Overall, I think these changes improved my Gen Con experience. I came away with a few hundred dollars profit this year where in previous years sales didn’t covered the cost of doing the show. Mind you there are other benefits to doing the show, and if I take a broader view it’s a chance to sow seeds of possibility.
Next year? Maybe a larger space or more of a designed presence to my space. Maybe replace the table-top wire grids, and either incorporate the gray bins more or replace them entirely.
We shall see what next year brings.
