The Thriving Christian Artist
The Thriving Christian Artist
Why Every Art Show is Not for You
Ever wondered why some artists seem to effortlessly capture the spotlight at art shows, while others struggle to make an impression? I'm peeling back the curtain on the strategic selection of art shows, revealing how crucial it is to align these opportunities with your unique artistry and business goals.
In our latest episode, we delve into the reasons why not every art show will be the right fit for you, and how understanding your target audience and the style of art presented can make or break your success. Join me as we discuss the importance of an event's reputation, logistical considerations, and the art of saying 'no' to opportunities that don't serve your artistic journey.
Strap in for an exciting exploration of art show strategies and how they can pave the way for a transformative year in your art career. Sharing anecdotes from my own experiences and insights from the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, I'll show you how to conduct a cost-benefit analysis that ensures you're investing in the right venues. With access to our live coaching and the comprehensive Artist Toolkit, you'll be equipped with everything you need to navigate the art show landscape like a pro. Let's embark on this artistic adventure together, and I'll guide you towards making connections with your ideal clients and achieving the art show success you've been dreaming of.
Don't forget, you can get your copy of The Artist Toolbox for Art Show Success when you become a part of the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program at http://www.matttommeymentoring.com/artmentor and get started for just $14.
Welcome to the Thriving Christian Artist the podcast, where we hope you connect with God to bus through the roadblocks that have held you back for years, create the work you love and really live the life you know. God created you to live as an artist in His kingdom. I'm Matt Tomah, your host. Let's get started. Well, hey, my friend, it's Matt, so glad that you're with me back on the another edition of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast. I want to talk about art shows again. We talked about this last week, but I want to give you really five reasons why not every art show is a perfect fit for every artist, and you may think well, matt, I thought every art show was an art show that I should be in. No, it's not. And listen, while I'm all about you getting out there and sharing your work with as many people as possible and that sort of thing, you got to realize that there are absolutely several different factors that make an art show worth it or not worth it when you're considering selling your work there, and so I want to go over those today with you so that you understand how to make a great decision in regards to choosing where to invest your money and time and resources and energy into trying to sell your work. Now, the first thing is what I would call a mismatched audience. A lot of people don't even understand this from the get go, and this is one of the things that we teach a lot on inside of creative thrive, as well as something I'm always answering questions for artists on every week is Matt, how do I find my ideal client? How do I know who it is? How do I know where they are? All of that and it is listen.
Speaker 1:It's critical that you understand that if you're going to an art show to sell your work, you need to know that it's a really good likelihood. You never know, you know 100%, but you need to make sure it's a really good likelihood that your ideal client is going to be there. This show and you know it's reputation and all that is attracting a crowd that's actually interested in buying the kind of work that you have, not just, you know, coming to listen to music and drink slurpees and push the stroller and have a day out. That's not the kind of art show more than likely that you're going to be selling high end, fine art at, and so that's why I always encourage, if at all possible, when you're considering shows, give yourself a little grace and go walk a show. Walk it this year before you apply next year and see, is this the kind of show where people are buying? Do I see people carrying bags and art or people pulling up with their car and putting you know pieces in? Or is this just something where everybody's kind of hanging out and going?
Speaker 1:You are so talented that is a mismatched audience. And so over the years, you know, you start learning. As you get into the art community, you start building friendships with other artists, you start learning which shows are the ones that really sell and which ones are not. And I just think it's super important for you know who your ideal client is and realize that if you're applying to a show, that's the number one consideration Is my ideal client going to be there or are they not? And no matter how great the show looks, if your ideal client's not there, don't go. Number two, I would say level and style of art.
Speaker 1:You know art shows and you've probably seen this can vary really widely in terms of, you know, having emerging artists and beginner artists versus sort of mid career and more established artists. There can be shows that are really focused on contemporary, very modern work, other kind of more traditional, like in the mountains where I was for so many years in Asheville, there were a lot of people that focused on artisan work you know fine craft, so wood and metal and sculpture and jewelry and fiber and basketry and ceramics and things like that. There were some other shows that did 2D work but it was not quite as popular as the 3D work. So, again, you just kind of got to know is this show going to be a good fit for what I do? And, again, not every show is a great fit for every artist. And so, again, knowing the types of artists that are there, being able to walk that show or at least, at a very minimum, do research online and even maybe even talk to other artists that have been to the show and determine are the kind of people that are coming to this show and the other artists that are selling at this show, am I going to be sticking out like a sore thumb in a bad way, or am I going to be a part of this sort of aesthetic that's been created by this art that the people that are going to be attracted are going to be just as attractive to me, as they would to some of the other people that are going to be there.
Speaker 1:All right, it's always good to stand out. I mean, obviously you want to be unique in what you do, but if you're so unique that people can't even have a concept for what you do and it's totally out of context, then that's not helpful. All right, number three and this is again sort of a soft thing that you've got to sort of feel out, that can feel a little squishy for you, but the event, reputation and perception is really, really important because the reputation of an art show among artists and collectors can really significantly impact your decisions, whether you know participate or not. Again, is this a show that's selling? Is it got high end art or is this going to be, you know, just something that people are coming to for fun? I remember there years ago in Asheville there's so many little craft fairs and little, you know, country, town fairs that everybody does when you're starting out. But as I was growing as an artist, I realized over the years that was fun five years ago. But this is not the show for me now, because my price has gone up, my reputation has gone up, my the type of clientele that I'm looking for is no longer there, and so if the perception of a show is kind of a hometown farmers' market he sort of let's go get a beer and hang out and listen to a band and have a good time that's more than likely not gonna be a great show for you to sell higher end work. Now, if you're selling jewelry under $25, or you're selling pieces under $100, and you've got more of a craft sort of you know artwork, that's not gonna be in the fine art market per se. That may be great for you. So there's no judgment whether that's right or wrong. It's just is that perception and is that reputation of that event going to work for who you're selling to? All right, and you're the only one that can make that decision.
Speaker 1:Number four I think is really important is the whole cost benefit analysis, and I talked about this a little bit last week. You know when choosing to look at what shows you're going to invest in but obviously you've got to make a decision about a show, especially as you get into better and better juried shows is the cost that I've got to invest? You know, not only the booth fee but travel and hotel and food and just you know all the stuff, logistical stuff Is that going to be worth it for me? Is it likely that I'm going to be able to make much more back than just what I invested? You know, if you're having to invest a thousand bucks in a show, you want to be able to make obviously three or four or $5,000 at that show, not just 1200, and come out with 200 bucks just gas money to get home and so again there's never any. You know way to totally figure that out. You know exactly, other than just experience and learning to choose shows and learning to kind of gauge the audience, engage the area that you're in, and that sort of thing. But you want to be thinking about that because you don't want to go bust $5,000 on a show when you're only selling $25 art pieces and you've never done a big show like that and that's just going to make you feel like a real you know like, like you've made a bad decision as opposed to trying to fit that cost benefit analysis in shows that are going to be a great fit for you, all right.
Speaker 1:And then, lastly, it's kind of the, in the same order of things, but just the logistical and strategical fit you know like is the location and the timing of the show going to work for me? Is this a good time of year that I can take off and travel? Do I have enough time to get there? Do I want to drive that far? I remember I got invited to a great show up in the Adirondack mountains, up in I believe that's in New York. All you people are up from up there laughing at me like we don't know in the South, we don't know anything above Virginia. So that's just kidding. No, but I just knew it was a long way. It was going to be like you know 20 something hours or whatever to drive up there from Asheville. And I was like you know what. This would be a great show, but do I want to drive these baskets up there 20 something hours for a one day show and then drive all the way back? I don't think so. Not a great logistical fit for me. Do I want to be shipping commissions from Asheville to New York? Not really for my work.
Speaker 1:So, as good as an opportunity as it was, it wasn't a great fit for me and I wasn't afraid to say no, because when you say no to something that's not a good fit. You're opening the door to say yes to something that is a good fit, and so listen, as you're considering your shows again, make sure you're paying attention to is this a mismatched audience or an audience that's in alignment? Is the level and style of art going to be a great fit for me? Is the event, reputation and perception one that's going to build me up and make me look great as an artist, or the opposite? And is the cost benefit and the logistical fit of this show? Is this going to be something that really is going to work for me, or is as great an opportunities it may be, is it not the greatest fit for me at this point in my career? Being willing to ask those kind of real, strategic questions is going to make you more and more successful and confident in your art and in the art career that you're building.
Speaker 1:Now listen, within that there's a ton of questions. There's a ton of what ifs. I'm sure you've probably got a list of questions right now that you're saying well, what about this? Well, what about this? Well, I just got an opportunity for that. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to sit down with somebody that's been selling art for 30 years, that's that sold hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own art. Wouldn't it be nice to send in and ask them questions about what's going on right now in the art market and and actually be able to give you strategic advice about what you could be doing to build your business?
Speaker 1:Well, guess what we can do? That? You can do it inside of the Creative Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. Listen, we've made it super easy for you to become a part of our community. Just $14 gets you in the door. Your first month is I think that's like 85% off. It's ridiculous. You get access to the whole program, all the live coaching and all the bonuses, all the community. You get everything because we don't hold anything back. We want to help you in every way possible to help you make this year your breakthrough year. And remember, when you become a part of Creative Thrive, you also get our Artist Toolkit for art shows success, which is a monster PDF that is going through so many of the things that that artists are struggling with about you know how to make art shows really successful, like what credit card processes do you use and how do you pack your art, whether it's 2D or 3D art?
Speaker 1:How do you actually start succeeding at art shows and doing the things that are actually working today, not just 20 years ago? How do you maximize art sales and merchandise your booth effectively in a way that people are more likely to buy? How do you promote it on social media and to your email list and on your website before you go to a show to make sure that people actually show up and buy from you? How do you prepare for it? I mean, oh my gosh, I remember when I was starting out. There's so much that you got that you got to think about to prepare to have a great show.
Speaker 1:We've listed all that out for you as well. What about things like what do I say to clients? And closing conversations with interesting you know interested prospects? How do I start a conversation with them? How do I even know if somebody in my booth is interested in a piece? Listen, all of that and more is covered in our Artist Toolbox for art show success, and that's one of the many bonuses that you get when you become a part of the Creative Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. You can click the link that's right here in the show notes and you can become a member today and we can start having conversations about helping this year be your breakthrough year in your art business.
Speaker 1:Listen, I love you, my friend. I want all the best for you and we'd love to link arms with you and help you be everything that God's called you to be in your art business, so that it can go from just being a passion to actually a pathway for God to bring abundant financial provision into your life and also, through your life, to affect others. I love you, friend. Thanks for joining me on the podcast. Remember, share it with a friend and join me again right here on the Thrive and Christian Artist podcast. Bye, hey. Thanks so much for spending a few minutes with me today on the podcast. Listen, I hope it's been a huge encouragement to you on your journey as an artist. Hey, also, before you leave, make sure to hit the subscribe button so you don't miss any of the other episodes of the Thrive and Christian Artist podcast, and also be sure to connect with me on Facebook, instagram or at my website, which is natthomynmentoringcom. Until next time, remember, you were created to thrive. Bye-bye.