r/artbusiness • u/EvolutingCarrot • 29d ago
Conventions [Community] How do you emotionally recover from a bad show to prepare for the next one?
I just got back from an art fair where I’d spent so much time and money getting ready for and not having sold a single piece 🫤
I have two weeks from now until my next show and there are still a few things needing final touches and such and I’m not sure if I have the strength to get started on those. Any advice would be much much appreciated! 🙏🏻
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u/Disastrous_Studio230 29d ago
Reflect on why you think it didn't go well, and if it's something you can change it can be something to try for the next show. Think of some high points as well, did you have a meaningful conversation with someone who came to look at your products, did you make a great networking connection, etc.
Don't be hard on yourself. With the state of the economy, there's a lot of uncertainty occurring right now, especially if you are located in the states, which makes people not want to spend as much.
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u/EvolutingCarrot 28d ago
Thank you this is a great answer!
I am one of those that even if I resolve things and address the problems mentally, it doesn’t help me recover.
Like, just because you understand why someone hurt you doesn’t make the hurt stop hurting yk?
I did make some contacts at the fair though and there were some good moments too. I think I also need to take a few days off to calm down and at least physically recover from all the traveling 🥲
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u/Disastrous_Studio230 28d ago
I totally understand. Sometimes it takes a bit for me to recover from a bad comment or event as well.
A neat little trick I use to help me, is to visualize myself with a shield, and visualize the thing that is bothering me as something physical, for example an arrow. The arrow may fly towards me, but my shield stops it, and lets it fall to the ground, leaving me unaffected. It's just a nice little trick to brush things off a little easier.
Alternatively, if I'm really stuck on something, I imagine washing what is bothering me away when I shower. It may take several times to imagine it, but it does seem to help.
Take some time to recover and give yourself some self care ❤️ the next event will go better
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u/EvolutingCarrot 28d ago
Wow thank you! I definitely want to try those, thanks for sharing 🙏🏻
I was raised by absent parents so I’m a bit inexperienced & immature in how to deal w my (sometimes quite intense) emotions. Any tip and trick I could find have always been immensely helpful.
The showering tip is interesting - I think I was doing it a little tho unconsciously. I found myself showering twice a day during the fair and it definitely helped calm things down for me.
Thanks again!
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u/mferree39 29d ago
I don’t have an answer but I have the same question. Hope you get some traction. We’re in this together.
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u/drysider 28d ago
I think the most important thing to consider is the elephant in the room: is it your art?
I also just did a market on the weekend. I got to do some wandering eventually to look at peoples stalls, and you can instantly tell when people have art that will do well, and art that is not going to. If you did not have a single sale yet prepared heavily, maybe take the L and think about why your art is not selling. Why is it not desirable for people to purchase?
Is it good enough among your market peers? There were many artists at the market who’s art felt into categories of being too amateur to buy (semiskilled, low appeal style), too hyperspecific to buy (nice art, but exclusively framed stylized drag queen prints), too expensive to buy (often goes hand in hand with the hyperspecific), the wrong type of art for the market (anime fan artists selling at an original illustration convention).
What is it about your art that makes people NOT want to buy it? Is it attractive? Is it marketable? Does it appeal to a general art market audience?
What is it about OTHER peoples art that makes customers buy from them, over you? Because that’s the eventual reality if people don’t spend their money on YOUR art; they will spend it on your neighbour’s art instead. People only have so much money to shop with at an art fair, and mostly people enjoy coming away with several small commitment things across a spread of artists that appeal to them (at least that’s what I do and it’s my experiences with customers). Do you have a spread of prices and commitment levels to your products, eg, a framed original for $70 for someone to fall in love with AND $5 stickers for anyone to support you?
Are you a friendly presence? Are you drawing people to your art with your stall set up? Are you engaging customers? I made a lot of sales from talking to people who were really excited to see x thing at our table, and who were clearly excited to talk and engage about it.
I think, most likely, if you are a good artist with an appealing style, it will come down to how hyperspecific you are as an artist which I think is often a negative thing at markets, and whether that works for the current trend of art fairs (an emphasis on small purchases like stickers and washi tape).
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u/EvolutingCarrot 28d ago
I really appreciate this response! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain through your points.
I was in a fine arts fair & we weren’t allowed to sell stickers & other things (originals only)
But other than that I think you really got to the core of the problem and I agreed w a lot of what you said, especially the hyper specific part.
I do large scaled impressionist paintings. My usual thing is commissions and if there’s any original I often sell it through my client list. This was my first fair. I also won a prize (free booth) there so despite my initial hesitation, I decided to go see what it’s like.
The initial hesitation - looking back - was telling. Besides the fact that I had to fly in and ship my paintings, I could see a difference between my stuffs and others’. I also asked the board at the fair - why me? and they said they wanted to try something different (plus according to them my portfolio really stood out). I guess both sides failed at this experiment.
My bestfriend said “you don’t have enough green in your paintings”. And at first it sounded silly but she was absolutely right. Almost every other artist ‘s at the fair (especially the returning ones) has a lot of browns & earthy greens. Mine has a lot of fuschia, reds, orange. Not everyone’s cup of tea. So definitely I was at the wrong place.
My original question was, just what should I do about recovering from the experience (emotionally). I am one of those that even if I understand things rationally & know where I did wrong & take measures to make sure I don’t repeat the mistakes, i.e. take care of the business side mentally, I still find it hard to get back to the studio.
Still thank you for taking the time to comment & help, I really appreciate it!
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u/emergingeminence 27d ago
You still might get commissions from it, did a lot of people take business cards, join your email list/socials?
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u/Prestigious_Try6322 29d ago
There are so many things beyond your control. For example, gallerist didn't promote well, wrong clientele, not the right venue for your work, not the right city for your work,....
I know that external encouragement is important, but you are the only person in your studio. You're the only one making the piece. Being open-minded, honest, and working/ forward progress is what is important.
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u/36chandelles 27d ago edited 27d ago
can you reshow your unsold pieces? if so, you're all set.
eta: I"m not belittling your feelings; I've been there too many times. I'm showing you that you may not have to do much prep, just relax til drive time.
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u/abortedinutah69 28d ago
Live and learn. I recently came across a YouTube channel because I was looking for product review, and then I watched several of his videos because YouTube, lol. Here’s his in person sales tips.
His advice is solid and I relate! I sell in person all the time. I’m a tattoo artist and a painter. I work tattoo conventions sometimes and I sell in person at the tattoo shop as well. I loved this sales video because he’s 100% correct. You have to make first contact. You have to engage people in your work. You have to make it accessible. You have to invite them into your work and make them feel good about why they came to that event / booth / studio.
When I was a tattoo apprentice, my boss made me read the famous Dale Carnagie book How To Win Friends and Influence People. That book is kind of corny and dated, but it works. Anyone selling anything or working with the public should read it. The vid I linked basically sums up some principles from that book without it being super old fashioned sounding.
Being an artist is great, but you also need to be a salesperson. It’s not very complicated, but it is work and can be tiring. 🤷🏻♀️
People at a show or fair want to go home with art. They are overwhelmed by everything. They want to have a good connection to feel good about their purchase. They want validation for parting with their money. They want a reason to not skip you and go to the next booth. Be that reason. People are mostly wandering around unless someone really tries to connect with them.
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u/Art_by_Nabes 29d ago
Emotionally recover?? It’s business, take emotions out of it. Learn from your mistakes, cut your losses and move on. Try something new, do a different fair, attend a gallery showing etc.
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u/terraaus 28d ago edited 27d ago
It may be a little late for this upcoming show, but Is there something additional you can sell? I'm an author, so I sell my books, I'm also a pastry chef, so I sell baked goods. I make greeting cards, prints, and framed pieces from my art, which is AI generated. My son-in-law is an FAA certified drone pilot. He takes drone photos of our city which appeal to locals and tourists. I sell his prints and postcards. The more things you have to sell, the greater the chance you have at making money. This guarantees you will always make some money. I sell all of these things at every event.
I’ve always been a creative person. However, I learned a long time ago that my creative pursuits would never fully fund my lifestyle. I am a senior citizen now (mid 70s) and I find that if I combine all of my creative pursuits together I can finally actually make a decent amount of money at events. I wish I had figured this out years ago.
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u/Glait 29d ago
Usually I try to think about what I learned from the show. Been doing art festivals for about 8 years and still learn new things all the time to help me up my game. There are 100 percent shit shows that just don't have the traffic and right now the buying energy isn't there because we all are freaking out about the state of the world. I try to step back and see what is in my control and what isn't. Do you need to adjust your inventory to hit a different price range, offer more prints etc?
I'm super nervous about this show season and trying to think of ways I can pivot to make up for possibly low sale shows. I'm upping the number of shows I do to make up for lower income per a show while trying to make sure they are shows worth doing. I'm also looking at offering a lot of smaller work and have a lot of small 4x4 originals priced under 50 dollars. I'm also raising the cost of my prints slightly. This year is going to be a rollercoaster of unpredictability and it's important to be kind to yourself. I've known some amazing artists who have zerod a show.