Continuing in my How To Be A Con Artist series... This series of blog entries is advice and insight that will hopefully help you as you work and sell at conventions. If you want to see previous entries, you can see them here:
How To Be A Con Artist Part I
How To Be A Con Artist Part II
How To Be A Con Artist Part III
How To Be A Con Artist Part IV
How To Be A Con Artist Part V
How To Be A Con Artist Part VI
How To Be A Con Artist Part VII
Today, while there are a lot of panels and blogs about how to be a be a convention artist, like what you need and what you should do, how-to lists and such. I would like to take a moment to share with you want NOT to do. Specifically what not to do in the Artist Alley.
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| Where's the bathroom? |
Etiquette with customers is important, but so is etiquette with your fellow artists - These are people you will be seeing for the whole event, whether its for a day or a whole weekend. And chances are, you will see them at another convention or event as they travel the circuit. Don't think you won't see them ever again - your impression upon them will remain as they pack up and leave.
Many times, the space behind the table is, well to put it mildly, a bit limited. But understand everyone else has about the same amount of space, so number 1 on the list is:
#1) Don't expect or take more room than you have been given.
Artist Alley set ups are designed to give an even amount of space to everyone. Due to how things can be laid out, some might have a little more or a little less than others. Just because you have more stuff than your neighbors have, doesn't entitle you to take up more space or have more space. I have heard people complain that they have a lot of items to sell and so need more room compared to the person who may only have a single board of pins. So what? Did they pay for their table and space? Did they pay the same as you? Then they are entitled to the same amount of space as you are. If you want more room, then buy another table.
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| Don't be this guy. Just... don't. |
And don't 'inch' your way over into their area. Its passive aggressive and rude. Don't take up more of another artist's table, even if it doesn't look like they are using it.
If a person doesn't show up, then first speak to the convention staff about using the table for yourself. They may just agree, or they may say no, having a time limit before giving up a table. BUT, they may also make you pay to use the table. Accept this as their business practice. Don't just claim an empty table for yourself - first off, it is rude and second of all, the convention will take note that in their eyes, you are stealing the space and possibly a trouble-maker. Go through the right channels.
This also goes for the area behind and around the table as well. Not only should you keep supplies and boxes in your area, but your displays and such as well. Don't put things in front of your table or to the side of your table unless you are sure they won't be in someone's way AND the convention staff has given you an 'OK' on it. While you may think its all right and out of the way, others might not.
In some Artist Alleys, its already a bit of a squeeze and having to step over other people's belongings makes it worse. And all it does is make you look rude and inconsiderate. Make sure your signs, banners, boxes, supplies and displays are within a decent distance from your table and not in another artist's area. If you need some space, ask, but expect that they may say no and respect that.
And there is no such thing as seniority in the Artist Alley. Just because you've been doing Artist Alleys since 1952, doesn't mean you get preferential treatment or are more deserving than someone who is just starting out. You may have a handle on things and sure, you may know a lot of con staff, but don't walk in expecting special treatment or expect a certain amount of respect from others. I've been doing cons for over 10 years - I go in to each con expecting the same as everyone else. I know people and yes, I've had favors done for me by friends, but NOT at my request. Unless you are a professional artist who has been invited or is making a living at this, you are the same as the rest of us Artist Alley artists and there is no reason to think otherwise.
In regards to taking up space...
#2) Don't let costuming get out of hand.
There are many artist who also engage in cosplay and if you do, that's great! It draws a crowd and makes people interested. And since you are behind a table, you don't have to worry about walking around in uncomfortable shoes or being in the heat (or cold) of the day. What you should worry about is how the massive extended wings on your back keep hitting the artist next to you when you turn and knocking over the display behind you every time you have to go for a wee. Large skirts look great in a Steampunk costume, but less so when you keep bumping into your neighbor's table.
This isn't anti-cosplay. Its be-aware cosplay. Everyone can be understanding, but as a artist/seller, a person's focus is meant to be on making sales and customers, not getting bumped into or hit - yet again - by the person next to you or behind you, or resetting your displays after they get knocked over repeatedly.
So when planning your cosplay when you are an artist set to be behind your table, keep others around you in mind. Of course, even without a costume, be aware of passing by others and moving around - try not to hit your neighbor's tables, displays or them... And if you find you are doing so over and over, see if its because of you, or because they are taking up space unnecessarily... and speak to them about making some concessions or compromise on both sides about it.
#3) Don't leave a mess!
This is pretty simple. Clean up after yourself. I've been in Artist Alley's where you would think there had been a frat party with the amount of garbage left on the floor behind the table. There isn't a reason for it.
Most Artist Alleys have garbage cans somewhere - whether its inside or outside. Find them! Or, as I recommended in Part VI of my series, have a bag with you for garbage that you then take at the end of the day to discard later. While some might say, "Hotel and/or convention staff will clean up or pick up my trash" that doesn't make it better for the people around you who have to see it and/or walk over/around it. That big old pizza box you have behind your chair? I have to jump over it it get to the bathroom - thanks. Or your drink bottles? Yeah, its fun to constantly be kicking those across the floor.
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| "So... the convention staff will clean this up... right?" |
Another scenario I have seen as an example of why not throwing your trash away is wrong is this: The spilled soda or drink cup on the floor. Ruined product. Ruined supplies. Ruined personal belongings. I'm sorry isn't going to replace any of the items - are you going to pay for them? And even if nothing had gotten damaged, the floor is sticky and gross for the rest of the convention. And as a note for outside events? A bunch of garbage is going to attract flies, ants and bees - not exactly the type of thing you want buzzing around your table or crawling into your stuff while you are trying to make sales and neither does your fellow artisans.
Throw out your garbage and keep the area neat as much as possible for yourself and your neighbors.
Trash may repel, but music is a good way to draw crowds to your table and the bonus is that it will help move your day along as it entertains. Lights and flashing signs will pull a crowd as well, but there is a limit to how well it works, which leads to...
#4) Don't play music too loudly and keep flashing lights to a decent level or minimum.
Most people in the Artist Alley, don't mind music playing next to them. Especially if it isn't repetitious or annoying. Its entertaining and may break up the monotony of a slow day. Even lights aren't a big deal and can be a pretty eye-catching thing.
Loud music? That's another issue. Loud, intrusive, base pounding, thumping music is more than a little irritating. Not only can it be annoying, but for some people sensitive to sound, it can grate on them and become extremely uncomfortable. Artist Alleys can be pretty loud already, with the reverberation or poor sound, plus hundreds of conversations, so hearing your voice while talking to a customer can be a challenge - Having loud music to compete with makes it worse. Add to that, lack of sleep, dehydration and the stress of a show, and you can create a major headache.
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| "I'd sell you the print.... but... the light.. it beckons..." |
I would also add any videos you are playing and have on repeat - Not only is the repetition aggravating, but the video player flashing and going over the same thing repeatedly will grate. Turn it off every once in a while or have a second video or something to play. YOU don't see it, but the people across from you will be watching it over and over and over again. If they decide to kill you, that video will be prime evidence in their defense.
Artist Alley is a room of people all trying to gain the buyer's attention, but many are in a limited space and very close quarters. Blasting music and throbbing lights become worse and more intrusive to the people around you. So, try to be considerate. If you are worried, ask your neighbors if the music is too loud or annoying. Give them the option to ask you to turn it down if there is a problem.
Now, speaking of things that make noise...
#5) Don't make constant noise with your items at your table.
Some sellers have squeaky toys or horns as part of their wares. These are great items and are a lot of fun, but the artist then feels its necessary to constantly be using them to draw buyers to their table. After all, it is a major selling point of the product. The problem is, hearing your squeaky toy repeatedly squeaking all day can and will drive your neighbors nuts. Its only cute at first. And as I stated above, it may cause physical discomfort in others, especially some specific sounds.
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| Help Artists Keep Calm |
Also try be careful about the customers that just come up to 'just make noise' with your product. Man-handling should be kept to a minimum anyway, but this falls back into annoying the people around you. Obviously, its difficult to control what others do, but its not that hard to try to be considerate to those around you... I should mention, this sort of thing also goes for items that smell at your table, like candles or incense. Make sure to ask others if they have a sensitivity to scents before lighting anything up - though you shouldn't be doing that anyway, since most conventions wouldn't allow it.
Continuing on the theme of making noise...
#6) Don't be a carnival barker.
At a convention years ago, I was in the Artist Alley and the girl next to me was yelling and calling out to everyone walking by:
"Help a starving artist!"
"Buy my stuff!"
"Give me money for art!"
"Cheap stuff!"
A small percentage of people stopped by, a very small percentage, but the majority not only didn't stop by, they actively avoided her table, giving it a wide berth. And in that widening of space between them and her table, they ended up avoiding MY table as well. Not only did she lose sales. So did I.
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| Also... Don't be this guy. Just... don't. |
Its too aggressive and makes you seem desperate. While not everyone is confident in their work, you don't want to shout that out to the world. If you don't have confidence in your work, why should anyone else?
On top of that... It is annoying to the people around you and off putting. I sat next to that girl, frustrated and trying my hardest to smile and keep focused on my customers. Her shouting interrupted conversations and made it difficult to do business. What made it worse was that she would shout at customers at my table and they would leave. I eventually gave her a dirty look when she'd done it for like the 5th or 6th time and she got the message about harassing my customers, but it didn't stop her from harassing the people walking through.
Your best bet if you want to call out to people is to watch them as they come by and smile pleasantly. If you make eye contact or nod, or acknowledge each other, then you can encourage them to come closer. Sometimes people are shy and being nicely invited or encouraged will make them feel comfortable to approach - especially if they don't feel like you are going to pounce on them and badger them into buying something.
Be available to them. Don't attack them.
And even if you aren't loudly calling people over, being sneaky and drawing customers away from another person's table isn't cool either. Listening in to conversations between another artist and their potential customer, only to try to convince that customer to come over to you, is another rude behavior that no one likes. Stealing customers in this way makes sure other artists know you are untrustworthy and not someone they want to be around - and trust me, you want friends in the Artist Alley. Wait for the customer to move on from your neighbor and then mention, "I heard you were looking for this item, I have something you might like." (Even better everyone - if you hear a customer is looking for something and you know someone in the Artist Alley has it, recommend that artist! First off, it makes you a decent person so good on you! Secondly, it makes YOU a trustworthy individual and the customer remembers that. Its part of good customer service and good business in what is, essentially, a small community)
The other part of this is being careful about using people to stand in the aisle with a sign or directing them to your table. Its one thing to have someone there to make sure people know where you are in the Artist Alley, but another when that person is blocking the way or preventing people from easily getting by or causing other people to lose business. Most times, a person in the aisle isn't a big deal, but when it gets crowded, one person blocks up everything and this will cause people to avoid trying to get by and now the people on the other side have lost potential customers. YOU may not care, but trust me, THEY do and a complaint may be filed against you. Also, its a fire hazard. You are better off, if you know where you are going to be before hand, printing off flyers with your position in the Artist Alley and having your friend hand them out.
And speaking of friends...
#7) Don't let friends congregate behind your table (or in front of it).
Meeting and hanging out with friends at a convention is normal. Some people you only get to see at conventions or events. I have a whole group of friends that I knew only through the cons and only got to see them there (though we keep in touch otherwise). Its also normal to want to talk and catch up with them. Since you are at your table, usually the only way that happens is if they come to visit you in the Artist Alley, which is fine... till they cause a clog in the aisle and/or block the table next to you.
Being seen is one of the most important aspects of being in the Artist Alley and a group of people standing in front of a table destroys business. Make sure your friends understand that and after some conversation, make arrangements to meet up somewhere else later on.
Another aspect of this is the "Hold my stuff" situation. Since you are anchored to the table, your friends will probably consider you the obvious choice to hold their bags of Dealer's Room buys, costume items and general stuff so they are able to continue free-ranging through the convention. That's great, but be aware of your space (going back to #1 on the list here) and don't let it start to gather behind your table. Yes, its part of #1, but also, YOU are still there to do business right? Having all that to store and be responsible for isn't what you signed on to do in the Artist Alley.
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| "Hold your bag? Yeah, I got room back here." |
In regards to having friends sitting behind the table.. one, maybe two might not be bad, but don't let them all come back there to hang out or regroup before their next event. Its rude and not fair to the other artists. Most conventions have 2 chairs and part of the reason for that is that 2 people behind the table is a decent amount of space without infringing on the space of someone else. Everyone paid the same price for the same space. Your friends don't suddenly give you priority to space and chairs. And even if a single person has an extra chair at their table, don't assume you can just take it. Ask first and respect them if they say no - don't 'steal' it later on. They paid for that chair and table just like you and are entitled to it - whether they use it or not.
#8) Don't bad mouth artists to customers.
I don't think I need to explain this further, but if you are confused, I'll lay it out for you.
I mentioned previously that as you travel cons, you'll see a lot of familiar faces and eventually, word will get around. If you are bad mouthing an artist due to legitimate reasons, then you should be speaking to con staff about them, not customers. If there is really a problem the staff needs to be dealing with it and handling it.
If spreading a bad word to customers about another person is your business practice, you need a new business practice or better product.
Obviously we artists can be horrible gossips (it happens... a slow sale period and sitting around at your tables... its probably going to occur) and so word will get around about who is doing what and how. We all know the horror stories and the issues with each other. The customers shouldn't be hearing about it and certainly shouldn't be hearing it from you.
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| "He can't even draw a decent Inuyasha!" |
Overall, you can read the main message here in all of these. Its about being considerate to those around you. Be considerate of their physical space, their personal space and/or issues. I know the argument could be made that if a person has an issue with you, they could just say something, but everyone has varying levels of comfort when dealing with confrontations. Maybe speaking to someone about an issue they have, is not easy for them? Maybe they are very confrontational and a simple question becomes a fight. Maybe YOU don't take criticism well? So why create a problem when it isn't necessary?
Be a decent person. Be clean, shower, keep your area neat, don't take up more than your share of space and don't harm the sales of other people around you. You don't want a negative reputation or to create a negative atmosphere. Artist Alley should be fun for everyone - its not just about the sales, but about a large group of people who love something, sharing that love for a time period in a space together.
In the end, I guess there is one 'Do' on this list and that's this: Do be respectful of yourself and others.
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