Artist Alley Tutorial Part 4: ATTRACT CUSTOMERS & last minute tips

[@britkcaley]

Thank you for watching the final part to my artist alley tutorial series! Please let me know if you have any more questions, I'd love to help!

[@sarcosmic6982]

Re: smile and wave: if you're wearing a mask, remember to smile with your eyes!! If you're used to just using your lips to smile, it's worth practicing smiling with your whole face. Also worth practicing other friendly body language if you're not used to it, like not keeping your shoulders hunched, posture not too closed off, and (if you can manage it) enough eye contact to make people not feel like you're avoiding looking at them. It's a lot of social stuff and personally, I think it's exhausting work, but it *is* work, and making yourself look approachable is a great asset for anything marketing-related, including artist alleys! Great vid, thank you!!

[@aqueousmutivity]

I've got my first booth ever in 18 days and I'm freaking out, I'm so glad I found this series I feel like I've got an older sis looking out for me now 😭💖

[@britkcaley]

Aah congrats!!! You're going to rock it :D This big sis is cheering you on hehe

[@chikfrias5447]

Thank you so much for this series! I'm 2 years late but I'm having my first artist alley table next month and I'm lowkey panicking because i feel like a noob and super anxious about getting sales. Your videos are such a big help! 💕

[@xXMagicRabbitXx]

Its ok. I feel the same! I get nervous a lot too, thankfully your super easy to talk to, so it was easy talking to you. Shadow and I where interested in a table because the artwork was so pretty, but the girl at the table was busy talking to the group of friends? Family? She brought and we tried to talk to her but it felt like we where a bother to her, so we left. She stopped putting out stuff on the table through the 3 days and never said if she sold out or what she had. It was a huge put off. Like bring people to feel comfortable but probably not 4-5, and don't ignore customers. Dx Its also sad people get their things stolen. 💔 last day at the con, we heard someone had their wallet stolen at the con and someone found it miles away at a gass station.

[@britkcaley]

Aww yay! I'm so glad, you guys were so friendly and easy to talk to as well, Jon and I loved meeting you!

[@xXMagicRabbitXx]

@@britkcaley we loved meeting you both too!! I miss your streams sometimes and i always feel bad. D; but I'm cheering you on in spirit! Its ok. I feel bad because she must have needed the support, but they should have tried to be like your husband, he was an amazing help to you! I don't think they thought they where hurting, only helping, but when she was happy and excited talking to them then looked at us like ehh. Your... in front of my table bothering me. Then get shot nasty glares when you walk past later its like NOT THAT TABLE!! Yes. You had the perfect attitude! I hope in the future the Vendor learns from you!! 💜

[@kirarahime]

I'm so glad you made this series. It seems really helpful and I'm looking forward to implementing these tips into my art business journey. Hopefully there is more awesome content to come. :)

[@britkcaley]

Aww yay, I'm so glad you found them helpful!! I wish you all the success in your journey! ^^ Is there something you'd like to know more about in the future? :D

[@TedDaviesArtistry]

Thanks Brit, I enjoyed the videos!! i agree with a lot of the points!!!

[@britkcaley]

Thank you so much!! I don't know why this comment is just popping up now lol sorry for the late reply xD I'm glad you agree!

[@TedDaviesArtistry]

brit k. caley no problem internet has been crazy lol. Stay safe , keep creating!!!

[@letsgopaint7720]

Very cool series! Was interesting to learn the process behind setting up a display at an art convention

[@britkcaley]

Thank you so much! This means a lot! Yes part 3 goes over displays, and also my studio vlogs have some behind the scenes of me at cons/setting up etc if you'd like to check those out too :D

[@hokostudios]

This series was really well-written and easy to understand! I'm personally still learning to keep my head up. Unfortunately, the two events I've done so far have been super slow, and it's super hard for me to just sit and people-watch. ADHD makes it really tough, and I spent so much time at those drawing. Do you have any advice on how to be more approachable without losing my mind and/or shutting down? I'm wondering if I should get a stand or something so I'm at least not face-down in my sketchbook.

[@britkcaley]

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad it was easy to understand, I was worried I spewed too much info at once haha! Aah toootally understand this. When it's slow, it's SUPER hard to not just curl up and hide behind the table. I find bringing a friend helps with this (you can take turns manning the table and one can go take a walk). I do think standing and drawing with a clipboard or stand would help too! That way you can quickly look up and interact when someone walks by. :D Sometimes I stand and make funny faces with my table mates across from me or talk to my table mate next to me. But of course there are times I'm just scrolling on my phone or staring off into the distance... no one's perfect and that's ok! I think as long as you're aware that makes all the difference. ^^ Best of luck!

[@TheVampyreNinja]

Thanks for doing this series. I think the thing that has me the most lost when trying to do conventions, is the actual business side of it. Like taxes. I found how I get a tax ID, but how do I file my taxes? How do I calculate all of that? Do I need a tax agent? Is the cost of an agent, worth the price I will get from doing all of this? These are the questions I have, but I never see anyone talk about.

[@britkcaley]

Of course! Oh man, I feel you. The business side can get pretty intense and I'm still fairly new at it! I think I'll definitely make a video about what I know with taxes as it's come up a few times already. In the mean time I found this reference helpful for MA state taxes bvaa.org/how-to/artists-and-sales-tax/ ^^

[@augustawickmanart]

I would also appreciate a video explaining some of the ins and outs of the taxes part.

[@Lunalitmedia]

Hi! Thank you so much for this series! So many awesome tips!

[@psychosnroses]

Ahhh this was super helpful, you also seem so nice!!! I’m always super nervous about filling the correct tax forms since I’ve heard some conventions don’t supply those :/ do you have any tips in those cases? Either way best of luck at all your future cons; maybe I’ll see ya at one!!

[@britkcaley]

Aww thank you so much!! (｡・//ε//・｡) Omgosh I tooootaally go through this every time! I'm still fairly new at all the tax stuff (especially when it's out of state). I try to do as much research on ANNI fb group in those cases or try to navigate the specific state's department of revenue website. Each state is different some may not require tax permits while others do. Sometimes you can get a temporary tax permit which is best. I was going to do Connecticon but realized they don't do temp permits and I'd have to get a tax id that lasts 5 years for $100 dollars... decided to wait on that convention because of it ^^;; I may make a video about tax stuff as it comes up a lot. I do find that the more I do it the easier it gets! :D I hope this was helpful! xD and YES I'd love to be able to meet you! hehe

[@augustawickmanart]

Thank you for making this video series. There was a lot of useful info. I hope you make some more videos with tips and tricks for being an Artist Alley artist too. :3

[@britkcaley]

Yay!! You're welcome! So glad you liked them ^^ Did you have anything specific you'd like me to cover? :D

[@augustawickmanart]

@@britkcaley I am brand new to tabling at Artist Alleys. (I just started last year) So there are a lot of things I'm still figuring out. I'm trying to decide what types of things to make and bring. I have some prints but I'm trying to decide between making some prints of popular shows because I know they are popular or making prints of some lesser known shows because I really enjoyed them and I feel like if someone sees them it might be a pleasant surprise. I'm also trying to decide how much to diversify my table. I don't know if having a lot of different types of items would be better or if I should should stick to my focus on comics and prints. I am also a bit shy and awkward. I am struggling to find the right balance between trying to get people's attention as they pass by the table but not annoying them. That one is really hard for me. 😩 These videos have been really helpful though and appreciate that you are so open to share this information with others. (I feel like a few artists feel like Artist Alley is a special club and they don't want to share any secrets to outsiders 😆)

[@augustawickmanart]

Oh yeah and one more thing you might cover in a future video would be how you made the transition to working as a full-time artist. When/how did you know that that was becoming a reality and how did you make the jump to making it a reality? Thanks again!

[@britkcaley]

Aah thank you so much! These are all great ideas that I'm writing down for possibly future videos! ^^ I totally understand trying to figure out what to sell and such... I still struggle with this! I always tell people to do what they love and if you want to draw that unpopular show, go for it! People gravitate towards work that the creator loves. I do think with time you'll figure out what's best for you and your audience. You just have to go through all the trial and errors, there's no short cuts unfortunately >.

[@TheVeyZ]

Whenever someone walks up to my booth, I try to make it all about them. I ask them how their day is going, if they're enjoying the con. Comment on their outfit & start a conversation in their interests. If something interests them & I have a print related to it, then I'll point that out.

[@mr.juniorer]

Great Advice! I’m definitely going to avoid being too shy lol

[@McMinish]

This was so helpful! Thank you so much for making this! I really want to start doing cons, but I'm so nervous about not having enough product. Do you mind sharing how many prints or other items you started with at your first con?

[@britkcaley]

I'm so glad you found this helpful! :D That's totally understandable, I worried about this too! But honestly even if you run out of things, that's good right? I believe I started with ~15 bigger illustrations and 7 pokemon chibi print ^^

[@McMinish]

@@britkcaley Thank you! 💕

[@MandiLynnWrites]

Forever trying to learn to be less awkward haha

[@britkcaley]

haha saaammme!! But sometimes it helps to show you're a real person xD