How to Prepare for Artist Alley for Beginners in 2024 (Temp Permits, How Much Cash, and More!)

It can be stressful preparing for your first Artist Alley if you don't know where to start. In this video, I break down where to file for a temporary permit (CA), how much inventory you should bring, and what to put in your event one-sheet 👀 #animecons #artistalley #vendortips
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📌 Helpful Resources
California Department of Tax and (CDTFA) www.cdtfa.ca.gov/
Artist Alley Network International (AANI) Discord / discord
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[@eminempreg]

i seriously appreciate all these well organized videos youre uploading abotu selling at events/cons. My friend and I are planning on tabling at a local convention after a year of being like "haha it must be fun to sell at cons". and your channels been MEGA helpful!

[@Mualcaina]

How exciting! Best of luck with your con 🎉

[@xmoshyMCCOY]

I might be flying to a convention in Sept and have been freaking out trying to figure out how to do it. I've never done a convention before, and have a guaranteed table at this one, but my artist friends who have done conventions have never flown before... I've been hooked on your con videos because they're so helpful and encouraging (and just fun). Would love to see a "flying to a con" video.

[@Chocokaylarobin]

Would you recommend starting a online store first then vendoring? Or just vendor? Also please make a flying video as well if possible. There's not many cons where i live so I'd like to fly:)

[@Mualcaina]

You can honestly start with whichever one you are most comfortable with! I personally started with an online store during 2020 then went on to do in-person events in 2022. If you have both, any extra product from in-person events can be listed online

[@ceton1843]

I believe an online store first is the safe option bc vendorung is connected to lots of extra expense and it can be hard to have that kind of money ready before even starting to sell things.

[@francodcalma9256]

You are so helpful!!! Thank you!!!!

[@Sina-aka-potatosupreme]

Hey. I have a question to the topic of copyright. Did you ever had issues with making Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer pins and sell them? I see a lot of Japanese Manga fan art that is sold in comparisons to Korean or American series. Are there differences in the copyright laws or are Japanese creators in general more generous with fan art? I would love to make / sell fan art myself, but I always get just vague answers.

[@IzzyBurtonArt]

Thanks for making this

[@ewelinko]

I opened an online art shop this year but I am still not sure how to go about vending and permits. But I would like to try vending at fest/markets and cons

[@heyryanisonx3141]

thank you so much for this info! I do have a question, how do you collect + pay taxes after getting the permit? Especially for cash transactions?

[@julayneo5472]

You've addressed nearly everything except vendor liability insurance. I am about to do my first event ever as a vendor (super nervous) and I was required to have this as a vendor for this event. Were you ever required to obtain this for your events?

[@STARRGIRLLZ]

I live in California and I really wanna start a small online art store over the summer as a side hustle. Are there other permits that I would need other than the CDTFA seller's permit like a business license? Also, love your products, they're really cute!

[@laprimanerda7333]

I don’t live in California but I’m a librarian (among other things) Pretty sure KZbin won’t let me post a direct link, but I googled “starting a small business in california checklist” and the first link after the sponsored ones was the California Secretary of State’s office. It looks like that might be a good starting point for the legal paperwork.

[@MissesSisters]

Going through your videos right now, planning for my first con! They are reallyy helpful

[@KY-ki1vt]

^ same!! Id like the answer to this too 🥹 is it rly just make it unless ur the unlucky one that gets sued??

[@momokill4]

Yes it is illegal, you‘ll always have the risk to getting sued but since there are too many artist the owners of the copyright won‘t bother with it. Except if you‘re grown to a really big buisness, then there is obviously a chance to get sued. But there are too many small buisnesses selling fanart.

[@emmiii-ir3qe]

Please, by chance can you tell me where you get your enamel pins made? I'm having a hard time finding a place here in Cali 😢

[@msp4r]

♥️

[@Sina-aka-potatosupreme]

Oh, I have another question: Have you thought about using PayPal or Apple Pay at your stand? That is maybe something I would think about.

[@insomniacillustrations]

I would include other payment options like you suggested, especially since Square has been having issues lately. Venmo is another good choice!

[@jaspergoesrawrr]

So helpful, thank youuu

[@Jaeus360]

Hello! I don't know if you'll ever see this, but I just had some questions on the whole process... I can't seem to find much more info on it on your videos but this video is the closest one I saw. I'm thinking of selling at an anime con but I'm not even an actual business, just a girl who would like to draw things and see if anything would sell! But since I'm not a business and just a person, do I still need to have a business license? Or is it something else? Do I have to be a business? And what about copyright stuff? I never know how that works and researching hasn't helped me much when it comes to cons specifically. I'm so lost and it's discouraging me from wanting to pursue being a vendor at a con :( Help?

[@KY-ki1vt]

Are you registered as a DBA or LLC or sole proprietorship?

[@AdarableKitten]

Is the permit an event permit or a business permit? Cuz just saying permit doesn't tell me what it actually is.

[@insomniacillustrations]

If it's a temporary permit then it would be like a special event permit, and you would pay the taxes after the event with the state you sold in. Business permits or licenses are usually not temporary, and you have to file taxes in your state annually or quarterly (based on how much you make annually). At least, that's been my experience. :)

[@mrs.quills7061]

For the temporary permits, do you have to file tax remittance with that state come tax time? I ask because I do that with my own state selling online, but would I have to make accounts with these other states and do that?

[@insomniacillustrations]

When I did a show in Colorado, I had to pay the taxes within 30 days after the event - even though I have a business license and pay my taxes quarterly. Hope that helps! :)

[@VisuallyMediocre]

When this mf said she has 100$ on her and my float is like £40... I really dont take that much...