~*ARTIST ALLEY Q+A*~ my worst con, how much to bring, travel tips, YES

[@spencersolatka5130]

something I've found super helpful when traveling with plus/shirts/sweaters, invest in vaccum seal bags. it will reduce the amount of space everything takes up in your suitcase so you can bring more!! for the way back there is a travel size sealer that is about the size of your phone you just bring and plug in for like 5 minutes and ur all good to go!!

[@stasiaholl]

This is a really really good tip, the only issue I've had with this in the past and one thing I'd tell people to keep in mind/pay attention to as they pack is the weight! You can add a lot more stuff BUT the weight is usually the limiting factor moreso than space. Once I started shipping items, though, space saver bags help a TON! Thanks for sharing this suggestion!!!!

[@mirandacarter4033]

Have you ever had an issue with people touching merchandise with dirty hands or handling it poorly which resulted in the item being damaged? What do you do in that situation? I would like to sell plushies at cons at some point as well and was considering making sample plushies that are for people to touch and if they want to buy one I'll have ones that are already wrapped up and ready to go underneath the table on my side.

[@stasiaholl]

Hey!!! Thanks for your question and sorry it took me way too long to answer!!! I have maybe had one or two plush in my many many years of AA get damaged by handling. I generally will be sort of aggressive and ask people to be careful if it looks like they have unsealed paint, or make sure parents see ME seeing their child aggressively and they usually move on. (Once people see how expensive an item is, they generally put it down carefully haha) I do think having pre-wrapped ones under the table is a great idea and has been my strategy with all my newer, manufactured plush!

[@raeb.6949]

i just started watching your stuff earlier today and was so happy to see that you uploaded! your stuff is all really cute and this is v helpful!

[@stasiaholl]

Aww thank you so much!!! I'm glad its helpful, hopefully I can continue on that path hehe

[@katieh6974]

The more I watch your videos and follow uglyplants the more I feel inspired to try to put my own designs and ideas out there, and encouraged that I could maybe be a teeny tiny bit successful (or at least have a product people would be interested in). So thank you a bunch for that ^_^

[@stasiaholl]

I'm so sorry it took me so long to reply but you should know I literally cried when I read your comment haha, that's the most I can hope for- to show people that YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!! I didnt think I'd ever be able to ""make it"""" for lack of a better phrase, people told me it was ridiculous, impossible, etc- but it totally is, you can totally do it too!!!!!

[@RobotoMojo]

"oh that's a whole MOOD" XD thank you for this video! I'm rigorously taking notes

[@LittleNintendoGirl]

Very informative! I enjoy this vid so much hopefully in the future when I start up my first booth I'll use it as reference. I hope ya can make more of these since sometimes it's better to hear people out and hear their own experiences helps in the future.

[@stasiaholl]

For sure! If my experience can help others succeed that's ideal! I'll definitely do more, hopefully some more specific ones!

[@ChismosaPrincesa]

Thank you for this!

[@riddlr6358]

Hi! You had some points in this vid that I didn't even think of . Thanks! I have my first con in June. It's a four day con...gulp. Thanks for the tips.

[@blackeveryseason]

I know this is old video, but that question about "how much to bring," from the many many craft fair videos I've watched, the recommendation is "how much money do you want to make?" That isn't to say bring an entire walmarts worth of product, but if you bring product that only makes up to $500 and you sell out too early, that's a loss of profit. But if you pack $1500 worth of product as expectation and end with $1k, you still made more than unestimating your sales.

[@stasiaholl]

this is a good perspective and so true!! I should maybe redo this video soon with more tidbits I've learned but this is a good one :)

[@daniellef1290]

I disagree about pointing cosplayers out to artwork you might have of the character they’re cosplaying because if I was the cosplayer, I think that’d be fun to get at the time to look back on when they dressed as the character if that makes sense. But everything else you’re talking about is great info. Thanks! I’ve only tabled at a small comic con last year but I plan to be a full time convention artist soon. Still doing a bit of research.

[@stasiaholl]

A valid point, thank you for sharing!! I dont cosplay personally, but most opinions of people I know seem to lean towards "please dont yell at me ×0×" so it's good to know not everyone feels that way!!! Let me know if you have any questions I'm so happy to help ;uuuu;

[@gentlecoda]

AHHH I loved your video! It was so informative and it feels like you put your thoughts into words so well

[@stasiaholl]

Ahhh thank you so much for your kind words!! I'm glad it's still helpful- I feel like it's time for an update soon!!!

[@gentlecoda]

@@stasiaholl omgg yes plss would love to see more anytime :D

[@hachi1kitty]

I love this videos!! If I were to have an artist ally table this would be really useful lol keep up the good work!!

[@stasiaholl]

Ily times 10000

[@Lavinia-ze6lw]

Aaaah I'm having my first booth this week & I kinda just wanted to watch some videos about it but it makes my anxiety so much worse. Like the whole "booth mood" thingy.....I sell oil paintings & prints and both is like completly different (the art style is not but what I draw paint is)😅 But I guess that fits to authentic-to-yourself/your art.

[@stasiaholl]

Oh no! Don't watch things that make you feel worse 🥴 the "booth mood" thing can also just be in regards to your aesthetic. All artists have their own style, aesthetic, voice etc so my tip just means, if you can, have your booth reflect that! plus my tips don't apply to everyone/every setting, either. mainly for merch/design tbh. so just be yourself

[@pipsplace9072]

Super interesting! Thanks for all this information 👍

[@Zwaa]

Thank-you for making this!

[@pathofthen7988]

Hi! Selling at my first convention this year and wanted to ask, how do you pack for conventions? Do you stuff multiple suitcases or do you ship to the venue you are selling? Thank you!

[@stasiaholl]

I do some of both!!! Just because my stuff is so bulky :) I don't do conventions as much anymore but I could make a video showing how I pack for one??

[@pathofthen7988]

@@stasiaholl Omg that would be amazing, thank you so much!

[@nikkimartin610]

When signing up for conventions, is there a fee you normally pay or does the convention take a cut of your profits? I was always curious about how they allow you to sell. ps, you're awesome :P

[@penguovo9514]

I know you didn't ask me, but I got to conventions too. You apply for events and during (or even before) the application you will have a price list. Normally you will have to pay after they notified you that you can take part :) Paying profit isn't usual, since they will never know how much every artist actually sold (this would be a huge mess for the organizer). You pay a fixed fee upfront depending on the tablesize, amount of tickets and extras (like an axtra chair, electricity etc).

[@nikkimartin610]

@@penguovo9514 thank you!! I was so curious about the progress ♥️

[@stasiaholl]

Hey!!!! Sorry I didnt see this until now somehow?! But maximillian said it perfectly- you pay a flat fee up front (anywhere from like 75-500 depending on the event). Some cons have badge included, some have multiple badges included, some have none, some have upgraded available- it all depends! I've never seen a con take a cut so to speak. :D

[@fizzfizz4482]

I want to do a stall in about a year or 2. Would it be better to start getting a following and open a online shop before doing it???

[@stasiaholl]

Hey!! I'm hoping to do an updated version of this video soon and I'll include this quesstion because people ask me a lot BUT I'd say no, you don't have to! I've known artists who make full-time incomes off Artist Alley just by virtue of in-person sales, and their followings are pretty small. It never hurts to have both though!

[@NaturesExpressions]

❤❤

[@inunekochan]

yay my ques on IG was answered!

[@BradPitbull]

GOOD JOB MY NIGGA