Why free is not always a good thing

I am learning a lot of things in this process of building a business and the learning curve is sometimes challenging. But one of the first real lessons is that free is not always free, or for that matter free is not always worth your time and talent.

Now I am not speaking of give aways of products or merchandise… we love free goods. All of us love free goods. I am speaking of being invited to a show where there is no charge.

I have begun to think of booth fees/show fees/jurying fees as a measure of the worth of the show… and it seems as though the higher the price paid up front the greater the revenue return. In fact there seems to be a formula that correlates with this theory. So why is that?

Well, I have been reading and researching this question for a while and I think i may have several reasons for this:
1. The price of entry filters out the applicants – The more costly the show, the more aptly afordable the applicant. There are shows I would love to participate in, but at $400-$600 per show the cost is prohibitive for my current business budget.
2. The price of entry shows a respect for the applicant’s trade or art – Charging a fee is a professional transaction, that validates the worthyness of the art or craft that is done.
3. A fee shows artists that the show is a business and it is run in a way to cover expenses of operation.

So now that this is said, charging no fees may seem like a courtesy to the vendors, but signals a warning that the pool of vendors is opened to everyone and anyone, and not just those of us who make our livelihood on the arts. It is also a signal that there is little to no work done to market the event, and even less effort to organize it well.
Now there are surprises in these free events – i have done a few that were very successful – startling, wonderful. And then the majority of the free shows were painful, poorly marketed, poorly attended and a big fat waste of time.

So if you are organizing a show, think about a price, and who you want to attract. Plan well, organize well, market the stuffing out of the event, and do the groundwork to bring in people.

If you are an artist think carefully about where you set up shop. Make each opportunity count.

Today we are at Felice Urban Cafe

Yes, It is a valentines day boutique at one of the coolest new eatery-watering holes in Cleveland, known as Felice Urban Cafe. It is located on Larchwood, right around the corner from Shaker Square. I hear this is a renovated turn of the last century home that has been retrofitted into a restaurant. Chef Ricardo Sandoval has brought his wonderful culinary skills east, after the amazing successes of Tremont’s Fat Cats and Lava Lounge to the Buckeye Woodland area of Cleveland. The menu features a blend of middle eastern and spanish food, with tapas – or small bites. It should be fun! Photos and a full report to follow.
So here is the invitation – if you are looking for something different this evening, and you want a nice meal visit us at Felice Urban Cafe at 12502 Larchmere Ave in Cleveland.

Artful Bloom Email Update

I just sent out the Artful Bloom Update and if you are not on my email list but would like to be please send me an email to:
imagesinbloom@gmail.com
Here is the update

Interesting things keep happening

I was sitting at my booth at the Avante Garde Show at Wagners when a woman came to my booth, and told me she just flew in from Florida yesterday. Telling me that she was a bit discouraged to be returning to Cleveland she had read about the show, and visited the website. When she read the article on me she decided she was going to get out and visit me. She also said she was reading my blog.
Wow. I am so amazed at who reads this blog. Thank you for encouraging me so very much today.

Getting to know other artists

One of the most amazing things about doing shows is the human element – the personal interaction. I have met so many amazing and talented people. And the people that gravitate to shows are interesting, discerning and oh so knowledgable. I love it.

I have been reading alot about the art and art/craft business and I was surprised to find out that only 5% of the population attend art and craft events. And only 2.5% of the population buy fine art. Those were surprising and staggering numbers to me because I have always surrounded myself with creativity, and creative people. And it seems that most of my family have either collected or produced art.

Now grant it that Aunt Olga’s horrific acrylics of clown faces would probably fall into a category of its own – scaring both children and adults, she was still creative. She was willing to learn to transfer what was in her head to a canvas, and bless one of us with her latest creation. My favorite was her flower series, where she painted plastic tulips dripping from an old metal margarine container (remember metal margarine containers? oh so 60s),

Whether you are an Aunt Olga, or Picasso in the flesh – good for you. Thank you for giving the world your talents, and blessing us with an appreciation of the work and skill it takes to produce beautiful things.

I love these shows, especially the light hearted smiles, relaxed willingness to chit chat, and ask great questions. Art and Art/Craft officionados – thank you for blessing me, and my fellow artists today.

Come on down to Wagner’s Country Inn

Yes, Images in Bloom will be setting up shop at the Avante Garde show today. It should be fun and my prayer is it is profitable.

But I have to ask you to laugh with me at my crazyness. Confidently I packed the car up friday night, and saturday morning (yesterday) I drove out to Wagners in that lovely picturesque snowfall… only to find the building buttoned up tight. I pulled out the planner, looked at the cell phone… OMG i was a day early. I have never done that before. (and my hubby hopes I will never do that again!) Sometimes days blur together. Well, i am confident now of the plan and will be set up and waiting for patrons at 10am. If you are around, stop out and visit.

I have just completed a dozen valentines day brooches of wire crochet with bead embroidery… each is a one of a kind treasure.

The official site for the event is:

http://www.avantgardeshows.com/

and Cool Cleveland was also promoting it:

http://www.coolcleveland.com/blog/2012/01/2012-winter-avant-garde-art-and-craft-show/

OK, My right hand is officially painful

I have been going at crocheting like a mad woman needing to restock my supply of reblooming bags, and unique upcycled treasures. And it was bound to happen… i discovered that three fingers on my right hand locked up… and even though i was sending the impulse to open my hand the fingers remained locked, and then popped open. Since that moment my right hand has been painfully sore. Did I stop crocheting? Yes, but for no more than a day and I was back at it again.

But in the midst of the crochet fest I also managed to make 6 wire crochet heart shape brooches that have been bead embroidered. Nothing says valentines day like a big old red heart, right?

And on the business front we have a few shows coming up. If you are looking for something exciting here is our schedule:

Saturday, Jan 29th – Avante Garde Show at Wagner’s Country Inn

Friday, Feb 3rd – Felice’s on Larchmere – This is a fairly new restaurant/lounge opened by the famous Fat Cats (tremont) owner. Knowing that his food is to die for, i am certain this is going to be an amazing evening.

We are also a part of a Valentines day studio show in Geauga County on Feb 11th but the details are out yet… so stay tuned.