Market Days Failure
Yes, I realize this is two posts in one week. Don't get used to it.
I was a vendor at Wimberly Market Days today. Got up at 5 am to be down in Wimberly before 7 to be a day vendor at the Market. I had heard November was the best month to be out there and had visited about 3 times in the last year to check it out and get a feel for the place and the visitors. I knew going into it that it was a lot of vintage crap sellers and a handful of artists but I still thought I'd do ok. Well, it was a total bust. Cost $60 to have a booth and I sold $18 worth. There was lots of traffic and lots of people atleast looked at my glass and pottery, many commenting that it was really nice but no one really bought anything. I sold 2 Christmas ornaments and 3 magnets. Utterly pitiful. I kept having to remind myself that my work was beautiful and people just weren't interested. Sad to not even come close to breaking even. I had spent about $100 preparing and another $60 for the booth plus gas to get there. But what was even more hard on me was thinking of all the other things I could have done today and felt like it was a totally wasted day. And really it was more than the day. I had been preparing for this for weeks and my house is a disaster. I think it's time to give up on art fairs and maybe even house shows too. I have had ONE profitable event in the last 6 years. I keep blaming it on the economy and maybe that has part to do with it but I am beginning to think people just aren't interested in art and beauty.
well, I guess I can cross Wimberly Market Days off my list of things to do. I've done it. It was a nice day to be outside. So that's a plus. And I treated myself to Chick-fil-a for dinner and tried not to cry in my sweet tea.
(hi, karina.)
I was a vendor at Wimberly Market Days today. Got up at 5 am to be down in Wimberly before 7 to be a day vendor at the Market. I had heard November was the best month to be out there and had visited about 3 times in the last year to check it out and get a feel for the place and the visitors. I knew going into it that it was a lot of vintage crap sellers and a handful of artists but I still thought I'd do ok. Well, it was a total bust. Cost $60 to have a booth and I sold $18 worth. There was lots of traffic and lots of people atleast looked at my glass and pottery, many commenting that it was really nice but no one really bought anything. I sold 2 Christmas ornaments and 3 magnets. Utterly pitiful. I kept having to remind myself that my work was beautiful and people just weren't interested. Sad to not even come close to breaking even. I had spent about $100 preparing and another $60 for the booth plus gas to get there. But what was even more hard on me was thinking of all the other things I could have done today and felt like it was a totally wasted day. And really it was more than the day. I had been preparing for this for weeks and my house is a disaster. I think it's time to give up on art fairs and maybe even house shows too. I have had ONE profitable event in the last 6 years. I keep blaming it on the economy and maybe that has part to do with it but I am beginning to think people just aren't interested in art and beauty.
well, I guess I can cross Wimberly Market Days off my list of things to do. I've done it. It was a nice day to be outside. So that's a plus. And I treated myself to Chick-fil-a for dinner and tried not to cry in my sweet tea.
(hi, karina.)
Labels: life
posted by michele @ 9:52 PM
3 Comments:
At Wednesday, November 07, 2012 8:23:00 AM ,
ellenbo said...
ugh! sucks!! sorry michele :-(
At Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:08:00 PM ,
Urs said...
SAD Michele!!!! how boo!!!! :( I'm really sad for your "bust" and disappointment and lack of financial gain and what felt like a wasted day. Sounds really disappointing and frustrating. :( But I applaud your efforts to give it a try. At least you tried it and can say that you went for it, as opposed to wishing that you had at least tried it. It appears to be common that entrepreneurs (which I consider you one with your pottery and glass making goods) can experience a bit of failure before success. So don't give up dear friend!!! Lesson learned perhaps? Have you spoken to any other entrepreneurial artists like yourself? Like, any that seem a bit successful? Perhaps you can glean some wisdom from others that have walked your path before?
At Tuesday, January 08, 2013 10:48:00 PM ,
Karina said...
Ahhh! I'm bummed after reading this for two reasons: 1) I'm so sad for all of your hard work not being fully appreciated and compensated. And 2) I'm sad I'm JUST NOW reading this when you even said hi to me in your post! I feel like a bad friend. I'm sorry Michele...I've just gotten so spotty in my blogging (reading and writing). I love you and your creativity, friend. You make beautiful art!
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