₊˚⊹♡ how to decide if a particular artist alley is worth vending at for you ♡⊹˚₊
Whether or not you perform well at an artist alley/art market is dependent on a lot of different factors. Many of these are out of your control, such as how well the event advertises or where you're placed in the hall. However, there are data points you can use to make an informed decision on whether a particular show would be a good fit for your work!
♡ Event Type: Is is an anime convention? ComiCon? Craft festival? The type of event will set a baseline for what kind of people and vendors you can expect to attend. If it is a very hand-crafted, traditional art fair, then things like digitally drawn art prints might not do as well. ♡ Audience: The event type isn't the only thing that determines who will attend. Check out the list of guests, panels, and workshops. Are there anime voice actors? Comic book artists? These are all hints for who/what the event is catering towards. Sometimes you can also see the artists who attended the previous year. Ask fellow artists who have vended at this event before. They'll have the inside scoop for what really sells well. ♡ Your Budget: Vending at any show is taking on a certain level of risk. Avoid signing up for an event that requires you to spend more than you're willing to lose. Aside from your table fee, little costs can add up such as gas, insurance, lodging, food, and booth supplies. ♡ Location: How far are you willing to travel? Would you have to get a hotel? Is it far enough out to fly or take a multi-day road trip? Be honest with yourself about your personal limitations. Driving 10 hours might not be worth it for a single day show, but it might be for a large scale 3-4 day event that has a good reputation. Again, ask other artists on social media for their perspective. ♡ Your Goals: Sometimes the goal isn't just to turn a profit. Attending an event is always a chance to learn and network with other artists. Sometimes it can even be reason to take a vacation. For example, if you're new to vending and aren't too worried about being in the green, that local small event might be more worth your time compared to someone who is trying to hit a certain profit margin. At the end of the day, there is no way to perfectly predict how a given show will go for you, but keeping in mind these points will give you a better idea of what you're getting into. I personally believe that almost every event is worth trying at least once just for the experience, as long as you're staying within your budget and most importantly - taking care of yourself!
