#professionalisum

In this session of Adventures of a Starving Artist, I will be discussing the concept of smart choices and the impact they can have on both you AND your customers when selling at conventions or other physical places. This is going to be an interesting blog, normally I have a whole rant to fuel my points, and a dry humor towards the subject that it can be quite funny, but today it's all an observation from my personal experience.  Sorry, the sarcasm will be sparse.

How to start...  Hummm Business Cards If you are an artist, and you plan on selling your work, you should have business cares no matter if you are selling at conventions, or just having friends pass your name around in other circles, cards are very important.  But there is a lot of types of cards, a lot of ways to make cards, and a lot of ways to print cards.  So lets break things down a little.

Types: * Standard (3.5x2.5in) * Stick (1x2.5 to 1.5x3.5 inch) [those long skinny cards that are in style right now] * Single Fold (3.5x5in or 2.5x6in folded in half to be standard size) * Bookmark (2.5x5in) * Postcard (4x5 to 5x7 inch)

WOW, didn't know there was so many kinds huh?  Each has it's use, but what is the right kind? - I personally do not like Postcard or Single Fold myself.  These are only good if you are a company that really wants to pack a lot of info into a single hand out, they are bulky in a sense, and don't file away into most standard books or files people use when they plan on saving a card for later use.  They also look a lot like advertizing you would get on your front door. - Bookmark style are good if you want to give away a useful and artistic type of card.  Again, it won't fit into business card holders, but if you put a pretty picture on it, with your name and website, and hope the taker is a avid reader, these could be look at more then once and drive inspiration to visit your site. - Standard and Stick are possibly the best option if you are looking to buy/make professional cards that stand out and are NOT to be confused with something else.  Like random advert trash in a swag bag your customer got for free with their badge.

Information:  "What should I put on my business card?" Simple: Anything you need your customer to remember.  The three basic things are "name" "emailaddress" "website But if you have a blank card, with just those three things, and nothing else to help your customer remember WHO you are, sometimes they are not in a hurry to rush to your DA and watch you.  But if you are able to add a small image of your artstyle, or a simple list of what you draw the most "A Fantasy Manga Artist" or "Anime Hats and Cosplay" then that can help pull you from the void of a million names they can't remember.

How cards are Made:  "Do I pay someone, or do I make them at home?" If you are just starting out, making a template in your word program and printing out some basic cards to cut out is not a bad way to go, my recommendation would be to go out and at-least buy some slightly heavier paper or light card-stock, that might be in a soft color, to print on because standard printer paper sucks, so dose construction paper with printers. I will say, I have seen some people make some really fancy HAND MADE cards.  They are like, wow, but they are NOT practical if you are busy artist who is rushing all over the place and getting asked for cards all the time.  Those cards are good if you are mailing out or going to tie it onto your 3D product. I'm a lazy bastard, I would rather make my design, mail it off to a company and get a box a week later with shiny cards in side.

&^$@ Vistaprint!  I hate them!  "But Cassie!  250 cards for $5!"  They are ONLY good if you don't want your own artwork, want only one color and don't mind WAITING 30+days for your cards.  Forget that!  You could go to your local Staples or Homedepot and get some made there for an okay price and you get them that week.  I personally use CatPrint.com (no not affiliated) for both my prints and business cards.  Why?

This is my business card (You can click on it to get a larger view) I order two sided cards, one is a glossy front, in color, of my logo with my name and website, the back is a matte finish with information people would like to know about me.  Not only do I give them my personal website, but I link to my DeviantArt, FA, and with my new ones I'm getting I'll be adding Twitter, Tumblr and other info. Something I want to point out:  See how I left that large area just open, the watermark image really light?  I Use "Heavy Cardstock 1 sided Gloss" because I can now use any pen on the back to write down info my customer may need.  Like my phone number, or "Plush maker" or "Excels in Dragon tattoos" prices they might have if they are asking a quote for a commission.  I also use them as receipts when I get LARGE commissions that are paid for in advanced; I put what they paid, what it was for, how they paid and if there is a final payment they need to be aware of.

See what I did there?  Yes, you do ;3  Professional Simplicity.  I keep everything grouped, easy to read font for the info they need, and I have one item I'm keeping track of that I can use in 3 or more ways to my advantage. "But- cards like that are expensive!"  I pay around $45 for 500 cards.  Yes, they are around .10 a piece, but Vista Print wanted 3 times that, and really, it is worth it.  Why?  People will not forget my card, my card will not look like a random receipt crumpled up in the bottom of their pocket, and they inspire (I think) others with the layout look and feel so they might keep it to use for their own idea.

Prints.  You can make prints that are Professional, eye catching and piratical too!  When I buy artwork from other artists, one of my LARGEST pet-peeves is print on the front.  "Copyright to Cassie Wilson 2011, TigressGraphics.net and" NONONO!  Online, HELL YEAH!  If someone is just going to look at the artwork, and potentionally take and print it out themselves, sure, watermark all you want.  But for a piece of art I want to buy, the only thing I want to really see is either all of that really REALLY tiny on the edge, or just a simple signature in a nice place to balance out the image.  "But how will they know how to find me?"  If you are using bags, you can slip a card behind the prints, or you can write carefully on the back of each print, the con it was brought from and your website.  I took it a step further to save myself the time and worry.  I'm going to blow your mind:

When I buy my prints to sell I order around 25 copies through Catprint.  I pay just an extra $3, to have all 25 copies to have this on the back: ;D

Another thing for being pro, be a smart shopper.  Yes, every one knows to look around, price compare (don't forget to figure out shipping costs in all of that too) but sometimes we over look details that could cost us priceless time. Example:  I do charms, but to have charms I need Cellphone straps or Lariats.  Well one day on Ebay (where I do most of my shopping of such things) I saw a lot that was selling 600 lanyards for $8 free ship.  HELL of a deal!  Because I was normally paying $8 for just 100.  But the catch was, there was no split rings already attached, I had to buy my own.  So I looked around and did some price comparisons, and found that I could buy the rings and still save myself like half the money.  So I did this.  Then I found out my huge mistake.  To put the rings on was a huge chore.  There was no tool I could use other then my fingernails and a pair of pliers.  It took for ever, and I found this out after already spending 6 hours cutting, laminating and cutting charms and it was something that my BF could not help me with because he didn't have nails to split the rings open.  I was really wishing I had thought ahead about the time it would take me as well as physical pain.

Think ahead at what you'll have to do, and even reenact it if you must, do you want to have something to fidget with when you could be drawing a new button design.

DISPLAYS! (whao!  There is more then just bussiness cards?  This is a long post.) If you have artwork, you want it to be seen!  Out of sight out of mind, and if someone has never seen your artwork before they are not going to ask if you still have prints of Evangelion.  So here is a few things to keep in mind to not only look pro, but keep it simple for you. -A display.  The most simple display you can do for prints, is a 3 piece PVC display you can hang your prints on that sits on the table with some clamps.  These work, very well, and they catch peoples eyes.  They are also 10 minuets up and 10 minuets down, and depending on how long you have your pieces cut, quite compact and light.  Sadly because I have plush and I don't want to see my thing fall over, mine looks like a jungle gym and it is not easy or simple. TIP:  IF YOU SPRAY PAINT YOUR PVC TO LOOK COOL YOU COULD END UP HAVING PIECES FUSE TOGETHER AND NEED A HAMMER FOR EACH CON! - Having a portfolio on the table with more artwork or examples of sizes or your commission examples is a good thing. - Price tags on everything is a must!  Want to save yourself time and voice?  Don't let people feel they need to ask you questions on what stuff costs; and on the same note over half the people that stop to look at your art, that WANT to buy something, don't want to ask you what it costs if they can't see it for more then one reason.  Prices as well as your deals posted up, in a simple manor, is key.  It makes the difference when in this situation: [You are looking down drawing a commission that you need to finish in the hour, and someone is looking at your art.  "How much are your prints?"  You look up.  "$15 each or 2 for $20" but not wanting to look self absorbed and want to be willing to help them, you keep looking at them smiling while they think.  They stand there for a minuet thinking, fidgeting, pulling out their wallet which gets your hopes up and you put your pen down.  "Okay then, I'll think about it, thanks." and they walk away.] VS [You are looking down drawing a commission that you need to finish in the hour, and someone is looking at your art.  They see the prices, think to themselves, you might lift your head to ask if they need anything, they comment that they are just considering.  "Okay, just let me know if you need anything" and go back to drawing.] - Other then display, storage is something to consider.  Where are your prints?  Are they loose in a box where they can get scratched up?  Are then each in sleeves?  Are they easy to grab and to see how many you have left?  What about buttons?  What are you doing for those?  I keep my prints in one locking storage container that is clear,  they are all slipped into plastics together to keep them snug and safe so they don't get shuffled, layered on top of each other with a nice stiff bottom so they don't get bent if the thing is picked up, and they stay flat rather then stacked up on their sides as if in a file folder.  Buttons, I keep in a closing multi compartment case that I try and keep full at the end of each selling day, and they stack when in storage.  I have a large storage bin I use for all my PVC pips for my display that also holds my portfolio, sketch books, and other small display items I can get to fit in side.  I also have a separate box that I can fit my button machine with circle cutter in as well as 1000 buttons parts. - Want to make life easier on your customers as well as you?  I have bags that fit my prints that I use for when they buy one, I also invested in some 3x4in ziplock baggies to use for all my small items like buttons and Charms when they get more then 1.  These baggies will easily hold 8 buttons WITH a business card in side (see what I did there?) and when you do button 'sets' that are meant to be grouped and sold at a discount, you can't beat putting them in baggies on the table with their own little price tag and people can see how clever you are.

"So, Cas.  It sounds like you have two large plastic bins, a ton of heavy buttons supplies, art supplies and maybe a duffel bag for plushies...  Sounds like a lot to carry."  YES!  And for a while I WAS carrying/dragging the two bins, in about two trips to most cons.  A really huge thing I say to buy for yourself is some kind of rolling cart.  Even if you have just 3 PVC poles, your button box, and all your drawing books with portfolios in a backpack, to have all the weight in some kind of cart that you can just push and run with can safe you time, energy and reduce any kind of injury.  You also look like you mean business when you first walk into the room.  I got myself a large flat bed rolling cart that has a handle that folds down.  it's just large enough to hold my large 2x3foot bins without overhang, it can take up to 300lbs, and with just a few bungee cords I can manage it all, by my self, in one trip, and I'm not catching my breath.  When I'm all set up at a con, I often times put my now empty bins on it with the print box on top, push it under  the table and sit along side and when I need a print, I just roll it out like an extended table(this only works with some tables.)  And at the end of the day, if you have to break down and set up again the next day, it's 3 times easier then if you have to carry it by hand again.