so i was reading ur intro to vending art zine and i was wondering if u had any tips on like the online/social media front? like for a while i’ve been thinking abt selling my art at markets and stuff but i’ve always felt like i shld like post it online and make sure that there are ppl that wld be interested in buying the stuff i make. but i hate actually posting online and social media is terrible, u need stuff like consistent posting schedules and even then getting the algorithm to work with u is like flying blind in a snowstorm. so i did try posting stuff a bit but i stopped after i felt like i was getting absolutely nowhere and got discouraged. so i guess my question to u is, do u think its worth it to just try going to a market and getting ppl interested from there? i’m scared to put the effort in and have nothing come from it but idk how to do social media properly
Thanks for the ask! This is a great question and I'm gonna answer it in a few parts:
You do not need social media to be an a market vendor
So, the good news is that social media followers do not correlate to in person sales. They DO correlate to online sales-- but we're not talking abt that rn. Markets are a great equalizer because every artist in that room is on the same playing field: regardless of social media, everyone is physically present and selling to the same audience.
If anything, it's actually way easier to get people at markets to follow your social media than it is to get your followers to show up and buy your art (in person or online).
So as far as markets go, don't worry about a huge social media plan. If the market requests a sample of your work, send them a google drive folder or a personal website link. If they ask you to help with advertising, offer to hang some poster s up for them. As a market organizer, I have never looked at someone's follower count as criteria for if they should be at my market or not. Remember, when you see old people at craft fairs selling their work, they don't have social media. They have entire businesses where they don't need to use it to sell their work.
2. The only good art "social media plan" is the one that you actually want to do & keep up with
I have been posting my art online since I was 13 and the content-focus of being an artist is etched into my skull. So I feel like I can prevent you from making some of my mistakes!
The simple truth is that you can't force yourself to do something you hate forever. Social media is a tool, you should wield it and it shouldn't wield you. I post whenever I can. I don't follow trends, I don't make video content unless it really suits the project I'm doing. I don't do anything I don't feel proud of or enjoy. It's just too exhausting to do anything else!
If you post a drawing once every 6 months and that's it, that's ok! There are other benefits to having a social media than followers. It gives you a low-effort online representation of your work (less stressful than a portfolio but something you can still put in market apps). It gives you a space to hold your online public-facing art identity. For example, I use my Instagram to keep in contact with all the cool artists I meet at gigs!
You do you and eventually you will find YOUR way of doing things. Trends and algorithms will come and go, the only constant is you. Make sure you like how you choose to engage with social media.
3. Never be afraid to put forth effort and have nothing come from it
This is the toughest one but I mean it. The first step to being a successful artist is being a wildly unsuccessful artist. My first market, I lost money on my table fee and lunch. I only sold pieces to another kind vendor and my roommates moms. But eventually all of that would lead to pay off into where I am now, a year later. I make pretty decent etsy sales and I reliably get into markets.
But it was an embarrassing road. I am not saying that it's all worth it because it paid off-- please don't plan on that. Focus on making the road there enjoyable. Find what you love about it! Connecting with new folks, doing it with friends, handing out cute business cards, whatever floats your boat. There is no reason to wait to start to enjoy something. If you can't figure out how to enjoy it from the start, then you're just waiting for the world's permission to be happy. Whether that's in the form of profit or followers.
Ok sorry that was so much, I'm a verbose bitch. But I think you asked some amazing questions and that's a great start! Starting is so intimidating but I really believe in you! Forget who you "should" be and go and find an audience who is ready to accept you as you want to be :- )
Let me know how it goes!
