"Tourist Season" ended this weekend, here in our small town.
Of course, it wasn't exactly that sudden, but most locals consider the final major event of the summer-- our annual Film Festival-- to mark the end of the busy period where most of our businesses are supported by visitor dollars.
It was a tough season for the art business, this year.
"Windup Kitten" original watercolor by Braden Duncan
We saw two long term art galleries in down close their doors, and the spaces they vacated remain unleased. I'm not sure whether the number of visitors was down from past years, but we definitely noticed that our average sale dropped to a new low for the "season."
Overcoming Seasonality
Before we took over this gallery from its previous proprietor, we were already well aware that business was going to be very seasonal around here.
That was something I was already familiar with, having gone to many outdoor arts and crafts shows at festivals and fairs. Come the end of September, we'd be pretty much done for the year. Quite a few active artists are familiar with that pattern...
So far, our primary focus for offsetting seasonality has been to build our online sales presence, especially in the areas of "artsy-gifty" items-- that way, we will be less dependent on people actually walking in through the front door. So far, that has been moderately successful, although art is not always easy to present online.
BLOGGING About Art?
Sunbathed Daisy
We also created this Steemit account with an eye towards slowly building a secondary (or tertiary) income stream from an art-focused blog... hopefully in conjunction with helping out artists on Steemit by following, promoting and upvoting their work.
Granted, this part of the plan remains in its infancy... and our current four cent upvote isn't much to write home about-- yet. But hopefully that will get better, too, as we get more active with this project and become more involved with some of the online communities.
Thoughts on Art and Seasonality? As an artist, do you find you have distinct art "seasons," as far as sales go? Have to done anything to try to even out the flow, or are you OK with seasonality? Leave us a comment!
The Red Dragonfly is an independent alternative art gallery located in Port Townsend, WA; showcasing edgy and unique contemporary art & handmade crafts by local and worldwide artists. All images are our own, unless otherwise credited. Where applicable, artist images used with permission.
I enjoyed your windup kitten. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you!
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I cant imagine running an art gallery that sounds about as tough as it comes for a business. Although I do love them myself!
I notice a slow down usually around November/December in the work I do then usually pics up around late January. Holiday stuff and wrapping things up for the year I suppose.
I think steemit will be a place some people can get a little additional income from to help with slow times. I have been trying stuff out here and getting my feet wet over last couple months and if nothing else have had a lot of fun so I am curious as to what this will grow into.
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Yeah, the gallery business can be both difficult and frustrating at times... but also very rewarding when we manage to help artists get exposure and "break through."
You've done a particularly good good job of establishing a really solid "brand you" here on Steemit-- you've done a unique thing that's catching people's attention. And that's exactly where I see much of the potential of Steemit, for artists... you're moving towards not only getting some good exposure, but also building a stake in Steemit while also generating a fair income for your efforts. Well done!
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There are most definitely seasonal influences for my artwork sales. Here in Northern Europe, over Summer, July and August is close to dead. Everybody is simply away on holidays and spending their money there.
Then leading up to the Christmas period, I have to get cracking with promoting merchandise. I have from now until the first week of December, after that, it is all over for such things. Thankfully my originals sales stays reasonably stable.
Steemit has helped me out this year through the Summer low period.
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Ah yes, I grew up in northern Europe (Denmark) so I do remember how everything would close down-- even (smaller) shops would close for three weeks during the industrial holiday period.
I grew up with a number of artists in the extended family, and it always seemed like people were busy for the autumn and spring exhibitions.
Steemit does seem like it could have the potential to not only help artists financially in a small way, but also to help bring more exposure to art.
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The full potential of Steemit and its ecosystem has not been tapped yet. When you look at projects such as DTube and think about what it means if it catches on is mind boggling. So, yes, there is great potential for exposure.
As for myself I am preparing for an exhibition in the next couple of weeks.
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I am going to support you on this venture, I love your ideas and your tenacity. Your articles are soothing to read as well, you have a good voice.
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Yes. so do I
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Thank you!
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Thank you @reddust-- appreciate the support. I have quite a few ideas still on the drawing board, and would like to come up with some kind of community/engagement contests or challenges, centered around art and creativity.
I appreciate the kind words!
Edited to add: I also appreciate the resteem!
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https://steemit.com/art/@paolobeneforti/art-content-creators-have-to-help-themselves-proposing-a-collective-work-to-get-more-visibility-and-steemarket-art-contest-3#
I am sharing this with you as they ask that I share it w other artists - plus it's a great contest to enter
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Thanks for sharing this-- I'll ckeck it out!
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