How to run an Artists Alley table at an anime convention

It's not hard to make money from your art at a convention if you stay organized and know how to use your budget... this is a sort of all-inclusive guide/checklist to help you do that if this is your first time selling in Artists Alley or you just want some tips. I hope you find it helpful!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• access to an office supply store
• access to a print shop (like Kinko's)
• Photoshop (any)
• a portable hard drive or other storage device
• a credit card

1. GETTING A TABLE
   
   It's probably a good idea, if this is your first time, to find someone to share a table with, because the tables are usually large and half a table can be quite enough space, plus it's nice to split the cost.
   
   If the other artist is someone you trust, you will both be able to take breaks and let the other person manage the table for a while. If they are someone you don't know well, make sure to recruit another friend to manage your area while you take breaks, otherwise you might be left holding your bladder and going hungry.
   
   Tables usually go fast, (sometimes in less than a day) so be sure to find out when they will become available, and don't wait to reserve one!
2. STAYING ORGANIZED
   
   Having acquired a table, you'll want to bring the following to the con:
   
   A portfolio bag
   One of those big ones. (Or a large backpack or whatever. Just a big bag where you can put everything and keep flat things flat.) Put everything in it the day before the con, so you won't forget anything.
   
   A clipboard
   One thing you'll want to keep on your clipboard is a list of each item you're selling and how many of each item you have. Every time you sell something, mark it on the list. This will help you keep track of how much money you spend and make, and what items sell the best so you know what to sell at the next convention.
   
   A place to keep your money
   You can have a cash box, or keep it in a less conspicuous place, (like an inner pocket of a backpack or binder, make sure it can zip or close securely.) but keep it all together, and MAKE SURE to start off with a few extra 1, 5 and 10 dollar bills as well as coins for change, because a lot of people will pay you with 20s, or even larger bills! Write down how much change you start out with on your clip board so you can subtract it from the total later.
   
   Binders/portfolios
   I have one for original artwork to display on the table, one for prints to display on the table, (with one of each print inside) and one to keep the duplicate prints in, under the table. I use regular 3-ring binders and buy those cheap plastic sheet-covers, (found at most office supply stores) which I put everything in beforehand and give away with each print or artwork to protect it. You may also want to buy cheap peachy folders or something similar to give away with original art and commissions so people don't have to worry about bending them.
   
   Lastly, know where the print shop closest to the convention/hotel is!
3. TABLE DISPLAY
   
   Like I said above, I like to have two portfolios on the table: one for original art and one for prints. It's also a really good idea to get one or two of those plastic 8.5x11 (regular printer paper size) sign holders, (found at most office supply stores) so you can have a sign with prices/etc on it and display a piece of your art in the other. Just a couple vertical displays like this REALLY spruce up the table, plus people will be able to see your art from across the room! (So you should choose a piece that looks striking from a distance, by standing back from your art and seeing which is the most recognizable and interesting looking from far away.)
   
   Also, it's a really good idea to have some cards with your name and email/website/gallery URL on them, and maybe a small picture of your art so people will remember who they got the card from. You don't have to buy business cards, especially for your first time; just design one in Photoshop, (or whatever program you use) create a new document that's 8.5x11 inches, and copy/paste your card design so there are 8 or 12 or so on the page, then print and cut them out. You can put them in a card stand, but I usually just scatter them on the table. I'd recommend making at least 100 cards to begin with.
   
   Arrange any other items you have on the table too, of course! But keep the binders at the front so it will be easier for people to turn the pages.
4. WHAT TO SELL?
   
   I find that art of popular characters sells MUCH better than obscure ones, so keep that in mind. I've also found that the majority of people who spend money in Artists Alley are girls, (male fans tend to spend more on official collectibles, generally) so popular bishounen sell better than sexy girls. Just FYI.
   
   Original artwork doesn't always sell very well because it's expensive, so you shouldn't rely on it. (It's probably better to put it up for auction in the art show.) Commissions seem to do well. You can do full sized ones and/or small/quick/chibi ones, which some artists prefer because they can do a lot in a short time.
   
   Most people sell prints, which is very simple and usually cheap to make; I highly recommend selling them. I've found that people like large prints, (Kinko's does 11x17s for double the price of a regular print) and you'll be able to charge a lot for them, too. Bookmarks are also cheap and easy to make, and sell well.
   
   Start out with 5-10 of each print because some may not sell as well as others. Start out with about 3 sheets of each bookmark.
   
   If you want to make and sell buttons, stickers or key chains, (which all require a machine) you may want to wait for your second convention before buying a machine to see if you do well with simple stuff the first time around. Or you can ask friends or people on the convention's forum to see if anyone will share their machine with you.
5. PREPARING PRINTS AND MERCHANDISE
   
   I have found that I get very good quality prints by bringing a portable hard drive to Kinko's and using their computers to print them off myself. For this, you'll need a credit card to plug into the computer. I would NOT recommend taking original drawings to Kinko's and asking the employees to scan and print from them, because I've gotten very bad quality images this way. But when you use your own files that you've scanned, you can edit and clean them up with Photoshop.
   
   
   One method for cleaning up an image in Photoshop so that it's ready to print(for traditional artists, of course):
   ---
   * First, be sure to scan at 300dpi! (that's dots/pixels per inch) Your prints will be clear and crisp as opposed to fuzzy or pixelated. Go to the advanced scanner settings to set the dpi.
   *Crop off messy edges by using the rectangle selection tool to select the area you want to keep and go to Edit>crop.
   *To make the blacks darker, whites brighter and the colors more vibrant and clear, go to Image>adjustments>levels (or curves, which is similar) and adjust the sliders. (They're easy to figure out.) If you go to the drop down menu on the Levels window, you'll be able to change the Red, Green and Blue channels separately, which can give you more control over the colors, but you don't have to get that complicated if you don't want.
   *Use the clone stamp tool (or the eyedropper a small, soft-edged brush: all found in the Tools window) to cover up any specks. Don't overdo it or you may get funny looking patches and things.
   *These tools may be in a slightly different location depending on which version of Photoshop you have, but it shouldn't be too different than described here.
   
   
   I do the same for bookmarks as I do for prints. If they're rectangular, (as opposed to an irregular shape) there will probably be a paper cutter you can use at Kinko's, or you can buy a portable one at an office supply store. (I love mine.) There may also be a laminating machine at Kinko's which can be a nice touch. I also sometimes use the laminating machine for large prints. They turn out very sturdy. You could even market them as place mats, hehehe.
6. COMMISSIONS
   
   Contrary to buying pre-made original art, people will usually be happy to commission you to draw their original character or their favorite anime character. For every commission, you should ask for clear reference pictures or detailed written descriptions so you won't get stuck not knowing what the character looks like. You may also want to put up a sign saying what you are and are not willing to draw. Write down every commission you get on your clipboard.
   
   It's a good idea to ask people to pay for half of the commission before you begin, to insure they won't flake on you. Write down how much they pay and how much they still owe. It might be nice to also give them a receipt with the same information on it, plus the time they should pick up the drawing. Make sure you know when they're going to leave the con so you can finish the drawing before then.
   
   Don't take too many commissions!! 3 at a time is reasonable. Make sure to consider how fast you draw and how long you can marathon.
7. PRICING
   
   A simple way to figure out how much you should charge for commissions and original artwork is to ask yourself how much you feel like you should make per hour, figure out how many hours it takes you to draw a picture, and base your price somewhere around there, or a bit higher. If you use expensive art supplies, factor that in as well.
   
   For prints and bookmarks and similar things, calculate how much it costs to make them. Most people double or triple that cost. I personally wouldn't charge more than $10 for regular-sized prints ($5-$7 is usually good, less for black and white prints) or more than $3 for bookmarks. Remember, you'll sell more if they cost less.

Tips & Warnings

• bring food and drink
• bring your cell phone
• bring drawing supplies
• smile!
• Keep your money/art supplies/etc in view of yourself or a friend at all times. You shouldn't have any problems if you're paying attention. :3