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The adventures of Lori Buff, a studio potter and teacher, as she makes ceramic art and enjoys life with friends, family and some dogs. Travel and other interesting stuff is also discussed.
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Rain, Rain...
The sound of rain, something we don't hear enough in Georgia anymore, it's cleansing and rejuvenating, even romantic, it's something I've rejoiced over enough to dance in. But not today. Today it's another insult in an already miserable weekend. Yes, you guessed it, this show is not going very well. Okay, that's an understatement, this is going down as the worst show to date. So even though I know I'm not supposed to break down early I'm planning my exit strategy. I'm not worried about the promoters, I'm unafraid of not being invited back, I'm not intending to ever go back to this show. Besides, they haven't event pretended to notice that I'm there. It's possible they don't want to hear me complain about my booth being put across the sidewalk from another potter. I think it's bad form but she's a very nice woman and her work is much different than mine, except it's wheel thrown, largely functional pottery also. I assume if we were next door neighbors we'd become friends. She's been doing this for many years, I'm sure I could learn a lot from her.
I've sold two pieces so far this weekend. That has covered less than 50% of my entry fee not including the cost of making the pieces and my time. So many people have come into my booth, ignored my greeting and walked back out after a few minutes of looking around. It's just rude. I understand if people are engaged in a conversation with friends that they might not hear me. I understand that some people may suffer from hearing loss or some other problem that prevents them from hearing me. But the majority of people shouldn't miss my greeting in a quiet booth. I wonder if they are afraid that if they respond to my greeting they might see me as a human being who has put a part of herself into her art that they have no intention to buy.
I'm really pretty introverted, I'm usually quite happy to go unseen and unheard but I'm finally feeling a strong direction in my art, I've got this entire theme planed which will tie my functional work nicely with the horse hair raku. I've got some really beautiful, well made pieces in this show. And truth be known, the feedback that I have gotten is comments about how beautiful my work is. It's not nice enough to buy, these are the parting comments. That feels better than being ignored completely but not as nice as someone who truly loves a piece. Even if they don't buy it, I love to see that person that really enjoys a piece. I've not seen that enough this weekend so I've let these people make me feel invisible and worthless. Did you ever make a boat out of newspaper and sail it down the currents in the gutter? I want to make one, clime aboard and sail away.
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery
I've sold two pieces so far this weekend. That has covered less than 50% of my entry fee not including the cost of making the pieces and my time. So many people have come into my booth, ignored my greeting and walked back out after a few minutes of looking around. It's just rude. I understand if people are engaged in a conversation with friends that they might not hear me. I understand that some people may suffer from hearing loss or some other problem that prevents them from hearing me. But the majority of people shouldn't miss my greeting in a quiet booth. I wonder if they are afraid that if they respond to my greeting they might see me as a human being who has put a part of herself into her art that they have no intention to buy.
I'm really pretty introverted, I'm usually quite happy to go unseen and unheard but I'm finally feeling a strong direction in my art, I've got this entire theme planed which will tie my functional work nicely with the horse hair raku. I've got some really beautiful, well made pieces in this show. And truth be known, the feedback that I have gotten is comments about how beautiful my work is. It's not nice enough to buy, these are the parting comments. That feels better than being ignored completely but not as nice as someone who truly loves a piece. Even if they don't buy it, I love to see that person that really enjoys a piece. I've not seen that enough this weekend so I've let these people make me feel invisible and worthless. Did you ever make a boat out of newspaper and sail it down the currents in the gutter? I want to make one, clime aboard and sail away.
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery
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Oh Lori, gosh, horrible...one of THOSE shows....I hope it makes the rest of your season look better. And raining too? And they put you across from another potter? Cruel and heartless.
ReplyDeleteHi Gary, thanks. I guess the good news is that it couldn't make the rest of the year look any worse but it is the last festival until Fall. I hate ending on such a low note. It seems that in places with lots of chain stores people buy less locally made, hand made goods.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear the show didn't go well. You never really know which shows will be like that until you're there. Hope the next goes super. Be well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue, the next show will probably be on-line so the weather won't be a factor.
DeleteOh I know how you feel and I do hate the rude folks who don't respond to a greeting. It's as if they are afraid if they say hi they might be obligated to purchase some pottery. How was the other potter handling her sales, was she making some, I find it interesting to see how other potter's engage the public without making them nervous or want to leave the booth. I am like you I am introverted and usually not comfortable talking with folks but lately I've gotten better, maybe because my pottery has improved. I hope you share the theme you have planned, Sorry about the horrible day, especially since you were in such a good frame of mind and had your theme all planned out and all, what a let down. You would think there would have been someone who needed a last minute mothers day gift, wouldn't you? geez.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, Your work is always evolving nicely, I'm sure you can discuss a lot about it with others.
DeleteThe other potter made back her booth & judging fee on Saturday so she figured she'd stay and try to make up her other costs today. Apparently she sold a more pieces than I did but she has done the show in the past so I expect some of that to be return customers.
I just looked at your gallery page again since it had been a while, I like that fluted mug and the long casserole and the fluted covered casserole - nice slide show.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, I really appreciate reading that today.
DeleteShows are a crapshoot, no doubt about it! You probably need more upscale venues. Your work is so elegant.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the rain at an inopportune time.
Thanks Suzie, maybe you're right. An affluent area doesn't make it upscale, these folks are still used to shopping at T.J. Max & other similar places.
DeleteWhile we were packing up the tent we overheard someone trying to talk down the vendor next to us. She was selling yard art & had no tent so she was out in the rain. Instead of appreciating that she was out there getting soaked to the bone to try to earn a living he saw it as an opportunity to help her earn less money per hour. He had his kids with him too. What a crappy lesson to teach them. I couldn't resist talking about what an inconsiderate cheapskate he is loud enough that he and his children could hear...it felt pretty good.
Oh girl, you could go back on my blog a year ago and read very similar posts. I had the worst shows ever and vowed not to do anymore of them. I made more in Jan and Feb of this year on commissions than I made at all of the outdoor shows I did last year. I would highly recommend thinking about where you would like to focus your energies next year and what you could do to avoid these shows that are such a waste of time and take so much both physically and mentally. I found some nice galleries to work with, some commissions and I may start my etsy shop back up. Anything to avoid those awful outdoor shows! It's not you or your work, it's just a public that is not art educated and has no taste. It's like that with everything in this Target/Walmart society we live in!! So sorry, but I can totally relate to what you are saying:)
ReplyDeleteHey Tracey, I knew you could relate. I was thinking about your post from last year. I think you're right about moving into more galleries and venues where my pieces would be selling on commission. I love doing shows for the nice people I meet, some don't even buy from me and I still like them. But it's true, I'm getting to old to do a lot of festivals.
DeleteEverything you describe is pretty much every craft fair and the like that I have done. It also describes my shop when I had one, people would come in you would say hello to no response, they would see the cabinet with whatever object they had looked at see it wasn't under £5 and leave again without saying a word.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I had a shop, I am a major introvert though I love the teaching side of my business, but prefer to make by myself. Having a shop got me over most of the nervousness that comes with throwing in front of a crowd though.
Hi Joseph, welcome to the blog, I hope you enjoy it. I often write more positive posts than this one, you should check back for them. I appreciate your comments and feel your pain. It seems some people are looking for a "deal" more then they are looking for beauty and quality. We make for the people that appreciate it and try not to be too effected by the people who don't.
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