Show at Professor Javas - DPChallenge Forums

02/14/2011 12:12:10 AM · #1

I started a new show today at Professor Java's in Albany. I hung 15 canvases, and even a framed print for the first time locally.

It's a bit darker and not as nice as my last show, where each photo had great lighting, but we had lunch there after hanging, and they were definitely generating some interest.

The framed print was a local landmark--basically this photo of the Nott Memorial at Union College:

Here are some snap shots from the room where the show is (just my little Lumix TZ3, not very good in the dark):

If you're local (Albany area), check it out! There will be an artists reception, but I don't have the date yet.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/16/2011 08:17:20 PM · #2

Shameless bump to get attention :)

njsabs

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/16/2011 08:42:07 PM · #3

Very cool....looks great....congrats again!!

CJinCA

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/16/2011 08:55:47 PM · #4

Congrats Neil and I hope you get some sales from your show! What size canvases are those? They all look great but the bigger ones are really impressive.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/16/2011 09:26:30 PM · #5

Thanks.

I almost always get canvases at 16x24 (or for the other aspect ratio, 16x20). So it's probably just an illusion or my bad shots of them if some look much bigger.

So far, I haven't had success in selling with the shows, but you have to keep trying!

CJinCA

Canon EOS-7D

02/16/2011 10:17:22 PM · #6

Thanks for the info Neil. I thought maybe you had some larger ones too but it must have been the angle of your pictures.

After your endorsement, I finally bought a 16x24 canvas from Canvas on Demand with a Groupon and was very pleased with the quality. I just bought another Groupon for a 16x20 canvas and Costco has a coupon in their latest sales catalog for $10 off any of their canvases so I thought I'd try them out too as their prices are very reasonable. I doubt I'll sell anything but we have 4 Art Walks and an Art studio tour every year in our town so I need to get some images printed up so I can join in next year - should be fun to finally see my pictures displayed somewhere!

Message edited by author 2011-02-16 22:18:41.

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

02/17/2011 09:08:30 AM · #7

They look amazing as always Neil! Your work is really inspiring!

02/17/2011 04:18:50 PM · #8

Originally posted by vikas:

They look amazing as always Neil! Your work is really inspiring!

Thanks Vikas!

Now if I could only figure out how to get the people to buy. They do seem to get really great comments...but I must be doing something wrong.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

02/22/2011 11:04:37 AM · #9

For anyone local...we've set a meet the artist reception date of Sunday March 6th, 7-9 pm. There will be free finger food and coffee. :)

They put on the reception, but they also just told me they changed their policy (she said it was in part to cover that), so that I have to pay 10% of all sales to them. (Hopefully, that's 10% of net rather than gross.) Though at the rate I've been selling at these, it will still be 0. :)

See my press release here:

//neilshapiro.artistwebsites.com/pressreleases/artists-reception-scheduled.html

Louis

Nikon D800

02/22/2011 11:35:04 AM · #10

I'm curious if any of your prints have been damaged. These ones seem to be hung pretty close to chairs, tables, patrons', etc. Ever any problem?

Message edited by author 2011-02-22 11:35:12.

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/22/2011 11:35:24 AM · #11

Fabulous, Neil! I don't know how to increase sales (lower price?), but you're doing great getting shows!

kteach

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6

02/22/2011 02:02:11 PM · #12

Looks great, Neil! I'll have to try to stop in to see it in person.

Edited since I read the press release and saw the end date! :)

Message edited by author 2011-02-22 14:04:06.

02/22/2011 02:10:36 PM · #13

Originally posted by Louis:

I'm curious if any of your prints have been damaged. These ones seem to be hung pretty close to chairs, tables, patrons', etc. Ever any problem?

This is the first showing where my prints have really been so close to tables/chairs. It was definitely not the ideal room to hang in. At both Starbucks shows, my prints were much higher up on the wall. So I am indeed worried.

My wife and I had lunch there the day we hung them, and I watched someone dangerously close to one of my prints that is hanging next to a comfy chair and table as he took off his backpack and jacket, whipped out his laptop, etc. So I think there's probably a pretty good chance something will get damaged--probably that one.

Fortunately, most of the canvas prints on display were printed at sample print prices (they have sample written on one of the edges, usually the top, out of sight), so they are at least less expensive to replace. Ironically, the one most likely to get damaged is not a sample...but it was put there because of it's size (square), and aesthetics of the room, rather than fear of damage.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/04/2011 12:05:34 PM · #14

Bump for the locals...

This Sunday night is the reception from 7-9 pm. I'll be there. And more importantly there will be free finger food and coffee. :)

eqsite

Nikon D7100

03/04/2011 12:14:10 PM · #15

A question for you Neil. How do you sell the prints that you have on display? Can people write a check and walk out with the artwork or do you have them visit your web site? I suspect the latter since you mentioned that you are using sample prints from Canvas On Demand. If that's the case, do you think that may be contributing to your lack of sales? People might be more prone to buy on a whim than if they have to visit your website after the fact.

The reason I ask is that I'm hopefully doing a similar sort of showing at a local winery in the next month or so. They've asked to have sellable prints on the walls so people can buy on the spot. They say that they've had success with that model before.

Message edited by author 2011-03-04 12:14:51.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/04/2011 12:58:22 PM · #16

I don't sell on the spot, for a few reasons, primarily the fact that they (most) are samples, and I'd lose my display for the show.

On the other hand, of the four or so shows I've done so far I've only had one opening reception. I wasn't allowed to sell during that because it was a religious holiday and the show was at a synagogue. But then no one asked me there if they could buy one on the spot.

Starting with the last show, I do put info cards under the canvases with prices. Bear in mind also I price the canvases at $175 - $250 at shows (and that's a reduction from my original prices during the other shows). But they are for the most part, 16x24, and it would cost someone around $111 to print one like that, so I don't think that's a bad price.

Actually, this is compounded by a problem I have right now with my new website, since the photos offered there are print-on-demand by a third party, including Canvases, and there are a lot of variables involved, so it's hard to quote people "actual prices". Not to mention that I'd actually prefer to use CanvasOnDemand for the canvas sales (which would mean I'd need to sell direct), but you can't turn off the "canvas" product on the website and still sell regular prints. And I like the way the site lets you configure a print, including framed and matter prints.

Here's an example of the configurator for canvases. You can also go to my site and put a print in your shopping cart, to see how it lets you configure. I think that it's pretty nice, but I don't have a lot of control.

Message edited by author 2011-03-04 12:58:50.

eqsite

Nikon D7100

03/04/2011 01:36:49 PM · #17

Thanks, Neil. I thought you also had a SmugMug account. Is there a reason you don't use that for your prints? You'd be able to turn off the canvas option then. Or are you done with SmugMug?

I decided to bite the bullet and just get a bunch of prints done at my own expense from CoD. I used one of their 30% discounts and had enough made that I could swap out any I was lucky enough to sell. Any that I'm left with I will either put on my own walls or hopefully use in another show. I figured it made sense (at least for my venue) since it would be mostly tourists coming through and the likelyhood of them thinking to visit my site afterwards seems slim.

03/04/2011 02:28:56 PM · #18

I used to buy the full versions--but then I'd buy two (second one half off) to reduce the price of inventory, and before you knew it, I had spent way too much. The samples program allows me to have a much bigger show: I am up to about 30 canvases (and I have four more on order).

And yes, I still have a Smugmug pro gallery (it just has a different url, //nrshapiro.com versus //neilrshapiro.com)--I started the new site because I am not happy with smugmug (my membership expires in April, and I'm considering my options). It's great for showing photos, and having a website, but I think it's better for selling event photos than art photos. They don't offer the same options for matting and framing, and frankly, I think the Smugmug shopping cart is awful (letting users crop), and a pain to configure, because you have to be careful to know each print's aspect ratio, if you only want to offer the ones that match. But even if they did, compare that to how nice it is on my other site, based on fineartamerica, where you get to frame, preview how it looks etc. So all in all, I'm more happy with Fineartamerica as a provider, though not entirely happy there either (it's also a heck of a lot cheaper...$29 a year versus $150)

But all in all, you're probably right, and I'll have to consider "on the spot sales".

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

03/04/2011 02:51:04 PM · #19

Originally posted by eqsite:

May I jump in there on this one? I and 4 other photographers have run a small gallery here in San Francisco for five years now, and have definitely found that if a prospective buyer has the chance to take the art piece home right then and there, sales are better. We invite guest artists (usually painters) in for one-to-two month shows and suggest that they have reserve canvases on hand to fill any holes that develop on the walls from sales. Some buyers will consent to the "red dot" technique and wait until the show is over, but usually, if called upon to wait, prospective buyers sometimes just don't come back, or change their minds.

Edited to add a PS: Neil your work is wonderful and I hope your sales develop rapidly, no matter how you market your work.

Message edited by author 2011-03-04 14:52:48.

03/04/2011 03:35:37 PM · #20

Thanks Alice...that's good advice. I do have some real copies of some of the "best" works hanging, and I'll bring them to Sunday's show, in case that's what someone wants. First, we'll see if anyone actually "asks" to buy. :)

(And your gallery looks very cool!)

Message edited by author 2011-03-04 15:35:54.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

03/13/2011 02:07:54 PM · #21

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Bump for the locals...

This Sunday night is the reception from 7-9 pm. I'll be there. And more importantly there will be free finger food and coffee. :)

Let's see. That was Sunday, the 6th, a week ago.

So, how'd it go, Neil. Any greasy fingers on your prints?
Lots of appreciative lookers? Or?