#i have like. 200 can badges and a bunch of keychains to display too

[sorairomuffler]

nicole bought me srmf plushies for xmas and they arrived today... the collection grows

[nixotinix]

Hello, I came from a convention info post you made

I'm not sure if you'd know, but do you have any idea on how one would be able to sell things at the Artist's Alley? I'm a minor so I'm not sure if I can or not and I haven't found anything helpful

Artist Alley! Now I've never sold anything in artist alley, but I feel like I know a decent amount, so I'll fill you in!

So first, you have to have some kind of portfolio. Something that would show what products you'd sell and the quality of your work. It's best to have a variety of products; things like prints and artbooks for the big spenders, and things like keychains or buttons for the quick and easy spenders. This will draw more people to your table. And try to include both fanart and original work. A 50/50 split is usually looked on kindly.

Once you have your portfolio, you'll need to submit it to the convention runners. Most cons will have a website you can apply through. It's best to apply 3-6 months in advance. Now, depending on the con, the way its determined who gets in and who doesn't is different. The two I've seen most often are first come and jury system. First come, first serve is self explanatory. The first people to apply get in. The jury system is a bit more complicated. Your portfolio will be reviewed by a few people who decide whether they want you at the con. Oh and there isn't usually an age limit, both adults and minors can sell at artist alley. Though, if you are a minor, it's best to bring an adult with you.

Either way, once you're in, you'll need to pay some kind of fee to cover table costs. Depending on the popularity and attendance of the con, these can get pretty expensive. Almost all of these will come with one or maybe two weekend badges for the convention as well. The con I usually go to is $200 for a table and 2 badges.

Then you'll have to work on making your products and display. There's a bunch of videos on how much to make and how to set it up, so feel free to check them out! It's best to figure out how big the table is and practice your display at home.

So! You've prepared everything, you got into the con, and now it's con weekend. It's highly recommended that you bring a good few items: a portable phone charger, a device to read credit cards, snacks and drinks, some little circle stickers (for prices and in case anything sells out), and a cash box that LOCKS. Make sure to keep your cash box out of sight and out of arms reach. Attendees should never know where your cash is stored. In addition, try to keep a notebook where you can keep track of stock so you know exactly how much of what item you sold over the weekend, and so you know when something is running low.

When it comes to interacting with attendees, just be nice! If you see a cosplayer from a show you like, talk to them and maybe direct them to any merch you have of that character! If someone comes up and talks to you about some fandom you like, feel free to engage in the conversation! Just try not to push sales too much, and try not to ignore anyone who wants to buy something from you.

And when it comes to pricing your merch, don't undercut or overprice yourself. Undercutting your work not only hurts you, since you aren't making enough money as you should, and it hurts the artists around you by making their products seem expensive when they're fairly priced. And overpricing can discourage people from checking out your table.

On Sunday, most artists will have a flash sale, where almost if not all of their stock is on sale to try to sell more. Feel free to do this! Just don't undercut yourself too much.

So the con is over and you're back home. Make sure to count up your cash and calculate the net profit. Your net profit will be: your money made, minus travel costs, table costs, hotel costs, and merchandise costs. Basically, the amount of money you made at the con minus how much it took to make the con happen. Try to at least break even.

I think that's about it! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer as best I can in replies! Tysm for your ask anon <3