New to Artists' Alley -> How Much Should I Bring?

[KatrinaDraws]

Hi there,

I am a longtime attendee of Anime Boston, but this year will be my first in the Artists' Alley (or any Artists' Alley, for that matter).
Overall I feel very ready for it, but I have next to no concept of how much I should bring to sell.

I have buttons as well as prints. I am a little less worried about the buttons because I'm going to bring my press with me, partly because I have an assistant to press for me, and mostly because I want to do button commissions (..bringing a button press is okay right? I've seen people with them in the past)...but I guess I need a rough idea of how many of each design I should print.

So this is my call to anyone and everyone who has any level of experience in the Artists' Alley to share how much stuff they bring/sell so I can get a ballpark idea.

Thanks

[Tuberat]

posting here is great - you can get great advice - my advice has already been placed in the beginners guide, which was revamped this year with updates and input from other artists. Have you had a chance to check that out ? you should do that as well

[KatrinaDraws]

I did read the beginners guide, and it's been super helpful to me (especially the survival guide because I am confident that I would not have thought of most of the items on it on my own).

I should probably clarify more clearly that I am not wondering how many *different* prints/designs I should make, but rather around how many prints to make of each.

[Tuberat]

ah, see, i thought i had something in the guide for that too. we certainly used to. Glad to know its been useful anyway....

if its a brand new print (and you're just starting out in general, not just at this con) my advice is NO MORE than 3 of each. what YOU think will be your best seller will almost never be it. and if you have 20 different prints designs that's 60 you'll have to spend money on. if you ever decided to move on from a print (you've gotten better etc) then that's also less money you've wasted if you still have leftovers. a first con, especially, track what is selling and what isn't. then for your next con, make extra of those certain items.

also - if you're worried, bring a thumbdrive with the designs on it. there's a super expensive kinkos practically on site, and i have also heard of a staples not too far away either and if you sell out of something, you can always send an assistant out to make more

[KatrinaDraws]

Alright, thanks!