The "Would You Buy My Swag?" Thread AZ 2010

[IsiInoForever]

to o01101011

Awwww I love your plushie. He is soo cute. I wouldn't mind buying one of your plushies. I think ur handcraft plushies would be a big hit at AZ. As far as price is concern I say judge it by the time it took to make the plush, matierals, and effort. For the price of ur art work,I say around $15-$20 is pretty fair. Go for it!!

[Marzipan]

Kate - I like your stuff. I think the prices are even fair.... except the temporary tattoos. Why would anyone pay $4.00 for something temporary when they could get a magnet or pen for less? I would say go down on your tattoos unless they are larger than they appear or more detailed. Tiny ones (around the size of a fifty cents piece) should go for around one while some that are the size of a small woman's hand should be around three. Anything bigger than that should be between 5-7. That's just my two cents worth.

Axiroth - I like shirt prints. I think a black/white shirt with an Okami image on it would be awesome.

01 - Your plushies rock! I wouldn't spend any more than 8-15 on a plushie though, unless it's one of those "Omg I must has it, money is no object" type of characters.

[xileoh]

Axi-
You know I'd buy from you!
I know that mass-printing isn't allowed, but I think if you make a few, original ones, you can sell them... xD

[christi-chan]

Um.. so I've been debating for a while if I should start selling 4x6 (postcard) size versions of my prints. I mainly sell 8.5x11 size right now.

Here are some links to pics that I sell prints of so you can get an idea:
http://christi-chan.deviantart.com/art/Might-of-the-Darkness-153517053
http://christi-chan.deviantart.com/art/Gaze-of-the-Moon-130895758
http://christi-chan.deviantart.com/art/Mistress-9-and-Black-Lady-126308355

I mean, is it something you think people would buy? Feedback is much appreciated.

[Draikinator]

I've got a bunch of original traditionals up like
http://draikinator.deviantart.com/art/W ... -155439092
http://draikinator.deviantart.com/art/E ... -154998136
http://draikinator.deviantart.com/art/Chu-153981637
and then I've got two or three anime style paintings for sale
http://draikinator.deviantart.com/art/S ... -155097987
http://draikinator.deviantart.com/art/Cold-144833708
but what I'm really worried about is I wrote this little Otaku theme cookbook that I'm going to sell a few copies of. I'm kind of scared that it won't sell. It's got recipes from shows like Sea Salt Ice Cream and Witch Parfait, and poffins and onigiri and stuff... and cutesy little drawings for every recipe like
http://draikinator.deviantart.com/art/S ... -152931473
and then lots and lots of colour and fun narration. What do you think? I know I can't mass produce since I've done the whole AA thing a couple of times, but how many do you think I should have printed?

[o01101011]

I know it might be harsh, but honestly I wouldn't buy either. I've seen what is mass printed for artist alley and even some of the amazing artists out there are putting a risk out there now by printing things for conventions. If you have the money to put out front, or don't mind the disappointment/regret after the con when you go home with ones left over then yeah go for it and test the market.

Maybe try offering your services for at-con commissions? people often like to get pieces drawn of their favorite characters, even more then normal, if they can leave that day/end of the con with a finished piece instead of having to wait for it to be mailed.

[Marzipan]

I would buy an Otaku cookbook.

[KateSkirmish]

@marzipan- late reply is late. the temporary tats are only about 2 inches tall, but they are expensive because they cost a lot to make. i think ill just do a few so i dont lose too much if no one buys. thanks for your honest opinion (probably never wouldve known it sounded overpriced).

@draikinator- i love original ideas like yours. the cookbook sounds really cool, but AA might not be where its most successful since it has a very specific niche. i could definitely see it being popular with communities on the internet (get out there and promote it!), but for artist alley odd, unique stuff is always risky because people dont go in thinking "this year im going to get an otaku cookbook". if you sell these, only make what youre comfortable with and maybe offer to ship if you run out. also, make sure people see it and can understand what it is at just a glance (its all about advertising).

[Marzipan]

Two inches is actually a good size. I'd stick with what you have then. I thought they were smaller for some reason. I just couldn't tell how big they were.

[Kyaroru]

so, would anyone buy plastic party cups with drawings of things like greek gods and goddesses and popular characters on them in sharpie (color, not just black) for 50 or 25 cents?

[Marzipan]

Plastic like the cheap disposable kind or plastic like a tumbler you can use again and again?

[Kyaroru]

I was thinking of the cheap, disposable kind, but as I haven't bought them yet, I could try to find the kind you can use again and again if there would be any interest. because those are more expensive if it ends up being a flop. if i used the reusable kind, it would be more like $1.50

[Marzipan]

I would be interested in the tumblers as long as they were well drawn. =) 1.50 sounds good too.

[SailorAstera]

I will be at Lilly's Art table sharing the space with her.

I'm taking advance commissions for illustrations that can be picked up at the convention. These will be full body, traditionally colored illustrations in colored pencil for $25. They come matted and ready to be framed - payment is made in advance through PayPal or Money Order. Please email me at Sakura@sailorastera.com to set one of these up. Here's a sample of the type of work you will get (click on the thumb to see it larger):

I will also have some custom plushies available for purchase (assuming they don't sell before the convention). They are:
- 18" PGSM Sailor Moon [picture] - $150
- 7" Bunny Haruhi [picture] - $40
- 7" Sailor Astarte (from the musicals) [picture] - $40
- 7" Esmeraude (Emerald) [picture] - $40

I was going to be having a raffle to win a custom 7" plushie as a character of your choice but I can't sell raffle tickets! So I'm working on a new plan...

I will be accepting $5 sketch commissions at the convention and I will also have prints for $5. Some originals will be available for $20-40. Most of my art is Sailormoon but I will have a few other series mixed in. You can see stuff that will be available in this folder on DA.

Some other things I will have:
- Dark Moon Earrings [picture] will be available for $26/pair. Please contact me in advance if you intend to get a pair because these are popular
- Keychains of my "Sailor Legs" series for $2/ea.
- Starry Sky Orgel replica for $50 [picture]

Thanks for reading

[o01101011]

Keep in mind that you can give away the raffle tickets free, but can't sell raffle tickets. That's one of the big AZ rules that have come about in the past few years.

Gonna upload some pictures later today of some new phone charms to see if there would be any interest, as well as a comparison picture of my america!plush to another size im working on, to see what size people like.

[SailorAstera]

Oh really? Well, that puts a nix in my whole plan. I will have to rethink my whole weekend! Curious as to what sparked that rule?

A similar question: what if I said anyone who purchases something from my table is eligible to win the raffle? In other words, would it be acceptable to give raffle tickets away to people who buy something? Thanks for your info

[o01101011]

I think that is allowed, but you can always shoot a PM or email off to the con staff to be sure. Like including it as an extra with the purchase (its still technically free for the buyer, so I don't see why it would be a problem). I think the con just didn't want people making a ton of money on raffle stuff, as the person was essentially making one thing, and getting tons of "buyers" for it. Thus making more money on it then they would normally. That or it was a state law problem..or something happened at AZ '07 or '08. I forget.

Glad I pointed it out now though, otherwise you would have had to rethink on the spot come the con.

[SailorAstera]

Yeah thanks for reminding me! I read the rules so I knew about the raffles not being allowed, but after going to AB this weekend I forgot.

Good to know this far in advance so I can plan on having some more stuff with me. My only issue now is packing space for flying. But I don't want to drive again, that wasn't fun

[o01101011]

Yeah i've done that drive before. Nooot fun. (except playing with a gerbil in the car, that was fun. ah youth)

Alright folks, could I get some opinions and suggestions maybe? I still have no idea about other things I could make, characters, series, ect wise.

Hetalia mochi~!
(prussia is so smug...)










http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/ ... rms033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/ ... rms024.jpg

Also, plush comparisons...


And yeah that's my fai staff head behind america, I wasn't kidding about his size ^^;; The tiny is maybe 5"?

Also experimented with a Soul eater Ragnarok plush..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/ ... rms045.jpg

And fun little monster pouches
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/ ... rms048.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/ ... rms053.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/ ... rms046.jpg

[SailorAstera]

Your plushies are great! Haha those monster pouches are also really cute. Do they have straps? They could make great cellphone carriers for cosplayers xD