[BakaBarbarian]

The first thing you see coming out of the registration lines is Artist Alley. It's easy to think it's a great opportunity to make a personal connection with those who use their brains and talent to create unique works of art. I like knowing the story behind art.

Instead, I was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of...everything. Most of it not very good, and a lot of it not all that creative.

How many print artists do you really NEED in an Artist Alley? Ironed plastic bead magnet-makers? Crochet figures? Jewelry makers? Button-makers? Independent comic artists? How many polar fleece hats with ears or faux fur tails does one need before enough is enough? I could count on one hand the number of truly original booths out there. Everything else was such a repetition of other booths, it all ran together. I ended up spending much less money at ACEN than I have at smaller cons' Artist Alleys, because it was simply too big, confusing, annoying, and repetitive.

Some of the booths that contained popular crafts showed awesome craftsmanship and attention to detail, but a lot of it didn't. Just because you got hold of a button machine doesn't mean your art works on a button. Just because you have access to an iron and plastic beads doesn't mean your stuff is worth putting on my fridge. Just because you wrote a comic book doesn't mean I should care.

And this brings me to another issue with Artist Alley: the attitude of some of the artists. Especially at this con, artists are not unique and special snowflakes. Chances are, there are a dozen others who have done the same kind of art, perhaps even the exact same art, and done it better. I don't deserve an annoyed look when I interrupt an artist's sketching to ask a question or see their work in progress to gauge whether I want a commission. I saw a lot of bored sketch artists there. Maybe that means there needs to be less sketch artists.

And of course, much of the art wasn't about anime at all. I realize there's been a general trend toward lumping all forms of geek culture with anime. But seriously, how much Dr. Who and steampunk is acceptable at an anime con before it stops being, well, an anime con?

Another gripe, although this one has nothing to do with the artists and everything to do with ACEN in general: the clientele on Sunday was the sketchiest I've ever seen. I felt like I was at a flea market, only with people who had bathed less frequently. I was there Saturday and came back Sunday to pick up a comission, and I felt sorry for the artists. I noticed some who were packing up early because the people with Sunday badges were so not worth their time. I saw congoers bashing even the awesome art out there because they couldn't buy things that probably took a lot of time and energy to make for a buck. I saw people who had no clue who Hello Kitty was. Hello...freakin'...Kitty. Let that sink in a minute. I don't know what ACEN can do to weed out these people, but I'm guessing it has to do with ACEN's reputation in general, attracting people who are just there to behave badly instead of appreciating the art and craft of anime and all things related. ACEN's gone for quantity over quality for some years now, this is apparently the result.

Anyway, my solution to the issue of Artist Alley overload: jury the show. It's how big art shows do it, it's how ACEN needs to do it. The alley should be half its current size, probably less. There should be no more than 1-3 artists who make similar art, with the possible exception of comic book artists (and even then, I would limit the number in each genre), in which case I would suggest they get their own corner of artist alley. Each artist should be required to send in photos of their work, photos of their works in progress, photos of their working space, and an application that describes some of their methods, supplies, and design philosophies--if they don't have a design philosophy, that's a dead ringer for someone who shouldn't be there. They should have to submit photos of their setups at past cons or other shows. Yes, this discriminates against those who are new to Artist Alley, but really, ACEN is not the venue for the inexperienced. Artist Alley staff should evaluate those entries and choose the best ones, with perhaps a small waiting list. This will eliminate a lot of the quality issues and make Artist Alley a more enjoyable place to shop.

I hope that Artist Alley next year is a better experience for everyone. A lot of the artists I talked to were frustrated, bored, and annoyed with both the overwhelming nature of Artist Alley as well as the Sunday clientele. That's not fair to the people who spend the money to get into a show like this, or to the people who have money to spend and are too overwhelmed to spend it.

[The Chainmail Guy]

I have to disagree entirely. It is not the responsibility of ACen or the Artist Alley staff to sort out what types of art are in the alley, or how many of each type of artist gets in. They are responsible for making it fair so that everyone has equal opportunity to get in and get their work seen, and that everything is kept safe and legal.

It is the artist's responsibility to make sure their work stands out from everyone else. A lot of that does come down to not only what you make, but how you display it and how you present yourself. It seems to me that your complaint then is with artists that you feel don't put in that extra effort to make their work stand out from the crowd. Fine, you have the right to have that opinion. Simply don't buy from them then.

As for content getting away from anime, firstly, that's something that's been happening long before and well outside the Artist Alley. It happens with all conventions. People have different interests, and go to events with similar cultures while still maintaining those interests. If you removed any merchandise from the convention, people would still attend in cosplays and swag that weren't strictly anime. Can you really blame an artist for going along with what is popular?

It seems to me your complaints are more aimed at the convention culture in general. If you really have that big of a problem with it, then simply don't go. Otherwise, you'll simply have to accept the fact that while ACen and the Artist Alley are about fun, they are still a business venture, and a business MUST appeal to the widest audience possible in order to grow and thrive.

[IcyPanther]

I would also have to disagree.

ACEN was my first con and I enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. I think a juried show would take away from allowing artists that experience of a bigger con and limiting the amount of work. It's up to the attendees to choose who they wish to buy from and if they don't feel like a piece of art should be bought based on quality or the medium presented -- i.e., you suggested how some art should not be on buttons -- then simply don't buy from them. It's a learning experience for the artists as well as the con goers.

I do agree though that there should be some limits. I had the lovely experience of being next to an artist who had 3 tables, was by herself, only sold prints, and said prints were all the generic face shape, type and style. Since she was the entire section of the table next to me and her display was much taller, I felt that mine got overwhelmed. I think artists should be limited to 1 or 2 tables, unless they actually have several people in their studio and can branch to three. Having that many for one person prevents other artists from getting in and it's rather repetitive. EDIT: Sorry, I was under the impression they were still togther! My bad! So I can't group them together like that, although I will say it was still a mass of the same style art in a very small space =p -- Not to mention, her husband/boyfriend was an aisle away with his own set of tables selling the same thing...

All in all, the con is what you make of it. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed chatting with most of the fellow artists around me. We were all pretty happy (if a bit slap-happy from lack of sleep) but I didn't see any 'bored' sketch artists or artists who didn't want to be there. Again, it's what you make of it.

Looking forward to attending next year!

This post has been edited by IcyPanther: 30 April 2012 - 06:51 AM

[linlindesu]

I agree with chainmail guy. The artist that doesn't stick out won't sell too well and will probably not come back.
I hate the iron bead trend as much as everyone else but it is art, maybe there are lots of prints but I saw loads of prints that stuck out and a few even reached into my wallet.
And why complain about artists doing non anime related work? Would you also complain about non anime cosplay? I was happy to see booths with anime art also carrying fantastic batman prints , it can really show the range of an artist.

[Sapphy]

I also have to disagree. I absolutely loved browsing the Artists' Alley this year (when I had time!). Yes, a lot of the products were repetitive (and that's nothing unusual for any conventions I've gone to), but there was a lot of unique styles going around and I loved it all.

Anime Central is NOT a professional art gallery and should not be treated as such. Not only would it create an immense workload for the already overworked Anime Central Exhibition staff, it would keep a lot of artists out of the alley that deserve a chance to try and sell their work. Speaking as an Artists' Alley newcomer this year, I disagree with you when you say that ACen is not for the inexperienced. I'm as inexperienced as you get--before this weekend I'd never sold a single bit of my art to anyone, much less run a booth for three days specifically to do so. It was a WONDERFUL experience, the most fun I've had at Anime Central ever, and I plan to come back next year to enjoy it as an Alley artist some more.

I'm not sure what percentage of ACen artists make a living off of the work they sell in the Alley here and at other conventions, but a lot of us do it as an extension to our hobby. "Jurying" the Alley would encourage only the "top" studios to apply and leave out the chance for equally amazing little guys to register. The feeling I got being part of the Alley was that we were all in it together. Sure, we technically had competition (I got a little sad every time someone passed on my buttons to go to the button guy next door) but the whole feeling of the thing was very inclusive. Jurying would create a very excluding atmosphere and I don't like the idea of that happening.

The first year I ever browed ACen's Artist Alley, I was disappointed. At the time, it was small, cramped, and nothing like the expansive Alley I had been to at Otakon. This year really impressed me--the aisles were wide, the art was wonderful, and the artists I spoke to were all truly excited to be there and proud of their work. There's nothing wrong with being proud of the work that you do. I'm not a big print buyer myself--I love looking at them and there were quite a few I admired, but I just don't have the wallspace, but I still found plenty at the Alley that I wanted to buy.

In regards to the artists packing up early on Sunday, I did notice that as well starting around the 2:30-3:00 mark. I figured the artists had a plane to catch or somesuch. I'm local, but I'm sure there's quite a few people who flew in to show at the convention.

[Grimby]

IcyPanther, on 29 April 2012 - 09:19 PM, said:

I would also have to disagree.

ACEN was my first con and I enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. I think a juried show would take away from allowing artists that experience of a bigger con and limiting the amount of work. It's up to the attendees to choose who they wish to buy from and if they don't feel like a piece of art should be bought based on quality or the medium presented -- i.e., you suggested how some art should not be on buttons -- then simply don't buy from them. It's a learning experience for the artists as well as the con goers.

I do agree though that there should be some limits. I had the lovely experience of being next to an artist who had 3 tables, was by herself, only sold prints, and said prints were all the generic face shape, type and style. Since she was the entire section of the table next to me and her display was much taller, I felt that mine got overwhelmed. I think artists should be limited to 1 or 2 tables, unless they actually have several people in their studio and can branch to three. Having that many for one person prevents other artists from getting in and it's rather repetitive. Not to mention, her husband was an aisle away with his own set of tables selling the same thing...

All in all, the con is what you make of it. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed chatting with most of the fellow artists around me. We were all pretty happy (if a bit slap-happy from lack of sleep) but I didn't see any 'bored' sketch artists or artists who didn't want to be there. Again, it's what you make of it.

Looking forward to attending next year!

I have to completely agree with what was said here. This was also my first time at a big con like Acen, it was only our third con ever in the artist alley. I feel as though a juried ally would mean less experienced people would never get a chance at getting into a big con like this. I understand that not all of the art in the alley is the best art out there, but who would judge what is worthy of getting in? All in all, if an artist doesn't have good enough work to sell, chances are they're not going to come back next year. This means that the ally essentially weeds out the bad artists all on it's own, while still at least allowing new people a chance.

What it boils down to is that ACen's rules for getting into the alley are completely fair. First come first serve. Allow new people in, and the 3 table max makes a lot of sense (Although I seriously can't believe the wife/husband duo that took up more than three tables... I can't believe ACen staff didn't notice/allowed that to happen) It's up to the con goers to decide what art is worthy of buying and what isn't. The ally is there to please the con goers, so if people like non-anime related things, then that's not the Arist Alley's fault... It's the con goers.
My biggest complaint would have actually been with the same tables Icy Panther was talking about(and a couple others)--Tables from last year that had the exact same prints from last year, with only one or two new additions. As a congoer last year, I really enjoyed their work and was looking forward to what they would have this year... but I was only disappointed when I saw the exact same work from this year with only one or two new prints.
I'm sure that the sketch artists looked bored not because they weren't happy to be there... but because they were overshadowed by these tables who mass-produce the same prints time and time again. It's not their fault con-goers are awed by the massive displays of digital artists, while the sketch artists have meager displays and don't get as much attention.

Like the Chainmail Guy said, I think your gripes are with the convention atmosphere as a whole, not the artist alley itself. To each their own, but speaking as someone who was in the alley I have to say that this year's turnout was pretty good. There were a lot of great prints, a lot of creative plushies, and some really cool jewelry and keychains.

But really, what is it you're looking for in the artist alley? It seems like you have a gripe with people who sell prints, people who do pixel arts, people who sell jewelry, keychains, plushies.... What is it you're looking to find in the artist alley? There are only so many mediums available to artists(especially considering this is NOT most artist's full-time occupation Are you expecting the artists at ACen to all be professionals? I really don't see what your point was besides you hating on artists who are just trying to share their art with fellow con-goers.

This post has been edited by Grimby: 29 April 2012 - 10:06 PM

[Sapphy]

Grimby, on 29 April 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

It seems like you have a gripe with people who sell prints, people who do pixel arts, people who sell jewelry, keychains, plushies.... What is it you're looking to find in the artist alley?

I was sort of wondering what this person actually WANTED to find in the Artist Alley, too, what with all the things they said they were sick of.

OP, what things did you ENJOY seeing at the convention? Telling us what you liked about it and what you want to see more of is a much better way to help shape an Alley more to your liking for next year.

[BakaBarbarian]

Just an example: http://www.nekocon.com/?page_id=272 . A lot of shows, both anime shows and other kinds of art shows, are juried. Plenty of the smaller anime cons are. Meaning that only a certain % of booths go to certain crafts. Yes, there are only so many media out there. That makes the case even more for limiting the number of each type of booth out there.

"A website or online photo album with your work in it is a must once you apply for table space.

This is not a ‘First come, First served’ table request process. As with previous years, all Artist Alley Table Request submissions are juried by a committee. It is not soley based on how advance or amateur the artist technique is, everyone is more than welcome to apply (and we encourage it)! We are always on the look out for up and coming artists and studios.

What is a Juried Show?
The annotation ‘juried’ means you must submit website or image links which are reviewed by a jury (a knowledgeable committee) and your work will be accepted into the show based on technical skill, creativity, the medium, and/or other requirements worth recognizing. Hobbyists and Professional alike are welcome to submit once the table request forms are activated."

ACEN is a huge show. There's a lot to do. It's very hard to justify coming to Artist Alley when you have to wade through dozens of booths featuring the same thing, some of which is low quality, when you have 6 hours to get to 3 panels and 2 photo shoots and line up for the masquerade and meet up with your friends...etc. It's very hard to find what you want to spend money on. And I think it's very disingenuous to sell table spaces to artists when many of them don't even have a chance to make money because everyone who is brave enough to foray through Artist Alley is overwhelmed by the time they get to the booth, or tired from all the running around looking for what they want. Or they're too over-scheduled to appreciate anything, much less the time and talent the artist put into his or her work.

This would probably keep out a few of the less experienced artists--that's a good thing. Let them hone their craft at shows and cons where there is less to do, and con-goers can take the time to give them feedback. Trust me, I see it at other shows, both art shows and cons. But if someone is extremely talented, the level of experience shouldn't matter. Their art is that good? Fine, let 'em in. Maybe it'll keep the more experienced people hungry to see some upstarts.

Don't get me wrong. I love a lot of the media out there. I have my fair share of crocheted Nintendo characters, some iron-on beads on my fridge, lots of buttons, a few good prints, and some fantastic jewelry and accessories, all of which I bought from artists. I'd prefer to spend money in Artist Alley, it has a more personal touch. But it's hard to develop that personal touch when the show has too much quantity to let the quality shine.

[railas]

I don't think a juried artist alley would be a good idea. As chainmail said, it is up to the artist to make themselves stand out. If their wares aren't as quality as the others in your opinion, or if they simply don't have what you're looking for, its as simple as not buying from them. I don't think its particularly fair to restrict it to the ones deemed "quality". What would happen then, would be that the same group of artists getting in each time. Everybody has different taste with art too. Some like to go for the dark, scary looking pieces, others like realistic, others like cutesy chibi. If you started limiting like that, it would get even more complicated and perhaps jurying the alley would do exactly what you don't want it to, losing more variety.
I also was wondering just what sort of things you hoped to find in the alley if you're ruling out 80% of the mediums that people use. Whats left?

[Grimby]

railas, on 29 April 2012 - 10:39 PM, said:

I don't think a juried artist alley would be a good idea. As chainmail said, it is up to the artist to make themselves stand out. If their wares aren't as quality as the others in your opinion, or if they simply don't have what you're looking for, its as simple as not buying from them.

Exactly. If you don't like the art, then don't buy it. The congoers directly influence who is successful in the artist alley, so if you like something and want to see more of a certain type of art, then by sure to support the artist. I myself spent money at tables that I wanted to see more of. There were some newer atists in the alley this year whos style I really liked, so I made sure to buy a print or two to support what I thought was creative and new.

I even bid in the art show this year. I actually had the luck of running into the artist later, and I was happy to find out it was her first submission ever in the art show. I was also happy to find out I could support a fellow artist who had a unique piece unlike any other in the alley.

A juried alley would mean that the people (if it even is a group of people deciding who gets in... and what exactly are their qualifications?) deciding what art gets into the alley would be directly deciding what kind of art the people at the con like. What if the panel who is jurying the ally doesn't like chibis? That would mean that anyone who likes chibis would be disappointed that there aren't any chibis in the Alley. A juried alley would mean that it would be restricing the types of art from the very get go, and limiting the variety just because of personal preferences.
A first come first serve basis is also a great way of seeing who is actually prepared for the con. Unprepared people wouldn't be on the ball, meaning they would be too late to get in. The artist alley was filled in 12 minutes this year... The people who were prepared and really wanted a chance at getting into ACen were the people who got in. With a juried alley, people could apply at any time and still have the same chance as everyone else.

What Railas said would also be true. If only the cream of the crop were being selected for the alley each year... would it not be the same people, time and time again? Which would also present the problem of what I saw this year of return artists selling the same prints.

All in all, a juried alley would be much too subjective for my taste. Even speaking from a con-goers perspective(and not as someone who was selling all of that jewelry, pixel arts, plushies, etc that you seem to dislike so much) I would hate to know that the artists in the alley were all hand-picked by some mysterious people who may not have had the same taste in art as myself. I would feel as though I were missing out on some great artists who got denied simply because some man behind the curtain deemed there were already too many "print artists" in the alley.

I understand that the alley is very overwhelming and that with panels/photoshoots to get to it can be a bit rushed... But when it comes down to it I would much rather be overwhelmed and have too many options (and be able to make a final decision on my own) than be underwhelmed by a smaller number of artists, and maybe miss out on a few of my favorite prints/etc because of a juried alley.

[BakaBarbarian]

My last post specifically said

"Don't get me wrong. I love a lot of the media out there. I have my fair share of crocheted Nintendo characters, some iron-on beads on my fridge, lots of buttons, a few good prints, and some fantastic jewelry and accessories, all of which I bought from artists. I'd prefer to spend money in Artist Alley, it has a more personal touch. But it's hard to develop that personal touch when the show has too much quantity to let the quality shine. "

If you're going to get hung up on accusing me of not liking art, or some random percentage of media out there, you're welcome to waste your time missing my point. My point is--lots of other cons and art shows do this. Those who have had any experience with juried art shows know that it doesn't come down to "oh, I don't like chibis." You get quality people who can recognize quality work, even if it's not their style. I'm sure if ACEN needed help with this, there are some QUALITY art schools in the area--the Art Institute of Chicago comes to mind (it IS one of the best art museums in the world ^_~), but if you're looking for something smaller, College of DuPage has an excellent art department as well--with faculty who can educate people as to how to jury a show, if not help do it themselves.

I'm not sure why, with ACEN, there's always some reason why we can't have quality over quantity. Other shows manage it, and it's a lot more fair to the artists, who are, after all, at least trying to make back their booth fees and materials costs, even if they're not in it to actually make any kind of real money. I'd rather see quality artists coming back year after year, than have them drop out because they can't even make back their costs (something I was hearing from some of the artists I was talking to) because the Artist Alley is too overwhelming.

But hey, like I said, if you want to make this about me somehow not liking art, even though I've explained that I do, that's cool. Read into it what you want. I don't do anime cons, but I have been in a number of art shows, and I can tell you from that perspective that often, the bigger the show, the less fair it is to the artists, and after all, what's the point of Artist Alley if it's not about supporting the artists?

[Sapphy]

I apologize if it seems like anyone here is taking the suggestion of a juried alley personally, but speaking for myself only, it really does strike a pretty personal chord when you mention that "most of" the art in the Alley was not very good. It's hard not to take it at least a little bit personally when you're addressing the whole of the forum and telling us that you thought most of the art was rubbish.

And in the plainest terms: I would NOT have been at ACen this year if the alley were juried, because I wouldn't have met the qualifications to enter. Before ACen I didn't have much of a portfolio at all of my current style. The comic I used to dabble in (from which my studio's namesake was born) wasn't spectacular and didn't really stand out among the thousands of other webcomics out there. I kept more to doodles than anything else. Not much of a portfolio. When I decided to do the Alley, I took ACen as a huge motivator to do art. I told myself, "You're going to sign up for a table, you are going to put out a lot of art, and you are going to be AWESOME." I did my damnedest to live up to it.

Keeping my ears open throughout the weekend I never heard anyone complain about any of the booths in the Alley. What I did hear was a lot of indecision caused by the phrase, "Everything's so COOL this year, I don't know what to buy!" and I don't consider that a bad thing at all. I fully support a large show that allows any artist to give it a shot. As it's been said, if they don't do well at the convention, one of two things will likely happen: They will not come back next year, or they will work to improve and offer something new for the following year. I find it very unlikely that people would come back year after year if they were losing money each time.

This post has been edited by Sapphy: 30 April 2012 - 12:08 AM

[Kikai]

IcyPanther, on 29 April 2012 - 09:19 PM, said:

I do agree though that there should be some limits. I had the lovely experience of being next to an artist who had 3 tables, was by herself, only sold prints, and said prints were all the generic face shape, type and style. Since she was the entire section of the table next to me and her display was much taller, I felt that mine got overwhelmed. I think artists should be limited to 1 or 2 tables, unless they actually have several people in their studio and can branch to three. Having that many for one person prevents other artists from getting in and it's rather repetitive. Not to mention, her husband was an aisle away with his own set of tables selling the same thing...

I saw during set up that you were next to "her". I feel for you.

Also, the man you are talking about is not her husband, they are actually no longer together. Still have similar art, but they are actually not a couple at all any longer and should be treated separately, not like they are plotting together. So let's not start rumors and give ourselves a bad rep.

The sad part is that that person and others like her aren't going to go away (nor should they really. they may be generally disliked but they do have a right to sell too). It was your first con and I'm sure you learned quite a few things about displays and what works and what doesn't. You can't beat people like that, you just have to try and compete with them. That's just how the alleys are...

As for juried AAs, let's not even. I think perhaps a more streamlined layout would be good for next year's and then it would feel less overwhelming and would direct traffic evenly, or even downsizing a slight bit to allow for say, rows instead of islands. Those work well generally. Otherwise, good con this year, I did well and hope the rest of you did too.

Also about artists packing up early... You seem to assume that they were doing it because you weren't worth their time. Have you thought that maybe they had a plane to catch? I've had to leave shows before because the latest plane going out was at like 4pm. You should think about that kind of thing before assuming they are doing it for a negative reason.

This post has been edited by Kikai: 30 April 2012 - 05:38 AM

[LinkJun]

*sigh*....

I was the guy with the huge Lightning beadsprite and a bunch of others. I'm proud to say that four years ago at ACen '08, my studio was the ONLY one at ACen doing what we did (and I think the only studio in the Midwest at the time). The very next year in '09, there were at least three or four other booths selling similar things. Now, it seems that every other table sells beadsprites, and although we still have everyone else beat in quality and quantity, maybe it's time to accept that that market is just too saturated now. Although I'm confident that if the show was juried I would be one of the "ironed plastic bead magnet" studios chosen, that isn't really fair to everyone in general.

[The Chainmail Guy]

BakaBarbarian, on 29 April 2012 - 11:42 PM, said:

I'm not sure why, with ACEN, there's always some reason why we can't have quality over quantity. Other shows manage it, and it's a lot more fair to the artists, who are, after all, at least trying to make back their booth fees and materials costs, even if they're not in it to actually make any kind of real money. I'd rather see quality artists coming back year after year, than have them drop out because they can't even make back their costs (something I was hearing from some of the artists I was talking to) because the Artist Alley is too overwhelming.

But hey, like I said, if you want to make this about me somehow not liking art, even though I've explained that I do, that's cool. Read into it what you want. I don't do anime cons, but I have been in a number of art shows, and I can tell you from that perspective that often, the bigger the show, the less fair it is to the artists, and after all, what's the point of Artist Alley if it's not about supporting the artists?

I believe the consensus here is that ACen is NOT like other art shows, and treating it as such would only drive people away. There is far more to the con than the Artist's Alley, therefore, some perceived level of quality is not a requirement. For the people attending, it's more important to keep things equal opportunity and give the less experienced a chance, rather than filter them out to leave more business for the rest. To me, the Artist Alley is more about providing an opportunity to display work and advertise than it is about selling. I can sell my stuff just about everywhere, but if I can't get my name out into the community, then who is going to know to look for me?

I think you're looking at things from a different perspective with a different means for the same goal. If I'm not mistaken, your definition of 'supporting the artists' would be to drive up their sales at the con. However, the way I see it, and the way it seems everyone else wants it to go, is that ACen's means for supporting the artists is to give them exposure. Making it a juried show would limit that exposure, and thus damper that goal. Doing art is a learning process. Over time, you learn what works, what doesn't, how to stay competitive and what you need to do to succeed. If you've already learned those skills, there are places like the ones you've mentioned that are catered more to that type of business. ACen is more about providing a larger classroom for more people to get in and learn those skills.

[frzndaqiri]

Just as a quick comment - as an artist and not as staff in any way - I don't see or hear any issues with the size of the alley from anyone shopping at my table. A juried alley IS the method many shows choose to use to fill out their tables but I get the impression from them that it is because they have limited space and are trying to maximize the variety the best way they know how.

In ACen's case, they are proud to have one of the largest AA spaces in North America and can afford to allow us to be first come first serve and let the ATTENDEES decide (based on the success of the artist, because if someone spends X dollars to get here, have merch, set up, and makes pittance compared to what they spent, then they aren't likely to come back) who is and isn't in the alley.

I much prefer to be judged by my customers than one or two staffers (With no offense to anyone who staffs and has to make that decision. I'm sure it's not easy.) who MAY or MAY NOT have a bias perhaps to an art form or style. My work is very text based and seems simple, BUT with a heavy graphic design that some might not understand looking at a small portfolio of my work. My commission art is a very unique "doodle" style that I haven't had anyone complain about but I'm sure wouldn't "fit in" in some places.

This year I was IMPRESSED with the alley and everything it had to offer. I was bummed that I couldn't buy from everyone I wanted to (just couldn't get away from my table enough). And while I do 8 shows a year and have a very polished setup/display (from 9 years of experience), it is (as was alluded) done not as a means of income but because I ENJOY it. I LOVE seeing people light up when I finish a custom button and see what I created. I love hearing the giggling and watching someone drag their friend over and say "that is SO like our friend". Seeing it resonate with people. Hearing the fangirl squees and watching an attendee go running up to any of the tables in the alley and saying "omg I have to have that" is just cool to experience.

I think a juried show would take away from all of that (and I'd say that as an attendee). I've been to shows that "have no variety" and trust me ACen is not that show.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE ARTISTS WHO CAME OUT!!!

Thank you for your comments BakaBarbarian - while I don't think we (speaking for those who have commented) feel a juried show would be the answer, I do hope anyone coming to this thread DOES take away how important it is to make a good impression in all the ways possible (setup, attitude, time invested in making your art the best it can be) and that the Alley will continue to get better because of that.

[Christy]

As a member of one of Acen's longest attending art studios, I feel compelled to reply to this. I have been in the alley since 2001 and attending Acen in general since the first year. We also run the starving artist panel every year that coaches people on good business practice. So I like to think I have a fairly long term and experienced view on the issues you appear to be having. Let's look at your critiques point by point.

BakaBarbarian, on 29 April 2012 - 08:20 PM, said:

I was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of...everything. Most of it not very good, and a lot of it not all that creative.

How many print artists do you really NEED in an Artist Alley? Ironed plastic bead magnet-makers? Crochet figures? Jewelry makers? Button-makers? Independent comic artists? How many polar fleece hats with ears or faux fur tails does one need before enough is enough? I could count on one hand the number of truly original booths out there. Everything else was such a repetition of other booths, it all ran together. I ended up spending much less money at ACEN than I have at smaller cons' Artist Alleys, because it was simply too big, confusing, annoying, and repetitive.

Where to begin with this. First, "art" is a highly subjective term. Under the current Acen rules, any artist can display in the alley as long as the item is not a duplicate of the merchandise in the dealer's hall and is a product of the artist's own creation. I believe this is fair. A seamstress puts as much work into producing a unique hat as an illustrator does into a good piece and a comic creator into their book. Also, a HEALTHY artist alley should have as much variety as possible. In the Starving Artist panel, we're regularly asked our opinion on the presence of crafts, fan art, what have you in the alley. Even though we do only original work, we always advocate that fan work and variety is good for the alley because it draws in the most attendees. Somebody looking for a plushie may cross paths with an independent comic they weren't looking for and find something unique and fantastic they love but wouldn't have found otherwise. Beginners can learn from their experiences and long time attendees such as ourselves can build a solid fanbase and get reliable exposure.

While I see your point on the issue of something things being repetitive, I would comment that this is mostly an issue of trends and supply vs. demand. Yes, there were a lot of crocheted octopi and chibi key chains this year. Those were popular sellers last year and this year many artists made an effort to bring them. But last year the alley had a lot of fuzzy hats and several years ago we were flooded with cosplay costumers. Many artists follow trends and when an artist's personal idiom is in vogue, you tend to get a lot of them attending the alley. When the trend dies, production becomes less lucrative and many of the less dedicated or focused artists move on while the really dedicated ones continue. This is perfectly normal and healthy and there's nothing wrong with it.

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Some of the booths that contained popular crafts showed awesome craftsmanship and attention to detail, but a lot of it didn't. Just because you got hold of a button machine doesn't mean your art works on a button. Just because you have access to an iron and plastic beads doesn't mean your stuff is worth putting on my fridge. Just because you wrote a comic book doesn't mean I should care.

I will admit that there are artists that don't always give 100% to their craft. Also, there are some artists who I feel on a personal level may have benefited from waiting and honing their skills before joining artist alley. HOWEVER, I do not presume to dictate if an art piece is worthy of artist alley. I do not presume to judge if an artist is ready for the alley. And just because I don't feel that something is worthy of my purchase, doesn't mean it's not worthy of anybody's purchase. The attendees show their likes and dislikes with their purchases and those who don't cut it don't sell and will either adjust, learn and improve until they do start selling or drop out. And again, this is normal and healthy and expected.

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And this brings me to another issue with Artist Alley: the attitude of some of the artists. Especially at this con, artists are not unique and special snowflakes. Chances are, there are a dozen others who have done the same kind of art, perhaps even the exact same art, and done it better. I don't deserve an annoyed look when I interrupt an artist's sketching to ask a question or see their work in progress to gauge whether I want a commission. I saw a lot of bored sketch artists there. Maybe that means there needs to be less sketch artists.

First off, if an artist is sketching, I would hardly call that being bored. Please bear in mind, especially if you like artists and want to support them, that when an artist is drawing, they often become completely absorbed in what they are doing and don't notice what's around them. When interrupted while absorbed in something, it's a very common and human reaction to instinctively frown or scowl over the unexpected interruption until the individual assess what that interruption is. It's nothing personal and if this offends or upsets you, it appears that it's not the artist that's the special snowflake here.

Also, bear in mind that sitting at that table, with few breaks is tedious and difficult and often boring if you're not that into taking pictures of cosplay or people watching. For awhile one of my studio mates and I were singing the ManaMana song. If an artist is not inspired to engage in a piece, then, yes, they are going to look bored. If that affects their sales, then they need to own that themselves - there's nothing reducing the number of sketch artists could do for that.

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And of course, much of the art wasn't about anime at all. I realize there's been a general trend toward lumping all forms of geek culture with anime. But seriously, how much Dr. Who and steampunk is acceptable at an anime con before it stops being, well, an anime con?

I once had a conversation with a middle aged man in a poofy dress, carrying a teddy bear over this. The fact is that artists need to get work out to those who would be their fan base. While my artist's art style is not what one would call "anime", the way she lays pages, the inking and toning my other artist does and the overall story lines I write has a high appeal to the anime fandom. Therefore, we promote our work at Anime Central. Furthermore, there are many crossovers within genres, and again, artists have to go where their fanbase is and will often follow the trends. Steampunk is currently in, it has a high crossover rate with anime fandom, therefore you will be seeing steampunk in the Acen alley until the trend declines. The same goes for Dr. Who. This is simple supply/demand.

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Another gripe, although this one has nothing to do with the artists and everything to do with ACEN in general: the clientele on Sunday was the sketchiest I've ever seen. I felt like I was at a flea market, only with people who had bathed less frequently. I was there Saturday and came back Sunday to pick up a comission, and I felt sorry for the artists. I noticed some who were packing up early because the people with Sunday badges were so not worth their time. I saw congoers bashing even the awesome art out there because they couldn't buy things that probably took a lot of time and energy to make for a buck. I saw people who had no clue who Hello Kitty was. Hello...freakin'...Kitty. Let that sink in a minute. I don't know what ACEN can do to weed out these people, but I'm guessing it has to do with ACEN's reputation in general, attracting people who are just there to behave badly instead of appreciating the art and craft of anime and all things related. ACEN's gone for quantity over quality for some years now, this is apparently the result.

With an attendance of over 20,000 people - bigger than the populations of some towns - Anime Central cannot control who attends their convention, nor can they dictate what those individuals purchase. In our Starving Artist panel, we strongly encourage artists to stay the full length of the alley, open to close each day. We do ourselves and wait it out until the bitter end each day. However, many of the artists in the alley have day jobs and many of them need to catch their transport, which may mean that they have to leave early to catch a flight or their carpool back to home in order to be at work or school the next day. For those who arbitrarily pack up and leave early, well that's more last minute sales for those who stay.

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Anyway, my solution to the issue of Artist Alley overload: jury the show. It's how big art shows do it, it's how ACEN needs to do it. The alley should be half its current size, probably less. There should be no more than 1-3 artists who make similar art, with the possible exception of comic book artists (and even then, I would limit the number in each genre), in which case I would suggest they get their own corner of artist alley. Each artist should be required to send in photos of their work, photos of their works in progress, photos of their working space, and an application that describes some of their methods, supplies, and design philosophies--if they don't have a design philosophy, that's a dead ringer for someone who shouldn't be there. They should have to submit photos of their setups at past cons or other shows. Yes, this discriminates against those who are new to Artist Alley, but really, ACEN is not the venue for the inexperienced. Artist Alley staff should evaluate those entries and choose the best ones, with perhaps a small waiting list. This will eliminate a lot of the quality issues and make Artist Alley a more enjoyable place to shop.

Typically, juried artist alleys experience fewer sales than first come/first serve alleys due to lack of variety. The juries that do the selection process are human and therefor subject to personal opinion, bias and subjectivity. At it's best, juried artist alleys will reflect the personal aesthetics of the jury which selects who gets in - which alienates any attendee that does not share those personal aesthetics, and therefor reduce traffic and sales. However, juried alleys have also gained a reputation for being juried in such a way that allows for bias, nepotism and giving the jury the ability to weed out what they deem as "undesirable" such as fan art or artists that are better than the friends of the jury. First come/first serve with the staff basing any removals, bans or refusal of tables off of objective issues such as failure to pay or follow rules is the only real way to ensure a fair process that allows for the best variety.

In short, it appears you seem to want the Anime Central artist alley to go back to the same alley it was in the late 90's, with few tables consisting of a bunch of artists with sketchbooks. But with Acen being as big as it is, alley space is in high demand and it's not fair to ask a bunch of hardworking artists to have to duke it out. I remember those days at Acen, when tables were first come/first serve with NO preregistration. I remember the table jumping, I remember the poor relations between artists, I remember the uncertainty of having to plan for a convention you weren't sure you could get into, I remember the cliques and accusations of nepotism and gossip. It was awful. The current staff has done an excellent job of taking care of the artists, making sure we knew if we had a table or not and ensuring that the most number of artists have the ability to get in, without discrimination. I applaud them. This year's artist alley had some of the best variety I have seen in years and I had a great time shopping and purchasing from my fellow artists.

[Voltaire30]

Good Afternoon,

I would like to thank you all for exhibiting at Anime Central's 15th Anniversary. Without you, we would not have had the enjoyable, entertaining, and exciting atmosphere that our attendees have expected year after year of Anime Central. That being said, even though we are all unpaid volunteers, we would like to see what we can do in the future to help improve the event for not only our attendees, but for you as well. If you would be so kind, during your down time or when you have a chance, could you please complete our exhibiting survey, that was sent to your email (if you were an approved Artist Before Con). This survey will help us to know where we can help you, and hopefully make ACen's 16th year exponentially better.I hope that your travels are/will be safe, and that Anime Central was as enjoyable for you as it was for us.

Best Regards & Thank you,
Phillip