How to make them get their checkbooks out?

[Dave]

Well... we are having our reception tonight for our first ever local
artist's group exhibition. We are not known for hosting events with
local artists.

Many of these types of gatherings easily turn into social events where
no one buys anything and just drink your wine and eat your cheese.

Any great ideas on how to get attendees to seriously consider buying art?

We are expecting about 80-100 guests based on the RSVP's which
were not mandatory. Promo was all done with postcards to serious
potentials, FaceBook and Constant Contact to gallery registrants. In
addition the newspaper did a short blip on it... 3" column article with
no pictures.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

.45 Cal Semi Automatic. I see on the news all of the time that it works.:icon9:

 

[Puppyraiser]

"Now that you have all gathered here, let me tell you of the wonderful promotion we are having TONIGHT ONLY! XX% of the sales will be going to the Animal Shelter (Food Bank, Symphony,Free Clinic, whatever charity the majority of the group is likely to support), so please be generous.

-OR-
"Now that you have all gathered here, let me tell you of the wonderful promotion we are having TONIGHT ONLY! All the artwork will be XX% off when purchased tonight."

-OR-
"Now that you have all gathered here, let me tell you of the wonderful promotion we are having TONIGHT ONLY! We will frame all prints purchased tonight with one of our special (read: already bought in box lots) mouldings for $100. (or other smallish sounding number that might appeal)

The worst that can happen is nothing, and you will have learned that the freeloaders only wanted the cheese and wine. Don't invite them back again....

Oh, and have a few of them "sold" before the event. Makes them think that unless they act, they might miss out....

 

[j Paul]

I know how to get them to open their wallets

After everyone is their invite them all to play a game of Liar's Poker

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Now that you have them getting their wallets out, tell them as long as they're out they might as well buy something. Make it fun and it might work.

 

[Ylva]

Good luck Dave....sorry...don't have to offer more....

I find that these kind of events rarely bring in more business. I like Ellen's idea but not sure if that would work in a high end gallery...

 

[Dave]

We do have a few works hanging that are "red-dotted".

I do like the XX% goes to charity and we have had events like that before.

Keep the ideas coming!!!

Thanks.

 

[RParrish]

Any one who purchases art is entered in a drawing to win free framing!

 

[Dave]

Well... we consider the night a success. Not because of sales but we had a rough head count of 80 people come through. Probably half of them had never been here and the last two clients I dealt with were local cancer doctors and their wives. One is looking seriously at a small bronze statue we have... his wife's birthday is Monday so I hope he stops back today to purchase it. Also several commission art works may come out of it.

Total sales: $ 19.21 with tax. Someone bought a book that one of our feature artists illustrated.

Added about 30 new people to our email list for our newsletters.

Considering we kept our costs way down and the amount of traffic we had and the quality of the attendees I'd say it was well worth the effort. The gallery is only a little over a year old and with any brick and mortar operation you have to build it one brick at a time.

 

[rodmurrow]

Thanks for the post, Dave. We are fairly new - opened Dec. '09 - and have had a few "Guest in the Gallery" shows, with an opening reception and a 2-3 week show. Some have generated sales, some not, but part of our effort is to simply encourage folks to come and view art, see what we offer, and know that we are here. It's helped us build a customer list and has certainly helped with publicity.

Some events have been SRO, others have seen quite low attendance. But we continue to host them and have several lined up for the fall and winter already.

We've learned to cut back on the goodies a bit, after having to take so much of it home with us. Most folks enjoy coffee or tea and a cookie, cheese & crackers, or a fruit tray.

Ellen - thanks for the ideas. We'll probably try a few of them!