Friday, July 25, 2008

Summer Visiting Artist Program


Visiting Artists Program
Dear Visiting Artists,

You are registered for the Arts Business Institute’s Visiting Artists Program held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Visiting Artists Program is held in partnership with the Buyers Market of American Craft.

The seminars will begin at 10:30am each day please arrive at the convention center for registration at 9:30am. When you arrive at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, please enter using the Market Street and Arch Street entrance. Take the escalator and follow the signs to the Buyers Market of American Craft located on the second level. Registration will be set up in the foyer in front of Hall A. The Visiting Artist Registration will be held at Exhibitor Will Call. At registration you will receive your badge and a binder with supplemental information provided by the faculty to reinforce the topics that they will be presenting.

All of the workshops will be held in Room 201A of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Visiting Artist Lounge will be in room 202A on the second floor. The lounge will have resource materials as well as a wonderful place to network with fellow Visiting Artists.

If you would like to be considered for the group mentor session with Wendy Rosen, please submit 4-5 images of your product line to artsbusinessinstitute@gmail.com by July 30, 2008. Two or three artists will be chosen to be mentored by Wendy Rosen in front of the group. The artists will be chosen on a basis of image quality and product line.

To see if you registered in time to receive a mentoring session, please check the list at the bottom of the page. The time slots are subject to change, so please confirm your time slot on site. Please be prepared for your mentoring session 5 minutes before your scheduled time.

At the request of many artists attending the BMAC we have found discount parking! If you would like to get a discount on your daily parking please use either of these parking lots.
1. Parkway Parking
12th & Arch Street
Please bring your parking stub to the Buyers Registration to get your validation to receive your discount.
**The discount will NOT apply for any over night parking.

As you can see we have a busy schedule ahead of us! We’re glad that you’re attending, and we hope this weekend will help you Grow Your Business of Art.
Enjoy!

Sincerely,
Meghan D. Bunnell
Executive Director
meghan@artsbusinessinstitute.org
877.ABI.5771

Mentor Session
Please click here the mentor schedule
Please arrive 5 minutes early for your mentor session. During this time you will be able to set up your materials.
Please bring a portfolio of your work, marketing materials and anything you would like the mentors to look at. Printed images are suggested; we will not have slide lights, so slides will be very hard to read. We prefer that you bring images and not the actual pieces.


Topics & Presenters:
Wholesale 101, Bruce Baker
Pricing, Nancy Markoe
The Complete Marketing Package, Stacy Simbrom
Impacts of Wholesale, Panel Discussion with Experienced Artists
In and Outs of the BMAC, Panel Discussion with BMAC Staff
Group Mentor Session with Wendy Rosen

Mentoring Sessions with Experienced Gallery Professionals
The mentoring sessions are an opportunity for you to get one-on-one advice and tips on how to create a successful line of work. The mentors will be experienced gallery owners from across the country. Space will be limited, please sign up in advance.

Saturday August 2

WHOLESALE 101, 
Bruce Baker
10:30am – 12:00pm

Now that you know the benefits of wholesaling, Bruce Baker will lead you through the basic steps to prepare your business for the wholesale marketplace. This session will cover the basics of building a production schedule, staffing, designing a dynamic booth display, and how to create contracts and order forms.

THE COMPLETE MARKETING PACKAGE, Stacy Simbrom
1:00-2:30pm
Wholesaling can be intimidating, learn what marketing materials you need to be prepared. This seminar will provide you with the information you need to create successful marketing materials.

THE IMPACTS OF WHOLESALING, Panel discussion with experienced artists
2:40 – 4:00pm
Join a panel of established artists for an informative discussion on the impacts of wholesaling. Topics will cover the fundamental differences of retail shows verses wholesale shows and how incorporating wholesale effects your business financials. Get the inside answers to your questions from established artists.

INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
4:00 – 5:00pm

Sign up for a 10-minute individual portfolio review with Buyers Market staff. Space is limited and advance registration is required.

VISITING ARTISTS MEET AND GREET
4:00 – 5:00pm
This time is designed for you to have a chance to mingle with the other Visiting Artists attendees. Spend an hours looking over the materials and discussing business strategies with the other artists.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE BUYERS MARKET OF AMERICAN CRAFT

5:00 – 6:00pm

Join Visiting Artist program leaders for a guided tour of the Buyers Market of American Craft, featuring interviews and Q&A sessions with select exhibitors. Tour groups are divided by medium so Visiting Artists get the most out of the tour experience!


BUYERS MARKET PARTY: "A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM"
8:00 -11:00 p.m.
The Academy of Natural Sciences
Join your Buyers Market friends for a night of adventure at Philadelphia's natural history museum. Explore the dinosaur hall and animal dioramas. Wander through a live butterfly garden. Enjoy music, mingling, dancing, complimentary light fare and cash bar. Free to all Buyers Market and Visiting Artist participants! Free shuttle service provided to and from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch Streets.



Sunday, August 3

PRICING, Nancy Markoe
10:30am-12:00pm
Pricing mistakes – selling your product for too much or too little--are the greatest causes of business failures. Learn the formula to use in order to earn enough money to maintain an acceptable standard of living while accommodating your artistic inclinations. Price your work for profit!

INSIDERS GUIDE TO THE BMAC, BMAC Staff
1:00 – 2:00pm
This time will be designated for you to ask questions and get answers directly from the BMAC staffers.

GROUP CRITIQUE WITH WENDY ROSEN
2:00-2:45pm
Wendy Rosen, the President and Founder of The Rosen Group and author of Crafting as a Business, will be mentoring two of the Visiting Artists in a group setting. This will be an exciting opportunity to hear what one of the leaders of the craft industry has to say about an artist's line of work.

SALESMANSHIP, Bruce Baker
3:00-4:00pm
Being a dynamic craft seller takes practice. Learn the methods that will help you improve your sales with all kinds of customers.

INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO REVIEWS

4:00 – 5:00pm


Sign up for a 10-minute individual portfolio review with Buyers Market staff. Space is limited and advance registration is required.


GUIDED TOUR OF THE BUYERS MARKET OF AMERICAN CRAFT

5:00 – 6:00 pm

Join Visiting Artist program leaders for a guided tour of the Buyers Market of American Craft, featuring interviews and Q&A sessions with select exhibitors.