As a popular pet portrait artist, I’ve spent quite a few hours at various dog shows, Saturday Markets and other art festivals and fairs meeting the public interested in commissioning a painting. Sometimes I even get to meet and greet their fabulous pets!
The 12 tips I would suggest for a successful show are the following:
1. Give yourself plenty of time to set up. Unless you’re a seasoned veteran, this always takes longer than expected. Allow for unexpected traffic delays or a crowded show where you may have to wait to set up until other vendors are out of the way.
2. Purchase a canopy that will withstand the wind and rain that you may encounter if it is an outdoor show. Caravan makes a canopy that is easy to put up and has several outstanding features. Canopies are also well worth the cost for indoor shows, because the white sidewalls reflect light to the interior of your booth and help with a feeling of privacy during the show. The sidewalls are easy to put up during the evening hours when that day’s show comes to an end. I also have a carpet remnant that I bring that is a lifesaver for standing on cement floors all day. It also gives my booth a homey, friendly feeling.
3. When wondering what to put in your booth, remember that you will have to fit everything into your car or van and set up/take down whatever you bring. A good idea is to set up a few days before in your den or backyard. This gives you an idea of what will work and what is just too cumbersome to bring. There have been times I’ve wanted to bring that special something, then thought better of it. One of my favorite things to bring is a small mirror to place beside me while I’m painting, or place near my note cards. It adds sparkle to my environment.
4. Fill your booth with lots of samples in various sizes. Be ready to answer questions as to which size is appropriate for your clients. Stock your booth with smaller items such as note cards containing your art with your information printed on the back of each card, small prints, or other inexpensive items. These are traffic stoppers. A potential client may walk past your booth if they only see large items, but they may stop and chat if they find just the right note card for a relative or friend. The person who purchases a $3 note card one year may commission a painting in the future.
Bring gift certificates also to let people know that you are happy to provide a gift certificate to someone’s friend or relative. This may seem like an obvious addition to the booth, but I’ve had people in surprise exclaim, “Oh, you give gift certificates, too?” Display your items in a festive manner. For your gift certificates, you may want to decorate an open box with a painting set half inside of it with a big, shiny bow.
If you don’t have painted samples of every size portrait you offer, you may want to bring empty canvases. The rule of thumb is: the more you can show your clients, the better. I bring five notebooks full of pictures of scans of past paintings with an index in the front. That way when someone asks me, “Have you ever painted a Doxie?” I can show them a sample.
5. Be sure to bring a sign-up sheet. Many times your business card may be lost in the shuffle, but if a prospective client has given you their contact information, it lets you know they have more than a casual interest in your work, and you can ask if it’s all right if you contact them later on to follow-up if they have lost your information. One such event happened for me when I called a woman who wanted to have a portrait of her Schappendoes. She was so glad I gave her a call a month after the show as she had lost my information.
A blank notepad is also a lifesaver. You may want to jot down a person’s name and phone number to let them know of a breeder friend of yours at a later date, or to send a gift certificate or custom note card.
6. Invest in a great booth sign. A very large eye-catching sign is worth its weight in gold. Your sign should preferably match your business card and be one of your trademarks at a show. You may be a vendor at the same show for several years running and your sign is what will initially catch people’s eye.
7. Be painting at the show. This not only gives you something to do, it is an ice-breaker, too. People are much more likely to stop and chat about your paintings if they see you at work. The shows I attend sometimes start at 7:30 a.m. and run until 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. This makes for a very long day. But if I’m working on a painting, the hours seem to fly by, and I get something done to keep up with my orders.
8. Wear some kind of a badge or sign on your person. That way whenever you leave your booth, you are a walking advertisement for your artwork. This also lets everyone know who enters your booth, that you are the artist to talk to. This may seem like a small item, but when your booth is packed with people, this can clear up any confusion.
9. Keep your spirits up during the slow times. I like to bring my own food, hot drink or whatever else will make me the most comfortable. There may be times when no one passes by the booth, and it’s important to keep your spirits up. You never know when someone will pop in and say “There you are! I read about you in the newspaper vendor list and I’m so glad you’re here!”
10. Get plenty of rest the night before and drink lots of water during the show. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of visiting with so many potential clients and you may forget that you are expending an enormous amount of energy and will need to replenish yourself.
11. On the last day of the show, you will be expected to not only greet the public all day, but also to dismantle and load your booth into you vehicle, as well as drive the distance home. So be sure to take extra snacks for the last day. You may also want to bring a change of clothes if you feel you will be more comfortable taking down your booth in your work clothes. Keeping everything organized as you pack up is a time saver for setup for the next show.
12. The other vendors can be a wealth of information. Some are seasoned veterans and most are happy to share their knowledge with you as to which shows are most appropriate, where they purchased their card rack you’ve been admiring, and other odd tidbits that can make the experience more enjoyable for you.
I’ll never forget one artist whose booth was next to mine who told me to get to the show very early the next day or there wouldn’t be any parking to be had. I thought she was kidding about the early hour, but just to be sure I got to the show the next day extremely early. I was stunned to see the parking lot already half full!
To sum up, remember to start with whatever you have and build from there. At my first major show I only had four tables, two or three paintings and one book of samples and a homemade sign with no canopy. Each year I’ve added more and refined what I have. As my confidence has grown, so has my booth and my clientele!
At the close of the show, remember to thank the vendor chairperson for a fabulous show! Always keep a positive attitude about the outcome of the show. The client with seeming interest who signed up for a large painting to hang over their fireplace may change their mind after the show, or be unreachable by phone or e-mail. On the other hand, the person who grabbed your card on the run who never spoke with you may call a few months later and commission several paintings as gifts, as well as a portrait of their own dog. They may be so thrilled with their portrait that they take it to their office to show their co-workers which may lead to other commissions. So always keep a bright and positive attitude and it will come back to you in repeat sales, more show invitations, and a happy, fulfilling career doing what you love!
Note: this article may be re-published freely as long as the following resource box is included at the end of the article and as long as you link to the URL mentioned in the resource box:
© Connie Bowen. Pet Portrait Artist and Professional Illustrator Connie Bowen creates stunning pet portrait paintings on canvas from photos. Specializing in capturing the spiritual nature of dogs, cats, horses and other animals in a realistic fashion with impressionistic backgrounds as seen on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s TV show, Art Beat. Over 200 pet portraits completed and counting! Visit http://www.conniebowen.com to view exquisite samples.
Posted by admin as Pet Care at 9:49 PM CDT
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Please keep the following a secret. Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want everyone “and their uncle” copying my dog training techniques/concepts and then claiming them as their own.
Anyway…
My neighbor couldn’t believe it. I’d just brought this beautiful 9 month-old German Shepherd dog home, only two weeks ago, and already she was responding reliably to off-leash commands. (Or more specifically, coming immediately when I call and responding instantaneously to the word, “No!” from a distance…without yelling or screaming).
“How is it possible, Adam? We’ve had our dog for over three years, and he never listens to us! You’ve had your dog for less than two weeks and she’s already responding to your commands, off-leash… and you only whisper your commands, once? I’m jealous.”
“Look,” I replied, “It’s all in the book.”
[To read more about this book I referred to, please see:
http://www.dogproblems.com/newvideos.htm ]
“Okay, okay… I need to go back and read the book,” he responded. “But at least give me a tip as to how you got such fast results with this dog?”
I replied, “Well, it’s definitely easier if you know what you’re doing, from Day 1. I never gave this dog an opportunity with me where she could learn that she can run away, or not respond to commands… without there being a negative association with disobedience. And that’s the secret. Once you teach the dog to understand what commands mean, the next big step is to let the dog choose to do correct or incorrect behavior… BUT: Be sure that you’re always in a position to reinforce the desired outcome. “
“She learned quickly that it was okay if she wanted to try to run off, like she did with her previous owner, but if I called her then every time, she’s going to have the opportunity to make a choice: Do it my way and get lots of love and praise. Or do it any other way and get a correction, and then the chance to make the choice again,” I instructed.
“You need to let the dog know that every time she does a behavior, she’s going to get the exact same outcome. And that ‘outcome’ is going to have a meaningful reaction, be it positive or negative,” I explained. “Once you’ve done this, then the dog very quickly learns that it’s best to respond to ALL COMMANDS quickly because she’s going to avoid a negative association and obtain a positive association, that much quicker.”
In this sense, dogs are a lot like humans: We go through life trying to minimize negative experiences and maximize positive experiences. If your dog understands how to do this… because you’ve used my “Three Keys To Behavior Modification” (also in the book, on page 21)… then you will be astounded as to how lightening fast you will achieve results with your dog.
Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider’s Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History.” Get a free copy of his report “Games To Play With Your Dog” when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: http://www.dogproblems.com
Posted by admin as Pet Care at 7:56 PM CDT
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Are cats and children a good mix?
So, you had a cat in the family when you were a kid. And you are thinking that the addition of a cat into your home would make a terrific family pet, and would give your children the pleasure of loving and caring for an animal.
Most likely you’d be right.
But, just because you have nothing but pleasant memories of growing up with a much loved feline pet doesn’t mean that things always go faultlessly well.
There are things to remember and steps to take before introducing a cat to your children.
First thing make sure that your children would want a cat as a family pet. Most probably they will enthusiastically welcome the idea, but make sure that they understand that caring for a living breathing creature has responsibility attached to it as well as pleasure.
Be prepared to assume all the responsibilities of taking care of the family cat yourself. Children can, and should, be taught to take care of some of the chores if they are old enough, but if they lose interest it will be up to you.
No matter how laid back or tolerant your cat is you should never leave a toddler unattended with a cat. Even older children should be under your supervision until you are quite sure that the cat and your kids respect each other.
Try to have a place that your cat can retreat to when he or she does not want the attention of kids (or adults for that matter.) Sometimes children do not understand when a cat does not want to play or be petted and a room, or someplace that your cat can be alone when it feels the need to can save disharmony.
Children need to be told just how sharp the claws and teeth of a cat are, don’t let them find out by painful experience! Explain that cats can bite and scratch if teased, stressed or over excited. Show you children how to play gently with their pet and preferably with the sort of cat toy that keeps the cat at a little distance, such as a catnip mouse on a string.
Kittens may not be the best choice for very young children. A toddler may not be able to understand just how fragile a kitten is and that an over enthusiastic hug could harm their pet. A kitten is also less able to tolerate the rapid movement and gleeful shouting of a very young child than is an adult cat. An older cat, two years and up, would be more likely to be laid back about the attention of a toddler and certainly more robust than a kitten.
Demonstrate to your children the proper way to hold a cat. Show them how to gently pick kitty up with one hand supporting the chest and the other the back legs. If your kids are to young to learn how to do this they should be dissuaded from trying to pick up your cat. Tell your children to beware of a cat’s sensitive areas such as stomach, tail, ear and paws.
A strong bond can develop between kids and cats and this can teach them love and respect for animals that can last for the rest of their lives. Teaching your children the basics of looking after their pet will reward them for years to come.
About The Author
If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com/cat-breeds.html Information about your favorite cat breed.
Posted by admin as Pet Care at 12:36 PM CDT
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Some lizards when
confronted with a predator will voluntarily shed their tail.
This process is called tail autotomy (self-cut). After the tail
is detached from the body it will wiggle around on the ground
for a few minutes. This provides a visual distraction and draws
attention away from the vulnerable head and abdomen of the
lizard. Usually this allows the lizard enough time to
make an escape.
Not all lizard species are capable of doing this, the ones that
can have fracture points in their vertebrae. The lizard’s blood
vessels in the tail area rapidly constrict after autotomy to
ensure minimal blood loss. The muscles in this area are also
adapted to provide easy shedding of the tail.
After a lizard drops its tail it will start to grow back a new
one, however the new one will not look the same as the original.
It may have different colors, shape and size. Sometimes multiple
tails will grow in the place of the one that was dropped. The
new tail is able to perform all the functions of the original
with the exception of autotomy. That’s because the new tail does
not have any fracture points in the vertebrae. For some legless
lizards their tail can make up almost 2/3 of their body length,
so loosing it can be a stressful ordeal.
The whole process of shedding its tail can be very stressful to
the lizard. If this happens while in captivity it is generally a
result of stress and careful evaluation of the situation is
required to ensure that it does not happen again. A lizard that
has recently shed its tail should be kept in its own enclosure
while it re-grows the tail. Ensure that this enclosure is kept
clean to minimize the chance of infection. Growing a new tail
requires the expenditure of a great deal of protein (energy) and
fat. This is compounded by the fact that the tail stores a lot
fat which is no longer with the lizard. It is widely believed
that the energy required to re-grow a tail can negatively effect
the reproductive cycle. This happens because the lizard is
unable to put enough energy into producing the eggs. In some
cases it may take the lizard up to 2 years to completely re-grow
the tail.
Posted by admin as Pet Care at 8:52 AM CDT
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Congratulations. You’ve decided to buy a bird, and you even know what kind. You’ve gone so far as to pick out a name for your new feathered friend. The hard part is over, right? Wrong. You still have to find a cage for little Polly. You will be amazed by the number of bird cages to choose from. Bird cages are available in many different sizes, styles, and price ranges. They come in a variety of materials, such as wood, iron, metal, and stainless steel.
One option for materials is acrylic. Acrylic bird cages are relatively inexpensive and readily available. Though acrylic bird cages are popular, some customers report that they are not as durable as metal or stainless steel. Others say that birds are unable to climb on acrylic bird cages. This could keep your bird from getting an adequate amount of exercise.
Acrylic bird cages can be mass produced or custom made. They can be found at local pet stores or large chains such as PetsMart or PetCo. They are also available at department stores, such as Wal-Mart. At times, acrylic bird cages can even be found at discount stores, such as Family Dollar or Dollar General. Another option for buying acrylic bird cages is online pet stores. They can range from about $20 for a small mass produced cage to over a thousand dollars for a large custom designed cage.
Bird Cages Info provides detailed information in decorative, large, custom, acrylic, antique, wooden, and discount bird cages sale, as well as covers and stands. Bird Cages Info is the sister site of Dog Beds Web.
Posted by admin as Pet Care at 2:26 PM CDT
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You love your dog; but should you believe that groomer that recommends having your pet bathed and groomed every 4 to 6 weeks? After all, isn’t it just a matter of them getting to your pocket book? Actually, there’s far more to it than money. In fact, did you know a lack of grooming can negatively affect the state of your dog’s health? Here’s how:
1) Dogs cool off by panting and by air circulating around and through their pads. Long hair impairs that ability.
2) Crust in corner of the eyes causes sores can lead to your pet’s discomfort. These sores can only be seen after removing the thick crust upon grooming.
3) Long and overgrown nails force your dog to walk on the sides of their pads. In the long run, this contributes to arthritis in the legs and hips.
4) Matted hair pulls and causes pain for your pet, and creates a breeding environment for fleas, ticks and their nests.
5) Anal glands are the most neglected part of your dog’s body. As they fill up, some can burst causing very expensive surgery and unnecessary pain. A thorough groom includes expressing these glands.
6) Your dog’s ears have hair deep within the inner canals that need to be removed every 4 to 6 weeks; otherwise you risk inflammations and potential ear infections.
7) Hair in anal areas as well as the ears serves as hosting areas for nests, resulting in fleas dwelling in the inner canals of the ears and into the anal canal.
Clearing your dog’s private areas of hair is just plain good hygiene. This guarantees your dog’s excretions and stool will not stick and be carried indoors.
9) Some breeds have under-coats that build from shedding within. The outer and inner coat become thickly packed and form thick mats that are extremely difficult to remove, and may result in a much shorter cut than desired.
10) Bathing your dog without first brushing creates small, tight knots referred to as pin knots. These types of knots make your pet’s grooming experience a painful and unpleasant one. Removing these knots may also result in a much shorter cut than you may have desired.
Judi Sherosky is a certified pet sylist and owner of Canine Makeovers, LLC. She is located in Clinton Township, Michigan; and provides a private, one-on-one pet styling session in her home salon by appointment only. Visit her site for information and local pet sales and adoptions: http://www.Canine-Makeovers-LLC.com
Posted by admin as Pet Care at 11:03 PM CDT
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