Anime Convention - Artists Alley

[AllegroDiRossi]

Has anyone here ever attended an anime convention?
If so, have you ever looked through the artists' alley?

Did you buy prints?
What kind of prints were they?
Were they fanart or original?

If fanart, what series do you buy specifically?
What characters?

If original, what about the print did you like enough to buy it?

What was the size of the prints you bought?
11x17 tabloid?
8.5x11 letter?
4x5 postcard?
Bookmarks of various sizes?

How many prints did you (on average) buy from a specific artist?

What would you like to see at an artist's stall in the Artists Alley?

All responses are greatly appreciated

[papillon]

I've been through the artist alleys but I'm generally inclined against buying large prints, as I'm not sure what to DO with them if I do buy them, and they can be a pain to transport. I'm much more inclined towards objects that have some possible use other than hanging on a wall. Buttons. Bookmarks. Postcards. T-shirts.

Mostly, I'm prowling the alleys in search of people with business cards that might be hirable for work later.

[The Nightlinker]

Here in Seattle, there were quite a few artists there, I just browsed and picked up a couple buttons. (A Trigun and Zelda one)

It was actually almost a 50-50 split of original and fanart. I even found some Ragnarok Online prints

I was happy.

[CaesMRaenes]

The most that sell are artworks with a function.

From my experience selling in artist's alley, people tend to buy buttons, bookmarks, plushes, jewelries, any craftworks with art on them. For prints, framed prints of any size are sold more than flat-out prints while larger prints sell more than smaller ones. Also, attracting crazy attention to your table is great too. Greet and smile.

[pyrogamer01]

I went to Sakura-con 2010 in Seattle. Lots of good artists. I bought a couple of 8.5x11, on a fanart of Kamina and another was original. I prefer the 8.5x11 size, just makes it easier to store and look at. Oh, I also bought another for my friend, a vocaloid fanart.

Funnily, I bought a lot of notebook paper prints from twinbells doujinshi, but that's not artist alley. PX

[fluffycurry]

Has anyone here ever attended an anime convention? YES
If so, have you ever looked through the artists' alley? yes

Did you buy prints? sometimes yes
What kind of prints were they? mostly postcards *and those wallet size "thingies"*
Were they fanart or original? can be both sometimes if i find something good

If fanart, what series do you buy specifically?
too many to mention since I collect things (but never those UBER CUTE STUFF)
What characters?
too many to mention *i just love those wallet size "thingies"*

If original, what about the print did you like enough to buy it?
I have a friend who sells OC stuffs so obliviously i would buy it...I like it framed btw
I also buy original manga's by people, its fun to read (rather than those manga which seems to never end)...

What was the size of the prints you bought? mostly wallet size (those that are laminated)
11x17 tabloid? TOO BIG!!!, i don't need this and also its too much expensive (good thing my friend never release one this big)
8.5x11 letter? sometimes yes i bought these, IF I REALLY love the drawing
4x5 postcard? Yes..
Bookmarks of various sizes? YES! (i got plenty of books that need distinct bookmarks)

How many prints did you (on average) buy from a specific artist?
specific?, if i know the artist *points at my friend* i would usually buy all of her releases (one of each)

What would you like to see at an artist's stall in the Artists Alley?
original's haha, I LOVE ORIGINALS, its not that i hate anime related works but original manga's, drawings give a different feeling
and those wallet size "thingies" (picture/drawing that is laminated) they are inexpensive, easy to carry and easy to collect

[Mirage]

I am not a buyer, but I am a regular in Artist Alley.

This is roughly the percentage of things I managed to sell in almost every con. Note: I only sell original.

A4 Print: 70-80%
A3 Print: 2%
Small Buttons: 10-20%
Big Buttons: 5-10%
Bookmarks: 1%
Stickers: 2%
Manga: 2%
Keychain: 2%
Artbook: 2%
On spot Commission: 5%
Other stuff (such as watches, clocks): 1%

I think the best things to sell is either A4 prints or buttons. But then this is also highly depends on the art quality. If you aren't sure about your art quality, there are other ways that still can generate income. I have seen people who sells simple handmade dolls for $35 and they sold about 100 per con. I also seen people sell cookies of popular character, or buttons featuring funny quotes such as "Over 9000!" They are very well received. So sometimes creativity also plays apart.