How to support the Artist Alley
How can you support artists?
Pictured: miinqii , Courtesy of HKPhotographyperth | @_miinqii_
At Kaiga Convention, we believe you can support artists in the Artist Alley in more ways than just making a purchase. While buying their creations is a great way to show your support, we also want to highlight other ways you can help the creators you love!
By taking the time to appreciate and promote small businesses, we become the lifeline that keeps them thriving. Let's come together to uplift and sustain the talented artists who bring their passion to our event.
Remember to always ask before taking photos of prints and other merchandise!
Ways to support without money
ENGAGE WITH ONLINE CONTENT
You can have an impact on an Artist's business by liking, saving, sharing and commenting on their uploads. This helps them get picked up by the alogrithm and their content is shown to more people.
SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Word of mouth is a powerful promotional tool, you can suggest the Artist's product as gift ideas, or just show off what makes you happy! You are effortlessly connecting the Artist to future potential customers.
COMPLIMENT THEIR WORK
Artists love to hear positive feedback, especially if they feel discouraged or aren't fond of their work, we are always our own worst critics and your positive input helps to make it more encouraging to be creative.
COLLABORATE
Foster connections that can lead to collaborations and future opportunities. By connecting at these events, you might discover avenues for commissioned work or recommend other events to attend!
Attend Panels and Workshops
Active participation in panels, workshops, and discussions organized by artists in the Artist Alley is an excellent way to support them. By attending these sessions and actively engaging with the artists, you not only gain valuable insights and knowledge but also demonstrate your support and appreciation for their expertise.
Your enthusiastic involvement and thoughtful questions can inspire and motivate artists to continue sharing their skills, experiences, and creative journeys with others.
Pictured: Warrick Wong , Courtesy of HKPhotographyperth | @warrickwong
Pictured: Melontarts , Courtesy of HKPhotographyperth | @melontarts
Share your 'Convention Haul' online
When making purchases from the Artist Alley, whether big or small, sharing your acquisitions online and tagging the artist can significantly contribute to expanding their reach. By showcasing and promoting the artworks or products you've obtained, you actively support the artists and help them gain broader visibility among a wider audience.
In addition to this, it's a common trend to share 'con hauls' online, so you are also actively participating in the convention community and giving back to that as a whole too!
Extra ways to be considerate of Artist Alley sellers
DON'T OBSTRUCT THEIR TABLE
Artists have a very limited amount of 'frontage'/selling space at events, be mindful of where you stand and don't block people from browsing.
HAVE YOUR PAYMENT READY
Have your cash or card ready when you want to make your purchase, don't make a seller wait for you to transfer money, they are missing out on making more sales!
ASK QUESTIONS
Don't recognise a character? It might be an original! Can't find what you're looking for? They might have it online! Artists love to be able to connect you with their products.
FOLLOW THROUGH
It's wonderful to collect business cards but these take time and money to print, go the extra mile and remember to follow all the artists you love when you get home.
Pictured: SSATERNN & echobiproxy , Courtesy of HKPhotographyperth | @ssaternn @echobiproxy