From the artists! Tips and “a word” to describe the experience!
Taken from 2014 Feb shanty meeting
Overall, its about exposure, opportunity, sharing, learning and listening to visitors !
Kyle Owen:
Enjoy this experience. The people, fellow artists, the view and most of all the opportunity.
Tessa D’Agostino
My tip is take time to talk in a personable manner with people that visit yoru shanty. People visit from all over the world and you never know who’s goig t walk in your door or what kinds of things you will learn from each other. I found that just through these simple conversations it has inspired new work, created sales, bolstered marketing and in some cases even created commission work years later. Great conversations with interstng people create lasting memories.
“memorable”.
Leslie Altman:
bring fresh flowers or plants-makes you feel better and brightens things up.
“exhausting!”
Sarah Colvin Nelson:
take time to talk to people. amazing to talk to people locals and world wide. share stories.
“Fun!”
LouAnn Coleman--Attitude, attitude, attitude.
Roberta Anslow:
Have a story about a piece you have..engage people in that manner.
They like to know what inspired you, etc. “awesome”.
Nancy Lyon:
Loved being near the water. Get positive feedback from customers. “rewarding”.
Jill Ross: Take in the positive experience. Keep good records. Tip from Roberta Anslow-sales receipt book …end of day add up info and put on sheet. Helps you track what is selling.
“exhilarating, heavenly”.
Richard Wright: fantastic, experience, exhausting and all the rest. Pay attention re: theft. A pair of women came through blocking for each other...be aware. Engaging customers but beware of someone who engages you too much.
Laurie Goldman: People are not necessarily going to buy depending what you have-if it is big/heavy. Offer concierge service. Tell them they can buy it and pick it up when they come back from their day boat trip, etc. Ttell them your hours. Also-introduce yourself to your artist neighbors.
Robert Carter: Bring lights. Only four in the shanties…bring ladder and put up additional lights. Bob brings 8 to 10. Last year he met people from Finland that had a frommes guide to the Cape with photo of him in it! Lamps..etc work too. “International”.
Barry Olofsson: Bring work range of prices. Great experience...great people, great place and you make money.
Chris Letsche: Locals as well as travelers come through...locals come back when they have visitors. Take time and talk to people. “pleasant”.
Eileen Lipkind. Bring a broom. Good for sweeping water and leaves, etc.. Also, extra roll of quarters for those parking. Customers came back bkz she helped them. “Incredible, fun”.
Beth Higgins. Sells large pieces and so tell customers you will ship pieces –this helps. If shipping out of state don't have to charge sales tax. Bob Carter said he ships for free anything over 12 x 16---bkz cost offset by price)
Linda Emerson: Bring something to work on...she painted all day..people like to watch and it passes the time. Note from Melissa. Strongly encourage this…paint, bead, sew, etc, rope demonstrations, loom....people connect with you and like watching!
Margo Sherman: Still has a customer she met each year from 9 years. Met people around the world and US. Be pleasant and develop relationships. One customer took her work..showed at a party and Margo got sales from that. “fantastic experience”.
Joan Augustino: Merchandising very impt. pays attention to customers...if they ignore something...re-arrange, keep it fresh.
JoellO'Malley A great experience. Being around other artists engage with them and your visitors. People want to talk about themselves. “fantastic experience”.
Kaya Alexandria Worthington: Participated -later in season and was pleased with customers and sales.
Additional comments from 2014 evaluations:
It was a new experience-I loved being on the water front, meeting so many diverse people visitng the area, meeting other local artists and opportunity to promote and expand my work.
Paula Fedele
Someone emailed me they saw my work in the shanties and wanted to know if I had a specific canvas print. I did and they came buy and purchased it for a Christmas present. Pretty cool!
Mary Taylor
Having been on the Harbor in Hyannis for the last couple of years I have noticed and spoken with a number of people who took the train (Cape Flyer) last year. The most notable being an elderly retired couple that lived their entire life in Boston without a car and were thrilled to finally be able to visit th cape without having to rent one, they had never visited before because of this. Another woman had taken her bicycle on the train and rode the bicycle rail trail on the outer cape was “kicking around” Hyannis waiting for her Sunday train and was quite impressed stating she would never have explored this area had she driven down but now with this she would.
Chris Letsche
We made lots of friends. We had such a blast getting to know people and telling them about the Barnstable libraries. People had such an interest in talking about libraries on Cape, from their hometowns and in general. What a grand opportunity to help raise awaremenss to the importance of libraries in everyday life.
Jennie Wiley, Director, Cotuit Library (from 2013 summer)
Unfortunately I had very high expectations about our week in the shanties and I was disappointed. No reflection on the program, just not the correct venue for us. Love that the town is working so hard and diligently to make art alive!
Mindy and Ron Reasonover