New and just tried getcon.info which doesn’t seem to exist - anything new like it?
@bestauntieevershop2 ай бұрын
More people need to see this video. I'm glad you are taking time off for yourself. Too many of us get caught up in romanticizing the idea of con life and being a small business owner that we sacrifice so much to make it work without realizing. This is a great lesson more artists should be talking about. Thank you for sharing!
@kathyvong2 ай бұрын
Absolutely! I wanted to be very honest and transparent in this video because I sometimes feel like my own content contributes to that romanticization at times. And those little sacrifices you make in order to succeed, or even just to stay afloat, add up over time. You don't really realize how much this lifestyle can consume you until you've taken a step back!
@whosparkr2 ай бұрын
I was just thinking about your videos the other day! I'm glad you're doing okay and have been taking care of yourself :) Connecting back with what art you personally want to make separately from selling or monetizing your work is so important and something I've had to do recently as well. It's so mentally rewarding to figure out and discover. but overall - welcome back! excited to see what you put out next! :D
@kathyvong2 ай бұрын
This is such a sweet comment, thank you so much! Definitely a very rewarding journey, and I'm happy you've been reconnecting with yourself as well. And I'm excited to be back!! Thanks for stopping by :)
@deis83372 ай бұрын
welcome back. i love ur artist alley vlogs.
@Octomotobo2 ай бұрын
Totally cool to take a break every so often. A lot of us appreciate the insight and advice you have to share. Excited to see what you work on next! I took an almost 7 year break when I had kids! 😅
@kathyvong2 ай бұрын
Thank you!! I hope I can continue helping other artists/creatives with my transparency. (And I would probably also take a 7 year break if I had kids! That's another full-time job!)
@moiraluga82532 ай бұрын
Missed uuu! Loved seeing u post videos again 😊
@kathyvong2 ай бұрын
MOIRA HELLO!!! Always such a joy seeing you in the comments!! I'm really happy to be back, and I can't wait to make more videos :')
@ashleyeverything5883 ай бұрын
I’m literally so happy I found your channel. I love your chill vibe. 😌 super helpful content too, I’m trying to psych myself up to table.
@PhantomPhera7 ай бұрын
Ever thought about going to dreamcon in Texas? might get a lot of buisness there
@sketchypeoplepdx8 ай бұрын
Great tips! Great vid! I always usually do my table alone and yes, go to the bathroom! It's fine to leave your table! I'll let me neighbor know but I always have a sign that I put out that's like: "BRB in 5 minutes" or something like that. I also put out my QR code and give people the option to purchase even if I'm not there. People aren't there to rip you off mid-show, it'll be okay. What's not okay, is being uncomfortable with a bathroom need.
@DrummerAndPker8 ай бұрын
thanks for a great AA vlog and welcome back! I've always wanted to go to dreamhack but hope you enjoyed New York on your trip way back when. here's to more vlogs and a great year ahed!
@caringfamily81328 ай бұрын
Hello, Kathy. Enjoyed watching and listening about your experience at DreamHack. An insight about making average sales may put them into perspective. Sure, it's a bummer not to make 5-figures (😜) over a weekend, but, like in baseball, most games are won by making lots of singles and doubles; huge con weekends, like home runs, make great headlines, but are usually rare. Hey, as long as expenses are covered, giving you decent profit, there's enough run to grow - BIGGER!
@kathyvong8 ай бұрын
oh yes of course! honestly i was more than satisfied with my sales. i was never really unhappy with my performance at this con. not sure if my wording made it seem otherwise in this video? i never average 5 figures and never expect it, and i don’t do this full time for a reason. dreamhack was a good experience, and i thought the sales were more than reasonable for the size of the con and the new approach to their artist alley :)
@kathyvong9 ай бұрын
Long time no see! I'm back from my little break with a tablet review video. Veikk was kind enough to reach out to me, and I was more than happy to make a review of their S640 drawing tablet. I've been drawing digitally for a very long time, and I honestly have many many opinions on tablets! I have a Huion review (not sponsored) currently being edited, which should be out next week. I also owe y'all a few vlogs (I'm awful, I know!) If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment :~) Veikk Official Store: bit.ly/3Fwbw0c *Worldwide shipping, you can enjoy a 24 month long warranty. Veikk Amazon Store: Get 5% off with coupon code s640kathy on Veikk Amazon stores listed below: US: amzn.to/3s2ucSh CA: amzn.to/3QwByHd
@PandorraAAAAA9 ай бұрын
Been wrapping up preparations for my first con this weekend and this video helped me feel assured that I practically have everything ready. Really appreciate the note about the seller's license, not many break downs of artist alleys/tabling note that and it was good to hear that going for that temporary license was the right move. Really enjoyed the video over all and appreciate the time and thought you put into this
@kathyvong9 ай бұрын
i'm so glad this video was helpful! a lot of artists neglect to mention the tax side of things, which always throws me for a loop because you can get in big trouble if you don't have the necessary licenses! i don't want anyone to accidentally commit tax fraud TT anyway, thank you for watching, and i hope your first con was a great experience and that you feel more confident about the process moving forward :)
@evaempress10 ай бұрын
For some reason that getcon website doesn't load for me :/
@asiar18669 ай бұрын
Same here!
@FuzenHua11 ай бұрын
For beginners to artist alley, since even the start-up costs are really high (getting merchandise made, card scanner, display racks, etc.), when or how many artist alleys should a beginner expect to break even? I don't think it's realistic for a beginner to immediately break even or make profit at their first artist alley
@kathyvong10 ай бұрын
honestly i can’t give a concrete answer. it might take a year to break even on everything, or it might take a few shows depending how successful you are. typically it takes on average at least 2-3 or even 4 years for a business to start being profitable. it all depends on your own start-up costs and how much you’re able to invest in your business up-front and how many shows you’re able to do and also how much it costs to attend those events in the first place. there are too many factors involved tbh. i don’t think i made any real profit until my 4th show iirc!
@cyan__lab11 ай бұрын
aye an artist from texas! :D also very helpful video! <3
@lanny_ho11 ай бұрын
Im in a predicament! I'm moving to LA from NYC in November, but then Kumori and ANYC are both 2 weeks after I move. Obviously LA is closer to Portland, but ANYC is the bigger show? But also ANYC has attendance cap like last year which hurt artists.
@kathyvong10 ай бұрын
so sorry i just saw this!! i’ve been on a break so i haven’t been checking youtube. i know it’s late now since the deadline has passed but in the future i would look at travel costs and see how different they are. i think kumori is consistently quite a decent show despite its size whereas there are more uncertainties regarding anyc. i would personally attend the one with lower travel and vending costs. but if you’ve never done anyc, for example, and you’ve had prior experience vending at kumori, i’d go for the show you haven’t done yet (if you can afford it) and just see how it goes. if i were in your shoes, i’d go with anyc because i have people i can stay with and wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel for example. again, so sorry because i know the deadline has passed but this is typically how i weigh my options when choosing between multiple events :’)
@OtakuLover20 Жыл бұрын
Im a local artist near houston and since i started in 2019 ive been wanting to do Anime Matsuri even with the controversies cause i know it can be big so next year for sure im gonna do it i would have done it this year but i missed my chance
@legallyrequired Жыл бұрын
I am so anxious to start selling my art. I don’t like social media and don’t have an updated portfolio, I’m an art school dropout and would have to start my entire product line and branding from scratch. I just got home from my first convention in 7 years and I want to sell my art so badly. My art is very stylized and I probably wouldn’t sell any large prints, I’m too worried about being unsuccessful.
@KY-ki1vt Жыл бұрын
Are you an LLC or DBA or Sole Proprietorship? I want to apply for a business license but i’m not sure which of these I should apply for
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
hi i’m a sole proprietorship since that’s just what’s easiest for me personally. what you should apply as really depends on your business. applying to be an LLC has its perks but i don’t think it’s necessary for me or my business at this time
@blueberrypancakes7330 Жыл бұрын
Are there any more free cons to attend?
@blueberrypancakes7330 Жыл бұрын
That’s cool. I didn’t know there was cons that was free to attend. 😊
@alexandercruz2 Жыл бұрын
I was gonna sign up for that event but I underestimated how popular the event was lol and when I was able to sign up everything was sold out 😂
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
for first come first serve events dont hesitate!! treat it like concert ticketing 😭
@moiraluga8253 Жыл бұрын
so good to see u again, kathy! had a long june and this video came at the right time for me to destress and relax 🥰 hope ur doing well and can't wait to see more of ur con adventures!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
always so so good to see you too!! i hope your july is better and that you have a lovely summer :')
@SugoiChappy Жыл бұрын
I bought your bunny charm!!! :D (I think you can see why)
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
bunny lovers unite!!!! thanks for stopping by and for giving my bunny charm a new home <3
@RandomThatsMe Жыл бұрын
free entry?! sounds like a win win altho it sounds more like a mini market. did that at walmart once but gave use refunds cause there was no traffic n its not like they was advertising the event. they do need to be better organized
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
yes the con is free to attend! sorry to hear about the walmart event but this event in particular is very good and is well known in the local community! it’s more of a con than a mini market in the sense that they have events and also guests as well :)
@sukeyd.artist Жыл бұрын
It's so good to see to see you again!! 😊I enjoy watching your videos!! 💫
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you!! and it’s good to be back! i’ll do my best to get these next few videos edited :D
@b.knotty Жыл бұрын
I live in Texas and am working on creating fan art/original products to sell. Where do you find conventions? Have you tried selling at craft markets or the neighborhood markets on weekends, if so how are those for you?
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
i’ve discovered a lot of conventions through word of mouth and also through online convention lists and filtering by state! it also helps to follow local artists and see which events they’re vending at. i’ve discussed this in another video but i have tried local craft markets and similar events but have done poorly because the people attending those events aren’t my target audience. but if you have more general public friendly products i would give it a shot! i also dislike vending outdoors, so i try to avoid outdoor events these days :’)
@heyryanisonx3141 Жыл бұрын
hi! thank you so much for the info! How do you go about collecting + paying taxes after getting the permit?
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
i account for sales tax in the cost of my items. some people add it on when taking card sales but i find it easier to have people pay in whole dollar amounts. it depends on the individual. each state has its own process, but after doing an event, typically you can log into an online portal, most likely the same one you used to apply for the permit, and you can make your payment there. there are some states that make you do it through snail mail (seattle made me do this a couple years ago) but most states have everything online, i'm sure. just make sure you read everything carefully!
@heyryanisonx3141 Жыл бұрын
@@kathyvong thank you so much!
@thindog1668 Жыл бұрын
they did you dirty on the full bleed
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
haha yeah they did but i don't have that issue with them anymore which is great :)
@Zistheone2 Жыл бұрын
6:52 This is why instead I’m doing a free first come first serve craft fair at a local con & a pop up shop. This is my first time selling anything & I’ve already spent thousands of dollars on merch alone
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
yes it's always good to start out doing more low risk events! you learn so so much from your first few events.
@ambercmanga2031 Жыл бұрын
I love your vlogs! I'm just starting out a shop making clay earrings and I've been going through all your videos while I make things. So peaceful and inspiring
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
aw i'm so glad to hear that you enjoy my videos! i really want them to be calming and nice to have on in the background so this made me smile :')
@lynguyen4616 Жыл бұрын
your acrylic display is so cute :)!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you!! 😊
@just2artists464 Жыл бұрын
Glad to have got to meet you at Mini Mini and thank you for the art trade, pretty excited to hang the new prints ^^
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
it was so so nice meeting you as well! i love the sticker i got from you, and i hope to see you at other events in the future!!! :D
@Multi2794 Жыл бұрын
I loved this ❤
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you!! <3
@WeirdIsTheBest Жыл бұрын
Ps do you ever do any tips for surviving on KZfaq as an artist at all? I’m just starting out and it’s a fair bit of work, but it’s so fun that I’d love to carry on. No worries if not 😊
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
honestly my only tip is to keep creating!! if you love doing youtube, keep making videos. i find that youtube is definitely a platform that rewards you as long as you keep posting. experiment with different kinds of videos, make attractive thumbnails, and with time, you'll eventually find your audience. consistency is key, but i'm not the best at maintaining a schedule and find that my growth has been very steady and consistent regardless of my long periods of inactivity.
@WeirdIsTheBest Жыл бұрын
Hi 👋 I watched a few of your videos and: I really enjoy listening to you Thank you so much for such good tips! I really appreciate a video with actual useful tips Having done a few makers markets and doing my first con this year, I find them really useful! I really want to get a cute fanny pack; just need to find my dream one ha ha as the one I have keeps breaking. Really enjoying your content!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you for your kind words. i hope i can continue making helpful content!
@AprilJohnson34 Жыл бұрын
I love watching youtube because people like you keep it real... Keep it up!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thanks for the support, April! it means a lot :)
@alexandercruz2 Жыл бұрын
Wasn't able to book minminicon cu they filled so fast but hopefully I can get matsuri in time!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
aww hopefully next time you'll be able to nag a spot! and maybe i'll see you at matsuri :)
@moiraluga8253 Жыл бұрын
congrats on all the milestones, kathy! excited to see u grow on your journey ❤
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
aw thanks moira!! i really appreciate it and also your continued support really means a lot. reading your comments always brightens my day!
@sukeyd.artist Жыл бұрын
Hi, I wanted to know by Design do you mean Graphic Designer? Love watching your videos!!😊
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
yes!! i'm a graphic designer but i do occasionally dip my toes into other kinds of design as well (ui/ux, branding, etc) so i often say "design" or just refer to myself as a "designer." also thanks for watching! i appreciate the support <3
@sukeyd.artist Жыл бұрын
@@kathyvong That is so cool☺️ also hope for the best with all jobs! 🥹😂💖💖✨
@charlotte9869 Жыл бұрын
Congratulations on the job, Kathy! I also LOVE the new pin. 🪐💫 can’t wait to hopefully see more.
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you so much!!!
@TheYaoiArmy Жыл бұрын
Sending you healing vibes! Take care of yourself, Kathy.
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you!! :')
@scarlethawkeye3473 Жыл бұрын
Been looking for a manufacturer! Thank you!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
you're welcome!! ymmv with any manufacturer, but if you decide to work with them, i hope you have a great experience! i definitely recommend doing lots of shopping around if you plan on making pins though since different manus offer different finishes and pricing can vary wildly depending on your design, but my pins with them did turn out very nice. best of luck!
@whimsikyaarts Жыл бұрын
Hi! Congrats on the jopb! Also thanks for sharing your process. I really like that pin. And huge stickers are fun to make!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
thank you so much!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
a huge thanks to GS-JJ for collaborating with me for this video. GS-JJ is a company with over 20 years manufacturing products. they offer free shipping to the US, UK, CA, AU. they're a one stop shop, offering products such as pins, keychains, stickers lanyards, and more. you can check out their products at the links below and also join their new discord server! custom enamel pins: bit.ly/3UOXbCU custom stickers: bit.ly/41DufQz discord server: discord.gg/SQ3CmGgkJ9
@gloomacus Жыл бұрын
Kind of a personal question, so feel free to ignore, but did you go to college for art? And if you did, do you feel like it was helpful/necessary to become a full-time artist?
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
no i did not go to art school nor did i study art! i went to a public state school and studied design. i might make a video about this in the future, but i could not afford to go to an art college and personally did not feel that it would be worth it either
@jmmjo Жыл бұрын
THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS VIDEO SERIOUSLY SUMS EVERYTHING PERFECTLY WITH THE EXACT DETAIL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START !! Aughhh thank you so much and keep up with more videos like this!!
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
WAH im so glad this video was so helpful!! i did my best to cover what i thought would be most important for people starting out 😭
@SleepyCrystalStudio Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your transparency. I have only done local art markets and have yet to try any cons, but honest reviews and breakdowns like this make it seem less intimidating and motivates me to put myself out there.
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
cons can seem so daunting but if you do your research and just put yourself out there you may be pleasantly surprised!! when i started out, i wished there were more artists who were transparent about their experiences so im happy my content has been helpful!
@magpiesoddities Жыл бұрын
I tabled at this con too! Funnily enough, it was the best Friday I've ever done for a con, but also the WORST Sunday... Make over $1k Friday but barely $300 on Sunday. Really is a mixed bag con😅
@kathyvong Жыл бұрын
omg thank you for sharing your experience also you're totally right, it definitely is a mixed bag. those are really really great sales for a friday though!!! definitely one of those weird hit or miss shows but it definitely could've been worse haha