Markets are a funny business. I’ve been doing them for roughly the last 8 years off an on. They are a really special, and an amazing way to connect with all of you in person! I know there are many many potters out there. And a great way for people to see and feel the fact that my work is a cut above is to interact with it in person.
But markets have become hard. They are a ton of labor. I often need to get to markets 2-3 hours ahead of time to set up. I bring over 20 bins of work, huge wooden shelves etc. And it is a lot of work.
And this work used to be worth it. But over 2022 markets saw a sharp decline. This is due to many factors:
There is a HUGE over saturation of markets in Portland. This means that basically no markets can draw a crowd because on any given weekend day there could be as many as 10-15 markets happening around portland which means they are all dead
This was not helped by some markets also moving to being weekly. This simply kills crowds and makes it a waste of time for vendors.
We pay regardless of how well a market goes. Which means those creating markets are still collecting anywhere from $100-$700 per vendor per market
Markets are wonderful, but it is really hard to keep moral up at a market that is completely dead.
It’s not just for yourself, it’s also heartbreaking to watch all of your fellow friends/vendors around you also have a bad day. It’s rough, and it’s hard for moral.
It’s no secret that it is a rough year financially for all of us. Small businesses are being devastated by this. It seems every time I get online I see another small business going under. Now more than ever it is vital that we vote with our dollars.
Even if it s a little harder, a little more complicated. Every choice we make is actively shaping the world that we are all living in, and will be living in in the future. Choose wisely.
Prior to covid i was residency hopping virtually full time. I was never in a location for more than a few months. It was a beautiful (and stressful) time. I was able to work remotely while doing this and between that and selling work while abroad allowed me to piece together just enough money to continue.
But what also happened just prior to covid was meeting the love of my life. And for the first time in my life having a home, and having a home that was safe. So the last 3 years have been an experiment in staying still.
And now, I’m working on finding a balance between doing the markets that let me connect with you wonderful people, and continue to travel and work on my art which fills my soul with joy.
So that’s my goal this year. To find a balance of what brings me joy, what brings me stability, and what makes me a helpful member of my community. Love you all!