Flatstock 36 Seattle Lineup

[Dan Black]

Welcome to Obama's America.

[ImJustRickG]

The new clause in the contract that everyone should pay attention to is the 70% gig posters and only 30% everything else rule

Now is that by square inch of actually printed poster, or paper, or what? I mean, how about if I offer one huge poster for Them Crooked Vultures on 130# cover, but sell a bazillion 2" x 2" art prints on rice paper? Would that be kosher?

[miklay]

lolz. thank god i've been creating more gigposters. don't wanna be flatstockz banned.

it used to actually say that exhibitors can only sell things representing or advertising their studios.

only recently, enforcement has actually been stressed. it is called flatstock afterall, not gigstock. or shirtstock

[perkins]

That's because whiny fucks are bitching that people are choosing to buy art prints from the person next to them over their own gig posters. I mean, that HAS to be the reason that their band posters aren't selling, right?

I get it...I know it's gotten out of hand with toys and t-shirts, but limited edition screen printed posters are the spirit of what the event is about, so I don't really see the problem with art prints.

[clinttw]

That's because whiny fucks are bitching that people are choosing to buy art prints from the person next to them over their own gig posters. I mean, that HAS to be the reason that their band posters aren't selling, right?

I get it...I know it's gotten out of hand with toys and t-shirts, but limited edition screen printed posters are the spirit of what the event is about, so I don't really see the problem with art prints.

I agree with both Mike and Billy here. While I do have more gigposters than artprints, I don't see a problem with having artprints as well as gigposters. IF those sales mean that we can afford to continue making gigposters then isn't it still in the spirit of keeping this community churning. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying the artprints help keep me afloat so that I can continue creating gigposters.

and if such and such artist or studio is selling better than I am then that means I gotta bust balls to do better in the future...which also helps keep us afloat and continuing to improve.

[naduval]

I agree with both Mike and Billy here. While I do have more gigposters than artprints, I don't see a problem with having artprints as well as gigposters. IF those sales mean that we can afford to continue making gigposters then isn't it still in the spirit of keeping this community churning. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying the artprints help keep me afloat so that I can continue creating gigposters.

and if such and such artist or studio is selling better than I am then that means I gotta bust balls to do better in the future...which also helps keep us afloat and continuing to improve.

this.

[lil_tuffy]

You're at a music festival that expects you to sell music prints. That's why the API gets you a discounted rate. If you want to sell art prints, buy a regular merchandise booth.

It's pretty simple - Flatstock is dedicated to the art of the gig poster. If you want to make art prints, go to Renegade or some other craft fair/market.

I have art prints and the occasional movie print but it's never the focus of my booth and I fully support this rule.

[Dan Black]

What tuffy said.

[naduval]

I totally agree with the 70/30 rule, makes total sense for sure.

I just think the undertone/whisperings of recent Flatstocks where anything but a rockposter is considered "cheating" is getting a little tireseome.

Especially when I can't even really think of anyones booth that is blatantly breaking this 70/30 rule in the first place.

I certainly haven't been around Flatstocks forever by any means, but these days, it just seems like there are more artists than ever and everyone is kicking major ass talent-wise. Walking around FS is pretty inspiring, everyone is firing on all cylinders these days it seems.

It is a highly-competitive environment when you are one of 60 , seemingly identical booths.

Sales just don't come as easy as they used to, especially when the folks shopping likely have smaller budgets than they likely once had.

While I fully support this 70/30 rule, I also agree with the sentiments listed above where it seems to be becoming an easy thing to blame declining sales numbers on.

I personally think EVERYONE should try to make their booth 70/30 rockposters/other stuff and see how this effects their sales, rather than just complaining about it.

Often times, this discussion just comes off with a defeatist attitude/tone. If people really think selling an art print is any easier than selling a gigposter, they should just make a few and see what happens.

Also, salmon burgers.

[crosshair]

Tuffy is right.

This does not come about as a result of anyone being a whiny fuck, either.
The 70-30 guideline was the unanimous decision of the API board, none of whom are whiny fucks. 30% is generous.
I make art prints. I make gig posters. I am perfectly content with being limited to a display that does not exceed 30% art prints, at a gig posters exhibition. That is plenty of art prints.

Flatstock always has been, and always will be a gig poster exhibition first and foremost. All of us have access to other outlets for everything we make, be it gig posters, fine art prints, movie posters, vinyl toys, zines, comix, prints of R2D2 blowing C3P0, or black velvet crying clowns. We are some creative motherfuckers. Being allowed to devote 30% of a display at a gig poster exhibition to non-gig poster prints is more than enough for everyone to showcase the range of their creativity, at a gig poster exhibition.

Oh, and are your sales declining, from pre-2008 when everyone was flush with disposable income and spent it on impulse, and artists could go to Flatstock with a display full of half assed shit and still walk away with 2 grand?
Make better posters.
It's that simple.
People don't have the kind of money they used to. They aren't going to spend it on a half-assed poorly-registered 2 color poster with some image you grabbed off of google images and a fucking font. Not when the artist next to you is showing something awesome that they busted their ass to make. It's called competition. Impress me. I see a ton of posters at Flatstock that do not impress me. That is not good enough. Not anymore.