Comments on: A Strategy for Asking People for Their Contact Information

By: After the Business Card Exchange — Art Biz Blog

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:31:29 +0000

[…] shouldn’t add people to a bulk email or newsletter list without their […]

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By: QuinnCreative

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:33:21 +0000

Great idea! Every artist needs to gather names for a mailing list. I love the personal approach. Some of my older fans don’t have/don’t want to give up email addresses, so I put out index cards on a clipboard. One side asked for email, and there was a note that said “Rather use your P.O. Box? Use other side. I don’t share either way.” I used the phrase “P.O. Box” because it’s a safer form of address, which addressed the concern of many. I had a rubber stamp to stamp both sides. People would pull them off the clipboard and hand them to me. I also gave away a pack of cards at each show, drawn randomly from the names I collected. I announced the winner in the next newsletter, just by initials and show name, e.g. “J.S. won a pack of cards at ArtFestival in Somerset New Jersey this week. Congratulations!” I used to get a lot of requests for where my next show was and how they won. That gave me the beginning of a relationship.

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By: Margaret Wright

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:07:47 +0000

This is a great idea but I agree with Nikolas that you still need to have an open guest book for people you don’t have a chance to talk to. But I will use the “little black book” idea at my next show. And it’s a good reminder not to leave email addresses out in the open.
One other point here — I learned a hard lesson a couple of shows ago when two people left e-mail addresses in my guest book (and no other information other than their name) and I could not read the handwriting when I went to add them to my mailing list after the show. I now check every entry (if I can) as soon as it is made, hoping I can clarify any messy handwriting before the person gets out of sight. Lesson: When putting information in a guest book, write legibly (preferably printed)!

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By: Nikolas Allen

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:34:25 +0000

I agree that the personal aspect of the 1-on-1 clipboard or journal is a nice touch.
However, dismissing the idea of including an open guest book at a performance or art event is going to cost you contacts for a couple reasons:
1) Regardless of your best intentions, you may not have time to talk to EVERY interested person (and procure contact info) during a busy event.
2) Your guests may not have time to find you & chat with you, OR they might be interested in your work, but may be a bit shy and prefer a more passive exchange of their info.
I performed a Pecha Kucha event last week and got 7 new contacts on my mailing list: I asked for 2 of them with the personal, clipboard technique. The other 5 came from audience members who liked my presentation and signed an open guest book on the merch table at their convenience.
If people respond to your work, they will be happy to leave their names on your mailing list, even if it’s out in “plain view.” Utilizing ALL available techniques makes it easy on your audience and maximizes your opportunities to connect.

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By: Robin Maria Pedrero

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:48:39 +0000

Brilliant! I have a solo show coming up and would like to try this out.

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