Pricing the map

[ragani]

Before the the map is ready to put into the BayCon art show, I have to figure out a couple of things.

Right now the map is as-is, a piece of rawhide with henna. It is stiff when dry, and does not lay flat. I was thinking that I should oil it before considering it finished, but I am not sure how much more I should do. Is there an easy way to mount it that would make it look more finished, yet not detract from the rustic quality?

Also, I need to decide what the Direct Sale price and the Minimum Bid price are. So, how much do you think this piece is worth? OK, for those who are wondering, I don't know how many hours I actually worked on it, especially since I tended to work on it while waiting for customers, but I would guess about 10+ hours. As for the cost of the materials, if memory serves, it ran me about $50+ for all of it.

Right now I am thinking $500 for the Direct Sale price, and at least $250 for the Minimum bid price. Does this sound reasonable?

Comments

[zhaneel69.livejournal.com]

I don't ever buy Fan Art stuff, so I have no clue on pricing.

I would guess that $200 might be a more reasonable starting place just so people do an initial bid and go up from there. But like I said, CLUELESS.

Zhaneel

[ragani.livejournal.com]

I have seen fan art priced all over the place depending on any number of factors. Since none of them were anything like this, it is heard to know where to start. I suppose a lot of it depends on what the market will bare, in this case, the fans. I was initially thinking $200 for the starting bid, so maybe I will go with that afterall. Perhaps I will see what other pieces have been priced once I get there.

[tshuma]

I have no idea about pricing, but you could mount onto a piece of wood that has been singed, then varnished on the edging. Sort of like "aging" a parchment.

good suggestion

[ragani.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my initial idea was something like that too, but a couple of things come to mind. First, some of the people who were the most interested in the map last year when I started it seemed to like the idea of being able to use it as a prop (eg.: the One Ring Circus could have used in their performance) so what ever I did would have to not be permanent. The other is time; seeing as I need to display it in the gallery tomorrow, I am starting to feel that there is little I can do that will not detract from it. I suppose I could mount it on a old board (if I can find one), but I doubt I have time to give it the full "aging" treatment it deserves.

[bdot.livejournal.com]

if you start it with a minimum bid that is too high, no one will bid. with a lower minimum bid, then it is more likely to get that first bid and therefore subsequent bids and sell for higher than the direct sale....

$200 is a LOT of money for fans these days.. most of which are out of work geeks!

i worked the bay con art show for several years!

[ragani.livejournal.com]

An informed opinion, great! Yeah, that is one of the things I am trying to weigh. I don't want to price it too low, but I do want to price it low enough that people might actually make a bid.

Oh, and perhaps you (with BayCon art show experience) might have any ideas for how to mount this without damaging it? I have a wall space to use, but I don't recall what the walls are made of.

Thanks!