September 3, 2006
bizcard update
[click on image to enlarge etc.]
This picture was taken last week, at my local pub in Cumbria. A few bizcard drawings, a couple of pens, a glass of beer and a pack of cigarettes. Voila! Instant travelling art studio.
I've been drawing a lot of the bizcards lately, I just haven't been posting them. Maybe one day. I like keeping them more to myself these days, for some reason.
Last December in Paris I gave Shel Israel one of my bizcard drawings as a wee gift. A couple of months ago Shel tells me he was at this party in San Francisco. During a conversation, he pulled out the bizcard from his wallet to show people. Apparently somebody offered him $100.00 for it, right there on the spot.
He declined the gentleman's offer, but still, he thought that was a pretty neat thing to happen. So did I, when I first heard the story.
$100 is a not a huge amount of money for a piece of art, compared to say, a Warhol or a Piccasso. But sure, yeah, it would be great to be able to sell my work at a brisk pace for $100 a pop.
Though frankly, I still believe there's more money long-term in giving it way for free. Which, of course, is what I'm doing now.
Posted by hugh macleod at September 3, 2006 10:51 AM | TrackBackBit of a girlie glass there, Hugh, if you don't mind my saying so. And I hope that's not cold, fizzy lager I see in it. You're in the North of England now; you should be drinking our wonderful, unchilled real ale.
Posted by: Richard Carter at September 3, 2006 11:34 AMDo you remember we had some kind of conversation around this at the same conference? Heh - and to anyone who asks...no, the one Hugh did for me isn't up for grabs. Period.
BTW - my good lady would give her eye teeth for a pack of Regals right now But only at Spanish tax paid prices. -:)
Posted by: Dennis Howlett at September 3, 2006 11:34 AMHugh, I was thiking about precisely this yesterday when I walked past one of those high street card shops with a load of old tat in the windows...you know, usual not funny cards and mugs and stuff. It did make me think "I should chat with Hugh as there is a business here...somehow"....but I guess it could be selling out. There is a way though...just need to noodle on it more. Looks at Banksy and his increasingly popular book (http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html). Would I pay £20 for a GapingVoid book at Christmas. yeah, probably...
Posted by: steve clayton at September 3, 2006 1:17 PM$100 USD is way too low for an original, unique and highly creative work of art. And you would have to continue to own the copyright including subsequent use restrictions. The numbers are fun though... I had read in one of your post that you had created at least 10,000 works over the years (x$100) equals a cool million. Bet you could sell 10,000 originals is less than a year! Also, ask Dennis how to set-up things to minimize tax situation. BTW that pub and that beer... Wish I was there.
Posted by: Sheamus at September 3, 2006 1:24 PMI enjoy posts like this Hugh. More snapshots of more work stations please.
Posted by: Graham at September 3, 2006 3:58 PMI love my original Hugh cards. Keep it up!
Posted by: Robert Scoble at September 3, 2006 8:20 PMA book Hugh...the world needs a Hugh book. Let the people vote at http://blogs.msdn.com/stevecla01/archive/2006/09/03/737984.aspx
Posted by: steve clayton at September 3, 2006 10:41 PMWell I turned down the $100, but if someone wants to sweeten the pot, I'm listening. for the right price I'll throw in a bottle of Stormhoek.
Posted by: shel israel at September 4, 2006 4:29 AM