Musings on business
Well, have done all the estimating, calculating and that stuff. The conclusion:
LaRF wants me to begin building. I told them last year that this year would decide. I have been grossing less money every year I have been here, and if that trend continued, building would just stick me in a bad situation. With 2 weekends to go, I need to make substantially more each week that I have to date--this is unlikely. Since I am a hopeful type, will see what happens this weekend, but I expect I will not make at least half of what I need to break even. I had thought that, with luck, I would be OK with coming back as long as I didn't have to build, but it looks like I may not come back at all.
Maybe books are really going out of style, or maybe the crowd attracted here just doesn't buy books, or something. But lots of crafters are saying they aren't doing well this year, and those that do are selling very low-end stuff.
Of course, I could just change the entire business model: All I need is a wizard costume and a Magic 8 ball, with a couple of periodish chairs, and I could set myself up as a fortune teller. In fact, I could work up an act as Dr. John Dee, Queen Elizabeth's astrologer, and wouldn't' even need the new costume. Hmmmmm. Cheap fortunes told by a fake wizard? Might work down here (based on my experiences ca 30+ years ago in the Quarter).
Or, I could get serious about selling ren porn--I already know of a few titles, and have confirmed that the texts of all books published in England from 1475 to ca 1800 are online. I have the skills to identify more titles. And, so far those books are not available for Nook, Kindle, etc. Would need a new logo--maybe "Porkus, The Sleazy Pig". Wonder if they'd jury me in for that?
Decision, decisions
LaRF wants me to begin building. I told them last year that this year would decide. I have been grossing less money every year I have been here, and if that trend continued, building would just stick me in a bad situation. With 2 weekends to go, I need to make substantially more each week that I have to date--this is unlikely. Since I am a hopeful type, will see what happens this weekend, but I expect I will not make at least half of what I need to break even. I had thought that, with luck, I would be OK with coming back as long as I didn't have to build, but it looks like I may not come back at all.
Maybe books are really going out of style, or maybe the crowd attracted here just doesn't buy books, or something. But lots of crafters are saying they aren't doing well this year, and those that do are selling very low-end stuff.
Of course, I could just change the entire business model: All I need is a wizard costume and a Magic 8 ball, with a couple of periodish chairs, and I could set myself up as a fortune teller. In fact, I could work up an act as Dr. John Dee, Queen Elizabeth's astrologer, and wouldn't' even need the new costume. Hmmmmm. Cheap fortunes told by a fake wizard? Might work down here (based on my experiences ca 30+ years ago in the Quarter).
Or, I could get serious about selling ren porn--I already know of a few titles, and have confirmed that the texts of all books published in England from 1475 to ca 1800 are online. I have the skills to identify more titles. And, so far those books are not available for Nook, Kindle, etc. Would need a new logo--maybe "Porkus, The Sleazy Pig". Wonder if they'd jury me in for that?
Decision, decisions