Would really like some feedback - Tiki Marketplace

T Tikilicious Member NYC Joined: Jun 11, 2004 Posts: 179	T Tikilicious Posted posted on Thu, Sep 25, 2008 9:23 AM I want to preface this by saying that I myself am not a carver. And having tried it once or twice out of sheer curiosity, I have a real appreciation for how difficult it is, and how much talent it takes. You have some talent, that's for sure! My only advice would be that it all completely depends on who your target audience is. The audience here, I feel, is very different than the audience that would most appreciate this style of work. If you sell these roadside in Florida (where I lived for over a decade, so I feel confident in saying this), I think you would do really well! Especially down in The Keys, around the Daytona Beach area, any beach town, or any area with tourists. I suspect that perhaps the majority of those most attracted to your style of carving may not be die-hard "Tikiphiles", per se. They may not be customers deeply passionate about the history of Tiki, or the roots of its traditions within. They may instead just be people who enjoy a fun aesthetic for their home or backyard, and who enjoy sipping a sweet frozen margarita from a mix while cranking up the Buffet and having their friends all come over for burgers on the grill, luau decorations from Party City, and a really great time. And personally, I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with that. I think there is room for all different kinds of love for Aloha. Besides, those who love the drink mixes and the Buffet have money too, ya know! Their dollar bills are just as valuable as ours, and are worth the exact same amount. I just think that, perhaps, you need to just figure out who you would like your target audience to be. Then ask THAT audience what they think, and you may get a completely different response than you have received here. If this is the style of tiki carving that you feel the most passionate about, and you feel the most happy doing, stick to it. Work your passion. You may have to alter who you promote your craft to, and your target audience may, as a result, change. But just do what you most love to do, and the right audience for you (and their pocketbooks) will follow. Good Luck!

I want to preface this by saying that I myself am not a carver. And having tried it once or twice out of sheer curiosity, I have a real appreciation for how difficult it is, and how much talent it takes. You have some talent, that's for sure!

My only advice would be that it all completely depends on who your target audience is. The audience here, I feel, is very different than the audience that would most appreciate this style of work. If you sell these roadside in Florida (where I lived for over a decade, so I feel confident in saying this), I think you would do really well! Especially down in The Keys, around the Daytona Beach area, any beach town, or any area with tourists. I suspect that perhaps the majority of those most attracted to your style of carving may not be die-hard "Tikiphiles", per se. They may not be customers deeply passionate about the history of Tiki, or the roots of its traditions within. They may instead just be people who enjoy a fun aesthetic for their home or backyard, and who enjoy sipping a sweet frozen margarita from a mix while cranking up the Buffet and having their friends all come over for burgers on the grill, luau decorations from Party City, and a really great time.

And personally, I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with that. I think there is room for all different kinds of love for Aloha. Besides, those who love the drink mixes and the Buffet have money too, ya know! Their dollar bills are just as valuable as ours, and are worth the exact same amount. I just think that, perhaps, you need to just figure out who you would like your target audience to be. Then ask THAT audience what they think, and you may get a completely different response than you have received here.

If this is the style of tiki carving that you feel the most passionate about, and you feel the most happy doing, stick to it. Work your passion. You may have to alter who you promote your craft to, and your target audience may, as a result, change. But just do what you most love to do, and the right audience for you (and their pocketbooks) will follow.

Good Luck!

Post #409948 by Tikilicious on Thu, Sep 25, 2008 9:23 AM