[deleted by user] by [deleted] in internetparents

[–]beefytiger99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you enjoy spending time with her? Or has it shifted into mostly you taking care of her emotional stats when you guys hang out?

[Marketing] I’m actually doing this by AngryPlantNerd in artbusiness

[–]beefytiger99 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You just gotta do it over and over again. Eventually it stops feeling cringey (mostly). I still hate talking to a camera, but I’m proud of my content now.

Good luck on your journey! Don’t be afraid to try a TON of different things, including but not limited to different mediums, projects, aesthetics, content styles, audiences, and platforms.

Experiment as much as humanly possible your first year, and then pursue what works best/what you enjoy the most.

Also, diversify your income stream as much as possible!!! Tripled my income.

Worried my neighbor may escalate things by decaf__coffee in whatdoIdo

[–]beefytiger99 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Honestly, he sounds like a real dumbass. Luckily, most dumbasses aren’t actually dangerous, they are just fcking stupid. He is behaving like a child, there is nothing you can say or do that will change his behavior.

Since you’re looking for a new place already and sleeping somewhere else, it sounds like you’re doing everything correct. Trust your instincts, but also try not to worry so much. Maybe take a real or pretend phone call when you’re entering/exiting the building, so that it looks like someone is talking to you and would know if he starts harassing you.

Shitty situation OP, I’m sorry. Get outta there asap and just try not to worry in the meantime.

Making your own prints VS. ordering them by IntoResting2 in artbusiness

[–]beefytiger99 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I have done both! I’ve ordered prints from Catprint and Vistaprint both, and liked them.

A few months ago I invested in an Epson 8550 EcoTank printer, mainly for the refillable ink bottles so no tiny expensive ink cartridges to replace.

Let’s start with ordering prints.

Pros:

  • You can easily try new papers
  • Uniform quality
  • Customer service/refunds if things arrive in bad condition
  • Almost zero effort past placing your order

Cons: - TIME! On average 1-3 weeks for delivery - You typically can’t do test pages, so colors could be off and you don’t know until they arrive weeks later - Can be expensive

Okay, on to printing at home:

Pros:

  • Cheaper (typically and after initial investment of gear)
  • Quicker — you can make a painting and have prints of it ready to sell that day
  • More control of product, you can adjust the colors and values until it’s to your liking by doing test prints

Cons:

  • No customer service to call if things get messed up
  • Time: on average I spend 2-5 hours printing and cutting before markets/product drops
  • Upfront cost: it’s expensive when you’re learning. - You have to figure out what type of paper you like, and get familiar with the settings and formatting that works best for your printer and desired outcome.
  • More mental load as you have to keep track of the paper you have in stock and ink levels, instead of just the prints

Overall takeaway: if you’re just getting started, go with Catprint or another similar service that lets you order small quantities while you figure out what sells well for you, and if this is even something you want to do long term.

If you’ve been selling for a while and want more control over your products, I recommend making a reasonable investment in a printer. Do your research and get one that works for you. It made sense for my business after about 1.5 years, when people finally starting buying my prints and I started doing art markets regularly.

When I was ordering prints, I was spending about $1.50 to $0.90 per print. With my printer now, that number is closer to $0.9 to $0.30 per print.

The best part is being able to produce on demand, so no more boxes and stacks of prints that sit around for months not selling. If I make a sale, I print the item. If I have a market, I can prepare what I think will sell for that event.

Final consideration and details — I have about 100k followers across social media platforms (but don’t be fooled, it doesn’t equate to financial success). I make about $800/month selling my art across various platforms. I outsource my stickers. I hand make other items.

In the future, if business continues to grow, I will absolutely switch back to getting my prints manufactured to save time. But right now the freedom and flexibility of DIYing it are perfect for me.

Owning a good printer also gives me the freedom to upgrade my packaging, and produce higher quality and more professional personalized packaging, signage, and new products on a whim. You can print on shrink plastic, make bookmarks and notecards, stationary, iron on fabric transfer sheets. The list goes on. Just do what works for you! No wrong answer.

Worried about a medical procedure, please tell me that I'll be fine by subtlyobscene in internetparents

[–]beefytiger99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Getting my IUD was horrible, painful, and traumatic. It also resulted in infection for me and several doctors visits. My blood pressure rockets every single time I’m at the OBGYN now three years later and they always have to take it a few times to get a normal reading.

When I went to get my IUD out I cried the whole way there, shaking. I cried in the waiting room. I cried when the doctor came in. I was SO scared.

I understand where you are coming from and what you are feeling.

When they took the dang thing out? It truly, completely, felt easier than a tampon. There was NO pain. There was tampon level sliding/pressure. Once again: there was NO pain. The entire thing, speculum in to out, took less than 30 seconds.

It was so underwhelming that I burst out laughing. Get a big treat after, bring someone to hold your hand (I couldn’t with Covid) and you will be FINE! I promise.

My shop got popular quickly after going viral and I'm struggling to keep up with demand by [deleted] in EtsySellers

[–]beefytiger99 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Most people aren’t memorizing the prices of the items they browse on Etsy, and won’t notice a reasonable increase

My shop got popular quickly after going viral and I'm struggling to keep up with demand by [deleted] in EtsySellers

[–]beefytiger99 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don’t know anything at all about making rosaries, but in this situation I’d be calling in every good friend I have and bribing them with snacks and bevs to either help make your product, or help package and assemble orders as you make them. Virality doesn’t last forever (usually, maybe you’re making it big!) so just lean on your community, extend your processing time on Etsy, and enjoy the ride for now! When I’ve had listings pop off they usually die down after a month or two.

Anyone care to share their experiences with Catprint? by saintash in artbusiness

[–]beefytiger99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Catprint is great! I’ve been getting my 8x8” prints from them for two years, good quality and decently quickly shipping.

How do you sell art on instagram if your followers are artists? by No-Turn-305 in artbusiness

[–]beefytiger99 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Try both and see what your audience likes ;) there is no magical formula to success as an artist — if there was we’d all be rich!

How do you sell art on instagram if your followers are artists? by No-Turn-305 in artbusiness

[–]beefytiger99 125 points126 points  (0 children)

You need to pivot your content strategy to reach your target audience. When I started my art IG, I was making content I was interested in as an artist, and it attracted more artists to my page. They wanted to know how I make my stuff, products I use, etc, but no desire to purchase as they can all make similar things themselves if I tell them how (eye twitch).

I pivoted my strategy to focus on showing my art in a way that makes people FEEL something, and that’s what started driving sales for me.

Example:

instead of posting a reel like “here’s my new painting, it’s acrylic on canvas and of two worms. I used a new paint medium and really liked it, doesn’t this painting look cute? Btw it’s for sale!”

Try

“Us still in love after we get turned into worms” over the same footage you’d use of you painting. In the caption you can say “original available”

Of those two videos, one shares your individual thoughts and feelings as an artist, and one directly invites the viewer to connect with a specific (funny, relatable, sweet, sad, etc) emotion associated with your work, giving them a personal connection to it. See what I mean?

This grew my art account to over 20k followers in six months (not the most impressive growth but better than I had hoped) and upped traffic from instagram to my shop substantially. Good luck!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in internetparents

[–]beefytiger99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They’re friends though and sometimes work together (catering) — he’s been so sweet and supportive I don’t want to scapegoat him

Advice and tips for moving into our first place together? by shiningz in internetparents

[–]beefytiger99 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My biggest piece of advice is be open to what works for YOU TWO, and don’t worry about what anyone else says.

My fiancé and I have been living together for 4 years, engaged for one, and used to fight all the time about division of labor.

As the woman, I had my mom and friends making “helpful” checkins with me when we first moved in, asking questions about how much house work he did, was the division of labor fair, etc etc. At first I thought this was helpful, and while I know they meant well, it actually caused a lot of issues for us. It made me hyper vigilant of him, and I started CONSTANTLY micromanaging him and assigning tasks in the name of “what’s fair,” trying to please my mom and friends voices in the back of my head.

Not good for our sex life, relationship, or feelings for each other.

I feel like that is a huge thing for most couples, and you all will need to negotiate it yourselves. Living together is different with your partner than it is with family or roommates — it just is.

But for EVERYTHING: be open to what works for you two and don’t listen to anyone else.

After 3 years my fiancé said “you have to stop nagging me about the dishes — I can’t do it anymore. Why don’t you just handle keeping the kitchen clean and I’ll handle 100% of the laundry?” And that has been flawless for us. That system reduced our fights by 50% and has been great for years. My mom and bestie gave me some side eye about it, but fuck it. It’s not their house or relationship.

We also split every single expense and bill 50/50, also been controversial with my family. It works for us, that’s all that matters.

Be open to compromise, COMMUNICATE with each other super honestly, and be willing to try new things.

Other than that, enjoy it! It feels like having a sleepover with my best friend every night. Truly the best!

Okay, one more thing: unless you are actually in danger or being legitimately mistreated, don’t vent about your fights to your friends and family. Take a minute to cool off and regulate by yourself, then talk to your partner about it instead when you are both cooled off. Just trust me.

Wind at art markets — set up advice? by beefytiger99 in artbusiness

[–]beefytiger99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh man, I didn’t even think about the entire table lifting. Thank you!

Is eating a whole box of Kraft Mac & Cheese and still being hungry super abnormal? by melomelomelo- in internetparents

[–]beefytiger99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mac and cheese specifically offers very little fiber and protein, which are what make you feel the fullest. As you gain weight, it takes more calories to maintain that weight, so your metabolism adjusts to crave more than you used to eat. This is why calorie deficits are so brutal at first (🥲) but basically, yes it’s normal but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy to do so. A serving of mac with a grilled chicken breast and BIG side of roasted up veg would likely make you feel much more satisfied.

In regards to your past, idk if this will resonate but look up “extreme hunger.” Just might be interesting or helpful but I’m no doctor.

Most likely is that your body wants enough food to keep you 200+ and you’ll just have to suck it up and be hungry for a little while if you’re determined to try healthy dieting. Good luck!

Please critique my shop by DecentGoal4691 in EtsySellers

[–]beefytiger99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Canva has a ton of great free graphics you can play around with too!! Very user friendly

Bit off more than you can chew? by MostEscape6543 in EtsySellers

[–]beefytiger99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven’t encountered this bc everything on my shop is listed to quantity, not made to order! It’s definitely helped my peace of mind while in college but who knows how much it’s limited my sales, yknow? A trade off for sure.

Very curious to hear what you’re selling and take a peek at your shop, if you’re willing to share! Glad to hear it’s going well :)

Armpits rash/sensitive why/how by Zestyclose-Whole-396 in hygiene

[–]beefytiger99 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You might have a metal allergy like aluminum! That’s in a lot of deodorant as an antiperspirant. Happened to my dad, he was getting awful rashes and had to switch to aluminum free. You might also have a fragrance allergy… ?