Art Fairs? - Page 2

Karin Wells · 07-02-2003, 12:20 AM

Thanks for clearing that up Michael. I went to the website and couldn't find the wire racks - just the fabric ones and I got confused.

I'm really excited about this and think that it could be a ot of fun.

My small landscapes are selling well in galleries, but I hate to give up that 40% and I feel as if I'm working for minimum wage. I look forward to trying this and at the worst I suppose that I'd eventually break even - but it sounds as if i'll have a good time doing it.

What color fabric do you use?

Michael Georges · 07-02-2003, 08:37 AM

Karin:

I have a couple of colors - medium gray, a nice blue, and black. It all depends on the show and how dramatic I want the booth to look. I also have two multicolored celtic patterned throws that I have used in the past - the pattern breaks up with the art over it, and adds a bit of additional color and interest to the booth.

If you do shows indoors or outdoor shows that run into the evening, you will want some lights. I got mine at Office Depot. They are standard desk lamps on an accordian arm. They have a little clamp which you discard and stick the pole end into the tops of your panels. I think I paid like $9 each for mine and I have 7 of them. Lighting at indoor shows is often really bad so bring your own.

I don't know what shows are out by you, but some of the best on the East coast are the Sugarloaf Craft Fairs. They are huge events that I have been to in Virginia and Maryland just as a spectator. There are some crafters, but there are lots of really high quality artisans and some good artists too. Attendance runs in the tens of thousands and again, they pay to get in.

Be prepared for how hard it is to do these shows. First, you have to pack everything in your vehicle, then completely unload and set it all up - exhausting in itself. You are in that booth for the duration of the show - rain or shine - cold or swealteringly hot. Suddenly you are a shopkeeper. I do several shows that are four days starting at 10 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m. at night - meaning that you are there at 9 and leave at 10:30 or 11:00 - long days. When it is all over, you have to break it all down, load it up, and unload it back home. It helps a lot if you have a second person to help you and give you bathroom and food breaks, etc. Not trying to discourage you, but prepare you for the effort - it is a heck of a way to make a living.

Michele Rushworth · 07-02-2003, 08:57 AM

I'd second what Michael said about the effort involved. The one show I've done was only two days and only from 10 am to 6 pm, but the work involved in planning and buying all the booth gear and accessories, loading, unloading and manning the booth was exhausting! Fun but exhausting. If I didn't get that one big commission it would have been very discouraging.

Michael Georges · 07-02-2003, 09:08 AM

Yea, shows can be a real hit or miss deal. I have had shows where I did not even make my booth fee back and shows where I sold well and got commissions.

That is why I try to stick to the fine art shows or shows that really get a lot of people in.

At the lower end crafty shows, I have ended up next to people selling cheap t-shirts and jewelry from china, people selling license plates and signs with rude sayings, people selling crochet dresses for your bottle of Dawn dish washing liquid. I spent those shows going around my booth humming "One of these things is not like the others..." Painful lesson.

Michele Rushworth · 07-02-2003, 09:26 AM

At the show I did I was next to a booth selling beanie babies and plastic helicopters. Across the aisle from me, though, was a photographer with a beautiful booth, selling large outdoor family photo portraits for over $2,000 each.

The show brings in 150,000 to 200,000 people, many from a nearby upscale area. This is why I do it.

The other, more high-end "art" show in the Seattle area has a rule that every item you have in your booth must be for sale. If I priced my samples in the stratosphere (I really don't want to sell them) I doubt that I would get into the show. I may try it for next year, though, since I already have the booth and display stuff.

Cynthia Daniel · 07-03-2003, 05:37 PM

Karin,

I talked to Graphic Display System before my last show when I was investigating options for hanging in the back of my booth. I seem to recall that Graphic Display will give you the name of a place that supplies fabric covers.

Karin Wells · 07-03-2003, 09:29 PM

Thanks Cynthia. I contacted them and it is a company called "Flourish" that makes the covers. I need to do a little math....buy the high end pro panels all covered or buy the wire racks and then have the covers made....or....?

How does one know what the "good" shows are? I sure don't want to be surrounded by beanie babies and rude T-shirts

Michele Rushworth · 07-03-2003, 10:16 PM

You might want to check out http://www.sunshineartist.com -- I understand they review shows. They also have lots of other tips about exibiting at outdoor art shows.

Otherwise you'd probably need to ask other regional artists and craft people which shows they do and why.

Of course, you could attend a bunch of shows yourself and know for sure which ones you want to be in next year. Around here the application process begins so early in the season you might be too late to participate in anything this summer anyway.

Elizabeth Schott · 07-03-2003, 10:17 PM

I am going to try one of these for the first time this summer. I have to submit just three pieces for jurying next week and have really no idea what I should even show them. Portraits, figurative, stills, oils, pastels? It is one of our larger shows here, so I figure if I get in I will worry about the constuction later. The show takes place in October. It will be interesting to hear your progress Karin.

Next month I have 18 hangers at one of our Starbucks which doubles as a gallery, my work has changed so much I am not sure how to even approach this show!

Karin Wells · 07-03-2003, 10:24 PM

Elizabeth, are you going to have to purchase a canopy, display boards, etc, or do you already have this?

If not, you have a LOT to do in a short amount of time unless that show provides some kind of display space and equipment.

Do you plan to take credit cards? And how in the heck does one go about setting THAT up? I imagine that I would lose sales if I did not take them.

I also plan to have an Internet "store" to sell my prints. Heaven only knows if that will work...but I'm gonna try it.