Do People in Art Festivals Tend to Accept Credit Cards or Cash
The summer art prove flavour is upon us over again after a yr of cancelled and postponed events. This summertime is poised to be a render to a somewhat normal art flavour when tens of thousands of artists have the opportunity to show and sell their creations to the art-loving public. Participating in these shows can be exhilarating, terrifying, and exhausting, all at the same time.
I've long recommended that artists take advantage of the opportunity to show their work at art events. Not only practice the artists have the chance to sell their work, they also learn first-mitt what potential buyers remember of their work and get to learn about the challenges of selling their work. Merely how can an artist take the best shot at success in an art show or at a festival?
For the last several years (prior to the pandemic), about this aforementioned fourth dimension, I've run a post asking for tips from artists who participate in fine art shows and festivals. I asked what advice they might give an creative person who is simply first to show their work. Readers made some smashing suggestions, and I would like to re-post them here as nosotros go into the summer flavour. I also inquire you to share any wisdom yous've gained by participating in shows. Thanks for all the bang-up input!
Suggestions from RedDotBlog Readers
Johanna L.
This is your time to sell your work. Do non brand it like shooting fish in a barrel for family unit and friends to stay for long periods of fourth dimension. Go out chairs at dwelling house. Bring a bar stool or diector's chair for you alone.
Diane Quarles
Knowing a particular testify or festival's market audition and product range has proven ane of the most important aspects of a prove'southward personal success. Ideally, I try and accept shows where in that location is a proven history of loftier traffic book and greater incomes and/or tourism.
I have found the almost important criteria, however, is the range and cost bespeak of the artwork at the testify. If a show is mostly lower craft, I typically exercise not sell well since I cannot compete with a far lower cost signal. The evidence visitors likewise tend to be more concerned with bargains and getting a skillful price rather than the quality of the work. If there is a broad range of artwork in manner, media and price, I tend to practise adequately well. These shows also seem to attract the more art savvy clientele. Information technology is not ever only most the sheer traffic volume, but whether or non they are truly there to enjoy and buy art.
Brent Haddock
Knowing your audience at an fine art festival is a key factor in determining your success. I try to find festival's where the audition is there to celebrate the arts and non so much into the party scene.
The neighbour booth at one festival final summertime, sold completely out of everything during the offset day of the festival. I effigy he sold $20,000 worth of art in just a few hours! He saturday in a chair at an empty table for the remaining ii days, handing out business cards! He clearly had done his research had artwork priced correctly and a product that everybody found interesting. People were lined upwards to buy his stuff, it was truly astonishing.
Additionally, I think information technology is important to make your booth expect professional and gallery-similar. Don't hang everything y'all take ever produced in your berth, be selective and choose pieces that will depict people in. When possible, demonstrating your fine art process in the berth e'er gets attention. I found that it is amend to go on your concern cards behind the table and hand them out only when someone needs the information. Also often customers will have a business card and say, I'll be looking at your website and get dorsum to yous. Unfortunately, they don't.
Bob Estrin
A few days ago I put upwards an commodity meant to give artists information on how to prepare and sell at pocket-size fine art shows based on some of my experiences. You can read it at http://world wide web.bobestrin.com/artshow.htm.
Jo Ann Nelson
Be in that location! Be positive and interact with people who view your work. If you sell the artist, y'all will sell the work. Of grade do the research about the type of evidence, and choose wisely.
Phyllis Terrell
Ane valuable thing I learned in applying for an art show is that your artwork might be rejected from i show simply actually win an award at some other show.
Janet Glatz
As a veteran fine art festival attendee/artist, I have constitute that looking and sounding as professional as possible is a must at any mid-to high end prove. It is so easy for buyers to wait down their noses at a display that screams: "I don't know what I'm doing!" Be tasteful–be neat–don't overcrowd your booth, or attend a prove when yous take but five things to display (unless they are huge). Dress well. Smell good, but not overpowering. Don't swallow while at your berth. Otherwise, grinning and savour the people and the experience. I love art festivals!
Peggy Martinez
I started at smaller events, luckily I took pictures of my berth because when I applied for larger events they requested images of your booth setup. Here are my recommendations;
*I go with my husband and young girl, we're a small family and don't always have a sitter for her. We piece of work together, setting up, taking down and established a rule that only ane person at a fourth dimension in the booth and no eating inside the booth.
* When I setup, I step out of the booth to check the key areas where people will first see my booth and hang my all-time piece of work there.
* Mind to the comments, you can learn alot from it, my starting time year someone came in and said "Oh the pink lady!", this was huge feedback that I needed to aggrandize my color palette. Since so I've created series of works with exciting new colors.
* At the end of the twenty-four hours, we analyze what went well, what didn't and conform.
* If possible, endeavor to get the aforementioned spot every year, people that follow you will look for you there.
* Be freindly, take a positive mental attitude and it's OK not to give your artwork abroad!
* I don't sell notecards because people will await for the least expensive item.
* Have a sense of sense of humour, no affair how tired, sick, frustrated or hot you lot are, customers will pick information technology upwardly quickly, beginning impression is everything!
* My concluding prove I had a cast on my leg, information technology was a good icebreaker…so, practiced luck and break a leg!
Linda McCoy
Most people are gracious and complimentary, simply be gear up to curlicue with a few punches…..
"Is that the price or an inventory control number"
"Uncle George paints like that"
"Her grapes are too grapey." (my favorite!)
"I'm taking a course to learn this on Fri night."
Be sure you lot are prepare early and at the time specified, the judging is often done before the event opens.
Yous can have a banner with your name on it made at Ofc Max or Staples, this looks nice on the outside of your tent. Once prepare up, take photo's of your display, many shows crave this as function of the jury process, yous'll and so take them for side by side year's entries.
Joy Scott
Set up your tent early. Make an emergency box which should include aspirin, a hat, rainwear, sweater, h2o, snacks , sunglasses and extra supplies. Be prepared to have credit cards, I highly recommend square, it is quick and easy to utilise. And nearly importantly don't forget business organisation cards.
Karen
A few points of etiquette for artists going to fine art shows to scope it out. The artists are there to sell art, non to talk with other artists . Ask them briefly and politely if you tin can contact them after the evidence, and write downward their email. When a client sees someone engaged in chat they may take the intention of coming dorsum, but if something else catches their heart, and they can't quite recollect where that booth was …. Get the flick? Don't exist the reason that a hard working artist loses a potential sale or a valuable contact. It tin toll 6-700 or more to practice a show when you include jurying fees, booth fees, possible vehicle rental – not to mention hotels, food, maintenance on your booth equipment, and so on. When I have only eight hrs to make the virtually of a sale, no, I don't want to discuss where I get my frames or where did I go that canopy or replacement parts for my panels. I only don't have the time, distressing. And at the cease of a show I'one thousand dead tired and have to take it all downward and pack it up so I can unload it all back home. At a recent bear witness, I sold pretty well, all things considered economically. The guy next to me sold cypher. He'd tell you information technology was a lousy testify and don't bother. I'd say it was OK. All you've learned is that people's tastes vary, quality of work varies, pricing varies, salesmanship varies and they are all contained of the quality of the evidence. The best approach, I think, is to spend a long time at a show and be the observant fly on the wall. Sentry the traffic. See how many bags are being carried. Notation if at that place's distracting entertainment or other side shows that pull people abroad from the art. Come across how people'south work is priced and how it compares to yours. You lot're going to larn near of what y'all demand to know that mode, I recollect.
Noël
I 2d the annotate about not overcrowding your display. It should not await, as i fellow-artist put information technology, "like y'all are showing everything you lot e'er made". I am a jeweler, and my colleagues are ofttimes guilty of overfilling their cases. Hard equally information technology may exist to get out a fix-upwardly looking spare, it creates the infinite necessary for the browser to focus on individual pieces. Information technology looks sleeker, more confident and professional, and less like a rummage sale!
I would also say that information technology helps a LOT to share a story with shoppers. Describe how or why you fabricated what you made, in cursory, unusual terms. This story gets people invested in you and your art, making them more likely to buy, and to recall you. And they laissez passer this story on to others. An example– "I call this slice 'Cross Land'– I was cross-country skiing when I came across this scene. I always carry a sketchbook with me, so I stood there on my skis and drew information technology. So I went dwelling house and created this piece". Many times, people go abroad, and come back with another person, show them the slice and repeat the story. Almost people have no clue how an artist works, and they enjoy the glimpse into the process.
Victoria Pendragon
A quick question to those who recommended not eating in the booth – which brings upward the consequence of the demand for occasionally relieving ones cocky besides – I'g guessing that ideally one has an assistant or helper in order to pull this off? Leaving the booth un-personed seems like asking for trouble….and if ane has an assistant and 1 is only supposed to be the only ane in the booth…well then what, please?
Evelyn Drew
Make certain that your booth is not a dead terminate space. Leave a mode for people to circulate without feeling trapped. This volition as well assist the traffic flow (and the air flow) in your space.
Identify eye-catching, important fine art where the viewer can meet it at get-go glance while approaching your booth.
Try not to answer a compliment with "thank you". Information technology psychologically ends the chat or transaction. Say that you appreciate the compliment or you are glad that they similar it. Also it is one of your favorite pieces or did you lot notice the ______________ I painted in the background? Say cheers when they are finished or take purchased something.
Great advice Joy, everyone should have the ability to process credit cards and Square makes it easy –http://www.squareup.com
Judith Rothenstein-Putzer
A packing checklist with everything from panels to bandaids minimizes forgotten items when you become to your site. I besides similar to have a visual inventory with a thumbnail epitome of the piece of work, title, toll & tax (This is especially helpful for those helping with sales).
**Terminal but non least, STAY HYDRATED (I learned the difficult way- dehydration is worse than the port-a-potties!).
It would be overnice to have family unit or friends to assistance out, but some of us do this alone. It'south not too bad.
Regarding bath breaks: Official booth-sitters from the show are never around when you demand them, so I merely let my nearest neighbor know where I'grand going and brand information technology as short a trip every bit possible. (Your neighbor can so let people in your booth know you'll exist right back.) Absolutely, with my big paintings I don't worry nigh theft the mode a jeweler does.
Equally for eating, you have to eat and you have to be at your booth. But you don't have to swallow inside it! I commonly duck behind my booth or sit down at the side and unobtrusively take hold of a bite when traffic is light. At that place'southward always a serenity moment here and there. (Baby wipes, by the way, make for like shooting fish in a barrel cleanup.)
Bottom line, you gotta stay hydrated and yous gotta consume. People sympathise.
Dianne Horton
No thing what, stay positive. Smile! I similar to have a couple of pieces from that area where I am showing as the eye catcher. I like to hang a contempo award in (eight x 10) a place where a browser can see it. I attempt not to sit downward and try to exist heart level with the heir-apparent. A tall seat can be the all-time investment when it's a more than than one twenty-four hour period show. I move work effectually for the second day. Information technology looks like things were sold. A returning customer might need to ask where the piece they liked is now. Try not to be negative about the weather. I had ane of my very best shows in the pouring rain in Bar Harbor! I often employ that as an example when I hear negative comments from artists as well every bit customers!
I don't sell at fairs, simply wondered how reliable Squareup was for being able to take credit cards with a smart phone. The device itself is not expensive, only is at that place a service? Also, how do artists handle it when people dispute a charge? I have a friend who sells antiques on ebay; she says every then oft she ships a piece with a return receipt required, and gets the receipt back signed…then the buyer disputes it and says they never got the particular. Their CC co removes the coin from the seller'southward account and poof, she is out the antique and the coin plus the shipping, and someone got a free antiquarian. How do you forestall that sort of matter?
Wow, I simply desire to say Thank you to each one of yous who contributed so much wisdom here!!
Gerri Buteyn
I'm a role-fourth dimension artist/art teacher has done summer shows in the by, only found that the fees for shows were staying high while the profits were coming down. I've joined a fine arts group in Waupun Wisconsin and have been influencial in starting a loftier quality, depression fee show in Waupun to allow for maximum profitability for artists. Our goal is not to make money off this upshot, only to break even only to back up artists and the visual arts in Wisconsin. Nosotros are open for submissions until June 8th or until full if whatsoever of you are interested in condign a part of this show. You will observe all of the necessary information at the Waupun Fine Arts website: http://world wide web.waupunfinearts.org
Happy to be a part of supporting the arts!
Gerri Buteyn, Visual Arts Coordinator
Gerri Buteyn
Morbideus
A lot of great advice and suggestions here. Especially the one well-nigh not maxim "Thank You" until the deal is washed. I've been guilty of that far too frequently.
If yous accept a specific genre, my proposition is NOT going straight for your niche crowd, unless yous know yous take a following there. For instance, if your work tends toward the horror-genre (as mine does), you may not do too at Horror-Themed Shows, every bit in that location is direct competition from anybody in that location. Amidst a more than ecclectic audiance, your work will stand out.
Cindy, that's called a "chargeback" when a customer disputes a credit menu accuse. For fine art, chargebacks are VERY rare. I've never had one. I retrieve selling fine fine art face-to-face is completely unlike from selling antiques on eBay. You make a personal connectedness with your collectors. They like your work and want you to do well; they are invested (literally) in your success. I don't recollect they're going to try to screw you. At least mine haven't!
There are ways to dispute a chargeback. A signed sales skid should be proficient enough proof. You definitely should check your merchant business relationship'due south chargeback dispute procedure to make sure it's reasonable. Some companies charge you a fee fifty-fifty if yous successfully dispute a chargeback. This is one of many things to cheque before signing up for a merchant account.
I oasis't used Foursquare and so I don't know what their chargeback procedure is.
Even though it is a good idea to take credit cards when selling fine art, I don't recommend a first-timer run out and get a merchant business relationship correct away. Do a few pocket-size local art shows first, tell people yous accept checks, and offering to evangelize the painting to their home if they don't accept their checkbook with them. Take a $20 cash deposit or something to hold the painting. Exist creative. People will sympathise. In one case y'all know yous're going to do art festivals in a serious style, that's the fourth dimension to outset thinking about taking credit cards.
Judith Rothenstein-Putzer
Cindy- I've been using Foursquare on my smart phone for almost a twelvemonth & think it'south the greatest affair since white bread!! When making sales in person, the client signs on the telephone itself with his/her fingertip. Nigh people think this process is kind of fun mixing engineering with art. They choose whether they want an e-mail, text or no receipt. I always fill out a paper receipt equally well. By the time I get dwelling house from a day at the off-white, I accept an electronic mail receipt of the sales. With regard to phone sales, electronic mail & faxes assist to go on a record of the dialog regarding the auction. So far, I've had only positive experiences!
Intuit has Become Payment which I use. I read that it is a tighter from a security standpoint than foursquare. If you lot have Intuit Quickbooks, which my bookkeeper does, then it is free and the rates are quite low. (My charge per unit is lower than any of the Square users that I have talked to. I download the deposits from my bank account right into Quickbooks where they are allocated.
The swipe device is free and plugs into your phone audio jack. The customer tin can sign with their finger pad on your phone or iPad screen. If y'all enter the carte du jour data with the carte remote, then the percentage that you pay goes up virtually ane%
Bricklayer Parker
Plan an afternoon well in advance of your actual show, to set up a practice show at a local brawl field or vacant lot. Exist every bit thorough every bit the existent one, from preparing your inventory for transport, packing your car, setting up the berth with all your merchandise, taking it downwards, and going home to unpack.
merritt menefee-johnson
I also use foursquare. I have a merchant services business relationship also thru my banking company…merely found that foursquare is amazing. I tin can track when my sales happened during the mean solar day at the art festival…I tin make notes of what sold at what time of twenty-four hours…the customer gets a receipt emailed to them with my logo and information on the receipt…and I tin go approvals right in the centre of asphalt without expensive merchant services equipment. I totally agree with Judith. AND the device and app are Costless! I even ordered a 2d one to go along on hand in example the first one fails.
Janet Glatz
The more than I read nearly galleries as opposed to outdoor shows, the more I am convinced that an outdoor brandish should resemble a gallery space. I take been guilty of worrying that I didn't have enough paintings to fill the space, then I placed pieces far likewise shut together. More than than one time, I've heard the words, "I'm all dislocated at present" from potential buyers. It is E'er easier to make a pick when there are fewer options. I'm not suggesting that a brandish should go from 30 pieces to 10; merely how about twenty with lots of space betwixt, and no more two horizontal rows? Besides, yous tin offer to remove one or 2 paintings from the display and allow the "looker" take them away from the others for a few moments to permit for un-distracted viewing. For my side by side testify, I plan to have a few pieces "in the back" if someone wants to see more than of my piece of work.
I've been doing outdoor shows for many years now. It is cash flow and gets my piece of work in front of people who may non see it in my studio or in galleries. All of this advice is very good. I think the primal ingredient is that
yous accept to actually relish interacting with people, lots of them, and saying the same things over and over again, in a different way. Treat anybody as if he were a collector. That funny looking woman in the well-worn sweater may be the one who buys your big piece. Engage people. The "story" suggestion is a good i. Information technology's much more interesting to hear why you painted something than why they should buy it. Show a cohesive group of work in a complementary palette and have at least 3 price points. The Square works keen. Don't worry about information technology. It is the least expensive and almost trouble-free way of taking credit cards, and yous must take credit cards. In the terminal few years a lot of people have been using greenbacks, merely if you are going to brand a big sale, you will likely make it with a card. The advice well-nigh scoping out shows is huge. Shows are expensive to practice in terms of money and fourth dimension, and it pays to know which will work best for you. Find out what kind of numbers they look – how is it advertised, what is the attendance history etc. And, yes, practise the shows that are art shows, not "festivals with art" — that way your audience is coming for the correct reasons.
Rick Chapman
Sol
Looking in the ebook and reading some comments given by Linda McCoy, I can add a couple of the better ones I have gotten equally a wildlife photographer, including:
Q. Are these real photographs?
My reply is either: "They are real, I'm fake" or "Joe's down the aisle are the real 1's"
Q. Were you there when you took this flick? (no kidding, I've been asked twice)
My respond the second time (too stunned the first fourth dimension it was asked), "No, my camera is mature enough to travel on its own"
Pat scheiblw
Several people referenced "telling the stories " of their pieces. People do love these, and information technology often makes the auction. Every bit a gallery part owner, I have thought about some manner to postal service curt stories past the pieces on display. I certainly doesn't want to follow visitors around, offering the story of every piece that catches their eye. I think this applies at art fairs too. Does anyone accept experience posting stories, and how do you lot practice it in a professional person-looking way?
Evie Cook
I learned a slap-up marketing technique from an artist who had been painting and showing for many years. She created rather big, beautiful paintings and it was easy to autumn in love with one or even several. The price tags were prohibitive to most people visiting her booths or shows. She besides had framed giclees usually in two smaller sizes so potential customers could still purchase the image they loved without breaking the bank.
I began employing this technique myself. My art was digitally created and printed on artist's canvas, then I already had the pieces saved in a format where I could print smaller canvass sizes too. Plus I created archival paper print versions in two smaller sizes besides. The paper prints had the best markup–a good size to buy at a very reasonable cost, withal very inexpensive for me to produce on my own printer at dwelling. This allows me to do shows where I may not sell a large canvas piece, but people will fall in love with ane particular epitome and get the newspaper print instead of leave my booth empty-handed. I usually sell many paper prints and brand my expenses back plus enough to make information technology worthwhile. If I didn't have those paper prints I would sell less than half my usual volume, and even one more larger sale would not bring in more income than several paper prints.
I realize this may not work for all artists, but it has been very successful for me and now I never practice a show without a practiced supply of my archival paper prints.
In improver to the great comments, nosotros also had an artist create a more comprehensive guide, which I'll also include hither in the interest in consolidating all of the info on this topic.
Successfully Marketing Your Art through Art Festivals
by Larry Berman www.bermangraphics.com.
Getting Started
You lot've been painting for years. Friends and family members requite you positive feedback, telling you how much they love your work and suggest that yous should be selling. Or maybe you've visited an fine art show and have seen other painters selling their work. You imagine setting up a berth in front of thousands of people who might buy your paintings. Yous've been told that art festivals can provide a viable manner to earn a living doing what you like all-time.
Creating Artwork that Juries Well and Sells Well
Contrary to what yous might think or have heard, it'due south non that easy to get into an art prove. 1 of the first things I learned that helped me become into the better shows with my ain photography was the importance of having a unified or related trunk of work. It made for improve jury results and helped attract buyers that were interested in a personal style, not but a random piece.
The Application and Jury Procedure
The application requirements of "juried" fine art shows are that you submit individual digital images of your work, usually 3, four or five, depending on the show. Additionally they require an image of your brandish or booth. The display image will come up across more professional looking if your body of work is unified and matches the fashion of the individual images submitted.
Some major art shows become over one,000 applications for about 200 – 300 spaces. Smaller more than local shows get fewer applications and are easier to get into.
Jurors spend very picayune time viewing the images of each applicant then your jury images need to exist of the all-time quality with nothing to distract the jurors. Projection juries employ multiple digital projectors and project the entire set of jury images simultaneously, usually for less than xx seconds per artist in the first round, where up to l% may be eliminated. Images are viewed by each medium and then y'all are competing with other painters for space in the show.
The preparation of your jury images is the most critical component to your being accepted because your images are all they have to go by. Yous tin be the best painter in the earth, but if that isn't reflected in your images, you won't get accepted.
Photographs of paintings should not include mats or frames as they make the painting look smaller within the space allocated to each image in the jurying process. The display paradigm should exist representative of what your display will await like at the show. The piece of work should be shown hanging in the booth nether a white awning or tent without identifying signs or people. If you don't take a white canopy yet or have never fifty-fifty done an fine art bear witness, expect for a evidence (usually but a few of the meridian shows) that has an emerging artist category where the show provides the display. If you use in this category you'll be juried but against other emerging artists.
For the smaller shows, communicate with them, explain your situation, and they will probably let you photo a grouping of your work or submit an boosted artwork image instead of an image of your display or booth.
Where the Shows Are
Online resources have largely replaced impress media. ZAPPlication and Juried Art Services are the online application systems that nearly of the major art shows use. Artists apply ZAPP® to find shows to utilise to and fine art shows utilize ZAPP® because they know that's where the artists look for shows.
Fine art Fair Insiders has fine art show listings besides beingness an online forum/blog where over 9,000 artists share information. Art-Linx has a large artist electronic mail list and fine art shows pay to have e-mail blasts sent out with their information and closing dates. There are fifty-fifty a few Facebook groups where artists share show information.
For new artists, Sunshine Artist Magazine is the but merchandise publication for artists doing art shows. The Art Fair SourceBook lists the particulars of the top fine art shows in the country and also has regional editions. Both are even so bachelor, though the SourceBook is now but online.
Most art shows have application deadlines 3 to 6 months before the show actually takes identify. Artists doing shows regularly plan their schedule up to a twelvemonth in advance. For case, Florida winter shows have place in January through March shut in September and October. Midwest summer shows shut in Jan through March.
Near areas take nationally rated, hard to get into shows, and in that location are thousands of smaller local shows that are much easier to go into and are a good place to get your feet wet, so to speak.
I strongly suggest walking a few shows to see how other artists are displaying. Fifty-fifty meliorate if you tin can walk shows that you're specifically interested in. The best tip I can offering is to attend an open jury, fifty-fifty if y'all have to travel some distance. A few of the meridian shows let artists, fifty-fifty those that oasis't applied, to sit in the dorsum of the room to picket all the submitted images projected. It's an astonishing experience and there's no limit to what you can acquire past seeing how your images, or those of your competitor'due south, project.
Getting Accepted – the Display
You've gotten through the jury process and are really going to put together a display. White tents or canopies tin can range in toll from $200 for an EZUp at Sam'due south Guild (or Caravan at Costco's) to $900 for the starting price of a Trimline awning, the sturdiest canopy yous see at art shows. Y'all may consider renting a tent to showtime off, simply rental tents are usually opaque, not letting light through, then your paintings will non be viewed well. Canopies like Trimline and Light Dome (lighter but notwithstanding sturdy) are translucent, designed to allow light through and make the artwork hanging on the walls await practiced.
Inside the canopy you will demand walls to hang your paintings on. The most professional looking are the rug covered Pro Panels. They expect like walls of an fine art gallery simply lite weight and sturdy. The all-time alternative are mesh walls made by the Flourish (Trimline) visitor for all types of canopies. They are made from a vinyl mesh and curlicue up taking very lilliputian infinite in your vehicle.
If you sell reproductions of your paintings, yous will need a display bin for your unframed work. Y'all volition also need a desk or table for making sales and displaying promotional cloth or business cards. Pro Panels makes carpeted desks in the same mode as their panels. Your vehicle will probably determine what blazon of display you eventually cease upwardly with unless you plan on always renting a van. When I downsized from a full size van to a minivan, I stopped using my Pro Panels and went to mesh walls because they fit ameliorate in a smaller vehicle. I at present hire my Pro Panels to artists who do shows in the Pittsburgh expanse where I live. Whatever awning you decide on, brand certain to use lots of weight in each corner to reduce the take chances of current of air damage.
Making Sales – Taking Credit Cards – Packaging
You lot need to be able to take credit cards. The Square (and similar credit card processing companies) allow anyone with a mobile device and a data plan can sign upwards for the Foursquare and take credit cards wherever they are.
For packaging the sold painting, I've always been a believer in using large clear plastic numberless so your painting can advertise for you equally your customer walks effectually the show.
Resource
world wide web.zapplication.org
www.juriedartservices.com
www.artfairinsiders.com/
www.fine art-linx.com
www.sunshineartist.com/
www.artfairsourcebook.com/
world wide web.flourish.com/
www.lightdomecanopies.com/
www.propanels.com/
Get out a Annotate Below
Do y'all have advice to share about succeeding in art shows and festivals? Do you take a response to one of the suggestions above? Would yous like to say thanks to the artists who contributed to this mail? Please, share your thoughts beneath.
Source: https://reddotblog.com/how-to-succeed-at-art-shows-and-festivals-21/
Exit and visit every bit many different shows as possible. Visit ALL the local ones, no thing how pocket-sized, plus as many farther-away ones as financially possible. Somewhen you can employ ArtFairSourceBook to notice the best shows. Don't bother when starting out, you lot won't get into them anyhow.
Visiting a evidence, expect at everything: the quality of the art, the number of shoppers, how many of them seem to be ownership, how happy or busy the artists seem to be. Talk to the artists, particularly the ones who are showing work similar to yours. Go on the last day of a multi-twenty-four hours show, so the artists know how well they did. "I'm thinking well-nigh doing this evidence next twelvemonth, how was information technology for y'all?" is a good opener. At that place are a few grouches, but nigh artists are happy to share info. Information technology's how they started too.
Take notes on displays, tents, everything. Ask people where they got their stuff. Read everything available about doing shows. Figure out how to utilise. Many shows use Zapplication.org, then set up up an account in that location. Get all the necessary equipment – tent, brandish system, boxes for your work. Start with pocket-size local shows (make your beginner mistakes in that location) and work your way up into the improve shows.
Finding the shows where your work sells is trial-and-fault. You lot pretty much take to try them all and just see how information technology goes. Driblet the duds and continue the gems. Keep careful track of all of your testify-related expenses. You might take a few more sales at an "abroad" testify but if the hotel costs eat information technology all then information technology's non worthwhile. Information technology takes a few years to observe the gems. Some shows are then hard to become into you'll probably take a few years just to figure out how to get in.
Have a mailing list signup sheet out at all times. Your list is your key to success, so work it.