Art Fairs?
 

I am looking to compensate for the recent economic slump in my portrait business. Some of the artists that I spoke to recently at a local art fair assured me that they are able to generate enough money to support their families by doing these fairs and not selling through galleries.


They say that giclees and smaller original works sell well. Figuratives, landscapes and still lifes appeared to be selling.

Has anyone had any experience with art fairs? I am tempted to try this venue.

Nice booth, Karin.

I did one of the very big fairs here last year and I will do it again this year.

I show half a dozen portrait samples, framed, on easels. I also demo the start of a new painting (more exciting to watch than the finish work and doesn't take as much concentration.) Doing this keeps me from getting totally bored over the two days of the fair. I also have my portfolio book and cards out on a table.

Of course I don't sell anything at the show. I get names in a guest book and last year got one big commission out of it.

I'm located in a section of the fair away from most other booths but near where families bring their kids to play on those giant inflatable rides. Since a large part of my market is parents of small kids, I think it's a good place to be. The parents wait in line with their kids and they watch me demo.

Also, the booth fees are a fraction of what they would be along the rows with hundreds of other art and craft booths. My only other cost is the canopy and signs which I bought last year. I figure I'll do this fair for three years and then evaluate whether it's a good use of my time. (That one big commission from last year certainly made it worthwile, but it could just as easily have been zero.)

Because portraiture is such a big ticket item it's not something people decide to do on the spur of the moment at a fair, of course. I think people who saw me last year may have started to think about it and when they see me again this year they may be motivated to act. We'll see. It's in early October so I'll let everyone know how it goes!

The above picture is not my booth but one that I saw that I liked.

What kind of canopy did you purchase? Where? And are you happy with it?

Do you have to take down your tent and paintings each evening or is there security at your site?

What did you hang your paintings on? Panels?

I thought it was your booth since the paintings look, at first glance, like some of your lovely land and sky-scapes.

The canopy I bought was pretty much the same as the one in the photo. It doesn't have side walls though I wish I had bought some to cut down on wind. Costco had a 10' x 10' booth-type canopy with walls this spring for about $200. Mine was almost that much from a sporting goods store, without walls, last year. Buy one that is all white with no manufacturers logos or writing on it. Many art shows are picky about this.

I put the paintings on very inexpensive wooden display easels I bought from ASW. I will wire the paintings to the easels and stake the easels to the ground to keep them more stable in case of wind. (If it gets too windy, I'll just take them down, of course.)

My booth location last year was kind of out in the open, visible from three sides (which was good for attracting customers). Because of that, I clustered the paintings in the middle, facing outward.

I take the paintings and anything else of value down each evening but leave my canopy and card table in place. There is security of a sort but I still wouldn't leave my paintings there. I may leave the display easels there overnight this year. It's a pain to do the set up and take down twice, but I wouldn't sleep if I left it all in place overnight.

I do a lot of these types of shows - 6 in fact between now and the end of August. They can be very profitable IF you get in the right ones. It is a hit and miss game and you have to do a show to really evaluate it properly. I go for the higher end shows that seem to have an "art" emphasis rather than the "craft" emphasis. It has to do with people's expecations - they come to a "craft" oriented show to buy country ducks and soap doilies and just don't know what to do when they run into "fine art".

I also try to do shows where the attendance is very large and where people pay to get in - if they pay $10 to get in, they are there to buy stuff. I do one show in November that draws 120,000 people over 5 days. They pay $10 to get in and it is a good show for both getting commissions and selling smaller originals and limited edition prints.

I have a canopy from Caravan. It is their top of the line with all four sides. I think I paid about $650 for it. It is very heavy duty with marine zips and completely water proof. I have used it during a 4 day show in the mountains where it rained and blew for 3 of the 4 days - not a drop got in and it was very sturdy in the wind. If you plan on doing outdoor shows, get a good sturdy canopy - it is worth the extra cost.

If the show is outdoors, I will leave my canopy and display frames up, but will take my originals with me at night. Even the best security is not guaranteed and most of these shows have no insurance in the event of theft or loss due to weather, etc. If I am not there, then my originals are not either. I have never had anything taken from my booth overnight, but I know others who have.

Michael, how does the Caravan canopy compare with the EZ-up? Where did you find it? Can one person (namely me) put up this kind of canopy by myself? I have enough muscle to lift a brush...

I do want a canopy with sides. How about light - is a "skylight" an advantage or does a white canopy provide enough light.

What size is your Caravan? 10' x 10' ? Is that the standard "art fair" size? Is it the Aluma or Classic model? Standard or pro?

What are your display panels, or can you put your pictures on the inside walls? How much weight will the walls/display panels hold?

The Caravan Canopies are a little more heavy than the E-Z Up kind. They assemble quite similarly. I can put mine up by myself, although it is a bit heavy to lift in and out of my vehicle. There are always people around at shows to help with some lifting if you need help getting it to your space. Mine is about 70 pounds in the sack.

I recommend getting a 10x10 size which is the most standard. I liked the Caravan over the E-Z Up because of the thickness of the material, the poles are more sturdy, and the whole thing seemed to my eye to be better put together.

The white fabric lets plenty of light through.

One thing to look for is sides that actually zip rather than just having four panels of fabric that just velcro to the corners. The zips keep the whole thing better enclosed in case of rain or overnight winds. I have actually camped in mine for about 10 days total with some bad weather and have been real pleased with how sturdy it is. I anchor mine with 3 gallon jugs of water (two of them) which I either fill on site or bring them with me filled. It keeps the whole structure well anchored.

My panels are separate from the canopy. Have to go, more on them later. :)

My Display Panels
 

You might want to investigate buying professional art panels. There are a couple of options out there. The best artist display panels, IMO, are Pro Panels - http://www.propanels.com/

I have panels that are an aluminum mesh - not as nice as the others, but they are light and they break into two pieces each allowing me to pack them into a car trunk with the seat folded down.

Mine are available from Graphic Display Systems:

Here is their contact info and a pic of the panels:

Graphic Display Systems
308 S.1st St.
Lebanon, PA. 17042-5427
1-800-848-3020
717-274-3954
FAX 717-274-2710

Do you use fabric covers for your panels? Are the covers removeable?

How tall are your panels? i.e., How high is the ceiling on your canopy?

How many of the 1/2 panels do you use. Are all three walls covered as in the picture above?

Karin:

My panels are wire frames and don't have fabric covers. I stretch some 60 inch wide cloth behind them so you cannot see through and that works pretty well. The Pro Panels are covered in carpet and they are pretty much the top-o-the-line. The GDS panels are cheaper, lighter, and they have the advantage of breaking apart in the middle so they will go into a smaller vehicle and store a bit easier.

I have 10 full panels (20 halves - 10 tops and 10 bottoms). This is enough to easily cover three complete walls of my booth. How I set them depends on where I am in the show. If I am on a corner, then I leave two sides open and put panels on the other two. If I am in a row, then I will put panels on most of three sides leaving me space to put my easel in one back corner. I like to work during shows as it really draws people into the booth and gets them excited about your art. I work on charcoals as painting is just too much to do and my paintings always have that "difficult" stage which I am not too happy to have people see. The charcoal is easy and it looks finished as you do it.

The panels are about 3'2" wide and they are about 6 feet tall. I put work down about 2/3s from the floor so nothing is so low that it escapes notice. The pic above is from the GDS website and is not my art.

The canopy roof goes up to about 8 feet. I usually keep mine at about 7.

I don't sit right at the entrance to the booth as it keeps some people from wanting to come in. I try to sit off to one side if I am not inside working.

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?

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. :thumbsup:

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. :)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ;)

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.

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!

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.

Costco can set you up as a merchant to process credit cards.

What/where is Costco?

Costco is a big box warehouse store like Sams Club - don't know what they have out there by you Karin. Costco is the best of the best for warehouse buying! We buy so much stuff there. :)

If the Costco option does not work, then your local bank will be able to help. Just go in and tell them that you want to set up a business account and that you want to be able to take credit cards.

I am off to a show in Monument, CO tomorrow - a 4th of July street fair. I will be just selling prints and small originals. I hope I will do well. :)

It's a national chain of warehouse stores that carries a wide range of merchandise at a good price. I buy all my computer/printing/camera supplies there, among other things.

You could also call up the number on the back of your credit card and ask them to put you through to the merchant department.

Karin,

Sunshine Artist magazine that Michelle wrote about earlier in this conversation has several ads in it for different companies that can handle your credit cards for you. They also have ads for different display systems and companies that carry everything from clear plastic envelopes for your prints to chairs to sit in. I have the audit book from them. It it loaded with great information like how many people attended the last show, how the sales figures were, whether it is just arts or arts and crafts, and a whole lot more.

Beth,

The show that you are doing did not request that you send in a slide of what your booth will look like? If they do you will have to set up a potential booth and photograph it.

Rebecca

How are you going to approach that, Karin? I think that PayPal for accepting payments online is one of the easiest ways to go.

Karin:

The PayPal option is great for taking credit cards over the Internet.

As a benchmark for taking credit cards at shows, etc. I have a friend who has his credit card service with a straight knuckle buster swipe machine, and he pays $8.50 per month and I think he paid about $30 to get setup. There are a lot of deals out there for taking credit cards that really hit the vendor with big upfront fees and expensive monthly service charges. Look for one that comes reasonably close to his and you should do just fine. :)

BTW: You can get the more expensive dial and transmit swipe machine that hooks to a cell phone too. Those are not always reliable as they are dependent on always having electricity at your booth and a good connection on your phone. They can be handy because you get the authorization code immediately rather than having to process it through your CC service provider. Be sure you get a standard knuckle buster too so you are not caught in a bad cell area with no way to take cards.

Nah
 

I used to say "nah, thanks" to such things. I was then talking to a couple (married artists) that do only the better fairs. They paint all winter and tour in the summer. At one show they sold $60,000. worth of paintings in four days.

Caravan canopy model?
 

Michael, could you take a peek at this URL and let me know if it is the Caravan tent model that you recommend?

http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?t...=10012416&log=

Also, is the poly top attached, or is it separate and put on after assembly?

This can be ordered thru Costco for $199.99. I checked out the Caravan manufacturer and couldn't figure out which model Costco was offering.

Rebecca, this show didn't require a slide of your display, but just gives you the dimensional aspects of your space. If I am accepted into this one, I am not too worried yet since it doesn't take place until October. I am planning on borrowing a soccer tent from any number of friends and putting some of my crafty guys with wood working tools to work for the display. I really like what Lon showed us in a post long ago.

Michele, wasn't it you who mentioned doing demos in your space? I know Marvin does this now and sells them as sketches. I think he says it attracts a crowd and puts extra cash in his pocket.

Regarding the use of credit cards, I may be looking at this the wrong way, but I do not sell prints - so I figured it would not really be that important for me to offer credit. I guess I still have the mindset of a portrait artist seeking commissions even though I have been trying to do more figurative work. Is this the wrong way for me to think? How trusting must we be when accepting checks at art shows? If the show has an established good reputation is it more reassuring to conduct business this way? Wow, it is sad you have to think about these things.

Karin:

That model is their Classic I think. It certainly would do just fine. My model seems to me to be a bit heavier, but they look almost identical - my poles are just a bit more robust than the Costco version.

That is a very good price. I would say go for it! :)

The top is attached with velcro. I leave mine on all the time. The walls are removable and are separated from the whole when stored.

I would get some white plastic 3 gallon jugs for weights. You can get some tension straps with hooks on both ends that tighten. You attach one end to the handle on the water jug and the other on the corner frame top of the canopy and cinch it down. With two of those attached, nothing short of a hurricane will move the shelter.

Beth:

If you are selling small originals that run in the $200-$600 range, then taking credit cards is essential. People don't generally write checks for purchases that large, they put it on their cards.

I demo all the time at shows. Draws people in the booth like flies and really boosts interest in your work. I do charcoal, as painting is just too involved for me when I am half distracted at a show.

I did a demo once a couple of months back in the annual art and crafts show in my town. I've done this show in Great Neck three times and in other venues three times as well.

The first time I did the show it resulted in the commission of the painting seen below. Beginner's luck, as it turned out. My client, Steve, keeps me very busy with both new commissions for himself, as well as bringing me new clients. He's truly the client from heaven and has become a good friend.

The other shows I've done have resulted in numerous commissions that never come to fruition. Being sandwiched between canon laser prints of lighthouses and day-glo luggage tags is an inappropriate venue for the prices I charge.

At the last show I did, I decided to do a demo to see what would happen. I decided to offer potential patrons the option of having an informal alla prima portrait option for a more affordable price since it takes me much less time to do, and it's done entirely from life (the most fun!). So essentially, I was giving people an opportunity to watch one evolve during the course a day.

This was an experiment to see how the local yokels would react to lower prices. What I discovered was, in that venue, there is no such thing as a low enough price.

However I did a painting I really was proud of. The subject was one of my students, Katie, that I have wanted to paint for both her inner and outer beauty. I did attract a big crowd but not one that was interested in purchasing portraits (big surprise). However, I did have a great time!

This weekend the local museum is sponsoring their first ever outdoor Art (no crafts) Show. Once again I'm giving it a shot hoping that some people are coming to buy quality art (fingers crossed!!!).

I've had very nice conversations with people at each fair I've done and I usually dispense 100-200 cards. I have about a year's worth of commissions so it's not like I'm desperate for work. However one never knows when these planted seeds will start to sprout.

Beth, I do demo oil painting when I have a public booth of any sort (at the one art show I've been doing and at various school "art night" events.) I'm easily bored when I'm not painting so it passes the time.

The main reason I demo, though, is to attract attention. I bring a fresh canvas with the image already sketched on, and my photo reference. I work on backgrounds and clothing mostly, so it doesn't take too much concentration. The early blocking in work that I do at these shows goes fast and gives people something more interesting to look at than the slow finish work.

Once upon a time, in another life, I was a public pastel portrait sketch artist. I was burned a few times by bounced checks. I would definitely get set up to accept credit cards, to avoid this problem, and, as Michael says, to handle larger transactions. Also, these days, a lot of people don't take their checkbooks anywhere with them.

My first art fair display
 

I am keenly interested in this thread. I have recently submitted slides for jurying in the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit (WSOAE) over the Labor Day weekend and the one following. I'm hoping to sell some art and promote my portraits. It will be my first contact with the public besides my website and signing on with Stroke of Genius.

The WSOAE disallows the 10x10 tents, assigning spaces of 10' by 4.5'. My spring and early summer was spent, besides doing drawings and stuff, researching tents, display racks, directors chairs, etc. I got a business account and merchant services, so I'll be able to accept credit cards.

I got the Graphic Display System racks, a desk from Pro Panels, a Caravan 10x10 tent from Costco (for about $215 including sales tax). I got a directors chair and flip rack from dlrsupply.com. I even had a sign made with my name, my phone number and my website printed on it. And I got my sales tax certificate framed all nice and pretty.

I will be devastated if I'm not juried into this exhibit. But I'll keep trying. These venues seem like a great deal of fun. I spent last night, for example, surfing the web for RV's, so's I could toodle around anywhere in the country with all my art and display supplies, and not having to check in to tawdry motels. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

If I do get accepted by the jury, I'll proceed to have some of my drawings and paintings reproduced, and then I'll buy a battery-powered cash register, and then figure out how to shelter my display without using a tent.

I'm nervous and excited. Wish me luck!! Here's a little file of my display:

Nice display and good luck on the WSOAE. I'm still in the process of getting my act together and gathering materials. Will you be covering your wire racks with cloth for display?

Last year Peter and I got a camper - a third-hand Roadtrek. It is really nice, small and comfy and I plan to use it to haul my stuff. Motels and greasy road food don't appeal much to me.

Maybe we should have a thread/section somewhere about good shows to apply for and attend. In fact, maybe some of us will end up in the same place together.:) Wouldn't that be fun!

Catherine, how many pieces can you hang with your display? Can you set it up so people can walk in front and behind?

Wow Karin, hitting the road... jeeze, I am having visions of flea markets and biscuts and gravy! :) Seriously, you should travel down the coast to the Winter Park Art Festival in Orlando. It is my dream. Juried, but artists from everywhere - it is well respected and huge!

Winter Park Art Festival in Orlando? When? How does one contact them?

Karin, my brother-in-law used to be the head of the judges, so I'll get a call into him to see when the entry for judging deadlines are. Since there are no seasons, I can't even remember the time of year. I am sure some Floridian will jump in here!

Beth,

I was interested in this one as I am relatively close to Orlando. Do you mean the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park, just north of Orlando? It's March 19 - March 21, 2004. I used the following web link to find it

http://www.artandcraftshows.net/query.php

It's a database of art fairs searchable by date, city, state or fair name, pretty handy.