Thank you for accepting me into your group!  I hope I will prove to be an entertaining asset to the group.  I am eager to participate and add value to the pursuit of art and business.  Please excuse my inexperience in the art festival circuit, I would love to learn from any advise that any of you have to offer.  And I hope to one day meet everyone that contributes to this site.

Thanks again,

Carla Kathryn Cope

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  • Hello Carla and welcome to our group.  I look forward to your entertaining posts.  We do like some humor here now and again.

  • Hello Carla!

    I'm new to the Art Fair World too and concerned about what it takes financially to equip myself for selling...the tent, the fees, etc.  Will I sell enough to make a profit?  Is it enough to just get myself out there?  I'm sure the experience will be satisfying but is the overhead and hard work worth it?  I would love to hear from some old pros on this topic...are you out there?

    In any event, welcome to a fellow newbie!  What is your medium?  Have you posted photos yet?

    Good Luck! 

    • I just found your photos, they are great!  I love felting, I use felting in a lot of my art on canvas'.  Beautiful hats!

      Carla

      • Thanks, Carla...I really appreciate your insights and motivation...the creative process is wonderful and the thing that keeps me going.  I think I'll start small and see how it goes...

        Thanks, too, for the nice compliment...I plan to look at your photos as well.

    • Hi Christina (fellow newbie),

      It is quite an expensive endeavor, but I'm excited and can't wait to participate in the fun.  I have already invested in the tent, walls, etc., now I am dealing with lessons on how to get through a jury admission and how to organize myself.  My problem is that I love both art, and craft, sort of a split personality.  So, I'm trying to mingle to two together in a mixed media fashion.  I have posted the photos, but I've got some more exploring and production to catch up on.  I was trying to set up my booth photo as a retail store front (a variety of product styles and price points - sort of all over the road).  I want to try and narrow that field of focus into a clearer vision of one direction.  This is very difficult, but it's also a great and fun challenge.  It may turn out to be a lot of hard work, but I love to be pushed to grow.  So in the long run, is it worth it?  I think that depends on your desired outcome, (whether that be artistic and social growth, or financial success) well, I guess both are a goal, maybe it is for me, it is in priorities, goal #1, then on to goal #2.

      I look forward to finding your photos!

      Carla

    • Christina, Your concerns re: the expenses involved in doing art fairs are certainly valid.  You can always start slow by maybe borrowing a tent or buying used.  But here is no getting around the fees and they can be significant.  Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out your market, if your art will sell and at what price point.  You are correct that it takes alot of hard work and dedication.  The passion for your art and doing shows is also important.  Starting any business takes a certain amount of capital and doing art shows is no different.  You need that to get you started and keep you going through the lean shows.  Good luck as you proceed!

      • Hi Pat,

        Thank you for your response, I truly appreciate it.  I guess I'll start small and see how it goes...

        Thanks again,

        Christina

  • Hi Carla and welcome.  I'm sure there are still some shows in Florida that you could apply to for the upcoming winter seasom.  Where in Florida are you located?  Some of the smaller shows might be a good place to start.

    • Hey Carla,  

      Are there any indoor Art Festivals in Florida?  I'd look into that...especially in the warmer months.  We do that here, in Michigan, in the wintertime...you can probably find some here on this site.

      • The main indoor shows in Florida are the Buckler shows.  They are country crafts, a lot of buy/sell and a lot of junk and they are not cheap to do.  Probably best to avoid them.

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