Hello Everyone! Thank you Connie for your warm welcome! This is my first day here - and I am so excited and relieved to find this place!
I am new to the art fair world and am just learning the hard facts: that one must actually apply to be accepted to fairs! That applications must be submitted several months in advance and just to apply I will need a tent and panels so I can provide photos of my set-up and ARGH! I don't quite know what I expected, but I had no idea it was going to take me so long (and cost me so much) before I could even get my feet wet. In my silly mind I figured - hey, I have good inventory and good enthusiasm! What more could I need, right?! Ha!
To say I'm "green" is obviously an understatement. I have however been selling my fine art photography for years, just not at art fairs. So, here I go! I'm committed to making this work for me. I have so much to learn and will need lots of help, so thank goodness for you all out there.
I do have my website in place. You can see my work at www.ReneeSullivan.com
See you around!
Replies
Hi Renee,
Welcome to art fair insiders. Both Susan and I live in Ohio in the summer and Florida in the winter. If you ever need a few tips on some good Ohio art shows let us know. There are plenty of good ones. Also i have attached a photo of our booth so it may provide you with some ideas. Good luck.
boothshot_2011.jpg
Thank you! Yes, any tips would be greatly appreciated and welcome!
Your booth is amazing! I love the dark panels. I definitely want dark panels for my booth as well. I also like how it's not too cluttered. And the matting on your pictures! Fantastic! Really beautiful pieces.
If possible, I would love to know what sizes you sell (mostly) and what your prices are.
I would like to visit as many Ohio fairs this season as possible - but I don't want to just 'spin my wheels'. Maybe you could give me an idea of which shows you've had the most success with and also which are not really worth my time, at least in your estimation. That would help a lot.
Many Thanks! And maybe I'll see you this summer at a show!
Hello Renee,
I know the feeling! I hve focused on shows here in Canada, but after losing my job last August I decided to try being a full-time artist and get out more and start doing shows in the US. I have never had a booth shot before (never needed up here it seems) so I eventually had to set up the entire thing and hang paintings all in my backyard (seems to have worked). I have had to also revamp most of my set up with new mesh panel walls, and I am guessing with that, booth/application fees, frames, ect my up front costs will be close to $6000-$7000 before I even get started with the firts show this year.
Good luck, and your committment is what will get everything off the ground and going!
All the best,
Jeremy Browne
www.jeremybrownestudios.com
Hi Jeremy,
Yikes. Another $6-$7k. *groan* Well, I've come this far. I have tens of thousands already invested in camera gear and inventory prints. No turning back now. Maybe you can let me (us) know how your first shows go! Would love to hear your experiences.
Btw, I looked at your art work. Wow. Amazing stuff. I absolutely love your paintings. You have a great talent. You've sold many of them so you must be doing something right as far as marketing. Keep it up.
Hey Renee,
Thank you for the kind comments, and I will let you know how my first shows goes, (Melbourne Art Festival, April 28 - 29).
I thought I would break down my costs a bit more, so people might see where they are going... might even help me to see if I was right on my above statement. (most of these will be approximates)
New Mesh Panel walls - $700.00
New tarp side walls - $100.00
Application Fees - $400.00
Booth Fees - $4,500.00 (to date)
Frames - $1,200.00 (about 20 frames, many small ones)
Misc - $400.00
I still need to purchase a used mini-van, but I'm not counting this as I would have had to purchase a new auto as mine has about 375,000km on it.
All the best,
Jeremy
$4500 in booth fees??? Before you even get started? How?
Basically once you are accepted into a show, you generally have about a month to pay your booth fee. So depending on when you get your acceptance, regardless of when the show is you will begin paying for the show. I pay my fees as soon as I here from them, and also pay the fee up front, even if they offer a payment plan. This is more so I have one less thing to try and remember to do again, and don't need to worry about remebering to have money for a second payment... I forget a lot of things.
Oh wow. That really adds up fast. Scary. Well, the good thing is you've obviously gotten lots of acceptances!
Really, please be so kind as to keep me posted. I'm very interested to see how it all goes for you.
And thanks for all the info. Very helpful.
I wish you the best of luck. I have no doubt it's going to be successful for you. Your product is great.
I will certainly let you know, I am debating a blog/posting here about my travels. Not sure how in depth it will be, but if time allows I am hoping on starting something that follows my travels and shows, good or bad. Hopefully I shall see you in one of the shows in the near future!
All the best,
Jeremy
That's a great idea! It would be helpful for us out here and would also give you an accurate 'road map' of your business over time. I know something like that would certainly serve me better than my memory! :)
I look forward to your first entry. And yes, I also hope to see on the road sometime!
*Cheers*
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