I figure there has to be some kind of rule of thumb for how much art to have on hand for different sized shows.
What do people have ready to sell at a specific show and how many people come to the show?
I sell photography.
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This is a question that's always easier answered in hindsight. ;-) While Larry's advice below (as always) is right on target, I'll add a couple of points:
* Keep track of your inventory carefully. It will take a few shows before your best sellers identify themselves. Then, you can print a couple extras of those. But don't overdo it: Even my best sellers rarely sell more than 2 of any size at a single show.
* Offer only standard sizes in your browse bins. The others will sell slowly, if at all: Visitors won't tell you this, but they fear having to pay extra $$ for custom framing at frame shops. Most customers (even if you're a "fine art" photographer!) would rather buy frames right off the store shelves. (How do I know this? Easy: I just offered 50 non-sellers at a garage sale recently to get 'em out of the house and generate a little revenue: almost all were odd-sized pix that I made when I went in the business four years ago.)
What are "standard" frame sizes? 11x14, 14x18, 16x20, 20x24.
My feeling is that it's better to sell out than to take home a bunch of photographs that printing, matting and framing has cut into or eliminated your profit.
It takes years to create a body of work that is made up of proven sellers. So do not over prepare until you get there. Also assume that people would rather buy unframed than framed. Have enough framed pieces to make your display look full but have them all available matted but unframed in a bin.
Your next question will be about pricing. Again, it's asked all the time on my forum:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artshow_photo/
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100