What do I really need to get started?

Let me first let you know I am a photographer.

After scanning the many forums and threads here, I have found that art fairs are alot more work than I thought.

My original thought was throw up a tent set up some photos with a price and there you have it. I'm in an art show.

Now I realize that I need to consider the following:

Insurance

Canopy

Display Panels

Photos (stock/inventory)

Lighting

how do I accept payment? Cash, Check or Credit?

Book Keeping (Just a record book or computer, software)

and all the many little things like tape, clamps cooler with drinks/food, first aid kit,Travel, gas, motel..........

1) I'm more interested in what is bolded.....

2) What of those is most important?

3) Can any of them be left out during my first year or two as I learn and aquire or add the missing items?

Even if I can do with out some items (i.e. accepting credit cards) are my sales going to suffer. is it really worth doing without?

What else is there I need to consider that I do not have listed above?

Why do I ask these questions? first, I want to be sure I start out with as much of a head start as I can. I can't aford to fail, especially because I didn't do my homework. Secondly, I don't have much of a budget to work with right now. Its a big investmant and I'm scared both financially and is my work worthy of it?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I need all I can get

Thanks

Craig

I really like your photos. Being "good enough" is hard to say. You have skill, but that skill needs to be what people would buy. I would think that your work would sell well. But I am quite a sucker for cute little animals. You have plenty for the other people in the world too. :)

Get used panels if you can. There are ways to save and still have a wonderful display. The level of the display will depend on the type of shows that you do. If you start off at a farmer's market, propanels are not going to be expected. The better the display affects how people see your work and the value of your work, though. It is a marketing/perspective thing.

Insurance is important. What if your tent destroys another tent and all of that artists work? It is more than about protecting your own property. It should not be too expensive for a photographer.

Credit cards can be taken for inexpensive. Get a used knucklebuster machine. Check out the different sources that we all have listed in these forums. I only pay $5 a month and 2-3% on sales that I ring through.

Inventory- if you don't have it, you can't sell it. Even if you do not have room in your display for it, bring it. Leave it in your vehicle or stored under a table if you have duplicates.

Record keeping is important! Start off from the beginning recording everything. You can use Excel as someone else mentioned. I would definitely use a computer as it is easier to sort at tax time. Make a back-up and store it somewhere that is not in your home! God forbid your house burns down- having a back-up stored in your office won't do you a bit of good.

There is so much joy to be had in being at fairs, selling something you are proud of, hearing the compliments and meeting new people. Just don't expect to make money the first couple of years. Yes, it can happen, but then you will be pleasantly surprised and who does not like happy surprises?

Best of luck!

Amy

Replies

Larry Berman September 15, 2010 at 5:25pm

Actually most important is being able to get into a show which means a set of jury images which include a professional booth image.

Larry Berman
Digital J u r y Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Craig Putnam July 12, 2010 at 3:52pm

Diane, you may still be a newbie but you are also way ahead of me. Thanks for your input.

Larry, Thanks for the info. It’s a lot more help than you know. It confirms what I felt would be true..I need to accept credit cards! I will definitely check out your resource web site. What juries well and what sells well….this will help tremendously. Thanks again.

Munks, Do I want to be an artist more than anything…I already am. Do I want to sell my art more than anything in the world, Not sure. I do what I do because I have a immense passion for wildlife and nature photography. Only time and a few art shows under my belt can answer if I want to sell my work in that market. Thanks for you insight.

Chris, as I said above, the passion for art is there. Now I just have to get into some shows and go from there. Thanks.

Gordon, thanks for the comments.

Amy Shulz, Thanks for the kind words about my photos. I appreciate all the info. This will help a lot.

Amy Flynn, Nice to know I'm in a displine with a lot of competition  . Maybe with some experience and some work on my portfolio I can bring something different that will help me get in. Thanks for your input.

Pat, You gave some great advice, thanks for sharing. I agree, take it easy and learn and step up as I go.

Linda, Thanks..You got right to the heart of what all my research and questions is leading me too. What the heck is the minimum "Roughly" I can get away with to enter this market. Thanks.

Again, Thank you all for your input and sharing of info with me.
I really appreciate it.
Craig
- Jeannette Carriere > Craig Putnam September 15, 2010 at 4:29pm
  
  http://luannudell.wordpress.com/tag/craft-booth/
  
  http://craftshowdesigns.blogspot.com
  
  Also if you type in craft show how to and then click on images you will get many ideas of how to set up a booth.Some of them are really glam and others are really creative.I like looking to see how others display their art in a creative but much cheaper way,while still retaining a beautiful booth.
  
  I plan to attend some local events and maybe our farmers market just to see how it goes.
Linda Anderson July 10, 2010 at 12:49pm

All of the above and the monies to get all the equipment and something to haul it all in. Roughly, $4,000 just to get going with the minimals and jury/show fees for the first year.
Larry Berman July 10, 2010 at 10:05am

I'll add something else to the mix, and these are generalities. There are three main art show seasons. Winter in the Southeast, Spring in the Southern Midwest and Sumner up North. The winter shows jury in September and October. The Spring shows jury in October and November and the Summer shows jury in January and February. That means you need to constantly be working on a body of jury images, which are just as important (if not more so) than your body of work to sell.

Rule of thumb as far as jury images. Images that sell well don't jury well and images that jury well don't sell well. That is unless you can transcend the commercialism connected to the reason why people want to purchase your work.

Just some more to think about.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Pat Sorbini July 10, 2010 at 9:52am

Craig..Everyone is right :) This business in not for sissies. No guaranteed paycheck. Heck, there aren't even any guaranteed work days. First you have to jury in. I think we all have had the situation of being blindsided by a show you "always" do that says "nah, not this time" and you didn't cover that eventuality by applying to a stand-by. Yes, that's why I have time to natter about in the middle of July. sigh.

And, yes, photography is a tough category. Lots of competition.

I started out at small shows, juried but not terrible competitive, and we rented everything. Canopy, display. You need to get a taste of what is possible. I think I made all of 300 bucks but I was hooked.

Go for it. Don't overreach, stay in your comfort zone to start out. Get a feel for what sells and for how much. I learn most about what to create by watching my potential customers, what they pick up, what they put down.

Try something new with your art. I have a good friend who is a wonderful photographer, but her things sell because she mats them with a quotation in its own opening. I use quotes in my work (hand bound books, cards, collage) and that sells it for me. People really respond to them. It adds a layer of attraction for the customer, you know? She also does cards with the quotations on them. Literary quotes, not Hall-marky. That combo with her beautiful photographs has set up a really nice business for her. Just an added something that sets her apart. Others do this, but she does it really well.

Expect your first year to be a little lean, consider it tuition.

My first show, I hid behind a wall and watched. Terrified. Now I am as at home in my canopy as I am in my house and I love interacting with the people who wander in. Each sale is an affirmation that I made the right choice. I hope you have the same experience.

Good luck.
Amy Schulz July 9, 2010 at 9:53am

I really like your photos. Being "good enough" is hard to say. You have skill, but that skill needs to be what people would buy. I would think that your work would sell well. But I am quite a sucker for cute little animals. You have plenty for the other people in the world too. :)

Get used panels if you can. There are ways to save and still have a wonderful display. The level of the display will depend on the type of shows that you do. If you start off at a farmer's market, propanels are not going to be expected. The better the display affects how people see your work and the value of your work, though. It is a marketing/perspective thing.

Insurance is important. What if your tent destroys another tent and all of that artists work? It is more than about protecting your own property. It should not be too expensive for a photographer.

Credit cards can be taken for inexpensive. Get a used knucklebuster machine. Check out the different sources that we all have listed in these forums. I only pay $5 a month and 2-3% on sales that I ring through.

Inventory- if you don't have it, you can't sell it. Even if you do not have room in your display for it, bring it. Leave it in your vehicle or stored under a table if you have duplicates.

Record keeping is important! Start off from the beginning recording everything. You can use Excel as someone else mentioned. I would definitely use a computer as it is easier to sort at tax time. Make a back-up and store it somewhere that is not in your home! God forbid your house burns down- having a back-up stored in your office won't do you a bit of good.

There is so much joy to be had in being at fairs, selling something you are proud of, hearing the compliments and meeting new people. Just don't expect to make money the first couple of years. Yes, it can happen, but then you will be pleasantly surprised and who does not like happy surprises?

Best of luck!

Amy
- Claudia Ariss > Amy Schulz August 17, 2010 at 5:17pm
  
  Hi Amy - who do you run your credit cards through @ $5/month? I use PayPal which is $30/month, but you can turn it off when you're not using it (I only do fairs spring & summer). Yours sounds like a much better deal though, so if you're into sharing who it is, I'd really appreciate it!
  
  - Claudia
Gordon Ekback July 9, 2010 at 7:36am

Munks and Chris,
What you two are saying is not just for the "newbies" either. This has been a discouraging year for many of us and if the passion and desire were not there neither would some of us.
We too started out in this recession and have been told by many that if we can make it through this we will do fine. Well, we are holding on and trusting better days are soon to come.
Chris Hoyt July 9, 2010 at 7:06am

Munks is so right!

If you don't have a passion for what you're about to do, you can get discouraged real quick.

You say you "can't afford to fail." You're starting out in a recession. A time when people are holding on to their money. You will, as Munks said, do shows where you will make little or no money at all while standing in the rain for two days. We all do. That's just part of the business. It's as close to legalized gambling as you can get.

Nobody on this forum is selling anything anybody needs. Everything is an impulse purchase. Commit that to memory.

I know exhibitors who are very successful. But for every successful exhibitor, there are probably 20 exhibitors who are making close to poverty level incomes. But they have the passion, and even though they aren't rich, they love what they do, and continue to do shows because they found out there's a lot more to "success" than money.

I've had years where I made over $100,000 and I've had years where I made less than $20,000. It just depends on the mood of the customer on that particular day.

So if you have the passion, go for it! You won't regret it.

of 2

This reply was deleted.