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What size fair to attend?

Posted by David Perry Lawrence on March 22, 2016 at 3:35pm in Questions & Answers for New Members

Hi--

I've been looking thru the recent Wisconsin Dept. of Tourism brochure for art fairs. The listings show the number of attendees for each fair as given by the people putting them on. I expect this number to be inflated greatly, but what estimated attendance do I want to see before I commit to a fair? I sell photographs at a 'not-cheap' price. A fair that advertises 500-1000 (meaning probably 6-700) attendees doesn't seem worth committing to, but what size would be? 1000-5000 (probably means maybe 2-3K)? 5k to 10 or more? I realize that 5-10K and 10K and up fairs are probably hard to get into.

Thanks,

David Lawrence

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Replies

  • David Perry Lawrence March 22, 2016 at 9:57pm

    Thanks, Cindy and Kendra--

    What other sources of reviews might there be, besides comments from lists of artists who appeared last year, if the organizers give them, and reviews here? Also, where are some good places just to even LEARN what shows there are?

    Thanks,

    --David

    • Kendra Bennett > David Perry Lawrence March 23, 2016 at 9:14am

      Look at the sister website here Art show Reviews. If no one has reviewed a show that your looking at post it as a question. Talk to artists at other shows. There are lots of websites that list shows in general. " Where the shows Are" " Eventlister " "Sunshine Magazine" " Artfair Calendar" some are paid sites some are free. You can get lost on the internet for hours just looking. I'm sure I've missed a few. Have fun and good luck

  • Cindy Welch March 22, 2016 at 4:53pm

    I would say visit the shows before applying.  However if you can only visit it once, it may or may not give an accurate picture of what it's really like.  For example, the show that I just had where our tent got demolished.  Lots of rain, artists who did not stay even though their tent made it fine, and some who decided not to set up once there.  The rain has been a factor this show and the one last fall.

    Reviews are good to read but most of the ones close enough for me to apply to and attend are never found here.

  • Kendra Bennett March 22, 2016 at 4:18pm

    Best to look at Artist reviews over attendance. I've been at shows that advertise 100,000 and sold very little and I've been at shows that have 5000 and sold out. It's not about how many people but the quality of the buyers.

  • Larry Berman March 22, 2016 at 3:41pm

    Unless is a pay for entrance event, the numbers are totally inaccurate and can't be used as a basis for applying. I've done shows that say 500,000, 300,000 or even 100,000 and found them to be probably closer to 5,000 to 10,000 if even that.

    The best way to determine if a show is worth applying to is to first check out a list of previous years exhibitors and see if anyone has similar work to what you make. Then find out if they think the show is worth returning to.

    You use the word "attend." if all you have to do is apply, we call that juried by check, and it's not usually worth the booth fee.

    Larry Berman

    • David Perry Lawrence > Larry Berman March 22, 2016 at 3:45pm

      Thanks, Larry

      Good ideas both. Esp. 'Juried by Check'. I went to scope out a few smal fairs last year where all that was needed was an app fee. People were happily selling work at prices that couldn't possibly pay their expenses.

      Thanks again. Answers a lot of questions right there.

      --David

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