ArtFairCalendar.com announces the results of its 2nd annual"America's Best Art Fairs" survey. This is the only national online survey of the country's juried art fairs and craft shows, designed to reward the the festivals that create opportunities connecting artists and communities to celebrate the arts.

We asked our mailing list of over 50,000 art fair patrons what was the best art fair in the country and acquired not only votes for the best shows but also answers why they attend the shows. Solid demographic information included that is helpful to art fair organizers.

What to do with a BFA: How Nawal Motawi Created a Robust Ceramic Tile Studio

Nawal Motawi joins us to talk about her journey from art school graduate to founder of an award-winning nationally known art studio, based in Ann Arbor, that creates unique handmade tile reflecting the classic styles and craftsmanship of 20th Century American design.

Listen to learn how she made the move from her first art classes to a being a successful business owner, plus her best tips for building a sustainable career in the arts.

Email Marketing Works! Top Tips for Success

You've got your website. People can find you online. Shows can link to it and patrons can shop before and after the show. What's next? Email marketing

Our guests Mckenna Hallett (able to live in Hawaii and earn a living selling her jewelry around the world) and Scott Fox (an online marketing expert and host of ClickMillionaires.com an entrepreneur coaching community) are passionate about using email marketing as the prime tool for staying in touch with your audience of potential buyers. 

Learn why Scott calls your email list "the artist's retirement plan" plus:

• what email marketing is and why it is important for your business
• best tips for building an email list
• services available to help you use email marketing
• integrating your website with email marketing
• nuts and bolts of those emails
  
  

From Florida to Michigan - How Top Show Directors Market Their Shows

How does an art festival market their event to the public without big name entertainers, wine tasting areas, children's stages, interactive activities for fairgoers? Sharon McAllister, Executive Director of ArtFest Fort Myers (FL) joins Sara Shambarger, Director of Art Fairs, at the Krasl Art Center, including Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in St. Joseph, MI, to share experiences.

We talk about:

• what they do to make an art fair attractive to buyers and how artists are their partners in doing this
• marketing budgets, "in kind" promotion; media partners
• how artists can help them in their mission to bring buyers to the shows
• what they think artists can do to maximize their sales 

If you are organizing an art fair or even thinking about it, listen to this one for its great tips from experienced organizers who love the arts, the artists and work year round to bring culture to their communities.

My First Art Fair: A Zero or a Hero?

New to art fairs or contemplating your first one? Then this podcast is just for you. A panel of beginning and experienced artists tell tales of their "first time." What you will learn:

• their biggest disappointments and their biggest surprises
• learning from their own mistakes vs learning from other's mistakes
• what they wish they had known then and how they used that information
• the good, the bad and the really ugly
• their #1 tip for a first time show

Birthday Prizes Drawn by Cherry Creek's Terry Adams

The Executive Director of the Cherry Creek Art Festival in Denver joins Connie to talk about running one of the nation's top art fairs and even more importantly to pull the numbers to pass out the prizes. 

• Learn insider information on running a prestigious art fair and the background on a  new Denver event
• find out who won the nearly $12,000 worth of prizes donated to our Pledge Drive

Top Ten Most Helpful Links on ArtFairInsiders.com

Internet marketing guru and author, Scott Fox, joins Connie to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the groundbreaking social media site for art fair artists. Covering topics such as:

• Choosing Jury Images
• How to decide which shows to apply to
• What a booth slide should look like
• Dealing with rejection
• Equipment for the business
• Beginners tips
• Closing the sale and so much more ...

What Really Happened in Houston at Bayou City

With four out of five shows being adversely affected by rainy weather and the subsequent dearth of funds, the Board at the Bayou City Art Festival had to retrench in order to keep the festival viable. Festival Director, Susan Fowler and Operations Director, Kelly Kindred share 

• how a board of directors oversees an organization and its' fiscal responsibilities
• how the decision to increase the size of the show was made
• how successful the changes were that they made to the Spring show
• what they learned from this experience and what to expect next from this festival
• and a lot more!
  
  

Taxes! Artists and Bookkeeping

We talk to two artists with bookkeeping experience and we'll learn how they adapted this information for art fair bookkeeping. Our experts are:

• Alison Thomas worked with her husband's in his HVAC business and did the bookkeeping with Quickbooks. The business was a corporation with employees so she knows payroll  and payroll taxes and the forms. We'll talk about Quickbooks and how she uses them for her art fair business.
• Leo Charette has been a data manager using computers since the 1980's, so when he started participating in art fairs he developed a system that could manage the interrelated relationships between creating art, selling art and staying in touch with the art fair patrons.

That's All Folks! 2013 Art Fair Wrap Up

Artists weigh in on art fairs around the country with an assessment of the 2013 events. The guests are:

• Nels Johnson, photographer from Florida, in the business since 1976
• Jim Parker, photographer from Michigan
• Melanie Rolfes, painter from Georgia
• Kelly Smith, sculptor from California, second generation art fair artist
  

We find out their best and worst shows, their favorite shows, their best stories and biggest disappointments, plus - their plans for making 2014 a banner year and a special tip from each for newcomers to the business.

No More Starving Artists! Money 101

Our guest is Sheryl Kosovski, a certified Financial Recovery Coach who specializes in business development for creative people, helping artists and designers grow their businesses, make more money and learn how to hold onto that income.

Do you:

• rarely balance your checkbook or forget to record checks?
• not have a savings account?
• pay only the minimum monthly credit card payment?
• frequently live in pain or stress around money?
• live from show to show?

We discuss how being aware of the financial details of your situation can empower you to make money as an artist and help you hold onto that money.

 

Credit Card Processing for Mobile Merchants - Part II

Free credit card processing? What does free mean? Does it include:

• 24/7 live customer support?
• immediate deposit of funds into your account? 
• reception/connectivity you can rely on?
• merchant services dedicated to you as a mobile merchant?

Maybe, maybe not. Somewhere, someone needs to pay. Credit card processing policies and options are changing rapidly. 

Listen in as Steven Ballan, Vice President of 1st National Payment Solutions, explains the latest technology changes, alternative processing systems and the risk/reward of opting for free processing.

Discover the devices, software and merchant services that best meet your particular needs, whether you process only a few credit sales a month or need service for a greater volume of sales.

 

WINNERS! America's Best Art Fairs Survey - 2013

We asked our mailing list of nearly 50,000 art fair patrons what was the best art fair in the country and had an amazing response from across the nation. Nearly 96% completed the lengthy 22 question survey and the answers were both expected and intriguing. 

We'll share the survey answers on:

• what makes a show "Best"
• why people say they attend an art fair
• how art fair goers find out about shows to attend
• why they don't attend shows they used to love
• their suggestions for show organizers

The Best Art Fairs Awards is the first national online survey of the nation’s juried fairs, designed to reward those festivals that create opportunities connecting artists and communities to celebrate the arts.

 

Art Fair Alternatives - Part II: Art Studio Tours

Potters Jan Richardson and Robert Briscoe have been in the art fair business since the 1970's creating pottery and selling it at art fairs. Early in their careers they also developed artist studio tours as a way to bring people into their studios and connect on a more personal level with their collectors. 

• Jan started the Valley Craft Network in rural Maryland in 1982 which continues to this day. She is currently is involved with the Peninsula Arts Assn. in Ocean Park, WA, developing an art center which hosts a clay show and workshops as well as building the Peninsula Artists Assn. Studio Tour.

• In 1992 Robert Briscoe brought his friends together in rural Minnesota, north of the Twin Cities, to develop the St. Croix Valley Pottery Studio Tour. This event draws people from across North America to buy pottery and visit the studios. It is the most copied artist studio tour in the country. Bob derives over 60% of income from his studio tours.

You can do it too. Listen to these two pros discuss how they have developed economic opportunities for themselves and their friends.

5 Things You Need to Know to License Your Art

Art publishing is a big business. Have you explored licensing your images? This podcast sorts out the basics. What you will learn:

1.  What it means to license your art (how it works, contractual permission, etc - a broad overview)

2.  How to create art that works for licensing

3.  How long it takes to make money

4.  Basic expectations manufacturers have of artists who license their art (digital files, website, etc)

5.  Some day-to-day realities of life in the art licensing industry (lots of competition, art changes, deadlines, quick turnaround requests, often no response to submissions...)

Our guest is  artist Tara Reed who founded her art licensing business in 2004. She creates art that helps sell products, teaches artists about the business side of licensing and blogs about licensing at www.ArtLicensingBlog.com. She serves on the Advisor Board of SURTEX, a premier trade show for the art licensing industry.

 

How We Bring Buyers to our Art Fair

What can an art fair do to bring serious buyers to attend their events to buy art?  

The guests are from two of the top rated shows in the country. The La Quinta Arts Festival is a 4 day festival held in an affluent area in California. Art on the Square is in Belleville, Illinois, a small town near St. Louis with nearly the opposite demographics, yet both shows excel at bringing collectors to their events and the sales figures are "above average" and ranked #1 and #2 for best sales at any art fairs in the country.

Differences:

• average household income in La Quinta $93,000; Belleville - $48,000
• La Quinta is home to an international tennis tournament, second homes, a tourist destination
• Belleville is in rural Illinois but near a large population area that includes St. Louis with many large businesses and industry
• La Quinta charges a gate fee and commission. Belleville is a free event
• La Quinta is part of a foundation with full time staff. Belleville is a volunteer run event
• La Quinta - 230 artists; Belleville - 100-105 spaces

Learn what they do to bring collectors to their events and keep the excitement going all year long. 

Guests are Christi Salamone, Executive Director, La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA; Kathleen Hughes, Events Manager, La Quinta Arts Festival and Patty Gregory, Director, Art on the Square, Belleville, IL.

 

Art Fair Alternatives: Part I - Two Painters

Art fairs not working for you? Not getting into the shows where you know you can sell your work? Tired of being on the road? Looking for a new adventure? 

Meet two painters who can say both yes and no to the questions above. Yes, the art fairs work but they wanted to try some  new ideas for marketing their work. Where did they turn? Social media!

• In March, Carrie Jacobson, a painter from Virginia, drove from Virginia to Arizona, painting, doing a show and visiting her dad. She found buyers  who paid for the whole trip in advance and she had more paintings to sell when she reached her destination.
   
• Painter Scott Coleman from Georgia has been doing art fairs forever (I met him at my first art show back in the good old days), but in recent years has been using his blog and Facebook to sell "a painting a day." He sold 365 "Daily Cupcake" paintings in a year and a half. 

Imagine -- no rejection letters, no booth fees, no storms, just creating art -- and oh, Marketing!  Remember, being an artist is 50% creating and 50% marketing. 

Would they do it again? Listen and find some lessons for your art marketing.

 

Birthday Party Prize Drawing w/Celebrity Guests

As the pledge drive comes to a close Connie is joined by celebrity guests Carolyn Bird and Alice Moulton from the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. This year's pledge drive has over 80 prizes donated by friends of the art fair business. The show:

• Carolyn and Alice visit Random.org to draw 45 names of the winners chosen from those who have donated to the pledge drive.
• These veteran show organizers share behind the scenes information about their festival which is always on artists "most wanted list."
  
  

Happy 4th Birthday AFI - 10 Tips for Selling Art

Internet marketing expert Scott Fox joins Connie Mettler, host of AFI.

• Scott shares his 5 best tips for selling online
• Connie give you her top 5 tips for selling in your booth at the show.
• they draw 20 names of the winners in this year's Birthday Pledge Drive. Who wins the Flourish Canopy? Find out here.
  
  

Artists, Art Fairs & ZAPP®

In recent years artists have learned that if they want to earn a living in the competitive arena of fine art fairs they must participate in the digital upload systems, www.ZAPPlication.org, www.JuriedArtServices.com and www.EntryThingy.com. 

But how did this get started and what is the relationship of the individual artist or individual art fair with these systems?

Here are our experts:

• photographer Larry Oliverson who was instrumental in introducing the concept of online applications to the art fair business by bringing artists, art fairs and Westaf (the agency which provides ZAPP) together
  
• painter Kathleen Eaton who is an artist member of the ZAPP Oversight Committee and has served on several ZAPP juries. She is writing a book on the history of art fairs.
  
• Leah Charney, Manager of ZAPP®, oversees the ZAPP product and the 350+ clients, 570+ events and more than 60,000 active artists that use the system

These guests have a long history with the organization and can provide both historical data as well as current operating information.

We'll discuss the myths and truths about:

• how ZAPP has changed the art fair business since its inception in 2004
• how the art fairs use ZAPP as a tool to manage applications
• who gets into the best art fairs

ZAPP is going to be around for a long time and understanding its processes and using it to its fullest is advantageous to everyone in the art fair business. Access information about ZAPP myths here: http://bit.ly/zappmyths

Credit Card Processing for "Mobile Merchants" 101

Making the sale and making it easy for you and your buyer

Talking about:

• terminals, wireless & wired
• iPhones, iPads & tablets
• PayPal, Square, Intuit, SalesVu
• PCI compliance & fees
• merchant support
• card fees, monthly charges
• and getting the biggest bang for your buck and what to expect next in credit card processing

Steven Ballan, vice-president of 1st National Payment Solutions, one of the pioneers in providing merchant accounts to non-bricks and mortar merchants, lays out the current "best practices" and answers questions about making smart choices in your credit card processing options. 1st National stepped out years ago to provide services to artists and they have a long history serving the art fair business.

 

Let's Start an Art Fair!

New art fairs are necessary for the evolution of the art fair business because artists
need new markets and even reliable shows sometimes don't continue to thrive.

We speak with 4 show directors developing events for their communities:

• Rae Marie Schneider and Kim House, St. John's River Festival of the Arts in Sanford, FL, had solid community participation at their inaugural show in 2012. They'll talk about how they did it and their plans for 2013.
• Dennis Gorg, a 10 year event organizer who has a new show in June in St. Louis, MO, MidTown Taste Art Fair. Learn how an experienced producer leverages his skills for a new event.
• Tim Reilly, is the director of The Cotton South Fine Art Festival in Madison, GA, debuting in September 2013. Still in the throes of filling his show, raising money and working with sponsors, we'll hear how a new director makes his plans.

This show is full of information for everyone thinking of starting a show with ideas for new show directors, it will also fill in the nuts and bolts of show development for artists as well who wonder where their application and booth fees go.

Established event promoters will enjoy the creative ideas that these people pull together to make their events a success for everyone involved.

High Winds, Flying Tents, Liability and Artists

Art fairs can be a dangerous business fraught with problems of high winds, theft, traveling with artwork, liability issues, damages to equipment and accidents of all kinds.

Valerie Bjarnson, Director of Online Programs for Veracity Insurance Solutions whose innovative insurance programs have made reasonably priced insurance available to artists, joins Connie Mettler to discuss why an artist needs liability insurance.

We'll discuss

• liability issues
• bodily injury and property damage
• weather related losses
• theft and the best way insurance can keep protect you and your livelihood

whether you only do a few shows a year or are a full time art fair traveler participating in more shows than you can remember.

Get definitive answers for all your insurance questions and learn more: www.ACTinspro.com.

 

Is Wholesale Marketing an Answer for You?

Are you ready to wholesale your fine art or fine craft? Do you have handmade goods that you'd like to see in galleries and gift shops? 

Guests are:

Glass blower Paul Willsea has worked as a glass artist for over 20 years, participating in wholesale as well as retail shows. He has been on the Board of advisors for the Buyers Market of American Craft and is well acquainted with the business aspects of wholesale shows.

John Terry, owner of the Avalon Gallery in Del Ray Beach, FL, ventured into the gallery business in 1993. He not only attends the wholesale markets looking for new artists to showcase you'll also find him at street art fairs searching for the perfect work for his enterprises.

Stacey Miller, a jeweler for 27 years who is brand new to wholesaling shares her experiences as a first time exhibitor as she prepares for her the BMAC in February.

Join us as we learn about

• best wholesale marketplaces
• what a wholesale buyer is looking for, price points, inventory, presentation
• the ups and downs of the gallery business
• is wholesale for you?
• ideas for longevity in the business
• how to prepare for your first show

John, Paul and Stacey share their best tips for success in wholesaling one of a kind fine art and craft.

 

Artists, Are You Homeless?

Call in Show - Best Art Fairs in 2012

What were the best art fairs in 2012? Veteran artists Allan Teger and Daryl Thetford vote for Coconut Grove, Cherry Creek and Bayou City. No surprises there! Others call in and share tales of selling $2.50 greeting cards as well as paintings for over $100,000.

Highlights:

• Allan Teger, in the business for over 35 years, talks about his career doing high and low shows, finding his buyers, his online sales and being featured on the Huffington Post. He muses about what he will do next as he makes plans to step into more galleries.
  
• Melissa Ayr has been building her career through galleries and the high society/high figure Art Fairs such as Miami Art Basel and tells her story about creating a livelihood from art student to being included in the nation's high profile gallery art fairs

Their dialogue is stimulating as they give and take ideas for living the artistic life. You'll come away from this podcast with new ways of thinking about your art fair business.

 

Jurors, Jurying and What Happened to my Jury Fee

In a business full of taking chances the first big challenge an artist has is to make that competitive jury cut at the shows. Mo Riley, executive director of the Ann Arbor Art Street Art Fair, Lyn Sedlak-Ford, jury chair for Art in the Pearl, an artist run art fair in Portland, OR, and Jerry Allen Gilmore, artist, curator and juror for many of the top art fairs discuss:

• choosing a jury, who are those people and what their credentials are
• what an art show organizer does with your submission before the actual jury day
• what an artist receives in exchange for a jury/application fee
• how a juror evaluates art that is not in his/her field of expertise
• what the jurors learn from each other and why the panel should include insiders (art fair artists) and outsiders (teachers, curators, museum folks)
• how the final choices for the show participants are made

In listening I was particularly taken with the seriousness of purpose with which these people treated the jurying. When they talk about pre-jurying and the number of times a juror looks at the images the level of professionalism is readily apparent.

Listen to this podcast and be prepared to look at the jury process in a new way.

 

Storms and Their Impact on the Art Fair Business

Storms are no strangers to the nation's art fairs. Show organizers and artists plan for inclement weather as a matter of course. The National Guard cancelled the Westfield, NJ, show because of weather-related concerns. This event is part of a series of shows run by Rose Squared Productions and its loss impacts not only the show organizers, but also the artists counting on the show and the surrounding community. The Omaha Summer Arts Festival boasts an award-winning emergency program to insure the security of all participants.

Listen to learn:

• how show organizers make their money
• impact of weather on budgets
• the interdependence of shows, artists and municipalities for mutual benefit, economically and for building community
  
• ethical treatment of exhibitor fees
• how to keep a business going in the light of economic hardship
• how to respond in an emergency situation
  

Howard and Janet Rose have producing fine art and craft shows in upscale New Jersey communities for over 30 years. Ashley McNabney is the Festival Coordinator of the Summer Arts Festival.

 

Using Kickstarter.com to Raise Funds & Grow a Business

Artists Casey Sheppard (a jeweler) and Evan Reinheimer (a photographer) talk about their experiences using Kickstarter.com to fund their art projects.

Casey's project raised funds to enable her to participate in the Cherry Creek Art Festival in July 2012 and Evan is currently fundraising to finance a trip to Australia.

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects.  Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others.

We talk about:

• what motivated them to participate
• what they learned along the way
• how to market a kickstarter project
• rewarding your donors
• mistakes made along the way

See Casey's completed project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/37372733/casey-sheppard-jewelry-collection-for-cherry-creek?ref=live

View Evan's ongoing project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1986082413/kite-aerial-photography-in-australia?ref=live

 

2 Artists Share Their 40 Year History at the Art Fairs

Pricing & Marketing Your Art: Don't Think Small

 

What Good is a Website for Artists?

Author and small business marketing expert Scott Fox shares specific strategies useful to artists in building their websites and selling online. This episode covers everything from choosing a domain name to capturing the sale online, including:

• keywords and how to determine the best ones
• choosing an url, best choices for artists
  
• how google searches for sites
• why a free platform may not be the best choice for your site
• how to expand your market beyond the people you meet at shows
• what are the five things every artist's website should have
• his idea for an "artist retirement plan"

You'll also learn about his own online community whose focus is on helping individuals build their Internet businesses.

 

Who is Buying at the Shows and Why

Between them art show patrons Geri Wegner, Ed and Judie Seidman attend over 100 art fairs a year and bring their friends. Listen and find out

• why they attend art fairs
  
• what they collect and how much they spend
  
• their favorite artists
  
• favorite shows that keep them coming back for more
  
• what attracts them to a booth & tips on making the booth more attractive
• booths they avoid
  
• and most importantly what makes them purchase a piece of art.
  

Ed and Judie Seidman not only attend art fairs close to home (Chicagoland) but also art fairs and galleries are important in their travels. Geri Wegner travels between two homes, both in the heart of the nation's best art fairs, Chicago and Florida, where she plans her weekends around visiting the shows, meeting her friends and adding to her collections.

Buy/Sell, What Art Fair Promoters & Artists Can Do About it

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