As most of you know, I'm in Australia. And that the art fair/show scene is rather different here - there are very few art shows in my area as most artists sell their work through galleries, shops or exhibitions. Shows (art & craft style) that restrict to handmade are not around me either. Consequently I have to find other venues to sell my work at and this past weekend attended:
* a preschool "shopping night" fundraiser
* an open garden weekend on a rural property 20km out of a town.
Firstly, the preschool fundraiser. I'm all for supporting local groups and having been a past board member of our local preschool thought I'd help by going along with my jewellery to this one. It was more like a 'table' show - in a large hall with poor lighting and tables crammed together and went for 3 hours. Wine and cheese was available to purchase. 55 people/businesses took a 'table' about half of which ws handmade. They had pre-sold 200 tickets and sold more on the night. The hall was poorly situated in town but at least parking was available.
Of the handmade contingent there were two artists - one doing framed work and one doing cards and the rest of 'handmade' fell into the crafts category (children's wear, children's accessories, toys, fabric bags amongst the decent items - candles, decorated small glass items and decorated stubby holders (for keeping a beer can cold, in case you don't have them) etc., amonst the lower end. ) There were 3 others there with jewellery but mine was higher end than the others. The poor lighting actually helped me - I was the only one to request power, so had been put adjacent to a power switch to which I connected my lights and bingo - it was like moths to a flame!
Attendees had to pay to get in - there was live entertainment as well (although I'm very glad I wasn't up that end as there were so many people milling around no one 'shopping' could get into their stalls!)
The cost of a table was low . It was about 150km away and I didn't stay the night, so the only other cost was fuel. I sold about 25x table fee and had lots of enquiries for custom work.
The second event was an 'open garden'. If you don't have those over there either, these are when keen gardeners open their garden to the public to come and view. Overseen by the Open Garden Scheme Australia, there is only local publicity and gate takings (around $6pp) are donated to a charity of choice who also runs the gate and usually the food availablity too. I knew the owner and she asked me to come along. Only one other person was there selling and that was a garden stall with plants and garden accessories.
Cost was a donation to the charity (I gave $100) and I gave a gift to the garden owner as a thank you. It was about 50min drive from home. I knew about 10% of the people that came past since it was close to local for me.
Traffic varied from a trickle to I don't know as I was too busy to see! I took around 20x booth fee. In fact, the second day felt like "the good old days" when people used to buy without thinking about the price too much! The garden stall also did well.
Unfortunately, events like this are only once a year for me, but they are definitely worthwhile.
Perhaps you don't have many shows where you live either. Or perhaps shows aren't giving you the returns you need. If so, where do you go with your work that aren't the usual sort of "art fairs" or similar ?
Comments
WOW! 2K for booth space! Must be BIG! I imagine they also book their slots WELL in advance, also.
The business after hours- I think the Chambers of Commerce here in Maine have been trying to promote and boost up the locally owned, small and micro businesses. These have been happening now for about three years here. Maine has some very rural areas, and they are trying to get new businesses into their areas, even on a temporary basis. So the communities here are doing all they can to attract, keep and boost their local economies and businesses in any way possible. Networking events, sales events, al kinds of things are happening.
The ladies day/night outs that sell booth space for $2K are BIG. Held in a swanky hotel the attendees are already paying up to a $100 to get in and have cupcakes/beverages/finger food/champers and they advertise for months. I would imagine you would do quite well at one of their shows but I'm not prepared to outlay that sort of $.
I was supposed to be a private school spring fair yesterday - I've done it twice and its always been a bit of a bust (unlike another private school one I do that is usually pretty good) - but I had a sick child and a hubby away so I had to send huge apologies at the last minute. Perhaps it was someone up there saying don't bother!? I guess they got to keep my booth fee so they won't mind.
Thanks for that info Karole! I like the sound of the Business After Hours. I did a similar one to that in a neighbouring town a few years ago but they haven't had one since. It was quite successful sales wise I remember.
Ladies Nights Out are great too - but I've only found them in our big cities and their cost is too prohibitive for me ($2K plus to have a stall).
Thanks all :)
Geri, the garden I was in was gorgeous! I'm not much of a gardener myself but many country ladies are and it doesn't hurt to be in such lovely surroundings.
I usually avoid table shows as, as you've found Ruth, the attendees are after bargains so aren't the right mix. The town it was held in is a mining/farming town - miners all get paid extremely well and the farmers have had a good year; plus it was later at night so the little children that would normally be hanging off mum's arm were home in bed, freeing the women up. I still had my doubts but was quite happy with my sales by the end of the night. You're invited table show sounds promising :)
Kathleen, wineries could be good - people would be relaxed after wine tasting? You would need to be near the entry/exit or the wine tastings themselves otherwise if they don't wander around they could miss you.
And yes, Jacki and Kathleen, I HAVE thought about organising a show - I even started to make enquiries a couple of years ago but everyone I spoke to acted like roadblocks and I gave up. As I learn more here though perhaps I'll try again one day - far better armed :)
Annette, over time you will learn so much about Art Shows from this site that maybe you will have to be a show organizer. You could be a trail blazer for Art Shows in Austrailia, Who knows, you just might start a trend there.
Jacki B
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next