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  Scott Pakulski August 8, 2013 at 9:56am

  I don't say that I will always be in the black but this year look promising! I do understand the roller coast aspect of art fairs...
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  Genmarie Stiber August 8, 2013 at 9:29am

  My hat is off to any artist who does not have a second job. I have a full time job for medical benefits which cuts in to my available exhibit/shop time.  It's a tough balancing act but well worth the effort.

  Some years I'm in the black, some years I'm not. It makes my accountant crazy.
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  Virginia Dauth August 7, 2013 at 7:30pm

  Ah! The good old days, i sure do have a hankerin for by gone times!!  :)
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  Scott Pakulski August 7, 2013 at 11:20am

  Well, Britt - other than Maple and Main. All the shows have been moderately successful this year. But Wyandotte was a long show for only $1400. I did a $1000 day at Crocker Park (suburban Cleveland) - so that show is definitely on my list for next year. 
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  Britt Hallowell August 7, 2013 at 11:14am

  I want your day job!
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  Britt Hallowell August 7, 2013 at 11:13am

  I wasn't meaning your accounting system. I do that too. What I meant was make something that compares your festivals to one another all in one place. You could keep track of trends that way and you're not digging through years worth of accounting data trying to remember what you sold best and price points from the year before. I'm very visual though, so seeing all that data right there to compare to one another is great for me.
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  Scott Pakulski August 7, 2013 at 11:11am

  Oh and Meg, from the day job I've been able to travel to Amsterdam, Budapest (2), Vienna, Paris (2), Rio, Sao Paulo, Delhi, Agra, Chennai and Mumbai. Think of all the photographic opportunities at those places... :) 
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  Scott Pakulski August 7, 2013 at 11:08am

  And thank you Helen!
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  Scott Pakulski August 7, 2013 at 11:07am

  Hello Britt - I am using Freshbooks for my accounting. It's a cloud based accounting software. I have all my costs in there (booth fees, application fees, mats, mounting boards, frames, glass, mesh panels). But one of the reasons the $1000 mark is working for me is the location of the shows. From my schedule (http://fatcatimages.com/schedule/2013-schedule/) most of the shows are local. My home base is Ypsilanti, Michigan.  Other than Ludington, Mundelein or Muncie - I have not had to get a hotel room.
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  Britt Hallowell August 7, 2013 at 10:59am

  Meg's post reminded me of something else I do that helps assess profits. I do paintings but like you I also have print bins. I keep a spreadsheet with each festival over the years. It shows jury fee, booth fee, hotel fee, and any other expenses like gas, tolls, etc. Then a column for sales. It then calculates my total expenses and my overall profit. I then divide that profit by number if sales so I can see what my average price point was. Then finally a column for how many were prints vs originals. That is most helpful bc when I go back the next year, I can make sure to bring pieces that fit the crowd.