First time selling prints this weekend...

[troyer16]

Hey all,
I have a booth at an art festival this weekend. I am selling my prints matted and framed. I was wondering though, should i sign the prints? Thanks

[poloman]

I'm not sure it will help you. But I don't think it would hurt anything and it might impress some. Hard to really make money at the shows. Use it as exposure. Make sure you have plenty cards and brochures describing the services you offer. Find a way to make further contact with the people you meet. Don't eat or drink or smoke or sit in your booth. Don't fold your arms. Do smile. Do talk to people. Ask them to tell you what they like. Do not put a table between yourself and them. If you make brochures, a great trick is to use a high quality image on the front that people just won't want to throw away.
Good Luck!:)

[Gary_Evans]

Signing probably wont make much difference at the moment, but may do in the future if you become a sought after photographer.

In the present, offering limited editions is more likely to be beneficial than signing.

[Dchemist]

I would sign my prints if I were doing this... it adds a touch of professionalism. I would also second Poloman's comments about the food/drink as well as add dress professionally. Good luck, Let us know how you make out. Dennis

[poloman]

I used to work in the trade show industry. Your body language is absolutely critical in making or breaking you. The person sitting at the back of the booth looking forlorn is in deep trouble. The person standing at the front with arms crossed, guarding the booth, is also in trouble. Keep your arms open and smile. This takes energy. If you can keep your time down to 4 hours at a stretch it will help. Sorry to keep going on but I have seen so much of this at shows. If people have name tags, say their name like an old friend just as they walk past. Then engage in conversation. Smile. Smile. Smile. :)

[troyer16]

Thanks all for the advice, Im only 20 so im a little nervous, especially since this is my first time. It is a small show though. Its also a juried one, which means my work is good enough they believe.

[troyer16]

ahhh only one more day

[poloman]

If set up is tomorrow, pack tonight. Double check everything. It is a real pain to be missing that one important item. Do you know how you are going to display everything? Does your display look clean and professional? Lay your clothes out.
Good Luck.:)

[troyer16]

Yep i plan on packing up the van tonight. Its going to be a pretty small show, only around 50 vendors including food and wine. I have a plan on displaying everything. Im on a very tight budget, being in college, and what im doing is having everything matted and then displayed on a stand (my mom calls them plate stands) on a table (with a nice table cloth). The stuff that doesnt fit is going to be matted and in a bin. Im putting my better and eye catching works on the stands and will keep putting new ones up as the day goes along, hopefully!

[Hinson]

please do let us know how things went.

[troyer16]

Things went fairly well. I sold a few prints, made the cost of setting up and then some back. Not too bad for the first time. I was short on inventory was one of the major set backs i think. I also networked some though too and even was offered a job as an assistant to a local photog!

[B3SEO]

That's great Troyer! It's a start! High Five.

[turbo212003]

Things went fairly well. I sold a few prints, made the cost of setting up and then some back. Not too bad for the first time. I was short on inventory was one of the major set backs i think. I also networked some though too and even was offered a job as an assistant to a local photog!


That's awesome. Most people hunt for a local photog to be an assistant for them.

[blackshadow]

Excellent stuff Troyer!