Selling at Art Festivals/Fairs

[hickory]

I recently had an opportunity to share a booth at our local Art Festival which was held over a weekend. I actually did quite well, which surprised me and my wife :D So I was wondering if anyone else has any experience with these kinds of sales opportunities?

The only link I found which kind of addresses this sort of thing can be found here:

http://www.danheller.com/biz-prints.html

If anyone here has good advice on display methods, pricing, or any other hints could you let me know?

Thanks.

Tom

[jonnyhorizon]

have been considering doing the same thing but can not offer any direct advice
i fine the matts and sleeves from framing supplies.com to be a good afordable quality
i and making my own wood frames also
not sure what to do about pricing
what i have seen in the mass produced tourist shops seems so cheap
...

[hickory]

Your experiencing the same things I am :D as far as pricing goes I settled on $15 USD for 8 /12 x 11 inch prints and $25 for double matted w/glass and backing. They can then buy a frame to their liking to finish them off. I did have a wooden frame on hand to show them what the photo could like with a frame.

Here's a photo of my setup, its crude because I'd never done anything like this before and it was last minute. The painting in the left background is from another artist that I shared the tent with.

http://darbyfields.net/photographs/artshow.jpg

Obviously I have a lot to learn about presentation but I did very well and thats what has me so pumped up about improving my setup.

[jonnyhorizon]

looks pretty good 2 me
you might want to looks at the clear plastic sleeves instead of glass...j

[LowTechMan]

Just a thought; You may want to consider signing and numbering the prints. A signed work of art would always be worth more, thus you could ask more,or so it seems to me. This would also differentiate your work from mass produced junk. Matted in plastic is the bulk of what I've seen move at art shows but you need to have framed stuff as well.

I've always wanted to do this, good luck!!! :)

[Windup]

I've always wanted to try that. Thanks for the link to Dan Heller's site. Interesting stuff. It's gets me thinking.... :wink:

How long were you open for sales and how many prints did you actually bring?

[hickory]

The Festival began Saturday morning, we had to be there at 7:00 am to register and setup and be open by 10:00 am. It lasted till 7:00 Saturday nite and then opened again to the public on sunday at noon and ran till 5:00 pm. I had about 15 prints double matted and in 11 x 14 inch glass mounts. Total cost per this setup was less than $5.00 US. Then I had an open box of single prints for people to browse thru probably about another 15 prints.

The first day was very slow but I believe that was because it was this festivals first year and it wasn't advertised that well. The second day was much better and it seemed people came with money to spend. I will definitely do it again next year and in fact I am looking for similar festivals to go to.

[hickory]

Just a thought; You may want to consider signing and numbering the prints. A signed work of art would always be worth more, thus you could ask more,or so it seems to me. This would also differentiate your work from mass produced junk. Matted in plastic is the bulk of what I've seen move at art shows but you need to have framed stuff as well.

I've always wanted to do this, good luck!!! :)

Good Point! I had thought of numbering them but I wasn't sure if I should.

I was totally amazed at what sold. I had a lot of Hot Air Balloon shots from a local event that people really were drawn to but it was closeups of my wifes flowers in her garden that sold the best. Who can figure.....

[Windup]

That is great!
With the fall coming, the county fairs around the area here will be happening.
Sounds like a plan in the making.
Thanks for the ideas.

[robertwgross]

Some cities, like where I live, require a business license for all businesses. This includes storefronts, web businesses, craft fair booths, and everything else. In order to get a business license, one city requires you to get a fire safety inspection (even for a craft fair booth!), and this drives the cost up.

---Bob Gross---

[hickory]

Your right Bob, so all of that needs to be factored in to your profits. My city actually sponsored the festival with a booth fee of $50.00 and a booth size limited to 10 x 10 feet square. No business licenses were required since the City sponsored the event and it was aimed at only locally made fine arts products which meant nothing manufactured or mass produced.

[robertwgross]

Hmmm. The booth fee here is $150. High rent district.

---Bob Gross---

[hickory]

just curious where are you located?

[robertwgross]

About 400 miles north of Belmondo. He lives in the blast furnace, and I live in the wood shed out back.

---Bob Gross---

[hickory]

Yep, your rent district is definitely higher than mine. there are advantages to living in Pennsyltucky :lol:

[robertwgross]

there are advantages to living in Pennsyltucky

Ahh, yes. Cinncinnapolis Pennsytucky. Fine town. I think it has a ZIP code with only four digits.

---Bob Gross---

[hickory]

You mean theres more than 4 elsewheres.... :lol: :lol: :P