Craft Shows

[rcleary171]

Over the years my two main channels for selling my art have been eBay and a local deli that reserved some of their wall space to display my work. Last year I tried the craft fair route with surprising success. Maybe I was just lucky but I did some brisk business and met some interesting people. I plan on participating in at least three fairs this year.

I would like to hear from anyone who has a craft fair setup and would like to share their experience.

My first table with my helpful niece. I did the soft selling and she did the hard selling.

 

[rcleary171]

Second craft show. I elected to skip wall displays and depend on picture racks and micro easels for the table. With only a small percentage of pictures framed I was able to transport and display over 90 works.

 

[Donna T]

It's good to know that you had success at a craft show. Maybe now that people are out and about again there will be more opportunities to sell your work. Your assistant is a cutie!

 

[rcleary171]

She is! I had to give her a cut of the action.

 

[Mississippi Hippie]

Have a vendor show this Saturday. Don’t know if other painters will show, however about 12 vendors are selling things.

 

[Artyczar]

I know people that have had a lot of success with these kinds of fairs. It's great to know that you are too. There are a lot of different opportunities to do them in many different cities across the nation. What cities are you doing these in?

 

[Terri]

Art/craft shows are fun! I've done several in the past. (I'm posting from my phone and don't have my booth pics. I'll have to rummage around for them.)

I had some regular B&W photography, and lots of alternative photographic techniques for sale. It was always enjoyable to talk about the processes with folks who were interested.

 

[Enyaw]

I tried one once but only sold one piece and not a lot of viewers. It was a Christmas craft show so ornaments were the thing.

 

[rcleary171]

What cities are you doing these in?

I live in a small New Jersey town called Fanwood which is where I participated in my first and last craft fair. Not bad living only half a mile away from the event. But I will soon be branching out to other events and towns. Maybe (dare I say it) even in Pennsylvania?

 

[rcleary171]

Art/craft shows are fun! I've done several in the past. (I'm posting from my phone and don't have my booth pics. I'll have to rummage around for them.)

I had some regular B&W photography, and lots of alternative photographic techniques for sale. It was always enjoyable to talk about the processes with folks who were interested.

It will be nice to see your booth and setup. Meeting people was fun; most of them accomplished artists.

 

[Terri]

Well, all I could locate on another computer were these very small files - sorry! Some of my booth photos were taken with film and the negatives were scanned at low resolution for some reason. These were taken with a very old Duaflex camera on B&W film. (I often shoot with a lot of classic old cameras.)

If you squint hard enough you can see my booth setup!

I'm guessing these were taken Inman Park Arts Festival in Atlanta, based on that last shot. I always use old wooden wine crates for my matted & bagged prints. Hung several framed items. Kept a side area with info on alternative photographic techniques to explain some of the stuff I do, along with a display of some of the older cameras.

I always chatted up with the other artists as well as the festival-goers. Some of my sales were to other artists, or we'd be swapping items by Sunday afternoon load out. Fun times!

 

[rcleary171]

These are great. I love the intimacy of the set up. People walk in to view you pictures. My setup keeps the clients out.

 

[Terri]

Thank you! Well, as much as I did and do enjoy chatting with folks who are interested, I am shy and felt more comfortable sitting outside, behind the booth. That way people could wander in and out without making small talk. I kept that back flap open so my presence was known, if needed.

I did like having the booth feel like a casual place to step into, out of the sun (this was Atlanta) and be informative, so people could hang out. That often led to very enjoyable interactions.

 

[rcleary171]

I will be taking part in my first Holiday craft show today at the Watchung Arts Center in New Jersey. Also, my first indoor event (no surprise there considering the East Coast weather this time of year). I'm glad I don't have to transport and manage a tent, sandbags, table and weather conditions. My last craft event in October was disappointing with only a single sale. Despite the good weather that day the turnout was low. I'm approaching this adventure optimistically as an opportunity to meet artists, enjoy the art and if I'm lucky, sell a painting or two.

 

[Jade]

Yay! Wishing you well. I'm hoping to start doing some at some point in the UK.

 

[rcleary171]

The event was slow but pleasant. The fellow exhibitors were a great bunch of people. I enjoyed the indoor experience despite the disappointing sales.

 

[Jade]

Glad you had a good time overall. I wonder if it takes time to "establish" yourself too re sales I found a great guy at one recently who makes miniature polymer clay things so sought him out again last time I went.

 

[rcleary171]

It was a nice venue. Here are a couple of photos. The paintings on the wall are not mine.

 

[Jade]

It does look like a nice venue, thanks for sharing. Your stall looks great .. nicely laid out. It's good you have a QR code available too. I notice some people don't have ways to follow up after, and that might be another way you get interest and sales. I probably won't start fairs for a few years when I retire properly but starting to think about these things my husband in the meantime is living in ever more crochet and art lol

Ps I zoomed in to see what's on the plate and realised it was chocolate!