Getting Ready for the Art Shows
by M Theresa
Brown
If you are like us, by the end of February you are interested in the
arrival of Spring. Mother Nature may yet throw a curve ball at us and dump a few last winter storms
but we remain, in North Carolina, hopeful that all the signs around us point to spring at last! However, we know
for a fact, having driven clea r across the US two years ago
to art shows i n California , that winter is not over in
many parts of our country. In fact on our beginning journey, at the end of March we encountered such extreme
weather as tornadoes, torrential rain storms, blizzards (that shut down part of I-40 in Texas) high winds and
more snow before finally reaching our destination of Palm Springs. On our subsequent return mid April, we
encountered more snow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was almost depressing :-).
It takes preparation to participate in an outdoor art show
(juried and non-juried) anywhere-near or far! We had applied to this show the previous fall. Some art shows
send out their applications and information only a few months beforehand. But most have
been around long
en ough to need
your entries at least 8 months prior to the event.
Preparations for your show season should take place long before your
first show! One promoter came up with their list for getting ready for the summer show season and we have
taken and added to it to come up with 10 basic things to do ahead of time:
1. Finish up and finalize any show registrations and payments
you may have. Many promoters are now accepting credit cards and payment plans.
2. Put your show schedule on your website and blog.
3. Do you have enough business cards? Read our article on what you need on your business
card!
4. Get your email blasts ready to go prior to each show. Let
people know where you will be! Even better, send a personal email or make a phone call to your collectors, visitors
from past shows and anyone on your "list" in the area of the show.
5. Make sure that your vehicle is road ready.
6. Keep making your art! Bring new art to shows if you are a
seasoned show artist. Leave your older work for an "end of the year" show. Make sure you have enough.
7. Your tents, panels, signs, displays all need to look fresh and ready
to go. Make any repairs or upgrades ahead of time.
8. Plan your route and hotels wisely
9. Make a "to bring" list (and get it ready long before the
first show!) for all the small, easy to forget things such as portfolios, guest book, pens, scissors, price tags,
tape, shopping bags, aspirin, etc. You can see our list here.
10. Review your pricing. Now more than ever is the time to have
work in 2 or 3 price levels so that everyone can find something at a price they are comfortable with.
An outdoor show is hard work and can be very rewarding
financially if you have taken the time to prepare like a professional should. Our long list has
saved us more than once. More importantly, it has helped us focus on what we should be doing at a show and why we
are there-helping our clients invest in the art that we are creating!
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