Art Career Experts » art shows

What art to take to an outdoor show

ace — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:28:32 +0000

The following is my answer to a long questions about what to bring art-wise, hang a few pieces, a lot, display pieces, hauling it, etc…all good questions but a little impossible to reply to in just one post BUT the basics are here!

Go into any mall and look at the window displays. They did not drag someone off the floor to set up a window display-a professional does that.

Same with a grocery store. Sellers of the products to the stores will pay the store more to display at “end caps” and at eye level. It is also one reason that certain colors are used in products to market. Many years and lots of money goes into research that helps companies learn what attracts consumers.

So at an art show:

I make sure my walls have my art on them. Nothing displayed below waist high if possible. The medium and price are clearly marked (that does not mean they see them!) A small amount of space between them, but not much .

Prints in a separate rack, complimentary colors with any drapery in the booth. Ideally tables should be high enough so people are not bending over them (stick 6″ PVC pipe on bottom of legs to raise them ) Any written material set out clearly. You out of your chair and available to chat with prospects.

There is always a learning curve! We have been at beach shows where people remarked more over the horse paintings than the beach paintings.

Much will also depend on the show you attend. One or two paintings on each wall of your booth with high end lights, drapery, etc….may work fine in a very exclusive show. But frankly the average artist at an average juried show is there to sell and it does not unfortunately help to say “I have one at home in the studio.” The best decision is to make every effort to streamline your carry in/carry out. Hand carts are a must, plastic bins are a must…anything with wheels will make your day.

Finding a travel/show buddy is an excellent idea (as mentioned earlier) as two can spread the labor. I suspect that checking around will find more people than an artist thinks in her area that have wished for a sharing the load situation.

I cannot emphasize more bluntly than to say don’t put up a crappy exhibit. Make bags to insert your framed images so they don’t get banged up. Be able to alternate exhibits and always have your stuff “road ready”….which also means that you have to be the type of person who knows where your insurance info is, your bills, your client list, etc etc.

Know your organizational weaknesses and make a decision to overcome them because if you do not, then every show will become an ordeal……very often it is not the work that is the biggest issue but how we are seeing it and handling it!.

A show is work but taking your “gallery” to the public is an excellent way to become known….use common sense-hit the shows in your immediate area as much as you can!

Theresa

Getting Ready for the Summer Art Shows

ace — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:49:48 +0000

Getting Ready for the Summer Art Shows by M Theresa Brown

If you are like us, by the end of February, beginning of March, 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 clear across the US two years ago to art shows in California, that winter is not over in many parts of our country. In fact on our beginning journey at the end of March to that series of shows, we left a rainy but moderate NC. But enroute, 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 Albuqueque, New Mexico. It was almost depressing . Although surprised at the weather extremes, we were prepared!

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 enough 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 with Sunshine Artists Magazine, 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. Something they never used to do!

2. Put your show schedule on your website, Facebook 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! Don’t rely just on email. CALL them (yes the telephone) and send postcards via USPS mail!

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.

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!

Should you enter art shows?

theresa — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:46:14 +0000

Over the years we have discovered that it never seems to occur to the average artist to question the validity of the advice that has been preached for so many decades concerning art marketing.

To NOT test a theory is to blindly accept another person’s decision concerning YOUR life!

One such theory is art shows and competitions. Many artists are paralyzed by the thought and pressure of “needing” to compete to advance their art careers. We meet and talk with them every day. Artists with not one but two art degrees who have never “done a thing” with their art and feel they are running out of time. Artists who have won awards at shows yet their careers as artists are dead in the water. Artists who are afraid their art is not good enough. Artists living on a shoestring who do not have the money to pay the jury fees to enter a lot of shows….our list goes on and on. We hear their fears in our workshops, at art and craft shows, on our forums.

They are our ACE members who feel that they MUST enter art shows…… because
that is what they are “supposed to do.” Well, folks, take heart, because guess what? You do not have to be an award winning artist to have a career!

In all the years that Steve and I, on our own and together have created our art for a living we have NEVER had a client ask us what awards we have won.

We are not alone. Those ACE members who also derive either all or part of their income
from their art can also answer the same way. We’re not talking about
art shows where you are a vendor and are juried in to participate -We are talking about the shows where you pay a fee to be judged to win something such as a ribbon, an award, a trip, etc.

What does that mean to you as an artist? It means relax! Concentrate on
areas that will offer the greatest return for your efforts. Are we
saying don’t enter shows? Of course not-I just entered one and placed
first in the professional division…and won a $200.00 prize (of course I’m happy!)
When I first started “my serious art career”, I entered many shows, following that same vague advice of “needing to” that all artists fall victim to- not thinking for ourselves and being too unsure to branch out. And it turned out to be an interesting test when I did toss the idea.

Frankly, how many awards an artist has accumulated only matters to other artists!

Did I enter this particular art show to win an award? No I entered because I would be promoting my painting workshops in the area. It was entirely a marketing move for promotion, not for an award. Because I know in the real world of the marketing artist, that to our clients, awards mean nothing. They purchase from you because they like WHAT YOU DO!.

Just as in life, everything in moderation in your art career will get the greatest results! But nothing will work if you don’t try. So before you dismiss the idea of awards meaning less than you were lead to believe, open your mind and test it! Don’t take our word for it. But don’t randomly take the word of the art community either.

We have discovered that our methods and track record for promoting and success and living the artist’s life are far better than the records of artists who have followed the traditional route!

Enter a show if you like, but don’t do it just because you feel that you should! Test it. Make your own discoveries but don’t be paralyzed into inaction!

Until later! Theresa and Steve

Outside art/craft shows

theresa — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:34:31 +0000

For those of you in the area (and even those who are not!) we will occasionally post what we feel are decent art/craft shows that are good ones to “cut your teeth” on. The following is a one day art/craft show that has been around for 30 years. They do look at what is coming in and there is some buy/sell but if the weather cooperates, this one day show is nice. We have done very well at this show and sometimes not as well. But that is the nature of the beast!

Meet in the Street in Wake Forest, NC on Saturday May 1 from 10-4, Fee is $85.00

Application deadline is Feb 26 They mail out confirmation packages by March 31

Go to www.wakeforestchamber.org 919-556-1519

After the Art Show

theresa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:38:56 +0000

The Art show has ended. All of the participants are taking down their tents, loading up their vehicles and all have one goal in mind-to get home!
There is no doubt that participating in an Art show of any length can be tiring. If it was a financially good show for the artist, then the take down is almost cheery. If it was not financially productive, the artist’s take down attitude reveals that frame of mind.
Regardless, once back home at the studio, the artist can then relax and revert back to his normal routine. Right? Wrong!
The hardest thing for new artists to comprehend is that attending an art show is only a portion of the sale. If your art product is a commission product, you really have some work left to do!
The guestbook that we advise all artists to have in their booths at the show is the very first thing that you, the artist, need to address the following day. If you were selling your art product, your sales book should also have all that contact information. Use that as well.
Send an email to everyone who signed the guestbook and/or bought your artwork, thanking them for signing/buying and including a link to your website and most recent newsletter. You are not selling them something, you are reminding them that you are the artist that they communicated with. New artists at these shows will not collect information. They sell their product and the buyer walks away. Not good. Seasoned artists value their clients. Your sales book and guestbook are vital tools to keep these prospects aware of you and what new events or items you are creating.
if the prospect did not leave an email address then send a card thanking them for their interest. All of this falls under the sales rules of establishing a relationship with the client.

A week later you need to call everyone who expressed an interest in your art product. That’s right. Use the phone! In this day of electronic communication, it is easy to forget that the single most effective means of reaching a client is to pick up the telephone. Make sure that your phone ID shows that it is you. And if you get a message machine, leave a message but also try again. Not all equipment is efficient and homes with children and teens can easily erase your message. Always assume that they did not get the message, not that they are ignoring you!
within 3 weeks of the show, all these contacts need to be in your computer and mailing list. Send emails once a month and in the subject line make sure that your name is in there. (ie: Email from Glass Artist, John Doe, etc.)
Newsletter need the option of the recipient being able to opt out. Do not assume they are not interested in you if they do. Just assume that they get too much email! Never take unsubscibing personally.
It is perfectly OK to remind your prospects of upcoming events, holiday specials and any worthwhile events. The point in all the contacting is to stay somewhere in the mind of your prospect so WHEN she is ready to make another purchase or a first one, YOU come to mind!
Although a computer file is great, I still like the 3 x 5 index card files because I can make quick notes on the cards. I have two long boxes. One for the buyers and one for those who have expressed interest but have not yet purchased. Both lists are important but the ones who HAVE invested in you are very important. Never assume that because they already bought something, that they are through with you!

So when the show has ended, collect and file all your buyers and prospects. Take the time to organize all the information and have it at your fingertips. Because your real work starts after the show!