Art Fair Radio

Welcome to the Art Fair Radio Podcasts!

Art fairs are our business. If they are your business, too, tune in for all the news and insider tips about the nation's top juried art fairs and craft shows. The "Art Fair Success Show" is a free internet radio podcast hosted by Connie Mettler, publisher of ArtFairCalendar.com, ArtFairInsiders.com, ArtShowReviews.com and CallsforArtists.com.

Click Here to Listen to the Show Live during Scheduled Broadcasts.

Click on the player below anytime to hear the latest strategies for success at the nation's art fairs, interviews with artists, art fair directors, real life stories, and more!

NEW ART FAIR RADIO SHOWS COMING SOON

• You can always listen here and call in:  (805) 243-1338
  

You can also download the MP3 recording of any podcast to listen to later. To save an MP3 copy of any show, visit this page and find the MP3 link on the subsequent individual episode pages. To save a copy to your hard drive, right-click on the "Download" button link you see under each show listing. It is also downloadable at the iTunes store at this link. It is free.

Check back regularly as we build this archive of helpful interviews.

And please let us know if you have suggestions for topics, guests, or sponsors for future episodes!

Thanks for listening.

P.S. If you have any comments or suggestions for upcoming shows please leave them in the "comments" section below.

 

Art Fair Success Radio Podcast Show Archives

Podcast: Birthday Party Prize Drawing w/Celebrity Guests

As the pledge drive comes to a close Connie is joined by celebrity guests Carolyn Bird and Alice Moulton from the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. This year's pledge drive has over 80 prizes donated by friends of the art fair business. The show:

• Carolyn and Alice visit Random.org to draw 45 names of the winners chosen from those who have donated to the pledge drive. 
• These veteran show organizers share behind the scenes information about their festival which is always on artists "most wanted list"
  
  

Podcast: Happy 4th Birthday AFI - 10 Tips for Selling Art

Internet marketing expert Scott Fox joins Connie Mettler, host of AFI.

• Scott shares his 5 best tips for selling online
• Connie give you her top 5 tips for selling in your booth at the show.
• they draw 20 names of the winners in this year's Birthday Pledge Drive. Who wins the Flourish Canopy? Find out here.

Podcast: Artists, Art Fairs & ZAPP®

In recent years artists have learned that if they want to earn a living in the competitive arena of fine art fairs they must participate in the digital upload systems, www.ZAPPlication.org, www.JuriedArtServices.com and www.EntryThingy.com. 

But how did this get started and what is the relationship of the individual artist or individual art fair with these systems?

Here are our experts:

• photographer Larry Oliverson who was instrumental in introducing the concept of online applications to the art fair business by bringing artists, art fairs and Westaf (the agency which provides ZAPP) together
  
• painter Kathleen Eaton who is an artist member of the ZAPP Oversight Committee and has served on several ZAPP juries. She is writing a book on the history of art fairs.
  
• Leah Charney, Manager of ZAPP®, oversees the ZAPP product and the 350+ clients, 570+ events and more than 60,000 active artists that use the system

These guests have a long history with the organization and can provide both historical data as well as current operating information.

We'll discuss the myths and truths about:

• how ZAPP has changed the art fair business since its inception in 2004
• how the art fairs use ZAPP as a tool to manage applications
• who gets into the best art fairs

ZAPP is going to be around for a long time and understanding its processes and using it to its fullest is advantageous to everyone in the art fair business. Access information about ZAPP myths here: http://bit.ly/zappmyths

Podcast: Credit Card Processing for "Mobile Merchants" 101

Making the sale and making it easy for you and your buyer

Talking about:

• terminals, wireless & wired
• iPhones, iPads & tablets
• PayPal, Square, Intuit, SalesVu
• PCI compliance & fees
• merchant support
• card fees, monthly charges
• and getting the biggest bang for your buck and what to expect next in credit card processing

Steven Ballan, vice-president of 1st National Payment Solutions, one of the pioneers in providing merchant accounts to non-bricks and mortar merchants, lays out the current "best practices" and answers questions about making smart choices in your credit card processing options. 1st National stepped out years ago to provide services to artists and they have a long history serving the art fair business.

Podcast: Let's Start an Art Fair!

New art fairs are necessary for the evolution of the art fair business because artists
need new markets and even reliable shows sometimes don't continue to thrive.

We speak with 4 show directors developing events for their communities:

• Rae Marie Schneider and Kim House, St. John's River Festival of the Arts in Sanford, FL, had solid community participation at their inaugural show in 2012. They'll talk about how they did it and their plans for 2013.
• Dennis Gorg, a 10 year event organizer who has a new show in June in St. Louis, MO, MidTown Taste Art Fair. Learn how an experienced producer leverages his skills for a new event.
• Tim Reilly, is the director of The Cotton South Fine Art Festival in Madison, GA, debuting in September 2013. Still in the throes of filling his show, raising money and working with sponsors, we'll hear how a new director makes his plans.

This show is full of information for everyone thinking of starting a show with ideas for new show directors, it will also fill in the nuts and bolts of show development for artists as well who wonder where their application and booth fees go.

Established event promoters will enjoy the creative ideas that these people pull together to make their events a success for everyone involved.

Podcast: High Winds, Flying Tents, Liability and Artists

Art fairs can be a dangerous business fraught with problems of high winds, theft, traveling with artwork, liability issues, damages to equipment and accidents of all kinds.

Valerie Bjarnson, Director of Online Programs for Veracity Insurance Solutions whose innovative insurance programs have made reasonably priced insurance available to artists, joins Connie Mettler to discuss why an artist needs liability insurance.

We'll discuss

• liability issues
• bodily injury and property damage
• weather related losses
• theft and the best way insurance can keep protect you and your livelihood

whether you only do a few shows a year or are a full time art fair traveler participating in more shows than you can remember.

Get definitive answers for all your insurance questions and learn more: www.ACTinspro.com.

Podcast: Is Wholesale Marketing an Answer for You?

Are you ready to wholesale your fine art or fine craft? Do you have handmade goods that you'd like to see in galleries and gift shops? 

Guests are:

Glass blower Paul Willsea has worked as a glass artist for over 20 years, participating in wholesale as well as retail shows. He has been on the Board of advisors for the Buyers Market of American Craft and is well acquainted with the business aspects of wholesale shows.

John Terry, owner of the Avalon Gallery in Del Ray Beach, FL, ventured into the gallery business in 1993. He not only attends the wholesale markets looking for new artists to showcase you'll also find him at street art fairs searching for the perfect work for his enterprises.

Stacey Miller, a jeweler for 27 years who is brand new to wholesaling shares her experiences as a first time exhibitor as she prepares for her the BMAC in February.

Join us as we learn about

• best wholesale marketplaces
• what a wholesale buyer is looking for, price points, inventory, presentation
• the ups and downs of the gallery business
• is wholesale for you?
• ideas for longevity in the business
• how to prepare for your first show

John, Paul and Stacey share their best tips for success in wholesaling one of a kind fine art and craft.

Podcast: Artists, Are You Homeless?

Podcast: Call in Show - Best Art Fairs in 2012

What were the best art fairs in 2012? Veteran artists Allan Teger and Daryl Thetford vote for Coconut Grove, Cherry Creek and Bayou City. No surprises there! Others call in and share tales of selling $2.50 greeting cards as well as paintings for over $100,000.

Highlights:

• Allan Teger, in the business for over 35 years, talks about his career doing high and low shows, finding his buyers, his online sales and being featured on the Huffington Post. He muses about what he will do next as he makes plans to step into more galleries.
  
• Melissa Ayr has been building her career through galleries and the high society/high figure Art Fairs such as Miami Art Basel and tells her story about creating a livelihood from art student to being included in the nation's high profile gallery art fairs

Their dialogue is stimulating as they give and take ideas for living the artistic life. You'll come away from this podcast with new ways of thinking about your art fair business.

 

Podcast: Jurors, Jurying and What Happened to my Jury Fee

In a business full of taking chances the first big challenge an artist has is to make that competitive jury cut at the shows. Mo Riley, executive director of the Ann Arbor Art Street Art Fair, Lyn Sedlak-Ford, jury chair for Art in the Pearl, an artist run art fair in Portland, OR, and Jerry Allen Gilmore, artist, curator and juror for many of the top art fairs discuss:

• choosing a jury, who are those people and what their credentials are
• what an art show organizer does with your submission before the actual jury day
• what an artist receives in exchange for a jury/application fee
• how a juror evaluates art that is not in his/her field of expertise
• what the jurors learn from each other and why the panel should include insiders (art fair artists) and outsiders (teachers, curators, museum folks)
• how the final choices for the show participants are made

In listening I was particularly taken with the seriousness of purpose with which these people treated the jurying. When they talk about pre-jurying and the number of times a juror looks at the images the level of professionalism is readily apparent.

Listen to this podcast and be prepared to look at the jury process in a new way.

 

Podcast: Storms and Their Impact on the Art Fair Business

Storms are no strangers to the nation's art fairs. Show organizers and artists plan for inclement weather as a matter of course. The National Guard cancelled the Westfield, NJ, show because of weather-related concerns. This event is part of a series of shows run by Rose Squared Productions and its loss impacts not only the show organizers, but also the artists counting on the show and the surrounding community. The Omaha Summer Arts Festival boasts an award-winning emergency program to insure the security of all participants.

Listen to learn:

• how show organizers make their money
• impact of weather on budgets
• the interdependence of shows, artists and municipalities for mutual benefit, economically and for building community
  
• ethical treatment of exhibitor fees
• how to keep a business going in the light of economic hardship
• how to respond in an emergency situation
  

Howard and Janet Rose have producing fine art and craft shows in upscale New Jersey communities for over 30 years. Ashley McNabney is the Festival Coordinator of the Summer Arts Festival.

 

Podcast: Using Kickstarter.com to Raise Funds & Grow a Business

Artists Casey Sheppard (a jeweler) and Evan Reinheimer (a photographer) talk about their experiences using Kickstarter.com to fund their art projects.

Casey's project raised funds to enable her to participate in the Cherry Creek Art Festival in July 2012 and Evan is currently fundraising to finance a trip to Australia.

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects.  Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others.

We talk about:

• what motivated them to participate
• what they learned along the way
• how to market a kickstarter project
• rewarding your donors
• mistakes made along the way

See Casey's completed project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/37372733/casey-sheppard-jewelry-collection-for-cherry-creek?ref=live

View Evan's ongoing project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1986082413/kite-aerial-photography-in-australia?ref=live

 

Podcast: 2 Artists Share Their 40 Year History at the Art Fairs

Podcast: Pricing & Marketing Your Art: Don't Think Small

Podcast: What Good is a Website for Artists?

Author and small business marketing expert Scott Fox shares specific strategies useful to artists in building their websites and selling online. This episode covers everything from choosing a domain name to capturing the sale online, including:

• keywords and how to determine the best ones
• choosing an url, best choices for artists
  
• how google searches for sites
• why a free platform may not be the best choice for your site
• how to expand your market beyond the people you meet at shows
• what are the five things every artist's website should have
• his idea for an "artist retirement plan"

You'll also learn about his own online community whose focus is on helping individuals build their Internet businesses.

 

Podcast: Who is Buying at the Shows and Why

Between them art show patrons Geri Wegner, Ed and Judie Seidman attend over 100 art fairs a year and bring their friends. Listen and find out

• why they attend art fairs
  
• what they collect and how much they spend
  
• their favorite artists
  
• favorite shows that keep them coming back for more
  
• what attracts them to a booth & tips on making the booth more attractive
• booths they avoid
  
• and most importantly what makes them purchase a piece of art.
  

Ed and Judie Seidman not only attend art fairs close to home (Chicagoland) but also art fairs and galleries are important in their travels. Geri Wegner travels between two homes, both in the heart of the nation's best art fairs, Chicago and Florida, where she plans her weekends around visiting the shows, meeting her friends and adding to her collections.

Podcast: Buy/Sell, What Art Fair Promoters & Artists Can Do About it

Podcast: Birthday Party Prizes Drawn Live by Rick Bryant of CPFA

Rick Bryant, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College, PA, joins Connie Mettler of ArtFairInsiders.com to share art fair stories and draw the names of the winners of the prizes for the Birthday Party Pledge Drive.

Want to hear a little art fair gossip from one of the guys who has "been there and done that" for some time now? Then you might enjoy this lighthearted episode.

Podcast: Happy 3rd Birthday Art Fair Insiders! A Celebration Show

Do you love ArtFairInsiders.com? Do you check in regularly for information, support or a good laugh? You are not alone!

Today's show is hosted by Connie Mettler and Internet marketing author Scott Fox.

Welcome to our 3rd Annual celebration show where Connie and Scott decipher how to make a living at the nation's fine art fairs and discussing these important life questions:

• I was blackballed at my favorite show
• That show director hates me
• Someone has to die before I can get into Old Town
• Cancelling a show
• I'm never going to use Zapplication again
• Prizes to our supporters
  

Here's the best part. This will be live and we want you to call us, tell us your art fair stories and ask your questions and give a shout out to your favorite parts of our business.

Podcast:  Wendy Rosen, Art Marketing Maven & Congressional Candidate

A wide ranging conversation with Wendy Rosen, best known to this community as the founder of the Buyer's Market of American Craft. Wendy has been a fixture in this business for over 30 years most specifically focusing on the marketing aspect. The Buyer's Market, her magazines (Niche and American Style), her educational arm, the Arts Business Alliance, all are part of her big soapbox for the creative community.

You'll find

• solid tips for better sales at the shows
• ideas on how to launch a business that grows
• the economic importance of creativity
• her campaign for American made goods and strengthening our trade laws
• interacting with salespeople in the Bright Angel gift shop and asking for American made souvenirs and where they were found
• picketing and protesting for 1st Amendment rights at the gift shops at the national parks
  
• launching her Congressional campaign and how she plans to find herself in Congress
• how you can learn more and support these initiatives for a career that she calls "scary, fun and wonderful"

Podcast: Amy Amdur & Howard Alan - The Business of Art Fairs

Connie Mettler talks with Amy Amdur, AmdurProductions.com, and Howard Alan, ArtFestival.com, two of the most influential people in the art fair business. Amdur produces 17 Chicago area shows and Alan has two divisions of events, fine art fairs and craft shows, producing over 80 shows a year around the country.

Just about every artist has participated in one or more of their events and has met them face to face but you've never heard them talking to each other as they discuss their art fair businesses, including

• how they got started, the logistics of running multiple events
  
• where the income goes, the main expenses
  
• how they choose a new event location
• how the changing economy has shaped their business and how they have adapted
  
• their jury processes and choosing a balanced show
• their relationships with artists
  

Podcast: Artists Running Art Shows

When artists start complaining about how they are treated by the art fairs they often segue into the idea of developing and presenting their own shows. In this episode Bonnie Blandford, a jeweler from Grand Rapids, and Carla Fox, a jeweler from Bend, OR, share how their stories about the Garage Sale Art Fair (Kalamazoo, indoors at the fairgrounds in the winter) and Art in the High Desert (Bend, outdoors in August). Listen as they explain:

• when to do it
  
• best geographical areas for shows
  
• sponsors or not costs
  
• perfect venues
  
• why they do it
• how you can do it too
  

Podcast: Artists who Beat the Odds, Consistent Participation at the Best Art Fairs

Mixed Media artist Kathrine Allen-Coleman (15 years in the business), Glassblower Andrew Shea (30+ years in the business) and Photographer Bruce Reinfeld (7 years in the business) share their strategies on how they consistently jury into the top shows. Learn how they

• choose which shows to apply to
• select their images
• fill out the applications
• handle rejection
  
• their big (or not so big) payoff
• their favorite shows
  
• shows to avoid 
• 2012 plans
  

Podcast: Art Fair Directors, Cindy Lerick of the Saint Louis Art Fair and Stephen King of the Des Moines Art Festival 

Meet the directors from two of the nation's best non-profit art fairs as they talk about their events, including:

• Their background
• What is a non-profit and where does the money go?
• Do the show directors know who I am?
• How applications are reviewed
• Transparency in jurying
• What the jurors are asked to do
• How about that booth shot?
• Buy/sell
• much more ...

Podcast: Selling Art Online, Another Option

Connie Mettler talks with Chris Lake, Managing Director of ArtsyHome.com, an online venue connecting artists with buyers of their work. Learn how you can tap into this marketplace, no cost to register.

ArtsyHome.com as the online partner of Distinctive Livingmagazines, will expose your work to over 2,000,000 upscale homeowners both online and in print.  No other online gallery offers this service.

 

Podcast: Art Fair 101 - New to the Business Part II

Newbies to the art fair business Barbara Poole, Caroline Kwas and Michelle Wermuth talk about:

• their biggest disappointments at the shows
• their biggest surprises
• advice for others new to the business
• plans for 2012

 

Podcast: Art Fair 101 - New to the Business and what I have learned

Connie Mettler speaks with fiber artist Barbara Poole, painter Caroline Kwas and photographer Michelle Wermuth about their art fair experiences. All three artists are new to the business having started in the last two years and have lots to say that even seasoned artists will find interesting. We talk about:

• what made them decide to participate in art fairs
• their art background
• their first experiences
• are they making any money yet

 

Podcast: Online Marketing for Artists 101

Host Connie Mettler interviews Scott Fox, online marketing coach, author and host of ClickMillionaires.com, an online community that explores turning your interests into a lifestyle business.

Learn Internet marketing tips to help you with:

• website building
• email marketing
• building your online "social" presence
• marketing information that will help build an artists "electronic retirement plan"

Presented by EntryThingy.com and FrameDestination.com


Podcast: 2nd Anniversary Show for ArtFairInsiders.com

Scott Fox and Connie Mettler celebrate the birthday of ArtFairInsiders.com, take calls and discuss insider tips for succeeding in the art fair business.

Listen to this free art fair podcast for:

• how to choose an art fair
• hear advice from artists about the business
• review the year in business

Podcast: Nels & Munks dish the Art Fair Business

Hear insider art business tips from these popular (and often controversial) veteran artists Nels Johnson and John Stillmunks, including art show sales strategies, what inspires their work, and why they are active members of the artist community at ArtFairInsiders.com.

 

Podcast: 1st Birthday Show for ArtFairInsiders.com

The ArtFairInsiders.com and ArtFairCalendar.com art fair web sites are dedicated to helping you increase attendance at your local art events, make more money as an art show artist, and supporting the fine artists who are the lifeblood of the art fair industry.

This show covers the history, strategy, and mission behind the founding of ArtFairCalendar.com and ArtFairInsiders.com, plus plenty of birthday celebration pledge drive calls, shout-outs and prize giveaways.

 

Thanks for listening and please support our sponsors!