non juried art shows

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on February 25, 2009 at 12:54pm

Hi Rosie,
I just started doing art fairs last year.... I only have a few under my belt. I would suggest starting with the local fairs - even if they are juried. I did both last year... If you stay away from the bigger shows the jury mainly to make sure you are not selling crafts that you are not putting together yourself.... Give it a try - they worst they can say is no.
Good Luck -Jen

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Permalink Reply by Rosie Bryant on February 25, 2009 at 2:13pm

Hi Jennifer,
Thanks so much for the reply, I paint on canvas and I just started a year and a half ago.
Thanks for the support.
Rosie

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Permalink Reply by Jeanne Palagonia on February 26, 2009 at 11:00am

Rosie-

Going to shows is always and exciting time, and I have done both non-juried and juried shows and can tell you that from my experience I find non-juried shows usually have the type of customer I am NOT looking for-that is someone who is looking for fine art or prints. There is a lot of buy and sell people at these events and you will find yourself surrounded by sellers that are not even artists (case in point: one show I did I was next to a Tobacco company endorsement booth- WHAT????) and that was a show that had a "good reputation!"

Really go for the shows that are juried- I know it is hard having someone look at your art sometimes and saying doesn't meet there requirements-but I look at it this way, they saved me time and money! LOL!

Research the shows, go to a few that you are interested in attending and start getting a list of what shows you want to do-as this is your first year it is what many of us call the "year of discovery" so watch, ask and listen to what people are saying at the events and make your decisions based on what you see.

I wish you the best o luck this year on your venture please let me know how you do!

Jeanne

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Permalink Reply by Michael Peychich on March 4, 2010 at 9:17pm

I am still new at this too. Last year was my first year in art fairs I did about 20 fairs several were non-juried and I will never do one again. The customers were less interested in quality art and the quality of other vendor or lack of lowers the precieved value of art for all venders.

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Permalink Reply by Connie Mettler on March 4, 2010 at 10:15pm

Rosie, there are enough juried shows--really, as a painter, I can't think how you would do at an unjuried event. Maybe if you had some nice craft item that was functional you could do all right at an unjuried show. I'd guess that most people attending them are really looking for inexpensive goods, and/or ideas of things to make themselves. Not recommended - not because I'm too good for them - but because I don't think they would be worth your time, let alone the ability to break even.

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Permalink Reply by Christine Heisler on March 9, 2010 at 6:02pm

Rosie, I wouldn't recommend too many non-juried shows, even to start with. They are generally a waste of money. I have been invited to participate in a few of them and have learned to ask what other vendors will be selling. Sometimes that won't even get you an honest answer, so it's great if you can see photos of the previous year's show. If you are in the business of selling your art, you really don't want to find yourself next to the Tupperware booth. It's just the wrong crowd for you. Best of luck!

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Permalink Reply by Lindsay Pless on March 9, 2010 at 6:30pm

IMHO if you do your research, there are still a lot of non-juried shows that are good shows and don't allow buy/sell folks.

To get your feet wet, pick something other than a school or church show for sure but don't rule out non-juried shows.

I would definitely attend as many juried shows as you can and talk to the artists....many are willing to give good pointers and advice.

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Permalink Reply by Diane Wright on March 9, 2010 at 7:22pm

Having a show juried doesn't guarantee that you won't be next to tupperware or that it won't be riddled with buy/sell. Research of the show is the name of the game.

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