do - Forum - Art Fair Insiders2024-03-29T08:15:02Zhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/feed/tag/doTips for Art Fairs in the Rainhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/tips-for-art-fairs-in-the-rain2015-04-14T12:14:06.000Z2015-04-14T12:14:06.000ZKrystle Colehttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/KrystleCole<div><p>Thunderstorms are expected at the art fair I'm attending next weekend. I've participated in a couple small local shows, but this will be my first larger show. And I've never done a show in the rain. </p>
<p>To prepare, I recently purchased a flourish trimline tent with a clear door wall for the front. I'll use flourish's mesh panels to hang my paintings and digital art, and I'll have a couple art bins for prints. I also have foam grid flooring.</p>
<p>Any tips or advice? Should I take artwork that I'm not that worried about getting ruined by rain and save my better work for shows that won't damage it? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your advice!</p></div>The Horror!https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/the-horror2014-07-23T14:14:13.000Z2014-07-23T14:14:13.000ZLynda Wallishttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/LyndaWallis<div><p>Cackling and horrified, I untied the loose knots holding up curtain backdrop as quickly as I was able. Thankfully and blissfully, the curtains dropped to the ground. I clipped the curtains shut and hung as much weight on the bottom of the curtains as I dared. <br/><br/>Giddy laughter would not stop bubbling from my lips. Again and again I looked in disbelief at the photo I had just snapped of my booth. I could not have set up, framed or imagined a more perfectly horrible image of my booth.</p>
<p><br/>A gigantic, stomach churning, revolting butt crack was perfectly centered in the middle of my booth.<br/><br/>The take away lesson boys and girls? Always, always, ALWAYS, take a moment before the show begins to step back and look at what YOUR booth looks like from the aisle. ALWAYS!!<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1062624238?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1062624238?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p></div>Fantasy Weekend Questionhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/fantasy-weekend-question2012-06-22T18:46:58.000Z2012-06-22T18:46:58.000ZLynda Wallishttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/LyndaWallis<div><p>Quick, don’t think to hard... What would you do with $500 or $600 in your pocket, a free weekend and the directive to spend every dime of it before sundown on Sunday night? How would you choose to spend your time? Where would you go? Who would you spend your time with. Don’t be practical, no answers of, ‘gotta make the next installment payment of the kids braces, or need the have the bathroom re-wired and install that fan.’</p>
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<p>It’s a game I’ve been playing with myself after the last few art shows.</p>
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<p>What the heck am I doin’ spending crazy time, energy and money on shows? I’ll be honest, MY paintings have not been selling this season. People love ‘em, the public really responds to my paintings, booth, my imagery, my colors, to me. But they don’t pull out their credit cards to take paintings home. I do love hanging out in my booth talking to the folks and getting to know all the artists around me---but that is SO not why I’m working like a mad dog to, well you all know. 2011 was my first year doing the shows, I sold dozens of paintings. I was thankful to break even, but I’m in the game to make $, this is not a hobby for me. I support my family, don’t have a partner to help kick in, it’s all up to me.</p>
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<p>From this springs my new favorite game. What would I do with $500 in my pocket and a directive to spend every penny of it within 48 hours? I run an incredibly frugal household, have been a single parent most of my life, so my answers border on giddiness.</p>
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<p>Thankfully, I only have a few more shows this season. Unless some miracle sales happen before the end of this season, I’ve made the decision to retire the painting gig for the next few summers. I’ll always paint. Planning to NOT apply to shows with my current series of paintings. Been fantasizing about a whole new direction, going to spend NEXT summer kicking back, visiting all of YOU at art shows, camping, painting, canoeing, gardening, taking weekend trips, spending time with family and friends but most of all NOT sitting at art shows NOT selling paintings.</p>
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<p>Don’t hold me to it 100%, the siren call to apply can be very loud at times. I did win a purchase award at East Lansing this year-thank you East Lansing! I was thrilled! So is the jury fee was waved for the next several years? Or are both waived,the jury AND booth fee? I may go to East Lansing...</p>
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<p>Fantasy weekend…my bags are packed. Anyone else in?</p></div>Escalating Booth Fees - what we can do about ithttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/escalating-booth-fees-what-we-can-do-about-it2011-11-27T19:23:58.000Z2011-11-27T19:23:58.000ZEve Greinerhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/EveGreiner<div><p><strong>It`s obvious that Nels post has struck a nerve with all of us on here. As of this post, it`s been viewed over 2,300 times in just 5 days. It`s very discouraging to work so hard doing what we love to do, only to have to struggle against so many obstacles. There`s weather (this year has seen some bad storms), the economy, booth location, public apathy or ignorance, and yes, of course the necessary evil - the promoters. We can all agree that the promoters are going to make alot of money from each show they put on regardless of how we do at the show. Th majority of them have become complacent and indifferent to the artists, lining their pockets. They take more than their fare share. WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. Let`s not be complacent. I myself have sent scathing emails to promoters who have raised their fees, not caring if I get black listed, because I won`t shell out more money for their show anyway.</strong></p>
<p><strong>We have all seen the email calling for I think it`s the 4th call for entries for the Reston show in Northern Virginia. Not only is their jury fee higher (because it`s through Juried Art Services), but now they also want $50 extra. You may not want to pay that, but I bet there are plenty of artists who will do it. How many times will they extend their deadline in order to be able collect more fat jury fees and pocket the late penalty application fee? Every time we get an email with an extended deadline, you just know that either they want to try and get more jury money and/or they can`t fill their show BECAUSE THEIR BOOTH FEES ARE TOO HIGH.</strong></p>
<p><strong>SOLUTION: They can`t black list everyone. Without us, they have no show. No show = no money for them. Shows do disappear. I say, we (alot of us who are fed up) contact the extra greedy promoters and voice our disapproval about their booth fees. If they are going to be indifferent to us, why show them the courtesy of handing over our money without question? They should get paid for the service they provide. In my opinion $200 to $350 should be the fair range IF they do a good job promoting. Those charging alot more, should be boycotted and/or chastised for their greed. No more deadline extensions as a means of extracting even more money from us. THEY NEED US. That is our voice. "Occupy Art Shows". End their greed or make them go broke. See how they like it!</strong></p>
<p> </p></div>Why do you like doing art fairs over other opportunities?https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/why-do-you-like-doing-art2009-08-25T23:54:32.000Z2009-08-25T23:54:32.000ZMichelle Sholundhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/MichelleSholund<div>What makes shows appealing to so many artists? Why choose doing fairs over say wholesale, or getting ones work in galleries or opening your own studio/shop (if you haven't already)? I am all about shows, however am not the type of person to put their eggs all in one basket. I do have a few of my items in stores, not a lot though. It works for me, however would like to know what others do when they don't have shows. Of course why do fairs over other options?
Michelle</div>