I rely on it a lot. If you are not traveling far to do shows I recommend the regional subscriptions which give you the top 200 shows for a particular region.
I found really useful when I was beginning and I just got a new subscription recently because I haven't found another resource that lives up to it when it comes to info on the shows.
The Art Fair Sourcebook is the most reliable tool out there for detailed information about art fairs. If you are new to art fairs and need direction it is indispensable. Greg Lawler has been in this business a long time, first as an artist, and knows what is important for artists to know when they are trying to decide whether or not to apply for an event.
Michael Skeen > Connie MettlerSeptember 16, 2010 at 12:59pm
I have found the sourcebook very helpful, especially when first starting to exhibit at art fairs. It was useful for several reasons including those already mentioned by Larry. The on-line maps, forum and show comments give a great launching point. It was a good investment for this former beginner.
If you want to focus on the 300 or so best shows in the country, it's a good resource. And the information is more accurate than any other resource because it's dependent on artist feedback, not show directors. If a show hands out the audit cards selectively or gathers the cards and sends them in for artists, Greg throws them out. He also eliminates the top and bottom scores to give the artists a more accurate idea of what to expect.
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Larry Berman
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