Guess I can introduce myself.
Rod Melotte from Columbus WI. Started doing Art fairs because people kept telling me to "get out there". Never considered it actually and never attended art fairs for the most part so my first fair was ALMOST the first time I had ever GONE to an art fair.
I'm a photographer that was bored with "normal" photography and started playing around in my digital darkroom. Just personal fun stuff that people seemed to really like. So I started to put images on walls where they would let me and things sort of took off from there.
This was my 2nd year doing 6 smaller (1000 attendance) fairs again and I'm VERY pleases with results. I'm still in the "what do people like" and "do I really care WHAT they like" stage. I'm doing this for ME and so far it seems to be working. Oddly I have found that the fairs are actually gaining other business so . . . it's all good.
That's me - a little over confidant and cocky but at least I know it.
I have a blog where I have a new image every day
http://www.melottephotoimagery.blogspot.com/
and LIKE Melotte Photo Imagery
Replies
Welcome, Rod. I'm pleased to have you join this site and look forward to your participation here. Little shows with small fees do put you WAY ahead financially, but usually don't have the payback that a biggie like Madison has, yet they are really great for getting your feet wet, learning about what people like and working out the kinks in your display and sales techniques while getting paid. Right?
Any chance you have met Ron Melotte, photographer and a member here?
Ron Melotte - HA - nope but curious!! A good friend of mine did Madison and he pulled in $3500 in two days but heck - a week later I did almost half that in one day so I figure I'll skip Madison Off the Square. But yes - I WANT to go bigger and bigger SLOWLY!! Every show is a new experience. When I was in Door County my Door County shots which I thought were GREAT took a back seat to the Madison shots!!
One BIG thing I have learned is you never know what will sell and you have to be ready to change course in mid stream.
Hi Rod and welcome to AFI. I like the photos on your blog - so I'm sure many people do! Don't underestimate the smaller fairs, many people find that they're more viable than the big shows.
I love the smaller fairs - I could do Art Fair on the Square in Madison but the next week is Lake Mills which is a WONDERFUL art fair. So I could do a HUGE fair on cement with zero space and a pain in the butt for loading/unloading or a scenic oak covert park with loading 10 feet away. I like smaller fairs!
What I have learned in the 2 years is to stay away from festivals and anything with CRAFT in the title. ART fairs are the ticket.