Forum

Hi all!  In my introductory post, we started talking about ways festival organizers can help boost the number of likely buyers coming to shows.  Part of this certainly will involve demographic targeting (Facebook Partner Categories has some pretty useful-looking filters), but part of it will also involve trying to put attendees in more of a buying frame of mind. 

I attended a session at the Michigan Festivals and Event Association conference a few years ago where a festival marketing director mentioned that sales seemed to improve simply from adding buying-related language to ads.  I'd like to take it a step further by writing a few pieces that we can both post to our blog and promote via Facebook, and also publish in the festival tabloid that we distribute 30,000-plus copies of.

One piece would be a feature on people who decorate their homes with original art, and I'd also like to have a short sidebar on "Tips for the art buyer."  Here are some of the items I was thinking of including:

• Come prepared. If there's a specific place in your home that you're shopping for, try taking a picture of it with your phone before you come to the festival. If you're looking for wall art, measurements help too!
• Visit the ATM first. Some artists can accept credit cards at their booths, but not all.
• Ask questions. If you like an artist's style but don't see the perfect piece right away, they may have another piece in inventory that's just what you're looking for -- or you may even be able to commission a custom work.
• Art isn't just for walls! You'll find all kinds of work at an art fair. A ceramic bowl or vase might be the perfect accent for your end table, or a stained glass hanging might look gorgeous in your kitchen window. Art can even be something you wear!
• Choose art that makes you happy.  You don't have to be an expert or an art critic to know what you like. It's your home -- buy what looks good to you!

Any thoughts? Things to change/eliminate? Things to add?  It's very much a work in progress.