I am brand new, as you've already guessed, and I have done some research on art fairs. It is something I definitely want to participate in wholeheartedly. While researching I've seen the juried photo requests. I'm afraid to make the commitment of purchasing the booth and necessary equipment if I never get accepted to any of the fairs in my area.

Any comments are appreciated. Thank you.

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Laura,

          Yes I am coming in from Pittsburgh.  In fact, in past shows there has been a good showing of Pittsburgh artists at LMM.  If you stop by, come by my booth and say hi.  A couple years ago I did a show called Art is Alive at the Canton Museum of Art.  I only did it one year because of a conflict with another show.  It was sort of a funky art show.  Indoors in April, not expensive.  You might want to research it. 

  • Hi Laura

    My best advice (and I am new too) is to call Larry Berman.  Larry did all my photos for the juries and my booth shot.  It will save you time, money and stress to talk to him and to utilize his services.  Believe me it is money well spent.  He is reasonably priced and does outstanding work.  Rent the tent and the panels to keep your costs down.  If you have good pictures and a good booth shot you are exponentially raising the odds of getting into the shows so you can make your initial investment back and a profit.  Call Larry, you will be glad you did!!!!!  

    • Thank you everyone for your valuable advice. I do believe I will have to actually visit the shows this year before diving in. After pouring over other discussions and blog posts, I think I have to view what mediums are being displayed and the price points for each artist. I will keep reading every day to glean as much knowledge as I can from your brilliant minds.

      For those of you showing at LMM, are you coming from out of town? I did a member search and I did not find anyone in my area.

       

      • Did you do an advance search?  Did you look up Cleveland or a different city?  Cleveland OH has 30 artist members on AFI. 

        • I see what I did wrong. I was putting in Cleveland, Ohio. It worked when I entered Cleveland, OH and searched under United States.

          Thanks for pointing this out. I would have never known otherwise.

          • Try Cleveland, OH :)

  • Laura, we want everyone to feel welcomed to ask the questions they feel they need to ask.  Our members are helpful and want to offer any advice they can.  It might be a good idea to go to the Last minute market in lakewood and check things out.  You may even be able to talk to some of the artists (when they aren't busy making sales) and ask them questions.  Of course, I can't speak for all artists but I think most are friendly and will offer you some advice.  You might even be able to contact Cleveland Handmade and see if they know of any artist that needs some help setting up or tearing down or even booth help.  That would give you lots of opportunities to talk to an artist.  You would be helping them but you would be learning valuable on the spot training.

  • Laura there are a lot of AFI members in Cleveland.  If you go to Members and then advance search you can search just for AFI members in Cleveland.  I am sure you can find a few who would be willing to show you the ropes at a local show. 

  • What shows in Cleveland have you done?  I am doing Last Minute Market (sponsored by Cleveland Handmade) and although it is not a fine art show, you may want to take a peek.  Third Saturday in December at the Screw Factory on Athens Ave in Lakewood.  There are a number of good shows in the Cleveland and surrounding areas - some are indoors and others require a tent set up. 

  • Hi Laura!

    The first "show" I did was in rec room in a friends backyard!! I progressed to churches, and street fairs in my area, to organized shows out of town. I have been doing it for 5 years now.   I started out with just matted prints and progressed to framed. I then got a couple of tables, then an ez-up and finally walls! Like the people responding before me, it is an investment of  time,  and money, but loads of tenacity. You will find out very soon if it is for you or not. Best of luck to you!!!

This reply was deleted.