I took my first step today to get myself ready to do shows, after a couple of years gathering info and fantasizing about doing shows. Today I bought a used craft hut canopy and am figuring how I can build my own walls.
Now all I need to do is :
-Build walls
-Prepare artwork
-Take booth shots
-Apply to shows
-Learn how to sell
-Go to shows and sell
Thank god there is a forum like this to get me through this scary, intimidating, and overwhelming adventure.
Replies
I would suggest finding some used Pro-panels, but........
If you decide to build your own, keep it simple, and don't over do it. I've seen one set of home made panels done right, and the only tip off was the legs. The guy used 1x2's and it turned out okay. The cost is going to be up there, as you're going to need a bit over 60 running feet of carpeting. I'll give you what the friend of mine did, but don't blame me for anything ;-)
The guy bought a little over 30 running feet of 12 foot wide indoor/outdoor carpet and split it into 6 foot strips. That gave him the 60+ feet needed to make 9 panels. My advice is to make an extra one while you're at it.
He made his frames out of 1x2x8' stock in a double H ladder pattern. The bottom one was about 10-12 inches off the ground, and the second one was 6 feet higher. The 1x2s were laid flat, not on edge. The stock was clamped and predrilled for two long screws in each cross member on each end. I suppose you could use right angle mending plates on each side, but that's going to be a bunch of them and expensive.
3/4 inch high density foam insulation panels were used to fit inside the frame, just like the Pro-Panels. He taped the frame with duct tape to hold the foam in place while assembling the carpet.
The carpet was lined up and stapled onto the edge of the panels, wrapped around the other edge, stapled on the other end after stretching and clamping. The original end was trimmed back so it covered half the edge. The carpet was brought around the other end, stapled on the other side of the edge, and then trimmed to match the starting edge. The two edges were stapled across to help prevent any slippage.
His 1x2s are unfinished wood. If it were me, I would paint the ends black before applying the carpet. The tops of the frame were trimmed to length before all this started, and were cut to be 2 or 3 inches taller than the cross members of the tent so they could be zip tied to the frame. There would be one tie for snugging the panels together and another to fasten it to the tent frame, and of course another for the bottom of the legs.
Before doing anything, figure out a bill of materials and price everything and add another 15% for good measure and allow for screw ups and misjudging lengths and so on. Then price out used Pro-Panels. If the used panels are less than , say 50% more than your bill of materials, go for the used panels. Of course the other issue is how good you are at building things. I know I've wasted enough time and money doing things that spiraled out of control and would up costing as much as the commercial product.
Your time is valuable also, and you could be doing things that are fun. Like printing tintypes :-)
Uh-oh, I was editing past the 15 minutes mark and the "Saving" flag disappeared off into the ozone layer. I lost a lengthy response :-(
Sorry, about that Robert, however I see there is a pretty lengthy reply above.
Bryan, I have to tell you I am not fond of the pro panel look -- there are many other materials that are not as expensive and you can build panels of many other things. Do search this site for descriptions and images of other's displays. The carpet look is not necessary to have a successful show. Honest. Here is a post I did about alternatives: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2160589%3ABlog...
also I just used this for a search and got lots of answers: "ideas for a booth display"
I was just going to add a shaggy dog story about some of my first efforts in building panels. I misjudged the ease of assembly, and the panels were impractical. The money I wasted on different attempts at panels would have paid for the Pro Panels and some left over.
The home made ones that worked were made of white rubber covered closet shelving, 2 20 inch shelves 6 feet long enclosed in 1x2 stock. Only problem was I forgot to account for the thickness of the 1x2s =8-O. The 3rd panel wouldn't fit in the back corner and had to be moved out almost 2 feet in the back. That turned out okay as I now had a corner niche to store tubs inside the tent, and it cross braced the tent. They had to be zip tied to the tent frame, but it made everything stable. If I were doing something like that now, I would incorporate cloth either in front or behind the grids to hide the side tarps behind. They are still sitting out in my storage locker. I tried one time to give them away, but had no takers ;-)
Thanks everyone for the input, I have made plans for my walls. I'll show the pics as I make them. I think my plan will make them very quick and easy to install.
I'll let you know once they are done.
I just had my first show a month ago. (I didn't have the sense to fantasize for a few years first; I just dove right in.) I did everything I could to prepare, but a lot of learning has to come just by going out and doing it. My sales were not great, and I could be discouraged, but I am going to do my next show in a couple of weeks.
One thing I did to make sure I did not procrastinate for too long, is that I compiled a body of work, took photos, bought a tent and display items, and applied. When I got my first acceptance, I then had a deadline by which to prepare the art for display, plan the details, go online and learn how to manage the booth and the browsers, and purchase any missing items.
I hope things go well for you!
Ann
Best wishes to you, Brian, you've really got it cut out for yourself. Any chance you can find someone you can borrow panels from for a few shows? and in the "suppliers" link you'll find a download for building panels. You might even search the site for discussions about panels because over the years there are lots of ideas that people have shared.
Not much tintype photography at the art fairs, good for you for doing something different.
Lots of good advice here for you, Bryan. What is your medium?
My medium is tintype photography
Go Bryan! Sounds like a plan and with input from the experienced artists here, you'll be on the right track.
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