I did a couple small art fairs last year and they went really well. This year I have applied for many shows and have been getting into many of them. My spring and early schedule is set, but I still need to apply to shows for late summer and fall. Here is my proposed schedule. So, am I making any beginner mistakes? What do I need to worry about /focus on? Right now I am a little low on product (was working other job last few months) But for the rest of the year I can focus on just my art.

(if it is surrounded by question marks I have not been accepted yet)

3/23- Art Austin @ the domain (15 hour drive)

(six week break to make art)

5/11- Art Fair Laumeier (in tow)

5/18- ?? waitlisted for Belleville (in town)

5/25- St Charles Fine Art Show (5 hour drive)

6/1- Art and Air (in town)

(4 weeks to make art)

7/8 -?Art fair on the square? (6 hour drive)

(month to make art)

8/3 -either ?Uptown art fair? or ?loring park? (10 hour drive, stay with family, low expenses)

(month to make art)

9/7- Art outside or (cross fingers) ?St. Louis Art Fair (in town)

(two weeks off)

9/21-?plaza art fair? ( 4 hour drive)

(two weeks to make art)

10/6-?historic shaw art fair? ( in town)

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  • Thought I would update this thread:

    So the Austin show was a bust, just not many people buying, the only people that seemed to do well were jewelry people or crafty people with low price points. But it was good from an experience standpoint. I tried out a new booth setup and honed what art I was displaying.

    Right now i am busy trying to get things done for Laumeier. I decided to change some things so more than half of what I had made for Austin is going up on etsy instead of into the next show.

    Here is my current schedule

    Art Austin @ the Domain: Done

    Art Fair Laumeier, St. Louis, May 11-13th
    St. Charles Fine Art Show, Chicago Area, May 26-27th
    57th Street Art Fair, Chicago, June 2-3rd
    Art Fair on the Square, Madison WI, July 14-15th
    Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, Aug 3-5th

    St Louis Art Fair, Sept 7-9th

    Waiting to hear from: Plaza, Riverwalk and Fourth street.

    • So, 15 hour drive and you learned a lot. That is fine and necessary. Someone else on this forum is driving from Toronto to Melbourne soon for an out of season art fair and is going anyway even though several people here told him not to do it. He wants to go to Florida and try out some things.

      Any chance you can give us a review on Austin? either here in the blogs or at ArtShowReviews.com?

  • I decided to try Austin because I wanted to do something earlier in the year. Otherwise I would have to wait til May for any shows that would be close. The drive doesn't bother me as much, and I have always wanted to visit Austin.

    Oh btw, I do Art pottery. $80-500 price range.

    I was also considering American Craft expo in Evanston, Riverwalk Fine Art Fair in Naperville IL, and Fourth Street festival in Bloomington IN. Not all of them , but maybe adding one or doing one if another one I wanted to do doesn't pan out.

  • I agree with the 15 hour drive, that seems a little too much for one show. If you were doing that and then another show later during the trip in the area. But more power to you. Looks like you are doing well and getting into some great shows! I've heard great things about the Minneapolis Uptown show and will be applying to that one today. Since you have family there, even better reason to get up there!

  • I would not drive 15 hours for Austin, especially for someone who hasn't done a bunch of shows and isn't sure about his market.

    The in town events, Laumeier, Belleville, St. Louis Art Fair, Shaw, are all worth doing. Not sure about Art and Air.

    Madison might be worth the trip. Nope, I wouldn't drive to Minneapolis with high hopes, but combining it with a family visit maybe worthwhile.

    Plaza - definitely. 

    Best wishes. These are ambitious plans, but pretty much all decent shows and a great way to break into the business. You'll learn a lot and meet a bunch of great people.

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