First Art Fair Coming Up in September and own a nature/wildlife photography business and would appreciate any advice on best practices and resources to get started (and for a moderate budget :). Thanks!
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Really good input, thank you everyone for all the suggestions I really appreciate it! I will be doing a mini Art Walk today outside a local coffee show that displays my work and will definitely be leveraging your recommendations. Fortunately my first big art fair is local here in Jackson Hole, WY and it is only a one day event so will not have to be concerned with additional travel and hotel costs, though the input on weather is well advised considering the intense summer storms in the Hole.
One more question, if I decide to rent a tent, any suggestions on where I can get started? There are very few resources in JH so I am going to need to be creative for my first show.
Much success to you all!
-Drew
P.S. I am fairly new to the art scene and looking to build my network of contacts. If interested in being FB friends, my page can be found here: www.facebook.com/AlpineWildernessPhotography. Happy to reciprocate! For non FB’ers, if you’re interested in sneaking a peek at my images and sending a note to say hi, my website is: www.AlpineWilderness.com.
You might want to delay until you have more cash. A bad violent rain storm can be disaster for photography where it might not harm pottery. A good canopy like a Light Dome or Craft Hut would be better than taking a chance. A good chair that puts you at eye level with customers is essential. Jerrys Artarama catalog sells them. I like clear plastic bags over the cheap "thank you" bags from Sams Club. They have advantages. Pens disappear. Have a dozen.
Best attitude is to be pleasant to everyone and grateful they are looking!
If you have a "smart-phone" get the "Gas Buddy" App, you can find the lowest priced gas in your area. If you want to take credit cards and don't have a merchant account yet and again have a smart phone go to SquareUp.com and get the Square App. It will save you $7-$10 per month on "hard expenses" for statements plus the insidious PCI fee ($120 yr!) that most merchant accounts charge you. Besides customers like signing their name on your iphone or ipad or whatever! Hotel expenses? Get a Wyndam rewards card (Super 8) and a Choice Privileges card they are free and when I have enough points on one of them I start to get free nights lodging. Probably better to use one consistently. Although I have seen people camping in their vans.
As for best practices, don't hide in the back of your booth, read a book, or whatever, engage with people! If it is still available a book I enjoyed reading and it is a good practical course in art fair biz is: Art Festival Guide: Artist's Guide to Selling Art by Maria Arango, you might check her website for availability or Amazon. She was incredibly apt at articulating what goes on at art fairs that I always observed but couldn't put into words myself and she can be pretty funny too!
Great suggestions, thanks Dave!
Greet everyone that comes into your booth. If you see them looking at something in particular, talk about the scene or wildlife. I shoot a lot of shore birds and butterflies. If they are looking at a particular bird, I may tell them where they are prominent, or how big they are, how rare. The butterflies I like to mention if they were shot local, especially if it's from my yard. I've made some good sales by just chatting a little with someone.
I'm not sure about how to get by on a reasonable budget! 7 years of doing shows and I haven't figured that part out yet:-) Actually, the problem is figuring out what will sell. We all have that issue, painters, photographers, jewelers, and the rest. I've got a few pictures that I know I will almost always sell, but the rest is just guess work.