I have found that most of my customers in the Michigan shows are from out of state. Some examples in Muskegon 70% of buyers were from FL, NC, VA, DE, South Africa & Canada. This weekend in Elk Rapids 80% of dollars came from Canada, Washington DC, WI and Georgia. I sell mostly landscape photography from Hawaii and Michigan (a lot of waterfalls and lighthouses). Is this common for other artist out there of is it perhaps due to my media and subject matter? I have always done best in Michigan shows that are close to the coastline.
Having lived and worked in Michigan forever I'd say that Michigan folks were our best customers. We'd find them in Florida or Colorado or Kansas City -- so not so much the people from other places. Although outside of Chicago Michigan has the most shows that are popular with the traveling public and the coastline shows catch a bunch of vacationers. Then Ann Arbor is fun since they bring in busloads of people from cities in Indiana and Ohio, then the Chicagoans show up and people who went to the U. of Michigan come back from wherever (all of the young people have disappeared to other states, a real brain drain) and shop the fair. Lots of fun. I loved doing art fairs that were not just a nice neighborhood event but a 'destination event' that goes on annual calendars.
I do mostly Michigan shows too, however I believe that most of my customers are locals. I do get a few from out of state at each show, but mostly locals. I expect that it does depend on what your art form is as well as price point too. I general look at my customers address from the checks that I take in, just to see where they are from. My art is not general travel friendly so that also figures in too.
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