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Here is our latest podcast from August 14 where I spoke with author Scott Fox, my son, whose expertise is small business Internet marketing. Scott grew up in the art fair business, traveling to art fairs with us and knows a lot about artists and how they earn their living, so his information is very specific to our particular needs.

Listen to it here:

The show covers everything from choosing a domain name to capturing the sale online, including:

• keywords and how to determine the best ones
• choosing an url
• how google searches for sites
• why a free platform may not be the best choice for your site
• how to expand your market beyond the people you meet at shows
• what are the five things every artist's website should have
• his idea for an "artist retirement plan"

You'll also learn about his own lifestyle business coaching forum whose focus is on helping individuals build their Internet businesses.

In addition this fall Scott we'll be doing another podcast where he will be taking live calls from you.

Are you interested in this?

Check out the rest of our podcasts by clicking on the "Radio" button on the toolbar at the top of this page,

or visiting the Art Fair Radio Show page here.

I'd love feedback in the comments below about this podcast.

July 5, 9 am ET, please join us as we discuss they perils of buy/sell to the art fair business with solid information and support for art fair organizers to help them greatly reduce the incidence of this occurring at the shows. Guests will be Carroll Swayze, an artist who has spent over two years researching the issue and putting together a paper documenting the problem with many useful leads and Carolyn Edlund, executive director of the Arts Business Institute, blogger at ArtsyShark.com, a jeweler who ran a production studio for 20 years and who has been "in the trenches" at large wholesale shows will share her experiences.

We're gathering additional data that will be presented also. If you know someone who can speak authoritatively on the topic please have them contact me: info@artfaircalendar.com.

This show will deal only with buy/sell issues. A second show is in the works dealing with dealers and reps of small businesses, drawing the line (or not) on production studios and partners splitting shows.

We welcome your input in the comments below.

Many thanks to all of you who are not only taking care of your own business, but also willing to donate your time to improve conditions for everyone at the nation's juried fine art fairs. I appreciate all the input I've received from so many of you.

If you are interested in this topic, please listen to it here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2012/07/05/buysell-what-art-fair-promoters-artists-can-do-about-it

Between the three of us speaking (Carroll Swayze, an art fair artist for over 40 years, Carolyn Edlund who has spent her entire career in creating and administrating in the arts and myself, who didn't get involved until I was 40 years old but am trying to make up for lost time) we have over 100 years of experience in the business. Amazing!

A quickie look at where you can find more information about protecting the shows from buy/sell and places to go to look for more:

• NAIA - (National Association of Independent Artists) has an FAQ page where you can read what many show directors do to combat buy/sell at their events.
  
  
• Alibaba.com - a global trade website where you can query suspected imported goods
  
  
• Manta.com - a resource where you can find information about corporations large and small, e.g., # of employees, Dun and Bradstreet ratings, etc.
  
  
• Take a look at an excellent prospectus that keeps buy/sell out of the Buyers Market of American Craft
  
• All businesses must be registered in the states where they are headquartered, so if you go to a .gov for any state you can track down details on that business.
  
  My thanks to glass blower Tom Michael who unearthed this information for me. Where to find it in Michigan: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/sr_corp.asp. He also and tipped me off on the "glow in the dark jelly fish paperweights" at Alibaba.com
  
  
• Thanks to the lawyers who were willing to talk to me on July 4 for their opinions about the legal issues. The opinion is that the handling of buy/sell at each event is pretty much up to the individual jurisdiction of that show and as many of you have said all along it is up to the show to enforce -- but you'll find lots of tips for what artists can do to help the process along.
  
  
• Consensus best advice: "boots on the ground", visit art fairs, keep your eyes open, know your neighbors, don't jump to conclusions but know what is out there

Do you love ArtFairInsiders.com? Do you check in regularly for information, support or a good laugh? You are not alone!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Happy Birthday Celebration Show on May 23 at 6 pm ET.

Wednesday, May 23, at 6 pm ET, Connie and her son Scott will be hosting the birthday party show, talking about the art fair business and sharing insider secrets, "What Show Directors Don't Want You to Know". Call in live with your questions and wish Connie and AFI a happy birthday.

You can listen here and call in:  (805) 243-1338

Connie and Scott will be deciphering how to make a living at the nation's fine art fairs and discussing these important life questions:

• I was blackballed at my favorite show
• That show director hates me
• Someone has to die before I can get into Old Town
• Why sleeping in your van might not be a good idea
• What your art fair neighbor really thinks about you

We'll also be drawing names to award the great prizesdonated to us by our friends: free art fair booths, free consulting, Amazon gift card, paintings, fine crafts, jewelry, books, etc...

If you haven't pledged yet (pledges start at only $12) do it now to be entered in the drawing!

Here's the best part. This will be live and we want you to call us, tell us your art fair stories and ask your questions and give a shout out to your favorite parts of our business.

As part of our Birthday Party Pledge Drive we are hosting a special podcast on Tuesday, May 15 at 4:30 pm ET.

Listen Here.

Connie will talk with Wendy Rosen, whose Rosen Group developed the first nationwide wholesale marketplace for craftsmen, The Buyer's Market of American Craft. Wendy has a wide ranging background in the fine art and craft business and has been a passionate spokesman for Made in America crafts. And now she is running for Congress in Maryland!

Please join us for this "sure to be" interesting conversation. We'll have lots to talk about including how you can get involved and help get Arts issues in front of Congress.  Learn more.

If you have questions you'd like me to ask Wendy please add them in the comments below or email me.

A few days ago I spoke with Wendy Rosen, best known to this community as the founder of the Buyer's Market of American Craft. Wendy has been a fixture in this business for over 30 years most specifically focusing on the marketing aspect. The Buyer's Market, her magazines (Niche and American Style), her educational arm, the Arts Business Alliance, all are part of her big soapbox for the creative community.

It was a wide ranging conversation including

• solid tips for better sales at the shows
• ideas on how to launch a business that grows
• the economic importance of creativity
• her campaign for American made goods and strengthening our trade laws
• interacting with salespeople in the Bright Angel giftshop and asking for American made souvenirs and where they were found
• picketing for 1st Amendment rights at the gift shops at the national parks and protesting
• launching her Congressional campaign and how she plans to find herself in Congress
• how you can learn more and support these initiatives for a career that she calls "scary, fun and wonderful."

Listen here: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/artfairpodcasts

And download it at iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/art-fair-artists-success-show/id440759328

If you like it -- then at iTunes there is a place where you can "rate" it. Clear at the bottom of the page. Hope you do!

On March 15 at 6 pm ET I'll be talking with three artists who had solid success jurying into the top art fairs in 2011. We'll talk about:

• their backgrounds
• jury images
• favorite shows
• the big (or not so big) payoff
• how is 2012 shaping up

Artists:

1. Kathrine Allen-Coleman, a painter from Georgia who participated in Coconut Grove, Reston, Old Town, Columbus, Des Moines, Ann Arbor Street Art Fair and more
2. Andrew Shea, a glass blower from Minnesota who was in Belleville, Old Town, Des Moines, Madison, Uptown, Port Clinton, Saint Louis and more
3. Bruce Reinfeld, a photographer from Philadelpia who was Columbus, Des Moines, Cherry Creek, Plaza and more

Catch this podcast live right here at 6 pm.

If you can't join us at that time the recording will be available at this link for download: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/artfairpodcasts

Do you have questions you'd like me to ask them? Please leave them in the comments.

Join us live on Thursday, April 19 at 1 pm EST, as Connie speaks with Bonnie Blandford, a Michigan jeweler, and Carla Fox, an Oregon jeweler, as they talk about their experiences developing and running art shows for their peers in the art fair business.

Connie Mettler talks with Cindy Lerick, director of the Saint Louis Art Fair and Stephen King, director of the Des Moines Arts Festival.

What we'll be talking about:

• Their background
• Mission of their events
• What is a non-profit and where does the money go?
• How do they decide on a booth fee?
• Jury information
• How they pick jurors
• What the jurors are asked to do
• How about that booth shot?
• much more...

This will be live and we may be able to take questions. But if you have a question you would like me to ask them please comment below or email me: info@artfaircalendar.com.

At 5 pm Eastern time click on this link to listen live: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/artfairpodcasts

If you can't make this appointment the podcast will be available at that link any time.

Please enjoy the first episode of our new Art Fair Artists' Success Show podcast. 

The premiere episode, "Online Marketing for Artists 101," features an interview with Scott Fox, my son, author, Internet marketing expert and host of his own community that encourages online entrepreneurs, www.ClickMillionaires.com.

Scott has been instrumental in the birthing of my websites and grew up in the art fair business, working for us (my husband Norm Darwish is a photographer), and learning the art fair business by attending more art fairs than he ever hoped to attend.  His inside perspective makes this interview even more compelling and useful to artists.

Listen to the episode here online by clicking on the player widget below.

If you can't see the player widget above, click here to visit the show page at BlogTalkRadio.com.

Click here to download a free MP3 of this podcast to take it with you when you are traveling and share it with your friends. (Right click - Save As to save a copy to your PC's hard drive.)

Listen to this free podcast to learn:

• tips on cheap and easy website building
• email marketing strategies
• building your online "social media" presence
• the online asset artists can build as an "electronic retirement plan"

Many thanks to presenting sponsor EntryThingy.com and FrameDestinations.com for sponsoring this podcast.

This is the first in a planned continuing series of podcasts about the art fair business.

Episode 2 will be a discussion with Amy Amdur and Howard Alan in December.  Please click here to email me your questions for Howard and Amy.

Please click below to "like" and "share" and "+1" this podcast
if you'd like to hear more like it?

Last week I spoke with Chris Lake, managing director of ArtsyHome.com, the online presence of Distinctive Living magazine, an online venue that connects buyers with artists.

This is a one of a kind business proposition -- no other online gallery also is part of a business with a print magazine that has a distribution to over 2,000,000 upscale customers.

Don't want to put up a website? You can log in with them and they will host your images and handle sales for you also. Learn more: www.artfairinsiders.com/artfairpodcasts

This summer art fair season, local media in all the art fair towns are likely looking to interview artists like you. In fact, people who host radio shows, podcasts, and TV talk shows are always searching for guests to interview on their programs. They have to fill all those minutes on the air!

As an artist you have interesting expertise and stories just waiting to be tapped. In addition, I know many of you are experts in other areas as well.

If you are an expert artist who would like to be interviewed by the media RadioGuestList.com may be a good place for you to get some free publicity for yourself and your art.

RadioGuestList.com is the #1 free radio guest, podcast, and talk radio interview booking service online.

Its "Guest Request" emails are free and they'll arrive in your mailbox daily with interview guest requests from Radio Guest List's thousands of talk show hosts and producers who are looking for guests.

Why not subscribe now? Learn more and subscribe here: http://www.radioguestlist.com/radio-talk-show-guests.html