The day before Hurricane Henri hit us, I had a booth at my very first art fair!
The weather was warm and soupy and I sweat more than I thought was possible, but it was a great experience! I met lots of people, had human contact (yay), and sold a few things too. It was surprisingly very ego boosting. So many people had kind things to say about my work. It was a balm to my soul.
If you're interested in all the details, I put together a vlog all about the experience and it's available now to Maker & Super Learner Members.
Here are a few things I learned:
- People looooove a bargain. My 1 card for $7 and 4 cards for $20 was a big hit. Almost everyone walked away with 4 cards. I also think it's a lot easier to make an impulse purchase of $20 rather than $350.
- Keep the booth simple and clean — not too many little things for people to look at. I think it's important to have some kind of large image to bring people in and then you need to help them to focus. I would have liked to have hung more art, but that wasn't possible this go around.
- To demo or not to demo? I had an area for demo, but people at this fair weren't really in the mood. I probably could have simply had some "tools of the trade" to use as talking points. On the other hand, one of the reasons I didn't get any demo in is because the crowds were pretty consistent and so there wasn't a lot of down time.
- I made it work with (mostly) stuff I already had. If I were to do shows regularly, some things I would invest in:
- A tall chair. I stood the whole time, but a tall chair that put me at eye level with the customer would have allowed for some sitting, which my feet would have appreciated. This one even has a little table and some storage pockets attached.
- A print rack. I made a DIY print rack, but I think when you're selling more expensive pieces, it's nice to have professional surroundings.
- Wooden boxes for display. I used milk crates (because I already owned them), but I think the booth would have been "cuter" with wooden boxes, like these, instead.
- Folding tables that fold in half. We tied the table to the top of the car and it was not my favorite driving experience. It made a terrible noise and I just worried the whole time. Tables that would fit inside the car, would be awesome.
- Grid wall or something similar to make hanging art in the booth easy.
- I liked my booth signage. I used white paint on black tar paper and I thought it looked great and was "on brand" for me. I definitely needed one more big sign that said: all work in the booth is original one-of-a-kind. I would also consider making some signs that explained the process a bit.
- I made two really good purchases before the art fair:
- I purchased table covers and they made the mismatched folding tables look great and were totally wind proof. For some reason, brown was half the price of white or black, so that's what I went with!
- I purchased a tent. I did a lot of research and I'm very pleased with the one I chose. It kept the sun off of my back and I didn't worry about a light rain. I know that I'll use it again — at another art fair or simply in my backyard.
- I should have spaced things slightly differently. People had to stand on top of each other to look through the bins. I should have spread them out more — and had two bins of cards instead of one. Or maybe a card shelf to really grab people's attention.
All in all, it was a great experience. I couldn't have done it without the assistance of my Mom and Steve. Between some serious baby wrangling and some sweaty physical labor, we got it done as a team! Yay!
If you're interested in purchasing a piece of art, I've released 10 of my favorite mixed media collages in my shop.
Have you done an art fair before? Any tips to offer?
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Congrats on your great experience. I sell cards with the local art group and purchased a spinning card rack. It is easy to display and sell them that way. I purchased mine at a local gift shop. They frequently receive racks with their card orders but don’t need them all. THey were happy to sell it to me.
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
Your booth looked great. When I visited a local arts fair I noticed several booths had battery powder fans. They hung from the “rafters” of their tents. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Hybrid Portable Fan(P3320) with P163 Lithium-Ion Battery(2.00Ah) and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMJSJK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9Q7ZQDQ5Q8G7FSNY060H
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
How fun to experience your first Art Fair, unfortunately, they are lots of work. Most don’t realize what it takes to get it all organized and set up. I used to help my daughter with booth sales at flea markets, craft fairs, etc. You are on the right track with getting all the right equipment. Everything needs to be portable, foldable and easy to handle. I like your canopy, with the back drop to shade the booth. If you have electric available to you…get a good box fan for your comfort in the booth. I like the plastic crates you have..easier to handle than wood ones. Put your items in totes, strap them to two-wheel dolly with bungie cords and move to your booth easier. I like the idea of a wagon also, something with the high sides. Hanging art is a good idea. Maybe a metal or wood grid rack or folding screen positioned to the back of the booth to draw more attention. Be sure you have business cards to give out. Never know when a future sale or commission can happen after the art fair.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I set up for no-charge 1 day event. I used pallets as a display. My husband created an A-frame shape with them then we covered them with black fabric on both sides. Cloths pins held the artwork in place. I also had a sign up sheet for anyone who was interested in learning more about my art (I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher). I only sold 1 physical item that day but I met a lot of people and made arrangements to teach several classes. A lot of work goes into showing at an event but it is an experience worth the time and effort.
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Julie, When I was selling my jewelry at art fairs, I had a folding table from Costco and my husband cut four pieces of PVC pipe to put under the legs to raise the table. That way customers didn’t have to bend over to look at the merchandise. I did have to make a skirted table cloth to hide the legs tho…
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!
Congratulations on your latest creative adventure!