Art Fairs
As the spring and summer months are quickly approaching and a new round of art fairs begin, I am taking some time to reflect on what I learned in the last year of art markets and to offer some tips and tricks to help you navigate if you are thinking about beginning.
My biggest take away is to simply start even before you think you are ready. It takes time to refine the process, but the sooner you begin, the sooner you will start to figure out what works best for you. If you are thinking about this path, don’t wait for perfection, aim for consistent progress.
Your first market will probably not be your best. You may also go home after your first market and have a good long cry (ahem). The truth is, that it can feel like a lot at first. The arts and craft fair circuit takes some getting use to. Remember that it’s a learning process and each fair provides valuable lessons.
Here I am at the Arbutus Festival of the Arts. It was a very windy day and things were flying! I only brought sand bags for my tent. Biggest take away from this day was to always bring weights for my stands too.
All and All this was a lovely day. I met some great people and made some great sales.
It’s important to know your target audience. Most often I find young adults tend to be drawn to my work so when I spent the weekend at a fair with a considerably older demographic, I didn’t get the same level of interest.
Even if that is the case, remember to network. Art fairs are excellent networking opportunities. Connect with fellow vendors, exchange information, and support each other. At that event, I met some fellow vendors who I still am in touch with today, we support and continue to promote each other on social media, and that’s pretty cool.
Supplies - I am going to do a separate post on this topic. This set up has been good to me, but there are a few things I would like to upgrade in the next year or so. Stay tuned for when I get into the nitty gritty of this topic.
It’s important to mention the Square App to collect payment with a credit card. It is very convenient and user friendly, highly recommend.
Variety of price points. I have been working on building up my print collection. Offering a variety of price points is a great idea. Not everyone is ready to invest in an original piece, so having prints or smaller items can attract a broader audience.
Here I am at a holiday market. This was a very low key and enjoyable event and one I hope to return to again next year.
My biggest take away at this event was to work on branding. This is a big one for me and always a work in progress. At the very least, get yourself a logo and some business cards. I order mine from Vista Print.
Don’t miss out on connecting with interested individuals. Remember to bring a sign-up sheet to collect emails from attendees who want to receive your newsletter. Building an email list allows you to nurture relationships and keep your audience informed about your latest work.
Prepare for all types of weather! Some events are Rain or Shine. This event was the Sykesville Art and Wine Festival and it rained the entire day. It actually ended up being a very lovely event despite the rain.
Here I am tucked away in my tent on a rainy festival day.
The best advice I ever got when I started this journey is to remember to enjoy it. This concept seems so simple, but starting any creative venture can feel overwhelming, and remembering to enjoy the process is essential.
Be a gracious host to those who visit your space -let them immerse themselves in your art. Their enjoyment will resonate with others.
Remember this all takes time and you will learn from each event you do, progress is key. Enjoy the process, connect with fellow artists, and keep refining your approach. With each event, you’ll improve your offerings, enhance your branding, and streamline your setup. Believe me you will learn something new and insightful each time and you will become more and more comfortable with the process.
The key is to start!
