Local art shows good place to display talents

Many artists and crafters have a common trait. They like to participate in arts and crafts shows, show off their creative products and perhaps make some money in the process. Local arts and crafts shows are an excellent way for photographers and others to break into the commercial market.

The experience of displaying and selling photographs at an art show can be a fun and even an addicting time. Meeting people who want to talk photography, commenting on the photos and buying one provides the ultimate compliment.

Selling photographs at any commercial level is not for the fainthearted. You do have to believe in your art and yourself. The competition is intense. It’s not unusual to find eight or 10 other photographers selling at one show. So before you jump into the fray, check out some photographer booths at local art shows.

You will discover that each booth is unique in the way the photographers display their art. The tent walls are made to support numerous photos using panels that are bought commercially covered with some elegant fabric or at the other end of the scale, and less expensive, there may be someone who has built their own walls with wood framing and wire mesh. Rain protection, sun exposure, and wind security all should be investigated.

Tables are set up for boxes of unframed matted prints. Photo greeting cards may be displayed in their own racks. Photographs can be large or quite small. Take note of the various prices offered which will help you determine your own reasonable and competitive rates.

As you travel around the show ask questions: Where did you buy your tent, what shows in the area should a new photographer enter, who do you contact to enter this show, what is the booth fee, where do you buy your protective photo plastic pouches, where do you buy your mats or do you cut your own, how do you mount them and who is your photo processor?

If you choose a busy time when others are in the process of buying and ordering photographs your questions will likely be politely or not so politely brushed off. But at a down time like just after the show starts in the morning, near closing time or at some other slow time most photographers are very willing to give advice. Just stay out of the way if a prospective customer comes in.

Once the decision is made to enter an arts and crafts show, some serious preparations making an inventory of items to sell has to be undertaken.

This project cannot be taken lightly because it requires a large amount of your time and money. It is surprising how many photographs are required to provide a reasonable display in a 10-by-10 foot tent. Also assuming that there are some sales, more photographs are required for replacements. However be prudent with making a large number of your favorite photographs. It is extremely hard to outguess what patrons are going to be interested in. Go into your first show with your best photos as a test to see what sells. Do provide a title and sign each piece.

Entering shows can be a somewhat complicated business proposition.

Locate the sponsors, whose name and phone or e-mail address often can be found at the local chamber of commerce. Most show registration deadlines are at least several months in advance of the opening date.

It may be juried or not. Nonjuried shows usually just require the registration fee with an application. Make sure to make a copy of anything that is mailed in. Juried shows require slides or more often a CD of several images of your work, a photo of your booth and sometimes a photo of you working with your photos.

Each show has its own entry requirements. Sometimes an application fee is required to review your submitted entries. .

The actual set up of the booth is a more physical task than first-timers expect. Often the tent, walls, tables and boxes of framed photos have to be carried some distance from the vehicle. For that reason light-weight walls and tables come in handy.

Beforehand, decide on a means of giving a customer a receipt, accepting credit cards, and bags for the merchandise. It may seem that accepting credit/debit cards is just another expense but sales can be increased by one third or more by accepting plastic.

During the show be friendly and accessible. Customers don’t want a hard sell. Just answer questions and act like you’re interested. If you have a romantic image of sitting in a booth for a weekend taking in lots of money, staying in motels and hotels while eating out, it just won’t happen at first or perhaps never.

Finding a way of making your display and product unique is a good idea.

It will set your work apart from the rest of the pack. My photos are all taken outdoors. I make my own weathered wood frames to display them in. The rustic look complements many northwest cabins and rustic log homes of customers that buy from me. I have found my niche and distinctive look.

Like almost all successful ventures, entering an arts and crafts show requires hard work, good planning, persistence, a sense of humor and a great product. No matter what the product is that you want to sell this may be the time for you to jump in and just do it.