Vincent von Frese 25 Jun 2012

Art Fairs can pay big time.

Melissa Davies 28 Jun 2012

my goal is to have enough work and word of mouth to be in one. I want to build a little base of fan and inventory but I also have a couple people that are willing to do a booth together to split the cost.

Vincent von Frese 29 Jun 2012

You might get in on the art fair blogs which can hook you up with other artists who have something to say about their own experiences good and bad about shows. I for one am turned off by the low life vendors selling junk food at shows and who behave like the art show is just a money making opportunity for them only.....at the expense of art. The show organizers as well in many cases are treating artists who have qualified and paid to get in shows like numbers and of no other value as loud rap music screeches away reverting into a non-art buying mood for the public.

Melissa Davies 29 Jun 2012

Ah well thank god in Washington they blare Folk Music or 70s Rock haahaaaa. I have talked to quite a few of my artist friends that do the fairs here and they have said good stuff and bad but mostly good. As a starter I have no values except that I want to get my name out there a bit once I do that then I can turn my nose up a bit and stand for my beliefs until then let the Joni Mitchelle and hot dogs on a stick poison me

Vincent von Frese 29 Jun 2012

Good luck.

Tim Lincoln 07 Aug 2012

In Houston they are just an excuse to get drunk and show off how many tattoos you're sporting.

Art sales are not my primary income so I have the freedom to paint what comes from my heart.

When I sell a piece it's extremely rewarding,but I could never be a contract artist.

Gail Caduff-Nash 10 Aug 2012

I haven't done a lot of them but I've tried to pick ones that have real art at the core of them. And I haven't expected to win - largely because there's almost always a group of popular artists at the center who DO expect to win, and do, as they have networked a lot more. I've mostly wasted my time at these things.

Lajo Cymbalski 11 Aug 2012

All exposure is good. Art fairs can work if you learn how to use them. If it is too expensive to do it on your own then form a group and share the cost. Bring one of your best works and have framed prints of that work and some of your other winners. These will make you money and put a permenant ad of your work on their wall. Years ago one of my best producing displays with in the 1st class lounge of Air Canada. Art shows have a lot of tire kicks but there are some serious buyers who show. It is hard work to make things happen but there is no other way.

Vincent von Frese 30 Aug 2012

I do not see how else to promote one's art in reality then these public shows. Art galleries are too local and snooty in general but street and mall shows get the masses in.

Virtual online art fails to show me anything of value and most people feel this way as well.

Nothing is as strong an experience as the real thing in looking at art for me.

Vincent von Frese 20 Sep 2012

I have tried two shows and at a total cost of $225.00 for one and $ for the next one which was last week. In addition I'd purchased a show tent which cost $850.00. Also I build exhibit panels at a cost of $175.00. Now if you add gas the shows were within 100 miles I lost a lot of money and did not sell but one item and for only 20.00.

One thing I blame is false advertising from the cities promoting their shows. The each claimed around 80,00o visitors and 50-100 booths. Being a sucker I believed this.

Shellton Tremble 24 Sep 2012

Vincent, I am with you! I've done Air Fair for years and some on Zapplication (hand picked winners). The expense is NEVER rewarded. It takes a dedicated person to do shows. It is a LOT of hard work and money pit. Every show keeps saying thousand of thousands of buyers...but alas "window shoppers". I gave up two years ago after countless waisted efforts. I only concentrate on minimum cost or FREE events (commission to organizers or curator). I am glad I have a DAY job! I do my art whenever I can and whenever I can afford it. Art Festivals are a joke...The fees shouldn't be higher than $50, since the artists are the ones doing the show. Those $200 plus events is used to pay the expenses of the organizers...exploiting artists!!

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