Anyone selling prints at fairs, etc.?

[Horatio]

I was unsure where to post this thread, so please forgive me if it is in the wrong forum. I've long had the desire to make and sell prints at arts and crafts festivals, etc., and was curious as to whether anyone else has tried this approach. There is a weekly event nearby that I might try when I've retired from my profession. Any insights and tips would be appreciated!

I'm not expecting to get rich doing this, by any means. Just as a way to fund my avocation.

 

[Robert Ley]

I did outdoor art festivals for about 25 years and loved doing the shows and talking to the people that would come into my booth. My best advice to you is to go to as many shows this summer as you can. Sunshine Artist is a publication that lists all the Art Festivals in the country and gives all contact info for the shows as well as reader reviews. Go to shows and talk with fellow photographers about their experience doing shows, just don't try to corner them when they are busy At minimum you will need a mat cutter, someway to mount the print and either a shrink wrapper or clear plastic bags to cover and protect the prints. The more you can produce yourself the more money you make.

 

[Horatio]

I did outdoor art festivals for about 25 years and loved doing the shows and talking to the people that would come into my booth. My best advice to you is to go to as many shows this summer as you can. Sunshine Artist is a publication that lists all the Art Festivals in the country and gives all contact info for the shows as well as reader reviews. Go to shows and talk with fellow photographers about their experience doing shows, just don't try to corner them when they are busy At minimum you will need a mat cutter, someway to mount the print and either a shrink wrapper or clear plastic bags to cover and protect the prints. The more you can produce yourself the more money you make.

Thanks Robert. My wife worked in a fine art frame shop just out of college, so I have some help available with matting, etc.

 

[fdi]

You might check out this website for more info about art shows and fairs

Home

Art fair network for artists exhibiting at juried fine art fairs and art festivals. Info on best craft shows, call for artists nationwide.

www.artfairinsiders.com

Also if you plan to transport framed work between shows my company partnered with photo journalist Andrew Darlow to manufacture the GalleryPouch just for this purpose: https://www.framedestination.com/ctg/photo-storage/gallery-pouch.html

 

[jeffreyg]

Horatio
Best of luck and have fun. Just a funny aside: a number of years ago I was wandering around one of the most popular art fairs held here at the U of M. I came across a friend who was a very good photographer. He used the finest equipment, had a fully equipped darkroom that he never used and had all his film and prints done in one of the top professional labs in town. All his prints were professionally mounted and framed. This was before digital. We were just chatting at his booth when a lady who was looking at his prints asked him if he did photography for a living. After a long day sitting with no sales his answer was “if I did this for a living, I would be skinny!”

 

[GregY]

Horatio
Best of luck and have fun. Just a funny aside: a number of years ago I was wandering around one of the most popular art fairs held here at the U of M. I came across a friend who was a very good photographer. He used the finest equipment, had a fully equipped darkroom that he never used and had all his film and prints done in one of the top professional labs in town. All his prints were professionally mounted and framed. This was before digital. We were just chatting at his booth when a lady who was looking at his prints asked him if he did photography for a living. After a long day sitting with no sales his answer was “if I did this for a living, I would be skinny!”

Ever more skinny with the current price of enlarging paper and matt board.....

 

[xkaes]

Good luck. Do it only if you'll be satisfied not selling anything -- because that's always a possibility. Digital cameras have convinced a lot of people that they can be "photographers". Plus, even when someone is interested in a print, they'll want it in a different size, in a different frame or matt (or unframed), a different price, etc.

I always found the most fun was at the end of the day -- when the agent from the County would come by as I was packing up -- and not believing me when I told them I hadn't sold anything, and they would not believe me. They were there to collect taxes. No kidding.

 

[Horatio]

Good luck. Do it only if you'll be satisfied not selling anything -- because that's always a possibility. Digital cameras have convinced a lot of people that they can be "photographers". Plus, even when someone is interested in a print, they'll want it in a different size, in a different frame or matt (or unframed), a different price, etc.

I always found the most fun was at the end of the day -- when the agent from the County would come by as I was packing up -- and not believing me when I told them I hadn't sold anything, and they would not believe me. They were there to collect taxes. No kidding.

I won’t quit my day job. ;-)

 

[snusmumriken]

Yeah, I think trade can be pretty slow :

 

[xkaes]

That photo brings back memories.

In retrospect, I'd rather go fishing -- and I hate fishing.

 

[Horatio]

That photo brings back memories.

In retrospect, I'd rather go fishing -- and I hate fishing.

 

[GregY]

That photo brings back memories.

In retrospect, I'd rather go fishing -- and I hate fishing.