Art Show Success: Tips to Help Make Your Show a Winner

There actually are hand-crafters who make their living doing art festivals and shows year-round. Then there are others who do a combination of online/in-person. Whether shows generate all or part of sales is up to each individual artist/crafter. But there are lots of them that make shows work, even under the most horrible conditions….rain, poor attendance, bad location……whatever it may be.  I’ve watched a number of different people – all in different mediums – over the years, and have found that regardless of what they create and sell, they all have some shared characteristics that contribute to their success.  I thought I would share my observations with you.

They All Have a Beautiful Display

No matter what it is, it is displayed beautifully.  There is no empty space in the booth.  It is colorful and at several different heights.  It’s an eye-catcher whether you’re 4 feet or 6 feet tall, young or old, interested in the items or not.  It’s just so hard to not stop and browse these displays.

They Are Incredibly Friendly

Even if you couldn’t be the less interested in that which is displayed, it’s hard not to stop and chat with someone wearing a huge and welcoming smile.  These successful folks are happy to talk about anything from the weather to – well – you name it….  just stay away from religion and politics!  Without exception, their warm and sincere smile makes it incredibly difficult not to stop.

 

They Never, Ever Get Tired of Talking About Their Work

I guarantee you that that there is rarely a question that hasn’t already been answered a thousand times, but these successful people will answer it a thousand times more with the same enthusiasm they had when they answered it for the first time.  It’s really hard not to fall in love with a piece that the creator is so incredibly fond of.

They Have Something at Every Price Point

Even if you have only a couple of dollars in your pocket, these successful folks will be happy to trade you an item for those greenbacks.  Knowing that these events draw a lot of families, these artists and craftsmen know that a lot of their customers may be kids with limited funds.  It seems they all have something nice that is priced in the $1-$2 range.

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I am certain that there are other things that successful artisans do to make their traveling shops successful.  But it’s hard to argue that the four things listed above wouldn’t be a wonderful foundation for your next show being a success!

Tags: art booth, art festival, attitude, booth setup, sell handmade, small business

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