My quarter's worth -
1. First, get your P's & Q's straightened out. You state a budget of $100 max per show fees, yet you speak of applying to high end art shows far, far away. The two just ain't gonna happen in the same universe. You're going to need to tweak your budget a little if you ever expect to realize ANY other shows than what you're currently doing, but particularly high end shows several hundred miles away. If you can't adjust your budget, then lower your acceptance range of shows.
2. Going from fire hall shows to Coconut Grove is like going from little league baseball to the major leagues in one leap. Don't bet your limited budget on that one happening either. There are many levels of shows in between. Find some better shows in your area that are better than your fire hall and high school shows, and start there. Still, you can expect to invest more than $100 per show - no way to get around that one.
3. You seem to have a misguided opinion of "craft" shows. Even on this forum, you will often find advice trying to steer you away from anything other than "art" shows. I'm not buying it, and I suggest you don't either. There are many, many good craft shows abounding where photographers do well. My best two shows just about every year are both craft events (300+ booths). Here in Middle Tennessee, and for a 200 mile radius, "art" shows are just about non-existent, and those that do exist are far less profitable than the larger craft shows, other than the St James Court in Louisville, 3 hours away, but extremely difficult to be accepted.
In fact, in your area (Maryland I believe, as I did visit your site), there are a few very competent promoters of indoor craft shows where you would not need a tent, but you would need an adequate lighting system. Three that come to mind are Gilmore, Huff, and Sugarloaf. I highly recommend the first two. Sugarloaf tends to be quite expensive in their booth fees. Each of these promoters offers a slew of shows year round, and could keep you busy full time, or with filler shows assuming you can be juried in.
4. Be careful as to what all you offer for sale. You can quickly overdo the financial investment in stock by offering too many sizes, and too many derivations of framed, matted, canvas, and metal prints, etc. To begin with, choose a couple of well-spaced sizes in loose or matted prints, and a moderate sized version of something ready-to-hang on your walls.
With some experience and sales behind you, you can adjust and modify what you offer without draining your piggy bank (too much).
Michael H. Cothran
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