OP here... I would say I want to move up because bigger is better. Logic that, as pointed out in these posts, is not well applied to this situation. This year we are moving to local ART shows in Maryland and just over the Pennsylvania line. I am thinking bigger for next year, perhaps foolishly, this year should tell me lots.
Lets get into the issues of stock. How much stock (sale price I suppose, or other measure if one is better) do you take into a show where the table fee is $100 vs. $800. How do you determine how many images make it into your portfolio of stuff?
For us, we make many images into matted 8x10s. The 12x16 and 16x20 are a more select few. We tend to carry one matted of each size and possible one framed in one of those sizes. How do you determine framed vs. matted numbers and do you limit the number of images you carry in larger sizes (and what does "larger" mean to you?)?
--- In artshow_photo@yahoogroups.com, "Grinder" <grinder12000@...> wrote:
>
> Well put - I'm moving up but certainly not to National shows - I'm moving up from Craft Fair Bake Sales to shows with only ART as the main title.
>
> My feeling is if you are new - small steps and keep learning - I dud 6 shows last year and every show I learned more and more and ever show I considered a success.
>
> I believe people underestimate the amount of "stock" you need. I'm always being told I need to get into national shows but WOW - those are WAY too expensive for me, not the fees but the amount of stock a person would need behind the curtain.
>
> I know I'm better then quite a few photographers I see at National shows but they have experience, which, unlike the Superbowl, is needed in Art Fairs.
>
> Rod M
>
>
> --- In artshow_photo@yahoogroups.com, "Kristopher Lyle" <krs62@> wrote:
> >
> > Here is some advice from someone that is where you are at..well actually a
> > little behind you..(but think I have a good business head on my shoulders.)
> > I would want to be able to be successful at the smaller shows first before I
> > target the biggies. What "successful" means to you may be different than
> > someone else, but certainly financial success would have to be a part of the
> > equation. Profits and experience gained from the smaller shows will feed
> > into your growth into the larger ones. So a question I would have for you
> > is why do you want to do a national show? Are you successful at the local
> > shows and want to take it to the next level, or are you struggling at the
> > local shows and think that the national ones is where the money is at?
> >
> >
> >
> > As others have said here, it is hard to get into the larger shows and I
> > suspect you will "waste" a lot of money on jury fees. This is where the
> > financial cushion would come in! I would be willing to bet that the larger
> > shows have 90-95% of the same artists coming back each year. (Whatever the
> > percentage is, I bet it's really high.) Therefore, it's going to be really
> > hard for a new artist to get in. I am sure they like everyone applying
> > though! (Perhaps even more so for a new photographer.) There are some
> > shows that I just won't apply to again for a few years..if at all.
> >
> >
> >
> > Do you have the booth and inventory to make national show worthwhile? Have
> > you seen a booth of top notch photographer that does nothing but that for a
> > living? Their booths are amazing! They have tons of stock. The other part
> > is logistics. Don't forget about the extra (and large) cost increase to
> > travel to a different state for many days to do a show. Fuel, meals, hotel,
> > etc. You probably will add another $1K in expenses to hit a show like this.
> > Maybe you should search for non-craft art shows that have a good track
> > record that are within a few hours drive? I would think that would be a
> > good next step before taking on a national one.
> >
> >
> >
> > KRS
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
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