What Is Your Typical Art Fair Display?

I have been doing a lot of art shows this year and have been surprised at the success I've had selling my images, considering the economy and all. Here's a little bit of information about my display..

My typical setup consists of a FIRST-UP tent with a four piece framed lattice display (home-made) that is used to hang my framed pieces from. Each display consists of two hinged panels that can be hinged together to create one large display. To anchor my tent to the ground I use large tieout stakes made for dogs, the ones that screw into the ground, and then use rachet straps to secure it. Simple, cheap, and very portable unlike large cement filled PVC pipes. The only downfall to these is if you are set up on pavement of course.

I have a fold up table that I cover with a black cloth with two seperate bins for displaying different sized matted prints, 11x14" and 16x20". I stuck to these two common sizes because obtaining frames for them is easy. On this table I display my Bio sheet along with a magazine or two showing some of my published images.

I also make my own frames, very rustic looking and nice for log homes/cabins/camps which a lot of people own here in the Adirondacks. I think this tends to give me an edge over the competition at these shows. Since I have very little overhead as far as framing goes I am able to offer my framed pieces at pretty reasonable prices.

There you have it, my total display (including tent) cost me around $260. Fairly simple and inexpensive but looks quite professional when set up. At the last show I did there was another photographer with an expensive craft hut tent and all sorts of pro panels for displaying his framed pieces, he was complaining about not selling anything and was talking about going out of business. A quick check of his prices and I could see why. He easily had over $2500 in display setup, which would be OK if your actually selling your artwork on a regular basis. For me art shows is a new endeavor and I wanted to get away as cheap as possible just in case it turned out to be a failure. Someday I may invest in a better display but for now mine is working just fine. I honestly believe that if people like your stuff they aren't going to care about how fancy your display is.

What is your typical Art Fair display?

Zack, I'm only just thinking about going into selling this way so I haven't anything to add except to say thanks very much for so generously sharing this information.

I would like to offer a word of caution to those who do art shows in windy areas. The inexpensive tents/canopies don't hold up. They can twist and collapse.

I am no longer physically able to put up and take down an art show but the one I used to do locally was always held in the highest temperatures of the summer. High temps meant bad wind, rain along with thunder and lightning to follow. Every year several participants lost their displays along with their work.

That only has to happen once before the exhibitor realizes the value of a more expensive tent.

Eleanor, thanks for mentioning that, luckily I don't live in one of those windy areas.

My tent did hold up however (granted it was staked down using the stakes mentioned above) to some pretty intense wind gusts at one of the shows I did this year while others took to the air and smashed to pieces. Im assuming they used just the tent stakes that came with the thing, not a good idea.

Zack,
Glad to hear your first show was a success. I think you made a wise short term decision to go as inexpensively as possible with the display until you see how the public accepts your work. However, in the long term you are taking a huge risk. Case in point. At the Wickford festival (A highly rated show in Rhode Island) I saw easy up canopies collapse due to heavy rain in each of the past two years. The sad thing was one artist had purchased mesh panels to fit his EZ-UP, and given that the value of the display panels exceeds the cost of the tent, it can happen again unless he is very careful. He was also EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to have a neighbor who carried around a spare and was willing to offer it. Had the artist not been able to borrow a similar canopy which his neighbor just happened to carry along, his show would have been totally ruined as the rain came on Friday night after we had all set up. His art was painted on wood and was not trashed. Had it been matted and framed photographs, I will guarantee you the loss (on a retail sales basis) would have exceeded the cost of a good canopy.

I am not familiar with the First Up canopy, but, if it mimics an EZ-UP putting some sort of hoop in the corners will go a long way toward keeping water from pooling and bringing the canopy down. Many use foam noodles which you can get at Toy R Us. Back in my EZ-UP days I affixed hula hoop halves in each corner, as they are stronger than the noodles, and I survived. Sooner or later though I suspect you will find value in a good canopy such as the Light Dome or Trimline.

I use the Trimline products from Flourish, and yes, the total package exceeds $2K. However I purchased the option of setting up 10 x10 or 10x15. With the awnings I can get an effective 10x20 display area which allows me to display twice as much. I am thoroughly convinced that larger displays attract more customers, give them more options, and result in greater sales. As I can't see what your racks look like I cannot comment on them. Pro Panels, while nice, are way too expensive and heavy for me. I have gone to mesh walls which are easier on my older back and quicker to set up. A good basic 10x10 is around $900.

BE aware though, that a nice looking display is not just for the customers, juries at better shows look at displays with a critical eye. You are right about stakes being useless on concrete. Some shows where set up is on grass also prohibit them because of underground sprinkler systems.

Hey Larry, thanks for the advice. I will try the hoop idea if I'm ever going to do a show in the pouring rain. Earlier this year at a show it downpoured the entire time and luckily my canopy didn't pool, it did however have a slight drip near the center which was annoying. I guess I need to seam seal it.

I forgot to mention that a friend of mine who makes unique lamps and things out of antlers also sets up with me quite often. Our stuff seems to work well together and also attracts a larger audience. He's got a 10x15' tent and usually we put his tent and my tent together to make a 10x25' display. Like you said, I think this larger display also helps to attract customers.

Zack, I agree with the others, that although nice to save the money over the expensive tents, it's well known in the art show business that those EZ UPs are also known as EZdowns. I hate being next to any EZ-UP when I see a storm coming, as all to many have crumpled and in many cases landed on other artist tents who paid good money for those expensive tents so they could protect their art from bad weather, not from other artist flying cheap tents. I've been in this for six years and have done as many as twenty five shows in a year, and you will run into some nasty storms, and I have seen tons of EZ-UPs destroyed and helped many artist when water was pouring through those cheap tops and ruining their art. I have to much invested in what's inside the tent to surround it with the cheapest tent on the market. I will say that if you did buy a top quality tent, and decided that the shows where not working out and you wanted to sell the tent, you would recoup most of your money, as used tents are hard to find and selling used for not much less then the price of a new one. Take a lesson from the three little pigs, build your house with bricks when the big bad wolf come calling. Good luck and hope you do well at your shows.

I've been doing shows for about 7 years now. I started much like you - home made panels, tables, etc - but over time spent a lot of money upgrading my booth. I use a Light Dome and Pro Panels, along with a few other things. I agree with the others, EZ UP style canopies are great....until the unexpected storm comes. They don't stand a chance against high winds or torrential downpours. It's tough to help/watch an artist pick up the pieces after a storm ravages their booth....
A lot of my artist friends are struggling at shows this year, so it's nice to hear you are doing well with sales.