Art Show strategies?

scolescole Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
edited June 5, 2008 in Mind Your Own Business
Some questions for those out there that participate in art shows...


Within the next year, I'll probably try my hand at selling my prints at an art show. From my searches, I found a website with a lot of good information but doesn't talk about some things I'm curious about. In no particular order...

How many of your portfolio photos do you typically bring to the show?
How many copies of each?

I realize you need to bring different sizes (and framed prints as well) for the different price points but I'm curious about HOW MUCH product I need to bring. I don't want to end up sold out too early and I don't want to take along more than I'd probably need.

Thanks in advance-

Steve
Steve Cole Photography: http://www.scolephoto.com
Blog: http://blog.scolephoto.com

Comments

  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,949 moderator
    edited June 5, 2008
    You could always take orders and then print only what you need and you'd be
    able to easily offer different sizes as well.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • bhambham Registered Users Posts: 1,303 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2008
    scole wrote:
    Some questions for those out there that participate in art shows...


    Within the next year, I'll probably try my hand at selling my prints at an art show. From my searches, I found a website with a lot of good information but doesn't talk about some things I'm curious about. In no particular order...

    How many of your portfolio photos do you typically bring to the show?
    How many copies of each?

    I realize you need to bring different sizes (and framed prints as well) for the different price points but I'm curious about HOW MUCH product I need to bring. I don't want to end up sold out too early and I don't want to take along more than I'd probably need.

    Thanks in advance-

    Steve

    I can't get the link you posted to work.
    "A photo is like a hamburger. You can get one from McDonalds for $1, one from Chili's for $5, or one from Ruth's Chris for $15. You usually get what you pay for, but don't expect a Ruth's Chris burger at a McDonalds price, if you want that, go cook it yourself." - me
  • scolescole Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2008
    bham wrote:
    I can't get the link you posted to work.

    Sorry, here's that link again:

    http://www.artshowphoto.com/pages/artshowphotography.htm
    Steve Cole Photography: http://www.scolephoto.com
    Blog: http://blog.scolephoto.com
  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2008
    scole wrote:
    Some questions for those out there that participate in art shows...


    Within the next year, I'll probably try my hand at selling my prints at an art show. From my searches, I found a website with a lot of good information but doesn't talk about some things I'm curious about. In no particular order...

    How many of your portfolio photos do you typically bring to the show?
    How many copies of each?

    I realize you need to bring different sizes (and framed prints as well) for the different price points but I'm curious about HOW MUCH product I need to bring. I don't want to end up sold out too early and I don't want to take along more than I'd probably need.

    Thanks in advance-

    Steve

    Basically if you don't take more than you can sell you will have too little. people at art shows don't want to order work, they want to get it now on the spot. If it's not there, you won't sell it.

    As for exactly how much, that will always be a moving target.

    Sam

    Sam
    www.samlinvillephotography.com
  • Bill_MBill_M Registered Users Posts: 119 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2008
    scole wrote:
    I realize you need to bring different sizes (and framed prints as well) for the different price points but I'm curious about HOW MUCH product I need to bring. I don't want to end up sold out too early and I don't want to take along more than I'd probably need.

    Thanks in advance-

    Steve

    My advice, you WILL need to bring more than you need, a lot more in fact.
    As a general rule of thumb, plan to sell 10x your booth fee. Often you'll sell less, occasionally you'll sell more, but this will give you a guideline for planning your inventory/pricing.

    To use simple math, say you're doing a show with a $100 booth fee. Plan to sell $1k, but for inventory purposes, bring at least $2k of work.

    Framed prints are great for booth visibility, but they don't sell as well as matted.

    Good luck...
    Bill
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