Becoming a Street Fair Artist – Beth Erlund (35 yr veteran of the professional art world)
Start at least 6 months in advance, more likely the year before
Obtain a Sales tax license for Colorado. May be necessary to obtain license in other states also. These
licenses allow you to buy your supplies without paying sales tax. Most artists file quarterly sales
tax but you may be required to file more frequently depending on how much you sell.
Begin to build a cohesive body of work, focus on what you like to do and are best at executing
Photograph most work for record but especially the best pieces (4 -5)
Using photoshop save original image, altered image, and resized image (1920 x 1920)
Make a booth slide using some of these pieces and add a few more, borrow or rent canopy and
panels or displays if you don’t have it all. Try not to use tables with loose table cloths
Keep booth image simple, like gallery presentation, not necessary to show lots of bins or bread
and butter items
Applying to Shows
Zapplication.org, Juriedartservices.com, and EntryThingy.com(online services)
Make free account and download portfolio of work
Look for shows based on area and timing. Systems allow searches by regions, states or
cities and also by names of shows and by dates. Looking at all these sites’ Event
Calendars you can see what shows are happening during a specific month and also
deadlines.
Sources for information on shows: Other artists, Art Fair Source Book and Sunshine Artists
Join blogs like Facebook’s Art Fair Review, Art Girls, etc to ask questions
Other ways to find shows: google cities or specific shows
Once you decide, fill out application and pay the jury fee (really an administration fee charged by the
show). All online services will keep track of what shows you have entered and paid for.
Acceptance or Rejection or Wait list
Most acceptances come via email but you can also check on the individual online service
account
Acceptance – read individual show procedures, pay booth fees, make note on calendar
Rejection – it happens! If too much re-evaluate images or even show. It may not be your kind
of show and the juries that they use are not tuned to your style of art
Wait list – if feasible to stay on list then do, if not then let show know. Some artists call the last
week to see how good the chances are but know that the director may not know until the end.
Obtaining a display -The more professional the better
Canopy (after purchase, set it up at home at least once to work out details)
Flourish.com – Craft Hut ($1325) and Trimline ($900)
Lightdomecanopies.com ($900)
Have porches included when you buy if you want them, good for shade and rain
EZ Up ($300 – 500)
Inside of canopy
Graphicdisplay systems.com wire mesh ($80 for a 37” by 6’ panel)
Print rack 24” ($37)
Propanel.com (9 panel system with all accessories $1349 or $105 each)
Free standing print bin $185, hanging bin $60 – 80
Outdoor pedestals $130 -165
Shelving bracket and shelf $40
Shelving ladders (2) $150 plus $35 per shelf
Make or buy weights
Buy a dolly or cart to transport your art from vehicle to booth
Buy a chair (hollywoodchairs.com)
Make sure your vehicle will carry all that you need.
Put together a tool box that will have everything you might need to set up your booth, secure it
during the night, make any repairs to your work. We carry extra framing supplies, a hammer,
cordless drill, screwdriver, pliers and/or wirecutters, hooks to hang work, display equipment,
cable ties, bungee cords, clamps of various sizes, flashlight.
Make signage for your work. Most shows will provide a booth sign but you will need to put together an
artist statement. Most artists briefly list their technique, significant credits and their goals or
beliefs about their art. Also put your contact information including a website if you have one.
You can put a barcode on it to your site for customers to easily find you. You will most likely
need to produce a business card or brochure to give to customers. Some artists put them out in
their booth, others only give them out to those who ask and others to only those who buy.
Pricing signs need to be made either with stickers, Velcro labels, or group pricing signs
Obtain the Square (squareup.com) to use with tablet or phone
Easy to make a catalog of work to speed up sales process
Keep track of inventory sold and replenish as possible
Keep track of buyers through email or snail mail and build mailing lists of individual places. Good report
with buyers is important. They want to be special to you. Make notes after they leave your
booth if you need to for special comments about the individual customers.
Vehicle
Van, truck, car
Rental or buy
Flying to shows
Sleeping accomodations
Hotels
Hotels.com or other frequent stay cards
RV
Sleeping in your own bed and cooking your meals
Sleeping in van or camping
Tougher but cheaper, also need vehicle that can accommodate extra equipment
Tax benefits
Talk to accountant
Open a business bank account and have credit cards that are exclusive to business
Hotels 100%, food 50%, vehicle % of business use
Home studio square footage of total
Keep receipts and records of everything. Days on the road important
End of Day
Make art that you love and find places where the people who love it also live. Take it to them.
Special shows and Galleries as a supplement to build your reputation and provide extra money
during slow times
Time Line
Approximately one year out
Set up business both legally and financially (Taxes, vehicle)
One year to six months prior
Make art, photograph work, purchase booth stuff and begin to research shows
Six months
Apply to shows, put together schedule, keep calendar of applied to shows, deadlines for shows
and to pay booth fees
Four months
Receive acceptance/rejections, pay for booth, plan travel route, arrange hotel if needed, verify
your set up date and time
Put together a travel tool box for essential items
If flying, get tickets as soon as possible and arrange through hotel for boxes to be shipped, rent
vehicle
One month
Usually booth assignment is sent and map of site is available
Box and or wrap art as produced, waterproof containers if possible
Print brochures or business cards
Obtain wrapping material and/or bags/or boxes
Keep website up to date with schedule and booth number
Notify collectors via email, postcards, facebook, etc
Week of show
Plan food for travel and show if needed, bring extra water
Check weather to determine needed clothing, pack sunscreen
It is possible to hire help through Craig’s list to help with set up and tear down. If desired then
arrange that.
Get cash for making change at show ($100 usually will work), fanny pack or small purse worn all
the time or pocket the safest way to store. Otherwise, cash box that can be easily protected
Pack your credit card square, your chargers for your cell phone or tablet, brochures or cards
Load vehicle and then drive
Set up day
Arrive at assigned time. Remember some people will bring in very large vehicles that may block
your access to your booth. Allow yourself enough time to easily get your booth set if possible
Day of show
Arrive at least one hour before opening to get parked and be ready when time comes
Jewelers may need to be there earlier to put out work, most hanging art can be left up unless
storms are predicted or security is an issue. Glass and pottery may be laid down or reboxed if
necessary so will need to be unboxed for display
End of day – secure booth, put porches down, protect art as needed. Most shows provide basic
security
After show is over
During tear down, make sure your money, your purses, and all other valuables are secure as you
tear down. (Biggest time for theft)
Be considerate of others as you tear down. Be patient and as calm as possible. Everyone is
eager to get out of there.
Be safe. Remember that you will be tired and may not want to drive far after the tear down.
Make sure you pay your sales taxes in a timely fashion. Some states have huge penalties.
Final words: Evaluate the cost of doing the show versus how much you made. Are these people, your
people? Did the potential for good sales appear to be present, even if you did not make a lot this time?
Do you want to return? If so, what would you do differently? (booth location, timing of set up, parking,
hotel, bring better food, more water)
Talk to other artists about shows they do, where, is it possible to tie two or more shows together to
amortize the costs of travel, even sharing hotels