Survival Tactics – The Basics – Getting Shows part 2

This is the second half of my first Getting Shows post where I talked about approaching local businesses as a starting point for getting higher end shows.

Hustling for shows on the street is one way of getting your work out in the open.  Even if you don’t get any shows you’re still gaining experience and learning about your art in the process.  When you aren’t looking for shows going door to door you should be looking in your local newspaper and searching for local art spaces on the web.  What you are looking for are artist collectives, artist associations, galleries, calls for artists, competitions, juried shows, art fairs, etc.

Milwaukee has a great email network called MARN where local artists can communicate, share news and opportunities.  Your city might have something similar to this and if it means spending $25 on a membership it is definitely worth it.  Artist collectives often have similar ways of collecting and distributing art news and opportunities.  You might not get any shows out of this, but perhaps you’ll score a commission, or meet inspiring artists.  Being an artist you must think like a wolf and join some sort of pack even if you prefer to remain on the fringes.  Artists communities are necessary for any sort of financial success.

I won’t talk much about getting into galleries as I’ve only had one solo show at a local gallery and don’t feel knowledgeable enough on acquiring shows at higher end locations.  Street festivals and art fairs I know about however and they can be a great way to make lots of sales and get critical feedback on your work.

Street Festivals and Art Fairs

Look on the web, in newspapers, and ask people questions who are selling their art at these types of events to learn how to get in on this type of art market.  Normally there is a fee to reserve a space as well as a Sellers Permit required by your state.  I don’t know about other states but in Wisconsin it is $20, very affordable.  Costs range from $15 at a small farmers market to $300+ for higher end Art Fairs.

Before filling out an application to any of these events be sure to scout them out first. How do people display their work? What sorts of prices are they charging and how are other viewers responding to each artist?  You can prevent a lot mistakes like applying to a crappy market or coming to an event unprepared.  In Milwaukee for example the wind is rather fierce and not factoring in the wind can be disastrous even harmful to your artwork let alone your sales.

Seriously plan out your display and your product.  If you are serious about attending many out-door events then I highly suggest purchasing a 10′ x 10′ EZ-Up tent.  I bought mine for $100.00 at a farm and fleet and it has served me well on many occasions.  Portable walls to display 2D work work great but are expensive.  Find innovative ways to hang your work in a way that is attractive.  If you’re on a low budget you are going to have to get creative with your display.  Will you have tables? Easels with your work on them?  Prints of your work are an extremely good idea as they are more affordable to the average consumer and easier to store/carry/package up for buyers.  If you are selling original work how will you get it to the event?  I among many other artists don’t have a car so either find a friend who does or plan your display to be SUPER light weight.  Public transit or biking has served me well, but seriously limits the size of a display.

If your work is 3d consider the surfaces you will be displaying your work on.  Will it hang? From what?

How will the buyer take his/her new purchase home? What sorts of payment will you accept?  Do you have a sign listing prices of objects or do you want them to remain unlisted and wait for the consumer to ask?  These are the types of logistical questions you must ask yourself before considering these types of events.

Another way of selling at these events is without any sort of permits or fees, just showing up and hustling your work, perhaps from a portfolio with a bunch of  prints or laying out a cloth and propping up framed artworks for sale (this tactic worked much better for me at the Madison Farmers Market than spending hundreds of dollars on permits and equipment to show with the rest of the artists.  Yes it is illegal, but you have less to lose and it is much cheaper this way.  Be cautious not to piss off the other artists who did pay or get caught by fair monitors).

Get creative and always ask vendors about their experience selling their art.  They will have many tips that will save you trouble down the road.  Shows like these many not be glamorous, but you are guaranteed to get more honest feedback about your work than any gallery can offer.  Average people will tell you how they feel about their art either with their body language or actual words.  Customer service and honesty on your part is vital to being successful. Treat each viewer with respect and learn to accept failed sales.  Have fun while you’re at it, treat each show like you’re at the MOMA and you’re bound to sell some work.

Good luck!

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Survival Tactics – Phase 2 – Spreading the Word

Some people like it rough, others prefer things to be smoother. I am of course talking about fliers and presentation.  When it comes to promotional fliers some artists like to show the process of their work, textures, paint splatters, etc.  This is my rough draft of a sleeker looking presentation:

It is missing some information but I think it is clean, easy to read, and represents my work pretty well.  I can get 100 of these for $39. Doing some math that means I must sell 3 $20 prints (with profits at $16.50)  or work 2 hours at $20/hour on a commission to cover my costs just for advertising.

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Survival Tactics – The Basics – Getting Shows

If you didn’t have eyes, how much visual art would you buy? Not much.  Getting your work out in the open is crucial to make any sort of sale from your art whether it is a print, original, or a commission.  Showing your work is a rare opportunity to get feedback about your work(feedback from non-artists is very important I think, they have the freshest eyes).  Learning to talk about your art with strangers will help you understand more about your work and more about how to sell your work.

If you’ve never had work in an art show before start small. Scout out local venues for art in coffee shops, restaurants, hair salons, grocery stores, any place you can find.  Go in, ask for the owner, or someone in charge and ask them about their policies for showing work.  If it is a place that doesn’t already have work on the walls suggest that they start, it can’t hurt.  Many places have waiting lists for show times so be sure to hit up as many places as you can.  It is a good idea to map out different possible locations.  Be pacient.

Bring with you samples of your work. Ideally bring the actual work, but some of you will have larger or more delicate pieces that might get damaged so a portfolio with printed images is invaluable.  Also bring something that you can leave there, a CD, business card, or some other sample of your work that will represent you if the boss isn’t in.  (If you bring a CD also include a word document listing the Title, Medium, Price, and Year of each corresponding image.  People who organize shows HATE disorganized/confusing submissions.  Make sure everything is as clear as possible to increase your chances of getting a show).   Some places do not like random artists walking in asking for shows so be polite and aware that you are going to be rejected in this process.  Learn to accept and learn from rejection, this is very important.

Make sure that you figure out contracts with these places. Many orginizations will already have contracts, but some don’t so if they are interested in showing your work make sure to write up a simple contract which records what work you’re going to hang their, for how long, and what percentage you and the business will recieve from any sales. The last thing you want is for your work to be stolen/damaged or for the business owner to refuse to pay you.  The art market is just like any other, there are people who will try and cheat you so be careful and aware of where and who you are working with to show your work.

These smaller shows will be pivotal in gaining experience.  You will learn about how to display your work, price your work, talk about your work, and understand how the whole “getting shows” process happens.  How you present your work is as important as the quality of the work itself.  Many times with these smaller shows you are responsible for curating and hanging your own work. If things are shoddily hung, mounted, framed, or presented it will distract and detract.  A poor display is one good way to lose potential sales.

Once you have solidified a show be sure to promote yourself!  Let everyone know about your show and encourage them to go.  Use all the social networking tools available to you facebook, myspace, deviant art, etc etc.  Make up fliers and post them around on the street, in the other coffee shops where you were rejected earlier, anywhere you can think of.  Mention it to people in conversation, don’t be afraid to make people aware of your art’s existence, no one else is going to.  It is always a good idea to have a website or an online gallery with your work (deviant art works just fine, but personal websites are almost always better) and information about your show so that even if you aren’t around people can find your show from the business card/flier you should have given them.

Don’t hesitate to ask other artists how they got shows!  Learning from other artists is the next best thing to learning yourself. They may know other places looking for artists work or give you advice on how to approach venues.

After you have had several smaller shows you will feel much more confident.  Never cease looking for these smaller shows, but at this point begin looking for more official spaces such as art galleries.  Galleries make a living by selling art and the price of your work will rise.  In the next Survival Tactics I will discuss pricing your work and some of the difficulties along with it.  To come are posts on how to approach galleries, street festivals, and more!

Please feel free to post your own experiences with getting shows, rejection, or anything related so that others can learn from you!

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