A New Year….New Resolutions
In these past few months my blogging and tweeting has taken a major hit. As Fall came, so did all the flurry of activity as I prepared for all the Art Show’s and Art Festival’s during the months of Oct., Nov. and Dec. With only “x” amount of time and energy I had to focus on preparing and doing the art shows.
There is so much to learn on this subject. A Jewish Rabbi said; “It’s not just in the reading, but in the doing that the understanding comes.”
In this “Class of Life – Art Festival 101″, we (my husband and I) encountered a number of opportunities to expand our knowledge.
Here’s a list of some of the area’s of our new education:
Outdoor Festivals – Indoor Art Shows
Choice of Art Venues 
There are hundred’s of choices of Arts and Craft Venues in every State in America. What was important was to choose the right one for our art. Juried or non juried shows. Applications and fee’s. Lot’s of homework necessary to make informed choices.
Storms with High winds, lot’s of rain, cold. Hot days with lots of sun. All these weather conditions wreaked havoc with art displays and the paintings themselves.
Tents or Indoor Booths
This is an education in it’s self. The type and size of the tent, the degree of user friendly set-up. How to personalize and brand our “mini store,” designing the displays unique for my style of art. Type of seating needed.
Administration – Space signage, wireless credit card machines, designing business cards, sheets or books to collect emails of potential buyers. Bags and wrapping for artwork. A contact book for relationships developed with other vendors, art venues, and other related information.
Overall, these last few months have been a beehive of activity. We have learned a great deal on what to do and not to do. My husband, Kurt expanded his woodworking capabilities in creating innovating displays for my artwork. We learned alot of lessons concerning wireless merchant accounts. Along the way, we developed a wonderful relationship with an savvy art festival and Internet marketeer. But most of all…we had lots of fun… had great art sales….and met many new friends.
