First , of course , you have to decide what show you want to do. Or need to do. Things to consider about your first show are if it will be indoor or outdoor , how long it will be , what time of year , and how close to home.
If you have no experience with any sort of craft show, the safest thing to do is to schedule an indoor show close to home , preferably a one day event. There is just so much to learn about doing craft shows that it seems best to take weather and travel out of the equation at first . There are even some indoor shows that have a central checkout. They take a percentage of your profit instead of a regular show fee.
There are many ways to see what shows are available in your area. Before Google , we had to subscribe to periodicals that listed different events. Now it's easy to google these. You can call local arts councils and get on their mailing lists.
There's been a trend in recent years to make these shows easier for the craftspeople to do . Some show fees include a tent and tables that are already set up for you. One of the shows I do lets artists set up on the porches of the beautiful old houses in the neighborhood that hosts the show. Other shows treat the crafts people to free lunches or breakfasts. Be sure to look for things like this to make your life easier as you get started.
And remember that if you are doing the same show as another artist you know , you can ask them if they mind having you set up next to them. Usually , the show honors this request as long as both parties make it.
Some of our favorite neighbors. These guys are jewelry artists. The cats are their friends.
The actual process of applying can be varied. The biggest thing you need to have ahead of time is photos of your work. There are whole books on how to photograph craft work , but a good rule of thumb can be to shoot photos outside on an overcast day. This will cut down on glare. Keep things simple. A plain background is best. People starting out tend to stage their shots with a textured background , a background with related things , or too many items in one photo. I've been part of several craft juries and can tell you that things look best all by them selves with a plain background. You may need to get creative here. I have used unwrinkled fabric as well as elevating the object I'm shooting so there is only sky behind it. Look at work online to get an idea. Etsy , lists of artists participating in shows , etc. Shoot plenty of photos , then choose the best.
Most applications are very specific about how they want your photos presented and submitted. Read the directions carefully and fill out the application carefully as well. Double check it . Some applications will be mailed in , many are online. I've even come upon one that wanted me to create a Facebook page for my business , then send them a link.
Most shows now require application fees. I'm sure this is smart , as many shows have far more applicants than they need and someone has to go through all of them and make a decision. You may also need to send a check for the show fee at the same time as you apply. Just be aware that applying can cost a certain amount of money .
Also be aware that some shows start taking applications up to a year ahead of time. These are usually some of the events that have the best turn out , the largest profits , and the most applicants. So start early , pay attention to detail , and good luck !
The actual process of applying can be varied. The biggest thing you need to have ahead of time is photos of your work. There are whole books on how to photograph craft work , but a good rule of thumb can be to shoot photos outside on an overcast day. This will cut down on glare. Keep things simple. A plain background is best. People starting out tend to stage their shots with a textured background , a background with related things , or too many items in one photo. I've been part of several craft juries and can tell you that things look best all by them selves with a plain background. You may need to get creative here. I have used unwrinkled fabric as well as elevating the object I'm shooting so there is only sky behind it. Look at work online to get an idea. Etsy , lists of artists participating in shows , etc. Shoot plenty of photos , then choose the best.
Most applications are very specific about how they want your photos presented and submitted. Read the directions carefully and fill out the application carefully as well. Double check it . Some applications will be mailed in , many are online. I've even come upon one that wanted me to create a Facebook page for my business , then send them a link.
Most shows now require application fees. I'm sure this is smart , as many shows have far more applicants than they need and someone has to go through all of them and make a decision. You may also need to send a check for the show fee at the same time as you apply. Just be aware that applying can cost a certain amount of money .
Also be aware that some shows start taking applications up to a year ahead of time. These are usually some of the events that have the best turn out , the largest profits , and the most applicants. So start early , pay attention to detail , and good luck !
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