How to Set up an Art Festival Booth

• Artwork
• Mobile booth

Steps

1

Step One

Click to enlarge

Research art festivals, fairs and conventions. Some festivals need reservations months in advance so keep this in mind. Youa??ll also need to book airfare and accommodations. Find those festivals that are well-traveled with people who are willing to spend money. Festival reviews can tell you something about how successful vendors have been in the past.

2

Step Two

Click to enlarge

Choose the festival size: small, medium, or large. At large festivals, there will be more people, but it can also be more impersonal. At smaller shows, customers might stick around and talk for longer. Check the attendance level for each show as well as the number of booths.

3

Step Three

Click to enlarge

Choose art fairs with a similar artistic style. You dona??t want to set up a booth that will be completely ignored. You want to stand out but not so much that your booth seems out of place.

4

Step Four

Click to enlarge

If possible, choose your booth location. This is not always possiblea??sometimes ita??s the luck of the draw. Sometimes ita??s first come, first serve. Each festival or fair will have different policies. There will also be different requirements for booth size.

5

Step Five

Click to enlarge

Advertise ahead of time. Be sure to keep a mailing list sign-up at your booth so you can contact people when the next festival comes around. Also have catalogs and business cards on hand.

6

Step Six

Click to enlarge

Bring a full inventory. Be well-stocked so youa??ll never sell out entirely. Price every item ahead of time.

7

Step Seven

Click to enlarge

Set up shop. Youa??ll need to bring chairs, awning, table. Some festivals may provide a booth for you. Be sure to keep the booth orderly. Put the besta??and largesta??artwork out front so it can be seen from a distance. Also be orderly about itemizing sales.

• Keep different types of artwork on hand. If someone isna??t interested in what you have upfront, you can show something in a different style or medium.
• Be personable. You want to sell as much as possibly, but stay away from being too pushy. The same goes for your relationship with other artists. There can be stiff competition, but you dona??t want to get a bad reputation.
• Bring extra price tags in case you want to change the price on any item mid-festival.
• Determine if liability insurance is necessary. Festivals dona??t want to be liable if artwork is damaged. This can be an extra cost.
• Be aware of festivals that charge hefty application fees.