Getting started

Similar to you, I came from galleries into the art show world, did it for 4 years, and I stopped 2 years ago. Be prepared for almost anything, rain, bad wifi or cell, battery power, wind, happy people who want to show you their grandkids' cell phone photos, people who interrupt a sale to demand to know which brand inkjet printer, and all the wonderful praise for your work. Bring towels, extra bags, prepare for the unexpected. Wear comfy shoes.

I made 10x more with weekend art shows than my month-long solo gallery sales, but the most I did in one year was 12 to 13 regional shows. Great to connect directly with buyers. However, it took me away from the galleries, most of which closed during covid, the same time I began art shows. I've been told many times that galleries want exclusive artists, not art show artists. I'm recalibrating back to galleries, and there are far fewer today.

Try to find help from a spouse or friend. The art shows are fun, exhausting and a wonderful experience. Build a client list while doing them. Good luck!

Kind regards,
Derek Jecxz

The jump from gallery shows to art fairs is a real shift — you're going to love the energy! A few things that make a big difference: have your booth layout dialed in before the first show, bring more lighting than you think you need, and make it easy for people to find your prices. The fact that you already have three shows lined up is a great start. Excited to see how it goes for you!