At the shows I attend, a common question is whether I do this full time, and the answer is – not at all! I actually work full time (37.5hrs). Luckily my workplace allows you to buy holiday, so I use my full allowance each year to help give me rest days when I have markets on the weekends.

I might have said before in this blog that I started doing shows for a few reasons

• I drew a lot anyway, so I had a mountain of art works already!
• I had started to develop my own style, which I do think you need to do shows, to give customers a clear ‘theme’ to your stall
• It gave me a reason to draw in times when I was feeling less motivated
• It would be nice to hear peoples thoughts about my work and get some different perspectives
• Find some of my people

So I started doing shows. Small at first with little time commitment: submitting a framed piece into a local open call exhibition, where I only needed to commit to the dropping off and picking up.

I think once you sell a few pieces at shows like that, it can be really tempting to throw yourself into a big market or show, since they are easy to find and think of all those potential customers!

But I would say don’t get ahead of yourself (unless you’re being inundated with commission requests or something, in which case – go for it!)

I’ve done quite a few small shows where maybe it’s a table in a local café, or a bunch of local artists in a community hall or church etc. These are often much cheaper, so less risky on the wallet. Just don’t turn up trying to sell huge artworks for £100s – they probably wont sell!

These are great to dip your toe into doing shows. It’s quite a learning curve and will take a lot of trial and error before you ‘nail’ your pitch – speaking as someone who hasn’t ‘nailed it’ yet!!

Here are some tips I would offer if you’re considering doing some shows:

• Go to markets. Not as a customer, as a fellow trader. By that I mean
  • Stand back and look at the stalls. Which ones catch your eye, why?
  • What props are they using to display their wares? If you can find a maker with a similar product to you, what price are they selling it for? Are you planning to go similar, higher, lower?
• Buy second hand if you can
  • A lot of people have some shows before and it’s not worked out, or shops might be clearing out display units. Exhibiting at shows can be expensive, so pace yourself – you can always buy nicer stuff later on if you sell well!
• Consider your audience
  • You going to a craft show? Take smaller more affordable products. Fine art exhibition? Big pieces. Goth market? Goth products…you get the idea! It might be easier planning to have a ‘one size fits all’ product range, but it might limit you too
• Be a promoter as well as a creator
  • You’ve put all this work into making your creations, but it will be for naught if you turn up as a ‘silent exhibitor’, too nervous to talk to customers, drab stall…
  • Unfortunately, doing markets are more work than just turning up and waiting for your products to sell.
  • Post on social media – both when you book onto a market, nearer the time, and afterwards.
  • Get dressed up – you’re part of the package! People are buying YOUR work and they will remember what they buy with who you are, so be memorable – in a good way!
  • It feels super cringe to boast about your ways, but be brave. Tell people how long something took to make, what was the inspiration, how it made you feel creating it. It bakes a story into your products and a connection with people

I’m by no means an expert on doing stalls!! But from the few I’ve done I would say, don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t take it personally. Enjoy it, and when you have a successful event – celebrate it! You’ve got this!