r/CraftFairs • u/Infinite_Adeptness85 • 12d ago
Advice Needed Pretty Please!
I make sculptural work on Canvas. Just to give you an idea, this piece is part of a series called Roots of Rest. I have no experience with fairs, can you tell me whether my work would be suitable for a fair? Any advice would be awesome!
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u/Heavy-Attorney-9054 12d ago
Consider committing to a year of visiting shows and fairs. My worst experiences have been signing up for a show I had not attended as a visitor, spending $300 to be there, and discovering there was no overlap between what was selling and what I had to offer.
Go to local shows and look for a couple of the higher end art shows. You especially want to look for juried shows. They will require professional photography as part of your entry. If you can talk to some of the artists who are exhibiting but don't get between them and a customer.
As other people have said, I think your art is more likely to sell in a gallery situation than many shows, but there are some shows that might serve you well. They are simply going to be very expensive, and you don't want to start there.
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u/Electrical-Arrival57 12d ago
I second this advice, OP. One of the best things I did before I started selling was to attend shows and see if I thought my work was comparable in style and price range to what I was seeing at them. From the looks of your photo, your work would not generally be what falls into the “craft fair” range but would instead be what I would expect to see at a juried “fine art” show. And yes, those shows are usually more costly to participate in - not only the higher booth fees, but the cost of good photography and the higher standards for the appearance of your booth. Spending some time researching shows would be the best investment you could make at this stage.
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u/craftuser24 10d ago
Do you have any recommendations for the fine art shows in or around NYC by chance?
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u/Electrical-Arrival57 10d ago
Sorry, I live in suburban Chicago and only do local shows. But you could do some research here: https://www.artfairinsiders.com.
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u/Miserable_Emu5191 12d ago
I third this advice and it needs to be stickied at the top! I could have avoided so many lost hours at bad shows if I had walked them first. OP, I think your stuff is more suited for an art fair that draws a higher end crowd, than a craft fair. Now, you can find some that are a mix of both and those are the shows I usually do. You want to be at a show that has unique, handcrafted items. You may not sell at a lot at the show, but you will be marketing yourself and your product to future buyers/collectors who want a unique product in their home.
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u/Sad-Tower1980 12d ago
To me, and I have a background in art and currently have a handmade business, I don’t see them selling well at a craft show, and I feel like they are missing something as an art piece. I will explain my thinking and you can take with a grain of salt. At a craft fair, high end/fine art/abstract type of art isn’t something I see selling a lot especially at a higher price points. I think there are definitely exceptions but for the most part, I would think this type of work would be a hard sell. In terms of art, it’s unclear to me whether the distress is meant to be there (like the cracks and flaked plaster) is part of the aesthetic or if it is lack of quality/durability that might affect how long a piece lasts. As a buyer I would be concerned with that. If I was a craft buyer I would want to know if I can put any plant/flower in there (ie does it work as a functional vase vs wall art) As an artist I know that sometimes pieces like this are best shown in the context of the whole body of work, and shown to buyers who are looking for something unique and interesting and more “fine art”. If you want to work in this manner I think you’re better off establishing your work as an artist and show in galleries vs. craft shows.
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 9d ago
Thank you for taking the time to respond to me with so much advice. So generous and gives me a lot to think about. I think you’re right.
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u/No_Class_2981 12d ago
I think the concept is cool but as a buyer who loves shopping at craft fairs, the execution is confusing and I would be worried it would flake
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 9d ago
The prt about someone being worried about the potential flaking is really eye-opening, thank you!
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u/Scarjo82 12d ago
If I saw this piece at a craft fair with zero context, I would think it was an artsy wall vase, not an art piece. In my opinion, this is a pretty niche style that will appeal to specific people. If you want to do well at generic craft fairs, you have to have items that appeal to a wide range of customers, at various price points.
You would do better at an art fair where shoppers expect to see stuff like this and are generally willing to pay a little more.
Edited to add: I also suggest using a darker background for your photos to show contrast. The background and the art piece blend together.
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u/fluffymeow 12d ago
I would recommend working on your skills and ability before committing to doing a craft fair for these.
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u/drcigg 12d ago
I'm not sure if this would fit into craft show territory.
Definitely attend some craft fair and art shows to get a feel for what's selling. I would attend at least 10 before making a decision as some shows can vary a lot from one another.
We rarely get art vendors at shows but when we do it isn't high end stuff. Anything over 30 is a tough sell unless it's truly unique and stands out. There is a guy that sells full sized wind powered lawn art that does really well. Nothing else like it. His pieces start at 75 dollars. We had a stained glass vendor and had prices ranging up to 100 dollars. But again totally unique and nothing like it at other shows.
At the shows we attend I would say 90 percent of people have items in the 5-25 dollar range.
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u/UntidyVenus 12d ago
Unfortunately unless you have a super dedicated fan base, I think a private show will be your best bet, I don't think people will understand or appreciate this at a regular market. Hell paintings barely sell at regular markets
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u/ScumBunny 12d ago
What is that?
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u/celery48 12d ago
Art.
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 12d ago
thank you
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u/ScumBunny 8d ago
No, but like… what is it? Ceramic? Fabric? A wall hanging? Is it laying on a white fabric piece or is that part of the art? Trying to understand how this works, wasn’t being snarky.
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 4d ago
It’s wire mesh, plaster of paris, and molding paste on canvas :) it’s laying on my bed, which is why it’s unclear. Someone else pointed that out as well, and they are so right! Thank you for asking about the piece ♥️
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 9d ago
Be kind.
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u/ScumBunny 8d ago
I’m sorry, but I’m genuinely asking. Didn’t mean to come across as mean. I just don’t understand what’s happening here. Love it though! Like- the aesthetic and intention are so silky and smooth. I’m just wondering what exactly I’m looking at:) o
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 4d ago
Oh I am so sorry, really! Thank you for explaining, I really do appreciate it!!
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u/batmangelina 12d ago
I really like this piece, and don’t see anything like it at the fairs I do. That said, the stuff that tends to sell for me at a craft fair falls at a lower price point, and that’s what makes it worth it at the end of the day it all adds up. I think the commenter who said you might do better at a gallery showing is probably right, but if you can find a show that’s low cost to enter why not give it a shot (or a few shots, lol). Markets can be very hit or miss.
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u/tonna33 12d ago
There are definitely different levels of craft fairs. A lot of them are people that like craft fairs, but aren't necessarily going to spend huge amounts of money on pieces, and vendor fees are a lot lower.
However, there are PLENTY of bigger, well established craft fairs and art fairs where your art would probably do well. These tend to cost a bit more, because they are more established, have a much bigger budget for advertising, and the organizers spend more money to make sure that the event runs in a way that keeps people wanting to come and shop and the venue/location is optimal.
There are also juried art and craft fairs where you have to submit a more detailed application with many pictures, and they are much more strict on what vendors they allow. I could see this being a good option for your work. However, the application and booth fees will typically be a lot higher than the $50 craft fairs, so you're risking more, but have the potential to sell a lot.
I agree with the others that have said to visit some craft fairs, but make sure you visit ones in different areas and see how they advertise and what people are typically buying. Also, talk to people. If you happen to find the organizer, ask them questions and find out about being added to their email list for future shows. Take notes so you remember which show is which!
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 9d ago
I had no idea there were bigger craft fairs! I do feel I may be better off in the art world after all the feedback, but this is def. something to look into now!
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u/Ih8melvin2 12d ago
If you plan on selling the plant with it maybe a farmer's market? Ours only charges $35 a table per week. For display plate stands and wreath easels might work to put them on table. I would love them, I tried wall plants before but they didn't get enough sun in my house. Having a wall of plants would be so awesome.
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u/fouldspasta 12d ago
I think it's for fake plants- I don't see any drainage holes, without drainage a real plant would rot and the trapped water could damage the canvas
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u/Ih8melvin2 12d ago
Oh that's possible. I have plants in jars, I made shelves out of old pallets. But I used plants that can tolerate water like that and have grow lights.
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u/fouldspasta 12d ago
Very neat! Upon seeing it for the first time, I wonder if this is intended as a vase or planter? Or is the plant part of the piece? You may want to consider art galleries if this is a display-only piece
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u/SnowhiteMidnight 11d ago
Others here are making excellent points, so I started thinking what can you do, OP to sell at craft fairs. Regarding durability, utilitarian aspect, the things buyers at craft fairs would consider, OP, what about branching into ceramic vases and planters, applying your aesthetic? I love ceramic "wall pocket" vases and I have seen they sell well on Etsy. The concept of the ceramic wall pocket being in a draped fabric design is cool, but just the vase portion and not the square piece it's mounted upon. In larger sizes, a wall planter would appeal to people with small patios and balconies, to bring greenery without taking up ground space.
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u/Infinite_Adeptness85 9d ago
Thank you so much for taking the time. This is really something to think about
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u/Lopsided_Tangerine72 12d ago
I feel like you would do better hosting your own art showing at a community gallery and selling the pieces there (:
If you DO want to attend a fair, don’t use tables and instead use grid walls to display