Should I only collect emails from people who look like they can afford my art at shows?

No - collect email addresses from everyone, regardless of age or apparent financial status. Do not filter out younger people or those who seem less likely to buy immediately. A 25-year-old who is currently broke will eventually move out of their basement and need art, and you want to be top of mind when that happens. Additionally, people serve different valuable functions beyond just purchasing - they might like your social media posts, tell their friends, or connect you with their interior decorator friend. You never know who will fulfill which role in growing your business. The incremental cost of having them on your list is minimal and dropping rapidly with modern tools, so cast a wide net.

---

Asked by an artist selective about email signups at shows · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-03-12