Is the art show circuit still a viable way to sell art?

The art show circuit has become increasingly problematic and shows signs of permanent decline. You pay for booth space, spend eight or more hours on your feet, and there’s no guarantee you’ll be profitable after expenses. The ROI is often low even in good times. With recent disruptions, many artists report the show circuit simply isn’t coming back to previous levels, and health concerns make the future uncertain. Meanwhile, shows don’t help you build lasting customer relationships—you don’t keep contact information, and you can’t effectively follow up. The time and money invested often doesn’t justify the return compared to building your own online presence.

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Asked by teaching-context · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-11-18