Should I do art fairs and in-person shows to sell my work?

Do the math before committing to fairs and shows. Calculate the booth fee, time spent preparing inventory, time at the event, childcare costs if applicable, and travel expenses. Then honestly assess: how much do you need to sell to make this worthwhile? For many artists, especially those with limited time due to jobs or family, the return on investment doesn’t justify it. Compare the time and money investment to online strategies like giveaways, social media partnerships, and email marketing—these are more nimble, can be done at night after kids are asleep, and often yield better results. If you’re working full time with small children, time is your most precious resource. Focus on high-value activities that build your audience and generate sales without requiring you to physically schlep inventory around on weekends.

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Asked by an artist with a full-time job and small children · Answered by Megh Knappenberger · art-marketing-podcast · 2023-08-10