What are the pros and cons of doing art shows and fairs as a business model?

Art shows and fairs are an extremely viable path to six figures and beyond, with much higher success rates than galleries. The major advantages: you keep 100% of your revenue, you acquire email addresses all year long, you gain new buyers who can become lifetime collectors, and you build direct relationships. The significant downsides include booth fees, extensive travel expenses, time away from family and home, long days on your feet, dealing with weather, setup and teardown work, and the reality that some shows are hits while others are duds. It’s particularly well-suited for younger artists without families or those who can commit to the demanding travel schedule. Many successful artists built their collector base this way in their early years and continue benefiting from those relationships decades later.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2023-07-19