What should I do to make the most of in-person art shows and fairs?

You need to work the full tactical playbook to turn a show from break-even into a real success. This includes capturing emails through giveaways, following up after the show, and selling art after the event ends. Always do a free giveaway at your booth—it’s a showstopper that gets people engaged and captures their contact information. Also, use price anchoring: have a very expensive statement piece (like a large print priced at several thousand dollars or more) prominently displayed. This anchors visitors’ perception of value and makes mid-range purchases feel more reasonable. Sometimes wealthy collectors will simply buy the expensive piece outright. The goal is to turn each show into an opportunity to build your email list and create ongoing relationships, not just make immediate sales.

---

Asked by a photographer doing theater shows · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-08