Art Show/fair Questions

Good grief! You'd better contact them. I have never encountered such a challenging entry process.
Cards you make are always great at art shows and if you have run off a few dozen, they are not mass produced.
Good luck.

I have already contacted them but have not gotten a response yet. Just thought someone here with experience could give some advice

You can sell here and enter whatever art show you wish, no need to remove it for sale here.

here are answers which you are confused about:
1)Reproductions of original artworks means no prints made from original paintings or drawings.
2) mass-produced note cards, means no greeting cards, post cards
3) means you can only show/sell works in the category you apply and been accepted.if your paintings been accepted you can't show your photography.
4) unsigned artwork means art works without artist signature ,( don't put watermark on your photos if you wanted to sell them).

I've sold greeting cards I design with my photos at a local arts/crafts fair for the past 3 years now. This year will be my 4th year. I usually do pretty good. But it's no where NEAR demanding/restrictive as this sounds! Wow!

Thanks Alfred. I do understand that you can't sell items from other categories... My problem is which category is the right fit for my photography

My man reason for trying this is because if I get accepted as an emerging artists they waive all fee, give me tent, two tables, two chairs, travel expenses and 4 night hotel stay. Since I've never done a show this would allow me the funds I have to be spent on my art work.

Deborah, I looked at your work, I would suggest to enter under photography, by the way, mixed media means using more than one art mediums in your art, like oil painting on photos, making sculpture with silk screen prints.

Yes, I agree with Alfred that enter your work under photography. Good luck for your show :D!

they waive all fee, give me tent, two tables, two chairs, travel expenses and 4 night hotel stay. Wow, sign me up, who are these people?! This past week I've had two different sources 'invite' me to participate in shows. One is an almost local one day annual art and craft show that I would be interested in but I have no display panels, table or much on hand inventory. Also fitting panels into my car...I do have a hatchback and found one type of gridwall panel that can be ordered in two pieces 36'' high that attached would be 6'. That could work if I want to pursue this in the future.

Deborah, do mind if I ask for suggestions on display stuff in your thread? I can start another one if you like.

Melissa I would welcome the info since I could use the info too

Deborah, sounds like they are taking a lot of the fun out of it by making it so restrictive..

I've been selling at art & craft shows in the UK for a number of years now and the only restrictions usually are don't block the walkways with my browser racks!

I place no restrictions on myself in terms of what I sell at these events, other than asking myself "would somebody take this picture home and hang it on their wall?" I also sell blank photo cards made from my images and they usually do very well.

Good luck, relax and enjoy it, and I hope you make some money.

Your work is "photography".
As for the rest: 1) Reproductions of original artwork ....Does this mean I can't sell my images in different sizes???? This means prints of paintings, by and large. No worries there.

2) Mass-produced note cards....Does this mean I can't sell any greeting cards???? Think "Hallmark". Original designs are probably fine.

3) Artwork not in the category in which the artist applied and was accepted ....This is about original question above! Again, your work starts as Photography, so that's how you list yourself. Had you arrived with sculptures, there would be a problem.

4) Unsigned artwork ...Is a watermark consider signing it or do I actually have to sign everyone??? Watermarks are not signatures. You can "sign" the prints with a signature-like font when printing, but watermarks are generally frowned upon.

And don't remove the art from FAA or any place else. Many times people want a different size or want to see what else you have, so you need FAA.

It sounds to me like they are only allowing limited edition prints of digital artwork or originals of traditional artwork, they want nothing else at that show from the sounds of it. I'd think having the image available on a POD would disqualify it from that show. It does sound picky but maybe they want a high end gallery type atmosphere rather than a gift shop type atmosphere.

I often find display stuff at my local Craiglist under artists, there are always artists tried of doing art fair selling or giving them away for free.

Wow, I have no idea....

I will say I am against selling cards at live venues. Here's why.

If someone LOVES your art but a. doesn't have space on their wall or b. doens't have the budget they will buy the smallest and least expensive thing they can. I sell the snot out of matted and bagged 5x7s. (Matte to 8x10) They sell for $25. That is a markup of $22.50. It is pretty much impossible to make that on a card.

The retort in the gallery I sell in is usually I can usually pay for my wall space with cards. I am not there to cover expenses; I am there to make a profit. Oh, I am usually the send or third highest revenue generating artist in the galley though I have fewer sales on average.

All very interesting. I live in the same town as one of the most respected art festivals in the US and have thought about entering the emerging artist category for years. Always chicken out. lol I see you are also in FL, Deborah...is this by any chance the Winter Park show?

Yes Valerie it is

Valerie....I can totally relate to how you feel.
It seems to be a big step to do this. I think mainly because of the invested time and money to do it. It's also a bit scary not knowing if my images will sell.

Valerie....I can totally relate to how you feel.
It seems to be a big step to do this. I think mainly because of the invested time and money to do it. It's also a bit scary not knowing if my images will sell.

Thank you everyone for all your input on this. I really appreciate it.

Go for it, Deborah! I will be happy to come visit you...and then pick your brain on the emerging artist experience. lol

I have attended this show for decades. (My FIL was actually chairman of it for a few years in the '70s.) I have always been really intimidated by it--the level of work is incredible, and the bar seems to be raised every year.

Please keep us updated here if you get in...or shoot me a private email! Would love to know how it goes.