The 15 Unforgettable Life-Lessons I Learned During My First Art Fair Season

Some of you may know that last year was my first year in the Art Fair business. It has been quite an experience. Recently, a friend of mine asked me to “report in” on how my first year in the art fair business went. So, I decided to give it a go. Here it is – “The 15 Unforgettable Life-Lessons I Learned During My First Art Fair Season”.

1. How when I saw the truck fully loaded with panels, chairs, the tent, tubs of equipment and a few paintings thrown in on top of it all, is when I truly grasped the concept of “overhead.”

2. How you shouldn’t make the 500-artist show your first show. By yourself. Far away from home. ( I didn’t mean to, but I was “blown out” of my first, first show.)

3. What is feels like to be trapped under a blown-over tent and debris during a micro-burst. (Or, when someone tells you to take the artwork off the walls because a storm is coming, leave immediately.)

4. How easy is it to get a “free” charge card merchant account (and then find out how much it really costs you).

5. How heavy those tent weights really are. (And, I still don’t have enough of them.)

6. That 6 feet 7 inches is truly out of reach. (Even on my toes, no matter how hard I stretch.)

7. How little sleep you can get and still put up a display and talk to customers. (Note to self: don’t try that again.)

8. What a hard, 16-hour day really feels like. (It ain’t like the office!)

9. How April, May, June and ½ of July were a nightmare. (But how during the second half of July, August and Sept, I felt like a pro.)

10. The shock I felt when other artists started asking ME for advice (They must have mistaken my “finally, I know how to put this thing up in less than 3 hours” look for “seasoned.”)

11. How gratified I felt when the local museum purchased a painting. (It was the only sale that day but what a good one!)

12. How my fear of talking to people who came into my booth morphed into a steady sales prattle. (I don’t know how many customers I scared away!)

13. How confused I am when people comment to me, “how relaxing you must find painting.” (I fret over ever piece!)

14. How it feels to be not “just” an artist, but, rather, an art business entrepreneur.

15. Most unforgettable are the people that helped along the way. And, of course, my husband, who -- I can’t believe it -- actually fixes mangled display panels, builds shelves for the art truck and encourages me to keep going.

I hope to see and meet many of you this summer -- my second year in the art fair business!
And don't forget to visit my website: www.sistakbaur.com