When looking for the right show to apply for, I have learned over the years that you have to be on the lookout for shows that lack experience and fail to inform attendees about the presence of art. I have been to places where customers wouldn’t know about the art; they assumed it was all crafts and didn’t plan on buying artwork. The last thing you want is to display at a show where everyone is only willing to pay $5 for your $50 item.

Things to look for:

1. The title often says it all. If the word “fine art” is on the flyer, you can rest assured it will be about art. Look out for “art and craft.” Sometimes, that is not enough to create a good art show. The only thing consumers are seeing is “craft,” because to them, craft is art. (Sometimes it is) but not in the case where someone wants a painting for their home. Try your best to simply look for something that says “Art show” or “Art Festival.”

2. Be careful with shows set up by private or religious organizations. These organizations often cater to children. Now, having kids at shows is not a bad thing. However, being in a show that has more children's rides than adult rides often means the parent is only looking for an event where their child can ride and eat things for free, leaving the money and the attitude of buying art at home.

3. Look out for shows that have too many promotions. Sometimes this can work in your favor; other times, it will not. For example, if the promoters are giving away free bags of items, you will find yourself not being able to sell your work. Now, if the promoters are simply putting money into the show and you know that only 10% of the tents will be booths for those promoters, then it’s worth the chance (assuming the price of the booth is reasonable).

4. Try to stay away from “First Annual.” Often those shows don’t do enough to promote the art or the artist. Another issue is that people just don’t know about it. I say wait for the second or third show before putting any money into it. Now if they offer you a free deal, then by all means, go for it. Look for shows with high numbers of shows.

5. Look for shows with a high number of people. Ask the event's coordinator, how many people show up to the event. If it's less than 10 thousand people, be careful and see how much of the rest of this list passes or fails. If it's less than 10K, but it's the 25th annual, then give it some more thought.

6. Never take part in a show that is competing with another show of equal value. Not much to say about this. Seems pretty self-explanatory.

7. Look for shows in small towns where it’s their biggest event of the year. Sometimes people are just sitting around all year waiting for that show to come back. I often make a good amount of money in those types of shows. The city would spend all kinds of money all year round advertising that show.

8. It never hurts to ask the locals what shows they have in-town. They might tell you of one that's just outside the town. Never do a show that is only one day long…. NEVER!! The time you spent and art and travel and setting up and breaking down… Not worth it.

Following these step will help you stay focus on finding the right show to generate the right about of return on your investment.