Art festival booth tips

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Permalink Reply by Julie Beck on May 23, 2008 at 9:45am

The really nice set ups are pretty expensive...this year since its my first I found some used grid walls and then I went to the business surplus place in providence and got a ton of small picture frame hooks for the gridwalls and some s-hooks (that place is HUGE by the way). im doing my practice set up this weekend so ill let you know how that goes! I have some framed prints and some paintings with hardware on them.

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Permalink Reply by Adam J Carriuolo on May 23, 2008 at 10:53am

That's funny I'm doing my "practice run" this weekend also. We can compare notes.

There's so much to consider - hanging, signage, card displays. I'm also putting together a process diagram so people can see how I "do my thing".

Ack, there's not enough time!

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Permalink Reply by SusiFranco on May 23, 2008 at 10:53am

Hey Adam---
Dick Blick has several display systems worth checking out; here is their TestRite rack display:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz511/22/
DB also has the Walker Systems, more price-y but if you plan to do alot of shows, may be worthwhile for you.
My first year we made display panels out of wooden lattice, encased them in mahogany molding and made L-shaped feet. We put brass hinges at the top, so the panels sat open like a sandwhich board, an inverted V, when in use. For hanging we used a portable drill and screwed in sheet metal screws at intervals, then hung the work ( with wire hangers, of course) on the screws. We made print bins with brass hooks on the rear that sit right in the lattice. This system is EXTREMELY heavy and difficult to set up/tear down and transport, but it works awesome and is very low-cost, maybe $250-300 with all materials from Home Depot.
I still use it for large shows, but for the smaller fests like Narragansett, I use a system made from hollow aluminum tubing about 7 ft tall, shaped like an inverted "U", covered in wire mesh ( think chicken wire). The U-shape panels sit in two or three welded-together hollow alum pipe ( about 1 ft high) with large L-shaped brackets which serve as feet and stability for the unit. It is a modular unit and I can use as many or as few panels as I choose. The work is hung with plain ole' curtain hooks which sit in the wire mesh and nicely support the paintings.
Another low cost display system, very modular & quite lightweight ( I set it up and break it down by myself, and it is fairly bomb-proof.)
Julie's resource sounds pretty good, I may go check that out just to see what's available.
You can build your own system, just depends on whether you can invest the time. My wooden system was built over a weekend and I've been using it for 7 years. The aluminum/wire mesh system was built for me, took 3 days to complete at a cost of $400; I'd be lost without it.
The year-round circuit tour folks seem to rely heavily on those lovely domed tents, which have the classy display panels in them and are lockable, but they price out at around $1200-1500, last I checked. A great look but quite an investment.
Anyway, hope this helps a bit.
Best Regards: Susi

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Permalink Reply by Adam J Carriuolo on May 23, 2008 at 12:28pm

Thanks Susi. I definitely agree that if you have some tools and feel pretty handy then you're much more likely to create something that suits your needs and lasts.

I like the idea of the wooden lattice with feet. It wouldn't cost much in materials, would be a nice classy look, and give you a lot more placement options. Portability is key, as well as sturdiness for windy days and clumsy show goers.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Rebello on September 15, 2008 at 8:34pm

Thanks for showing us this web page. I am looking for something on that line that is easy to set up and portable for the Fall River Camera Club. I going to pass this along to my fellow members.

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Permalink Reply by Bunny Griffeth on May 23, 2008 at 5:26pm

Julia, where exactly is the surplus place in Providence? I looked on line and couldn't find anything. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by SusiFranco on May 23, 2008 at 10:17pm

Yep, Adam, sturdiness is a very important factor....my first year doing Narragansett, first day went awesome. A big blow brewed up wee hrs Sunday, though and my phone rang around six a.m.....Deedra called, telling me the storm had literally destroyed my tent, blown it off the field, only tattered debris was left. Fortunately I take the work out every evening, but my brand-y new tent I'd just bought was a complete wash. So, yeah...sturdy displays/tents are kinda a priority for me now. LOL :)

There was also year before last, when it rained frickin' BUCKETS; I'm talking your proverbial downpour here. So much rain that I had to take a painting ( !!!) and push up the tent roof every 20 min or so, just to drain the pooled water so it wouldn't make the tent cave in. Lots of exhibitors left, but not me, too hard-headed for that. Needless to say, there were very few intrepid buyers who wanted to brave the storm; they had the good sense to stay indoors. It was pretty pitiful and I have a good laugh about it now. These are some of the array of (potential) delights that await you insofar as outdoor art fests go. :) All in all, though, they are just wonderful and I wouldn't do anything differently. ( except maybe bigger tent stakes that first year. :) :):):):):)

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