Art In A Pickle Barn Show Q & A

Q How do we go about hanging artwork???

A If you end up on the wall, then SAA provides nails and hangars to hang pictures. If you get a grid assignment (which is what I always ask for) then you provide your own hangers. Again, since I do many shows each year with my own grids, I have hangers as do other members in my situation. For members who aren't use to doing this, the BEST method which will cost under $10.00 is go to hardware store and pickup s hooks to hang on grid and catch your wire. Generally, frames should be suitable for sale (clean and undamaged). The backing for paintings should NOT be cardboard. Frames must also have wires attached for hanging. Do NOT use sawtooth hangers or single hook hangers to hang your framed pieces. Galleries require that pictures are hung with wires @ the a 1/3rd of the way down the back of the picture. Your wire ends whould be wrapped in black electrical tape to prevent wall scratching and ends/bumper pads on the corners should be attached. That is the universal/BEST practice for hanging and displaying your framed pieces in a professional manner. So that has always been our advice to members on presentations.

Q What do I need for a sales label???

A Sales labels are required on ALL items for sale including cards. Use self-sticking computer labels with backing left on. Attach the entire label (backing and all) to the back of frames in a way which will allow cashiers to easily remove the sticky label. (ie. photo squares or a Herma Dotto applicator which allows one to lay down a strip of adhesive on back of label to attach to the card or picture.

You can find Avery white address labels (1"x2 5/8") at any office supply store maybe even Walmart. You can hand write VERY CLEARLY or run them through the computer/printer. Below is an illustration of information and the required layout.

• The top line is mandatory and must be legible if you want to get paid for the sale. The second line is optional but helpful.
• Any additional lines are entirely optional but Art found without proper labels, will be pulled and held until the artist complies with rules.
• You can attach sales labels to pictures by either attaching to the back or by folding the label in half and secure it around the wire on the back of the picture.

Q How do I display Unframed Work???

You can get print racks from any number of art supply places. Some are free standing and some set on a table. In our setup at the mall, you will be limited on table space. If you opt to bring in a small table to set a guest book and some sort of rack print holder, it will have to be narrow (no deeper than depth of booth) AND it will need a black table cloth on it. SAA has quite a few black cloths, so hopefully you should be covered if you opt for a table. The mall has a requirement that ALL tables be covered in black to the floor. Some artists have set up crate holders to hold rack prints on a table too. You can get some in-expensive crates to do that at Freddies or stores like that. I would advise against colors on the rack holders as you don't want anything competing with your colors in the art work. Some artists have their own grids and are already equipped with additional options for them such as shelfing and bins and tuck those into their display, thus maximizing the display area footage.

Q What are Title Cards???

A These are basically the price tags that your customers will be looking for on your hanging artwork. You want to be able to answer any questions without having the customer feel they have to take your artwork down to check for answers on the back so just try to anticipate the questions. Besides the price, some other things to consider including would be the artist's name, the title of the piece, whether it's an "original" or a "print". If it is a print, is it a giclee? If it's an "original", what medium was used? (Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic, Pastel etc.) You may also want to include your business name, phone number, website, email address. Some artists opt to use a separate label specifially for the customer's benefit with contact information. Generally, title cards are about the size of a buisness card. Once a Title Card is created for a framed piece, it can be tucked into the corner of the picture frame between frame and glass. Easy to refer to and easy to remove once purchased.

Q What about card racks???

A Each year the subject of card racks is open for floor plan arrangements. This year the floor plan will allow for a small card rack footprint (about 18 inches in diameter). Every year, the show has allowed artists to have at least one in their booth w/in those dimensions. This year is the same. This year we also have enough space so we will have a few community card racks. When this happens we get a few members with an extra card rack who places them in the community card rack area and all members showing can place cards in the racks.

Q Are there any restrictions on pricing???

A Prices should be NO LOWER than $2.00 for any given item (ie. individual cards, bookmarks, etc.)

Q What else do you suggest for a successful show???

A A couple other items that will lend class and elegance to your display are your own business cards and if you have room, a guest book. Vista Print can make you up business cards pretty cheap and once you buy one thing from them, you are forever on their email list for free and hugely discounted items. You can also buy your own business cards at any office supply store and print your own business cards too! Just get them out there! This is your advertising and yes you will go through a lot of cards, but you never know the one that will lead you to the next big show or big sale! So you need to invest in yourself and advertise. Money well spent and it is a tax write off if you turn yourself into a business (which is a topic for another day...) Guest books are nice to collect names of visitors, email addresses and mailing addresses if they will give them to you. You can develop your own customer list from these. Also it allows for some interesting comments.

Q How do I get an answer to a question that's not listed here???

A Use the Webmaster link below to send your question in and we'll look for an answer for you. If you're wondering about it, others probably are too!