How important is your booth?

      Let’s consider for a moment the importance of your display booth at an art fair. 

    When applying for a juried art festival, the criteria for acceptance comes down to four images of your work and one of your booth. That is the sum total of what the judges use to base their decisions. The artwork, of course,  is the most important element. The jury images need to show a professional, consistent body of work. But where is the artwork displayed? The booth in which the artwork is displayed is equally important.

     Your booth, quite simply, needs to be a mini gallery that showcases your work. It needs to be attractive, uncluttered, and of course, weatherproof.

     Say you are a judge for an art show, tasked with deciding between two equally great painters. One has a booth that is a reflection of his work. It is streamlined, welcoming, and uncluttered. The paintings are tastefully displayed in arrangements by size and/or style. The booth is well lit, and the space allows for customers to walk through and see the artwork.

      The other artist has a booth shot that shows paintings stacked along the walls. There are card tables covered with vinyl tablecloths that look like they’d been stuffed in a box. There are a lot of paintings, but they are not hung with any particular order as to size, subject or style. I could go on, but you get the point. I don’t have a picture of the “bad” booth, but you can visualize it in your imagination!

      The booth shown above is a good reflection of the art as well as the artist. It is quite full, but the fulness adds to rather than subtracting from the work. The black walls and table covers act to unify the overall look. 

      The booth shown above is equally attractive, and a great reflection of the art. The white walls and trellis backdrops show off the colorful florals and provide an inviting display. 

     Show directors are interested in having the best art in the most attractive presentation for their customers. While show applications run the gamut of requirements for the booth, most ask for a white tent, properly weighted, and a professional looking display. 

     

       My jewelry booth, seen above,  has evolved over the years to what I now use. This is by far the most minimalistic, uncluttered display I have ever used. (It would be embarrassing to show you photos of my old booths.) Let’s just say I’ve come a long way!

       Years ago I took some of my jewelry pieces to a photographer. While there, I mentioned to him I had never been accepted to a show from Zapplication. He looked at my jury images and told me it was most likely because of the booth shot. “Your artwork is fantastic!” he said.  “But I’m afraid people can’t see it with this booth!” 

      That’s what is took for me to re-evaluate and re-vamp the booth. 

I then took it down to the bare bones, figuring exactly what was needed and what was not. Then I came up with a color scheme of sage green and black, and got my husband to build a display case. 

   

       I can say without a doubt I have had greater sales using this display that any other set up I have used. I have successfully been accepted into many art shows with Zapplication! 

      The point is, take the time to think through the display. The time, energy and expense is a worthwhile investment. After all, your booth is your very own art gallery, so make it the best!