We are going into our third season of attending art fairs. This time of year, it’s fun to go to southern venues and save the northern venues for our beautiful summers.
Planning ahead also means asking questions about how to organize more effectively and what improvements can be made to display artwork. For example, hanging cards with a string to identify each piece were not readable, especially on windy days, and looked messy.
After doing more research, we came across acrylic display tags that clip onto wire grid displays, with a card that fits between the layers. I printed information, title, medium, size, and price on Avery labels, peeled them off, and placed them onto the cards. The labels can be removed and replaced with another label in the future.
Another upgrade was finding J-hooks that also clip on the display grids and will support hanging my work. The S hooks we previously tried were too fiddly and very frustrating when time was of the essence during setup.
A new discovery was finding bubble wrap bags, specifically the bubble-out type. I never realized there was a difference between bubble-in and bubble-out; the latter is perfect for artwork. In the past, I used bubble wrap sheets. After unpacking and repacking, the pieces became disorganized, and the bubble wrap was wearing down. Michael convinced me to buy bubble bags, in three different sizes to match the work I have.
When they arrived, I was excited to organize my work into the bags by size, and there was no need for tape. When storing the work in bins, there was more room for the paintings and drawings, which stacked safely and neatly vertically. We are confident this system will help set up and take down go much smoother.
The first tent we had without sidewalls measured 8 x 8. As I compared this tent to others next to us, I wondered why I had less room. The standard size is a 10 x 10 booth space. There has been an upgrade to a 10 x 10 with velcro sides. We did a trial setup, and we couldn't believe the extra space! Of course, I had to add another foldable 2 x 4 table and cover!
I have three plastic bins, two for artwork and one for supplies. In this bin, I store table skirts, small display racks, sign-up sheets, folders for the events, tax forms, thank you notes, small containers for pens, cash, labels, J-hooks, bungee cords, scotch tape, stretch wrap, a first aid kit, plexiglass glass cleaner, and information boards with my studio name and payment information.
Since the tax is included in the price, I made another list marked with the tax percentage for each state we’re in, so I already know the taxes I need to turn in.
Michael is a wizard when it comes to packing the car; he developed a different loading plan. Previously, he arranged everything from side to side; now,he arranged our gear from front to back.
The flat display racks, tables, and canopy are put in first. Then the bins, book boxes, and a dolly are laid on the first layer. We have enough room in the empty spaces for cloth bags, tent sides, food, and a small ice chest. There is an inch to spare to close the door.
Sandbags and folding chairs will be added to a cargo rack that fits on the trailer hitch. We are all set!
I bet you have someone, and maybe it’s you, who enjoys packing for events or vacations. Do you have any tips? Please feel free to comment below.
