Creating Your Show

This is a checklist things you need to think about when putting on your own art show. If you take the time to prepare up front your show will come across as slick, well organized and professional, which in turn gives potential buyers of your art confidence.

Getting your artwork ready for the showPhotograph your art work. Once it gets purchased then you might never see it again!
Frame your artwork if required. Allow plenty of time for your picture framer to do a quality job.
Make sure all your artworks are suitable for hanging or display with strings and D-rings attached.
Wrap your artworks up ready for transportation. Buy bubble wrap in bulk lots from a packaging wholesaler or supplier. Don’t buy small rolls from your office supplier. or you will pay too much.
Blankets are a cheap alternative but not as neat.
Arrange a truck, hatchback or station wagon to transport your works.
Certificates of Authenticity. Make one for each artwork. Have a special rubber stamp made up to use with the certificate. It looks great and buyers love them.
Sponsorship

• Consider bringing in other businesses to sponsor your exhibition.
• Feature them prominently on your exhibition catalogue.
• Ask businesses to sponsor lucky door prizes.
• Make sure you mention the sponsors clearly for each prize draw they sponsor.
• You may even be able to get sponsorship for catering.
• Arrange goodie bags for each exhibition attendee containing sponsor leaflets, any freebies and your business card.

Recording the event

• Arrange a photographer
• Arrange a video camera operator
• Contact press photographers and ask them to come along

Hanging your exhibition

• Measure the exhibition space and plan how you will hang you artworks.
• Does the space need themeing or decorating in some way to give it extra pizazz?
• Make sure you have hanging equipment suitable for the space you will be displaying in. You may need to investigate the space closely to figure out how you will hang the works if it’s not a gallery with built in rails.
• In some spaces without obvious wall hanging opportunities you may have to hire in stands from an exhibition hire company.
• When you deliver your artworks to the venue, lean them against the wall directly underneath where you will be hanging them, so you can get a feel for the layout and your hanging assistants will get a better idea of what they are doing.

Formalities

• Create a ‘running order’ for the show, which details the timing of events on the opening night. Distribute it to everyone involved in the show.
• Invite a VIP person to open the show for you.
• Brief your VIP with things they might like to mention.
• Appoint an MC who will introduce both the VIP, yourself and any other speeches or exhibition events.
• Prepare a speech. People will want to hear from you the great artist!
• Announce any prize draws at least twice during the night.
• What are your show opening and closing times. Decide up front how log the show will go for.

The Entertainment

• What nibblies will you provide?
• What drinks will you provide? Remember to provide both alcoholic and soft drinks. 
• Hire in professional caterers if you haven’t got time to do it yourself.
• Hire professional wait staff or get some friends in to assist with serving.
• Do you need musicians, a DJ or at least someone to change a carefully chosen CD once in a while?

Sales

• Create lables for every artwork containing the title, price, medium and size.
• Try and have artworks priced in various ranges, so that everyone has an opportunity to buy something.
• Get some red stickers for artworks sold on the night.
• Try and have some artworks that are hanging but have been presold before the opening night with red dots on them. It gives people confidence and encourages them to buy.
• Appoint sales assistants and let them know how to process sales
• Set up a system for receipting. This could be as simple as a carbon copy receipt book.
• Keep details of all prices handy for your sales assistant.
• Have a till or cash tin and keep it secure
• Provide credit card processing facilities if you can. People are more likely to impulse buy if they can whack it in their credit card. If you are serious about this business then you should arrange a merchant account with a bank so you can process credit cards.
• Be prepared to provide shipping and packaging costs. Some people will not buy unless they know these things up front. Your freight company should be able to provide a table. Estimate packaging weight and size for each artwork before the exhibition so you can quote quickly.
• When someone seems interested in buying, don’t be afraid to ask for the sale. “Would you like to take this artwork home with you tonight?”
• If a person wants to negotiate, state your price with confidence and then shut up! Let the buyer make the next move and then lead the sale to a conclusion. “How would you like to pay for that?”

Things not to do

• Don’t underestimate the amount of time it will take to hang your exhibition.
• Don’t be a diva. If things aren’t going right, negotiate gently. Just because many legendary artists were quite temperamental doesn’t mean you have to be.
• In your speech, if you stuff up and miss some important things you wanted to say don’t let everyone know by fluffing around. Nobody knows what you are about to say other than you and any stuff ups you make will probably go unnoticed anyway.
• Don’t get drunk. It’s easy to do as you will be running on adrenalin and people will keep serving you drinks as you are the most important person there.
• Don’t ignore people or be shy. It’s your party. People want to know and meet you.
• Don’t get caught up talking to one person. You need to circulate. Pay special attention to potential buyers and VIP’s though.
• Don’t get depressed if people are not buying your artworks on the night. People sometimes have to think about an expensive purchase. Follow up any leads after the show.
• Don’t make artworks that can only be sold as a set. People are contrary and will often just want one.
• Don’t fluff around when people ask you the price of an artwork. Know your prices. State them clearly with conviction. Your confidence will tell the potential buyer that your artwork is worth what you are asking.
• Don’t forget to thank everyone who was personally involved in helping to put on your show.