The Chances

Hi, guys!

Well, Saturday was our local Multicultural Fair in my little town. They close down a street in town for an evening and people from the community set up their booths. On either end of the street they have stages, showing off multicultural performing arts. I was categorized as "demonstrating artists", although I didn't demonstrate much.

Leading up, I ordered 6 11x14's mounted on single-weight matteboard by MPIX. I picked up 16x20 double-mattes at Aaron Bros. and used masking tape to mount the 11x14's (since they were already mounted, regular masking tape worked).

I also had a 16x20 of the plexiglas shot of my daughter, and a 16x20 of a senior I shot. Then I used the 8x10 of my first senior shoot, framed at11x14.

Along with these, I had my regular portfolio, my wedding portfolio, and my 4x6 portfolio. The finishing touch was the Shared Ink album I had made.

Here are a few quick pictures:

If you notice, the side panels are on. The wind was probably 30mph and I had a BEAR of a time making sure I didn't lose any pictures. My original idea was to put the 11x14's on little table easels but the wind sort of ruined that one. The walls cut down on the wind enough to at least tape down the easels.

In this one, you can see the 16x20 and the senior from last year. In the center on the table is a calendar I had made. The book is my normal portfolio, open to the rates page.

Here's the other side of the booth. The closed album to the left is my Shared Ink album, and the magazine to the right is the Visitor's Guide that has one of my photos published in it (more about this later).

Here's the Shared Ink album open:

OK so the final verdict... remember, my only other booth experience was last year's Christmas in November. At that particular booth, I tried to approach EVERYONE, introduce myself, and give them a business card. I'd also mention my drawing, which generated a mailing list. As a result, I had one booking, another booth vendor.

At this booth, I didn't approach anyone other than to say hello to them as they passed. Occasionally people would slow down and say to each other oh look at the nice pictures. Other times, they would stop and talk, I would give them a business card and discuss what they might be looking for.

So in the end, almost everyone who stopped at my booth was actually interested. There were people who had weddings coming up, people who wanted portraits, some who wanted newborn shots similar to mine. Nobody signed for a portrait at the show, but I'm expecting some calls.

I also think the larger prints drew people in easier. My next booth will be Christmas in November again, and I'm planning not to close off the booth except the back, which I plan to project a slideshow. I'll let you know how things progress!