Tips & Advice

If you are hanging your work at a gallery, or a business (coffee shop, restaurant, etc) it's important to fill out (digitally or physically) a gallery commissions form. These forms protect both parties from any confusion upon sales. Never show your work at a gallery or anywhere that doesn't require one! They can screw you over real bad and you would have no proof of what they owe you. 

When it comes to choosing a market, I know it's easy to look at the vendor fees and make a determination, but more me it's a lot deeper than that. I also consider things like: 

• How long is the event? $40 for a 3-hour event, as opposed to $40 for one that may last 5 hours is something to consider. Not just that, but the times themselves. Is the 3-hour one on a Friday night as opposed to a Sunday morning?  If you know your audience isn't going to be awake in the mornings, or are less likely to be walking around in the evenings then choose an event that works for you and your customers. 

• Does the coordinator provide anything? This can be from tangible things like having tables (canopies, etc) already set up and included in the vending fee, to digital things like advertising the event or you and your work specifically. I will sometimes go for a more expensive market if it includes extra things I'd otherwise have to figure out how to transport.

• The cost of getting you, all of your supplies, and inventory there.

• Your hourly wage. You gotta be the one standing there making your sales, talking that retail game, handling customer service and random questions that only you know the answers to. It's time away from creating, or maybe the event is happening on your "day off". These are things to think about when determining if a market was successful, and if there was profit.  

How do I find art calls?   

Algorithms! Seriously. I knew the way advertising works on many social media sites and with Google has to do with the searches you make, as well as the things you like and share. 

Try it for yourself! Here are some things to search for with their corresponding platform. 

Instagram: (also helps to 'follow' these tags)
#seattleartcall #callforartseattle #seattleartscene #seattleartwalk 

Google:
Seattle Art Walks, Seattle Open Calls, PNW Open Calls, PNW art opportunities