Applying to My First Art Fair

The application wanted a professional outdoor booth photo. I had a cramped basement and a phone.

Having my work up at The Co-Co was a huge step. People saw it, reacted to it, and shared what they noticed. But it also made me realize something important. People don’t go there to buy art.

An art show is different. People are coming specifically to look. So, I started investigating submission requirements for local shows. I learned that most art show applications require a high-quality photograph of your booth. A classic chicken-and-egg situation.

I watched YouTube videos, researched setups, and invested in a 10x10-foot booth frame. From supplies to courses to equipment, and now apparently booth infrastructure, my art career feels like one long exercise in investing!

The next challenge was photographing the thing. In the heart of a New Jersey winter with twenty inches of snow on the ground, setting up outside wasn't an option. I was in the basement. Low ceilings and structural beams made it impossible to open the booth to full height, and I couldn't back up far enough to get a clean wide shot. The lighting was abysmal.

I debated submitting it and hoping for the best. Instead, I emailed the director directly. I didn't want to be dismissed out of hand. What I didn't expect was how generously he engaged. It turned out he actively likes to foster emerging talent, and once he knew it was my first show, he offered a lot of direction and advice on how to prepare.

That wasn't something I could have engineered. I controlled the work. I made every effort to get as far along as I could. And I took the chance. But his generosity was something else entirely, a fortunate break I don't take for granted.

Come July, the real test begins: a proper booth, real lighting, and people who showed up specifically to look at art. I'll report back.