Paul Tusting ⋅ Salt Lake City , UT Bond Arms Inc ⋅ 20 years experience

Often coffee houses rotate through their art, and will host a local artist and use their venue for a "show" or "show opening" event. They typically don't pay for the art, but will post your info and prices.

Also, many cities have Art Strolls. Here is an example for SLC:
http://www.gallerystroll.org/

Good luck!
-Paul

Suzanna Molino ⋅ Sparks Glencoe , MD writer, editor, author ⋅ 35 years experience

Good Morning from Maryland, Bruce!

If Oakland is anything like Maryland, there should be a plethora of opportunities to purchase "table space" to showcase your artwork. As well, you may want to ask a handful of local stores to consign a few pieces for you. (They would keep a % when they sell for you.) Perhaps approach a few small local art galleries?

Search in local papers and on websites for events in your area which advertise the need for vendors. These might range from large convention center-type events (expensive! steer clear) to small churches or schools or community centers. There are MANY happening this month for the holiday season! Keep that in mind for next season so you can sign up ahead of December.

Could be an arts & crafts show in which all vendors are artists of some type, could be a home-related show, could be a nonprofit organization's event, or a holiday gift mart ... there are so many! I see them constantly on signs driving along, and advertised in the paper. There are street festivals galore here, so I'm sure Oakland would have many, too.

Choose the events with smaller vendor fees - maybe between $20 - $75. I wouldn't go much higher, since it would take away from any potential sales. Sometimes an event which needs vendors may ask you to donate one of your pieces as a door prize.

You could also set up home shows if you have friends willing to invite others into their home as you showcase your work.

ALWAYS be sure your display is attractive: use a nice solid color tablecloth, easels in your case to display art, perhaps offer a bowl of free candy or something "to take." An attractive display will help people to mosey over to your table to see what you're selling.

With any event in which you participate, help to promote it to your fraternity and beyond: via email, social media, mail, your choice. Talk it up!

Include your brochure, a flier or business card. Be sure your website url is included if you have one. You want people to 'take away' your information in case they want to look it up or perhaps purchase a piece from you later.

One tip at the table: don't be pushy. Let people browse your table, be conversational without sales assertive. This is a pet peeve for me, but I attend many local events with vendors, and I do not like when, as soon I pick up an item for sale to inspect, the vendor jumps in my face to tell me ALL ABOUT IT. I like to be left alone to browse, and if I have a question, I will ask.

Be sure prices are in sight! People generally do not like to ask prices and they will walk away rather than ask.

All in all, selling your art should be fun and enjoyable, and you never know who you may meet along the way. You also never know what people will pull out their wallet for - be patient as the art will sell ONE BY ONE. (I am a book author, and that's what I've found as I've set up table space - books sell one by one.)

Much success!
Suzanne