Art Fair Equipment Essentials

The Best Type Of Stakes For Your Art Fair Tent

Securing Your Art Fair Tent

Securing Your Tent On Grass
Corkscrew style dog stakes are the best way to secure your tent on grass. Straight stakes and weights will do in a pinch. But they aren't nearly as secure Straight stakes will pull right out with any wind so are really kinda useless.


Get at least 4-6 dog stakes, preferably 8 (the cork screw kind) straight stakes aren't usually all that effective. The only time we use straight stakes is if it's really windy and we already have all 6 dog stakes in.

Easy-In Dog Tie-Out Stake - Low Profile - Zinc Steel

Amazon Price: $3.78 (as of 05/25/2012)

Tent Weights For Securing Your Art Fair Tent On Pavement

Securing Your Art Fair Tent

Securing Your Tent On Pavement
You really have to rely on weights when on pavement. We actually use tractor weights which are large flat plates They weigh around 80# each.

A professional system that works similarly to our tractor weights are Happy Feet tent weights. I know many artists who use them (as well as the artist who created them) and I think they are the best solution, particularly for the EZ Up variety tent.

Use actual weights only. This means DON'T try to improvise by using use water jugs, buckets filled with sand (or water,) barbells or your artwork. And yes, I've seen all of these used at one time or another.

Tent Weight Bags

Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 05/25/2012)

Securing Your Art Fair Tent

We usually haul around 30 clamps like this of varying sizes and still occasionally find we didn't bring enough.

Large Heavy-Duty 6" Steel Spring Clamps - PVC Cushion Grip & Tips

Amazon Price: $0.83 (as of 05/25/2012)

Use Cambuckles For Securing Your Art Fair Tent

Securing Your Art Fair Tent

Cambuckles are the best option for securing your tent to the dogstakes. They are easy to adjust and pull tight. and usually brightly colord so they're easy to see. People are often so busy looking at the art fair goodies they may walk into or trip over a narrow white rope. Plus rope stretches when.

Highland 10333 10' Red Cambuckle Tie Down with Hook

Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 05/25/2012)

Rope

Securing Your Art Fair Tent

Though for most things Cambuckles are the tie-down of choice. Occasionally you will need some rope for something. Often when we are arranging tarps to create some sort of sunshade we use rope to tie between trees or to create an awning.

Koch 5650725 Braided Polypropylene Clothesline, 7/32 by 100 Feet, White

Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 05/25/2012)

Zip Ties: An Art Fair Necessity

Also Known As Cable Ties

Every Artist should have a good sized stash of Zip Ties. These perform multiple functions for doing art fairs.

In regards to using them with artist display panels, they are used to:
* Help bind unstable panels together
* Bind the panels to the tent structure
* Bind lamps wires together for keeping your booth looking neat.

Fortunately Zip Ties come in both black and white so you can get the color that will be the most invisible against your display.

Nylon Cable Tie, 11 inch, 50 lb weight test, (100 Pcs Per Bag)

Amazon Price: $3.88 (as of 05/25/2012)

And A Wire Nipper For Cutting The Ties When You're Done

Securing Your Art Fair Tent

Beadsmith Jewelry Wire Side Cutters (Nippers) Pliers

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 05/25/2012)

Clamp On Umbrellas: Keeping You Cool At Art Fairs

Art Fair Sun And Weather Protection

Now while they may not entirely block UV light they do offer a little oasis of shade. I have truly baked in some art events and shade makes a world of difference not only to comfort but also to my health. I have been to more than one art fair where my neighbors gets heat sick.

The nice thing about these clip on umbrellas is you can attach them to your chair, your booth or your surrounding (like a parking meter) to create the shade you need, exactly where you need it.

Note: On a windy day they are pretty much useless and potentially dangerous. Only use on calm days. That last thing you want is your umbrella to tear loose and smack a passerby or a patron.

Clamp-on Fiberglass Beach / Rain Umbrella w Vent UPF 50 - Pacific Blue Inside

Amazon Price: (as of 05/25/2012)

Sunscreen: UV Protection For When You're Working Outdoor Art Fairs

Art Fair Sun And Weather Protection

We usually have several bottles of sunscreen. It tends to be one of those things we forget to pack (we have the same trouble with calculators) and so have to run out and buy more.

Most tents don't block UV rays so even though you may think you're sitting in the shade, you are still exposed. Working art fairs is an all day job. Often for several days in a row. And when working an event in a city it is often compounded by glare off skyscrapers and reflected heat of the pavement and sidewalks. The time spent in the sun is substantial. Therefor we always buy the highest SPF we can find and if it's sweat proof that's a bonus.

Vanicream Sunscreen, Sensitive Skin, Spf 60, 4 Ounce

Amazon Price: $11.25 (as of 05/25/2012)

Sunscreen Plus Bug Repellent

Art Fair Sun And Weather Protection

This is really nice for those Art fair events that are held in parks. Most of the time bugs aren't too much of an issue. But we have a couple of events that always having biting insects at dusk.

Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus IR3535 SPF 30 Cool 'n Fabulous Disappearing Color Sunscreen Lotion

Amazon Price: $2.65 (as of 05/25/2012)

Disposable Rain Coats

Art Fair Sun And Weather Protection

Adult Emergency Poncho - Assorted Colors

Amazon Price: $0.65 (as of 05/25/2012)

Lighting Your Art Fair Booth

Art Fair Lighting And Electricity

Always remember the S-Rule Shiny-Stuff-Sells.

I cannot express the importance of good lighting enough. Whenever possible (not all events offer it) purchase electricity to light your booth. Some events charge a nominal cost while others can run rather expensive. Whatever the cost it will be worth it. If your neighbors booth are well lit and yours are not, the average patron will pass you by, like moths to a flame and move on to the warm glow of someone else's booth. Yours will look like a cave by comparison.

These swing arm type lights work really well and usually come in a variety of colors to coordinate with your art panels. The nice thing is they are also inexpensive which is good because you'll at least 10-15 to fully light your booth. More if your doing a double booth or have a corner spot where you are lighting both sides of the panel.

Note: This is actually the lamps we use because we have the silver wire mesh panels and they look awesome with it.

lamps beautiful contemporary office task desk study swing arm light by litesource--chrome--excellent customer service--see our feedback.

Amazon Price: (as of 05/25/2012)

Extension Cords

Art Fair Lighting And Electricity

For indoor art fair events you usually don't need excessively long cords as most provide electric outlets fairly close to your booths.

Outdoor art fair events you'll probably need the longer cords as electrical sources are usually pretty scarce.

GE 51924 Indoor/Outdoor 25-Foot General Purpose Grounded Extension Cord, Orange

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/25/2012)

Smaller Extension Cords For Connecting Your LIghts

Art Fair Lighting And Electricity

We usually carry about 6-8 of these along for grouping our light cords together and getting them to the surge protector, which is then attached to the heavy duty extension cords. These smaller extensions cords tend to be less visible plus of course not as bulky.

Coleman Cable 03518 Flat Plug 12-Foot Extension Cord with 3-Outlet Strip

Amazon Price: $12.46 (as of 05/25/2012)

Surge Protector: The Easy On/Off Switch To Lighting Your Art Booth

For Organizing And Consolidating Your Art Fair Lighting Needs

Really for art fair purposes you don't need anything too fancy. Just something to plug all your lamps into, that you can turn on and off as a light switch to your booth.

Tripp Lite SUPER7 7-Outlet Surge Protector (2160 Joules, 7ft. Cord)

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 05/25/2012)

Quiet Generators For Powering Your Art Fair Booth

Powering Your Outdoor Booth

Electricity is a wonderful thing. It lights your booth in early morning and at dusk. As well as running fans for those hot and humid days. Plus as previously mentioned The S- Rule applies even if you're in the middle of a huge city park. All too often in outdoor situations, especially art fairs held in parks, there in no power available to purchase. Here's where a generator comes in really handy.

Note: You should check to make sure a generator is allowed by the event. Even if it is, make sure you have a quiet running one. Nothing will annoy your art fair neighbors more than your making so much noise they can't even hear themselves think or worse yet . . . talk to their customers. So be kind and considerate. If your generator is not quitee don't bring it.

2012 7th Generation Boliy Pro3600SIE Digital Inverter Generator (3300 Watt Maximum) - Electric Start, Quiet and light weight

Amazon Price: $1,090.00 (as of 05/25/2012)

Storage For Your Art Fair Equipment

Clear Totes

These totes are really excellent for keeping the various aforementioned goodies organized and easy to find. Plus clear makes for spotting exactly what you need with minimal effort. And since art fairs are all about effort, any little bit easing it will help.

Sterilite 19368606 25-Quart Shelf Tote Clear Base with Driftwood Lid and Platinum Latches, 6-Pack

Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 05/25/2012)

Keeping You Hyrdrated During Your Art Fair

The large coolers work really well for keeping enough room for drinks and snack to last all day. The wheels are a BIG plus when it comes to dragging it to your booth location. The only drawback is it takes a lot of space in your vehicle. So if space is at a premium go with something smaller.

Coleman 100-Quart Xtreme Wheeled Cooler (Blue)

Amazon Price: $74.54 (as of 05/25/2012)

Calculators: Yet another art fair essential

You can never have enough

Okay well maybe you can, but this is one item that having several of is a good thing. Cheap and cheerful is good enough for this purpose. Something that is solar powered in addition to batteries is a good thing.

So why do you need more than one?
* In case they fry in the heat (and they do)
* Get doused in a rain storm
* Forget to pack one. Always keep a spare in the van or permanently stashed in your stuff.

This also happens to be the one item we most often forgot to pack. So that's when we started traveling with 3 or 4.

Texas Instruments TI1795SV Solar Calculator

Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 05/25/2012)

Fanny Packs: Keeping Your Art Fair Money On Your Person

Because nothing says rob me like carrying a cash box.

Always carry your money on your person. I generally use the totally unfashionable fanny pack. Cash boxes are easy to snatch when your back is turned. In a pinch your pockets are still a better option than a cash box.

Fanny packs work well because you can make change for your bills with relative ease. I do use a small coin box for coins.

Riverstone Goods Black Leather Adjustable Fanny Pack

Amazon Price: (as of 05/25/2012)

Receipt Books For Keeping Track Of Your Art Fair Sales

Art Fair Money Management

Truthfully I do not create a receipt for every sale I make. Primarily because if your doing a good event you'll have people waiting in line to buy your work and completely filling out a sales slip for everyone will waste time as well as your customers patience. Most people don't even want one so this is no problem. However occasionally the sale is great enough or the customer requests one so it's good to have a book or two handy at all times.

NOTE: I do record every sale for tax purposes as well as inventory reasons. But I do so by keeping a running tally.

Adams Sales Book, 3.34 x 7.19 Inches,White and Canary, 2-Parts (50 Sets) (DC3705)

Amazon Price: $2.13 (as of 05/25/2012)

Pens

Art Fair Money Management

So this is pretty logical but people do walk off with your pens. Rarely this is intentional. Most of the time they are talking and filling out their check or credit card info and then just slip in in their purse. (Yes I think women are the main culprit since it's so easy to throw it in the purse with the check book) So keep plenty on hand.

BIC Round Stic Ball Pen, Medium Point (1.0 mm), Black, 10 Pens

Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 05/25/2012)

Counterfeit Money Detector Pen

Art Fair Money Management

Most of the time the cash that you take in will be smaller bills. Occasionally I do have someone pay with a $50 or $100. This is where a pen comes in handy. Oddly enough I don't do $20 and I think they are the most counterfeited of all the denominations. I have yet to find a bad bill but I also don't want to take the chance.

Counterfeit Money Detector Pen Bill Marker Buy1get1FREE

Amazon Price: $3.95 (as of 05/25/2012)

First Aid Kit For Art Fair Emergencies

This is something that is always good to have along. Both for doing the art fair event and also while traveling. You never know when you'll need something like a band aid, aspirin or antibacterial ointment.

Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit, Safe Travels (Pack of 2)

Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 05/25/2012)

Hand Sanitizer For Art Fair Cleanliness

Most outdoor art fairs have gotten much better about providing hand washing stations in addition to their port-o-potties. However not all of them do and the ones that do may not get them restocked often. The other thing is cash is is surprisingly dirty. Keeping a bottle or two of hand sanitizer is always a good idea.

Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer, 8-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6), Package may vary

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 05/25/2012)