Positive Tips for success...

Project a positive and upbeat attitude at all times.

Keep a guest book to accumulate names and addresses for your email or mailing list.

Mail or email a personalized flyer to your customers with a list of your upcoming shows once you are confirmed.

Be flexible and accommodating to your customers. Keep your promises for deliveries, special orders, etc.

Market yourself. You are your own best salesperson. Keep your display updated with new and exciting work.

Greet your customers with a friendly smile – but give them space to browse.

Display your name and prices.

Proudly present your bio and business cards.

Send your bio to our PR Department along with photos of your creating your or selling or in your booth.

This is excellent for pre event stories in magazines and newspapers.

Send high-resolution slides or photos to our PR department for use in ads and media kits.

Take pride in your personal appearance.

Dress for success! Maintain your canopy, walls, browse boxes and pedestals and keep all in new condition.

When someone shows interest in your work offer any inspirations or background on the image / sculpture.

This creates a personal bond between the patron, the work and you.

Take responsibility for your own success. Howard Alan Events gives you the opportunity to participate in an art show, but cannot guarantee your sales. That is up to you!

The above steps can lead you to a successful art festival tour with Howard Alan Events.

Now for a few don'ts ...

*Don't fail to get your customers' addresses for your mailing list.

*Don't sit in the back of your booth and read a book.

*Don't ignore the customers who are in your booth.

*Don't pre-determine your customers' buying capabilities based on their appearance.

*Don't skip the shower or wear the same clothes you wore at set up.

*Don't smoke cigars or cigarettes in your booth.

*Don't be inflexible when it comes to your customers' satisfaction. It can hurt future sales for everyone.

*Don't let your artwork and booth become stale, outdated and boring.

*Don't project a negative attitude towards customers and fellow artists

Why should you use Electronic Postcards?

Electronic Postcards - a.k.a. E-Postcards are an excellent way to notify your customers when and where you will be exhibiting your work. We have provided this easy to use and very effective marketing tool to help you utilize your mailing lists and get in front of your customers on a montly basis.

The best part is the epostcards are FREE to use and FREE to mail out.

Here are few of the benefits that e-postcards can do for your business: 

1. By sending customized monthly e-postcards, you will remain in the forefront of the minds of your contacts and customers, giving you and your business much-needed exposure for which everyone so desperately clamors.  Incentives such as free gifts or drawings for prizes, coupons & promotions to entice recipients to visit you at your festival.
2. Include your email address, phone number, or other alternate contact information on the postcard.
3. Call to action. Always tell the recipient what to do with the postcard — "Print and bring this email as your coupon" or "Meet me in front of this restaurant" may seem obvious, but say it anyway. It works

How to Use E-Postcards

Artist & Crafters using our E-postcard form is easy as 1-2-3!!  

 WHEN TO SEND YOUR POSTCARDS 

1. We recommend sending out your postcards at least three weeks in advance of your shows. For example if your next upcoming exhibition is on July 5th, then we recommend sending your postcard out on our about June 7th.
2. The postcard is designed to be sent out once a month, increasing the amount of time you reach your customers. You cannot add shows from different months on your postcard.
3. You can choose up to four festivals in one month to be displayed on your postcard.
4. If you are exhibiting at five shows in one month then we recommend using the "3-week rule". Send a postcard with only the first two shows of the month 3-weeks in advance, then send another postcard to your customers with the last two shows in the month, a week or two after you sent the first postcard.

 FILLING OUT THE FORM

1. Enter Your Full Name in the "Name Field".
2. Enter YOUR email address in the "Your Email Address" Field.
3. Enter a brief, yet descriptive summary of Art or Craft. 
4. Choose the Month of the shows in which you are exhibiting in from the pull-down menu.
5. Once you've chosen the Month - click on the arrows to the right of the month and choose the shows for you will be participating in.
6. Type or "copy and paste" your mailing list into the "Recipient Emails:" Field. See our additional tips for "USING MAILING LISTS" on this page.
   
7. Finally click the "PREVIEW" button to view your postcard. Double check carefully the information which you entered on the form. If you need to Edit the information, click on the back button on your browser. If all the information is correct click the SEND button. A confirmation message will display on the screen when the email has been sent.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

• Use the "Description of work" field to also mention coupons, promotions &/or incentives you are offering.
• The shows will be listed in the order in which you choose them - it is best to choose the shows in chronological order from top to bottom.
• Place YOUR email in the recipient list as well, so that you will be able to keep track of the emails you have sent out.