top of page
Search

Art Festival Vendor Supplies: Everything you need to crush your first market!

Writer: Cassie DeeCassie Dee
Jul 9, 20248 min read

Updated: 23 hours ago

A white tent full of paintings at a festival, with "Art festival vendor supplies: everything you need for your first market" in bold text on the side

You got into your first art festival or market. Yay! Now what?

There is a LOT of work that goes into getting ready to vend your art at a tent event. I've learned a lot in the years since I started attending these markets and I'm ready to help you learn from my mistakes. Here’s everything you need to know when preparing for an art show, and all my go to art festival vendor supplies.



Let's start from the outside in, your tent. Now unless you're attending an indoor market, tents are a must have. Some markets have specific requirements for your tent so it's best to be aware of them before you invest. You don't want a beach canopy, you need a sturdy 10x10 vendor tent. I use this one, it comes with detachable walls which multi-day festivals will require so you can close up your tent over night. But if you are on a budget or not doing multiple day events, they come without walls as well. Some higher end art festivals also often require your tents to be WHITE so I do yourself a favor and avoid the colored ones so you don't run into that problem later.


The wind is your enemy - use weights! There's almost always one vendor who's entire tent blows away in the wind. Don't let it be you. You want at least 100 lbs holding down your tent. I like to use these sand bags one on each leg of my tent, and if the show requires more weight I'll slip these stackable weights under them. The stackable weights work nice but they can be costly to get enough of them to reach the weight you need. (The most weight I've seen an event require is 200 lbs. You always want at least 100 lbs.) If you are traveling and need them to be lighter, they have these that you can fill with water when you arrive at your destination. I have not used the water before but wanted to share that idea if it works better for you.


Hanging your artwork

Figuring out how to hang my artwork in an affordable way was a big challenge. As a beginner it wasn't in the budget to get those fancy ProPanels and I wanted something nicer looking than Grid Walls . So I settled on making my own mesh hanging walls from these sun tarps. I attach them to the tent using bungee cords, and hang the art with s-hooks or curtain hooks. It's been working really nicely, I do have a weight limit with what I can hang, so if the canvas is large I use multiple hooks to spread out the weight across the tarp wall, or just grab a standing easel. I'm sure someday I'll need to level up to something more heavy duty but for now it's working great! The smaller art canvases do move a little in the breeze but since the hook backs are so long I've never had one fall off.


Decorations and Displays

Think of your tent as your own little store for the day. The more attractive you make it the more buyers you'll pull in to look at your product. Decor is very personal. I recommend attending other markets to get ideas of what you would like to do for your own brand aesthetic. A few things I have added are banners, signs, garlands, and plants.


When it comes to displaying your products there are some things that are pretty universal. You're going to want some folding tables and fitted table cloths to cover the legs. I also like an additional decorative table cloth on top since the fitted ones are very thin but it's optional. Depending on what you sell you may want some risers, signs for prices, cake stands (not just for cakes), art print holders, and trays or displays for stickers.


A few years ago I decided to swap out individual price tags/stickers for signs in picture frames and it has made my life a lot easier. I love having only one thing to change instead of making sure every item has a price. I like these frames that are acrylic so there is no glass to break. They have a little flap on the back you can weigh down with heavy objects if there is wind. The signs are great for displaying prices, product info, and links for payment. Don't forget to get business cards (no need for holders, people notice them more laying face up on the table). My favorite place for cards is GotPrint.com. I love all the paper options, the price is nice, I design my own cards but they have lots of templates as well.


Let There Be Light!

As a visual artist, having good light on my work is incredibly important. When the sun goes gown you don't want to be caught in the dark. If you have access to power, I've found string lights work great. However most of the time markets are not in places where power is accessible. Don't waste your time with battery or solar powered string lights - they just aren't bright enough. I recommend using rechargeable, magnetic, under cabinet light bars. (Link down below article.) If you get magnetic ones they and can stick to the poles of your tent, they are bright and affordable enough you can buy as many as you need.


Point of Sale Systems:

You are going to want multiple ways to take payments. Being able to take credit cards is a MUST, I recommend a Square reader. It's affordable and super easy to use. When I started I just used the one that plugs into your headphone jack, and later upgraded to the contactless model with a dock to make it more professional.

A money transfer app is very handy, you can sell with Cashapp, PayPal, Venmo, and more. I keep my Venmo QR Code printed out in a frame on my table.


Most people will use card or transfer but you also want to prepare to take cash. Get a cash box and some Counterfeit Bill Pens. Plan to have around 100 bucks in your till split into smaller bills of different values so you can give change.


Don't forget the packaging! It's kind and professional to give them something to take home their product in. You can have a lot of fun personalizing these. To keep costs down I would start out with a generic gift bag (slips, boxes, whatever is right for your product) and you can add your own custom sticker logo on top.


Emergency & Miscellaneous Items:

After my first market I learned it's ESSENTIAL to pack a little container of market emergency supplies. It ALWAYS comes in handy. Pack it with anything you need to fix, hang or otherwise finish your artwork if you come across something that is broken or was overlooked. I fill mine with wire cutters, hanging wire, scissors, tape, paint pens, sharpies, a mini screwdriver, screws, string, batteries or power banks for charging your phones, POS System, Light Bars etc.


Beat the heat and take a seat. Always pack a cooler full of ice, water, and snacks.

If you don't want to end up spending all your money at the food vendors at the show (I need to take my own advice because I usually end up doing this lol) then you'll also want to pack meals. Plan on finding a place within your 10x10 booth to hide it, under a table inside a checkout stand etc. Some shows will have extra space for you to store items behind your tent, but most of the time you will only have the 10x10 foot space you signed up for. Since you're going to be there all day, you'll of course want to bring a chair. A folding or camping chair is fine, I recommend a directors chair that puts you at eye level with your customers.


I also recommend FANS. Those little neck fans are super handy but I actually bring two bigger ones. I use a jobsite fan that is strong and lasts all day long, it hangs in the corner of my tent and then I have a more affordable battery powered table top fan I place on the other side so I get circulation through the whole booth. We have hot, dry summers here in Utah and I think it's nice to make the entire tent a little more pleasant for my patrons. They linger longer just to enjoy the breeze.



The Key to Success & Surviving Slow Events:

Last but arguably the most important thing you'll take with you is a good attitude! Happiness is contagious and essential not only for appealing to your customers but also for your own enjoyment and success at the event. Have a fun time! Always remember that when you put energy into your business that effort comes back to you, if not always at the time or place that you expect.


You will have bad days. When sales are slow, spend your day networking with the other vendors, learn from them, swap contact info, make a goal to pass out all your business cards. I have had shows where I didn't make back my booth fee that day but then a month later someone who took my card from that show orders a big painting through my website. Or I learn about a festival from my booth neighbor and end up having a lot of success at that event. Attitude is everything, time spent going after your goals and dreams is never wasted. ❤️



 


Product Links: My Art Market Must Haves

Please show your appreciation for the free information I've provided, by purchasing through these affiliate links. Doing so allows me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! ❤️


Tents & Walls


Hanging Hooks


Tent Weights (Use 100lbs minimum)


Display Items


Point of Sale Items


Miscellaneous



 
 
 
bottom of page