Blankets make great table coverings.
Artists selling or displaying their art at a trade show will need to construct a craft booth to show off their art work. Many types of display booths are available commercially, or you can piece together your own booth using materials that you may already have. Building your own craft booth can potentially save you hundreds of dollars.
Instructions
1. Ask the management at the craft show how much floor space you will be allotted. Most art and craft shows will give artists a predetermined amount of floor space. Know how much room you will have to work with before getting started. If you are unfamiliar with the dimensions, you risk your setup not fitting properly in the space.
2. Select tables according to the size of your booth. Do not use tables that are too long to fit in your space or tables that are too small to properly hold your work. The tables should stand at a comfortable height so patrons will not have to hunch over to see your art. Dress a plain table up by covering it with a tablecloth or a large sheet of fabric. Select a table covering that complements your artwork, not one that distracts you from it.
3. Build fabric walls around your booth. Fabric walls provide privacy and help your booth stand out from the others. Build a U-shaped frame using three 8-foot PVC pipes and connecting them with two PVC elbow connectors. Insert the the two legs of the U-shaped frame into separate adjustable umbrella stands. Tighten the stands around the pipes until they are held securely in place. Drape a sheet or curtains over the center bar of the U-shaped frame to create a fabric wall. There are also a number of pre-built temporary walls available for purchase at many office and art supply stores. In most cases, you will need three walls: two for the sides and one for the back.
4. Incorporate props into your art display booth. Photographers often set out decorative antique cameras. Painters should display a few paintings on easels. Open an old hard-shelled suitcase and line it with a playful fabric lining. Neatly arrange your artwork inside to use the suitcase as a display cabinet.
5. Set up shelving to display your artwork on. Wire shelving is available for purchase in many chain department stores or you can use shelving that you may already have in your home. Shoe and magazine racks make great display racks. When selecting shelving, look for structures that can be self-supporting. In many instances, you may not be able to hang shelves from walls.
6. Hang up a banner with your name and logo on it. This will help patrons identify your brand and draw people into your booth. Be creative and design a banner that best represents you and your art. Have an area near your cash box where you can display business cards for patrons to take with them. Add price tags to all the pieces of work you have on display or offer visitors to your booth a typed and printed price list.
7. Turn on the lights. Bring a few extra lamps or art lights to properly light your artwork. Do not assume that lighting will be provided for you.Test different types of light bulbs on your artwork at home to see which kind best illuminates your artwork. The lighting should not wash out or give the colors an off appearance. Do not use lights that will produce too much heat or make a patron uncomfortable in anyway. Bring your own extension cord and power strip.
