Golden rule number nine: Realistic expectations.

An artist can do very well through selling in an open house. That same artist can show again and do very poorly. Why? Who knows, it’s just the way of the thing. There’s no rhyme or reason to it but some artists do think that with all those people filing through your house, greatness is assured. We always used to encourage artists to think of it as an exhibition first and a chance to show their work to a wider audience, rather than a selling venue. Sales are the icing on the cake and it is an inevitable quirk of fate that the artist who really expects to sell, won’t. Fate is a fickle mistress.

Golden rule number ten: Make it enjoyable.

Because if you don’t, then you won’t want to do it again and that would be a great shame. It’s great fun when you get it right and a huge artistic opportunity. It is, in fact, a unique opportunity and life doesn’t throw up too many of those. So make sure you enjoy it.

That’s it for me, the last of my articles for Open House Online. I hope you’ve enjoyed them and that they may have been helpful. If you have any questions, just email the site and some helpful soul will sort you out.

In the meantime, have a happy Festival.
back