TIRED OF LEAVING ART SHOWS WITH NOTHING BUT YOUR ART?
- Vivia Barron
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 12
“Asking these eight questions is a powerful opportunity for both artists and organizers.
They spark a conversation that leads to stronger shows, better experiences, and more profit for everyone involved. When organizers succeed, artists succeed. When artists ask questions that trigger new ideas, events improve. The purpose of these eight questions is not just to protect artists—it’s to begin the dialogue that creates better outcomes for all".
Too many artists are still saying yes to every single show that comes along — and walking away broke.
Here’s the reality: your work deserves more than being treated like free wall décor. Your time, your money, and your reputation all have value. But if you don’t ask the right questions before committing to a show, you risk wasting all three.
Stop walking out empty-handed.
If you don’t ask these questions, you don’t make the money.
Grab the 8 questions now, get the answers before a show — they’re the only thing standing between free décor and getting paid.
The Frustration No One Talks About
Let’s get real: it’s not just about “exposure.”
If you’re saying yes to every invite, you already know what happens. You drop off your art. You put your time and money into shipping, framing, and travel. You wait weeks or months. And then?
You get a date to pick your art back up — but not a check.
Meanwhile, the organizers? They got paid. Entry fees, grants, commissions. Their bills are covered. Yours aren’t.
That is the trap. That’s how artists lose money.
👉Every show without these 8 questions = wasted time, wasted money. Ask them and you sell. Skip them and you don’t.
Download the 8 essential questions today and start getting paid and stop leaving with your art instead of a check.
Access is limited. For emerging and professional artists only.
My Hard Lesson 💥
I know this because I experienced it.
I once said yes to an out-of-state show without asking these 8 questions. I assumed the basics were covered — press, PR, buyers. That’s what any professional show should have, right? Wrong.
I arrived to silence.
❌ No PR.
❌ No promotion.
❌ No collectors.
For 30 days, my art sat on a wall as decoration. The consultants who organized the show got paid. I walked away with nothing. This was 10 years ago. Lesson learned. Never happened again.
I had spent money on shipping, travel, and materials. I invested time preparing for the show. I drained energy that could have gone toward real opportunities. And the return? Zero.
That was the moment I promised myself: never again.
Why Artists Keep Falling into the Trap
It’s not just me. Almost every artist I know has done the same thing. Why? Because flattery feels good. The invite feels like validation. And the fear of missing out makes us think saying “no” means we’ll never be asked again. But flattery doesn’t pay your bills. Exposure doesn’t equal sales. And a bad “yes” costs you money 💵.
The Turning Point
After that experience, I had to ask myself: how do I stop this from happening again?
That’s when I sat down and wrote out a system — 8 essential questions that every artist must ask before saying yes to a show.
These questions aren’t fluff. They’re a filter. They separate real opportunities from vanity invitations. They save you money, time, and energy. They give you the confidence to walk away when a show isn’t worth it — and the clarity to say yes when it is.
Why This Guide Exists
Let’s be clear: every time you commit to a show, you’re investing something.
Money — entry fees, framing, shipping, travel.
Time — preparing, delivering, attending.
Reputation — your name attached to the event.
That’s an investment. And like any investment, you should expect a return.
These 8 questions will tell you, fast, whether a show is worth it — or whether it’s just going to drain your wallet and hang your work as free décor.
This is the line in the sand:
Every Artist must get the answers to 8 questions.
❌ No questions = no sales.
✅ The right questions = checks in your hand.
Get the guide now — because one wrong answers already costs too much..
For emerging and professional artists only.
What You’ll Gain
By asking these 8 questions, you will:
✔ Avoid wasting money on dead-end shows 💵
✔ Protect your time and energy for real opportunities
✔ Walk away with buyers and connections, not regret
Every wrong “yes” costs you. These questions make sure your “yes” is an investment — not a giveaway.
Final Thought
Artists are told over and over again to be grateful for exposure. That just being included is enough. That saying yes is always smart. But here’s the truth: exposure without intention is exploitation.
You don’t have to keep giving your art away as free décor. You don’t have to keep losing money at shows that don’t serve you.
Tired of picking up your art instead of a Check? 💵
If you’re not asking the right questions, you’re losing money before the show even starts.
Grab the Quick Mini Guide. Learn the questions. Walk into every show with clarity — and walk out with sales, not excuses.
Your art isn’t decoration. It’s value. Download the questions today. Print it. Use it. Sell more.
Take it to your next show. Because every wrong YES costs you money — and the right ones should always pay you back.
Access is limited. For emerging and professional artists only.
Until next time, stay real. – Vivia
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