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There are many ways to evaluate the success of an art show. Here are some of the ways artists measure success.

1. The main and usual measurement many artists use in determining the success of an art show is the total sales of artwork. This could be the combination sales of originals, prints and other products of the artist. When comparing the money received from the art show to the money expended on the show, different artist will have different criteria to consider the show a success. Some will compare their profit to the profit they made in previous shows. Some are just happy to come out ahead at all. This determination of the success of a show will be based on the individual needs of each artist.

2. For some artists money doesn't always determine success. Many want more to get their name out there and to be taken seriously. For these artists, they will most likely judge the success of an art show or exhibit by who attends and by what is said about them after the show, including what coverage they receive in the press. They will also consider the show a success or failure based on the comments they receive from artists they respect.

3. Another way to measure the success of your art show or exhibit is by the number of inquiries you receive after the show. If you receive more traffic to your website or you receive more phone calls after the show, you may count the show as a success because potential customers are asking about your work. People are often slow to buy art. Gaining the interest of potential customers is important to your business because you never know when a potential customer will convert to a paying customer or when they might send someone else your way.

4, Many artists use business cards, post cards or discount codes to track how they are doing and to measure whether a show is a success or failure. For example, if you hand out 200 business cards or brochures during your show and see no appreciable difference to the traffic on your website, you may consider the show a failure, but is it? It may just be that you will receive a delayed reaction or using a brochure is a failure and people will come back to you in person to purchase art or to ask you to display your art in their venue.

In order for artists to accurately measure the success or failure of an art show, it's important for them to identify their individual criteria for determining the definition of success.

Learn more about this author, Lou Belcher.
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