Open Studio Tips

These tips are for individuals participating in an open studios event. We welcome any tips you would like to send us (use our contact form).

Have a sign in book to gather names for you mailing list

Have some kind of refreshments- this helps to keep people in your studio - "the better the spread"- the more likely folks will linger in your studio

Have some music playing softly in the back ground, it makes people more comfortable to come in.

Have at least one other person helping you in your studio during the event

Have business cards available for people to take or recycle your old exhibition invitations by putting your contact info on them.

Price your work accordingly. remember that a gallery is not taking a 50-60% commission- don't over price your work!!

Some folks have success having a "bargain bin" area at open studios.

Hide all of your valuables and equipment if you can. One never knows if some one is coming to case your studio.

If your studio is not a legal live in studio, make sure it does not give someone the wrong impression that you live there. (one never knows if a building inspector has come to do some detective work or if some one knows a building inspector!)

Have a system in place with those organizing the Opens Studios Event that can deal with "problem folks" - ie strange people, those who get annoyingly drunk, etc.