Artists' FAQ

Q: Do you charge a commission?
A: No, 100% of your sale price goes to you.

Q: How do you handle sales tax?
A: We collect 6.25% Massachusetts sales tax and remit it to the state. You don't have to worry about that.

Q: Am I responsible for hanging my own artwork?
A: Yes, artists (other than mail-in) hang their own work.

Q: Should I plan to bring my own hanging material?
A: We have hooks that go into our pegboard, and medium binder clips that are good for holding matted but unframed works on paper. Framed pieces or canvases should be wired, to hang on the hooks.

Q: How much does the typical artist sell?
A: Median sales per paid unit of space in 2009 were $28 for fan artists, $80 for professional artists overall, and $95 for mail-in artists specifically.

Q: How should I set my Quicksale prices?
A: A quicksale price of about 1.5 times the minimum bid price has historically been best for artists seeking to encourage quicksales without losing out on possible bidding wars. Quicksale only (no minimum bid) is another successful strategy.

Q: What kind of work sells well?
A: Arisia's buyers are mostly younger, and their budgets tend to favor pieces priced under $250. Prints are popular, even relatively expensive ones. Humorous pieces move well. 2-D and 3-D art do about the same on a per-piece basis. Apart from that, there doesn't seem to be a particular genre that does better or worse, and we're happy to see a diversity of subject matter in the show.

Q: Do you encourage 3-D art?
A: We love 3-D art! But sometimes, so do small children, who may not understand how art shows work. We try to keep an eye on them, but if your 3-D work is small, we recommend bringing a display case, to keep inquisitive hands away.

Q: Are adult topics OK?
A: As long as it's legal to display to under-18s in Massachusetts it's fine.

Q: Do I have to buy a membership in the convention?
A: Not unless you are attending the con. We accept mail-in art for a $15 fee, or you can send the art with an agent. You may also bring in, set up, and pick up your art without attending the convention. Program items such as the Collectors' Preview do require a membership, however. And we'd rather you stuck around and went to the rest of the con -- there's a lot going on and what's so wonderful about an SF convention is the different kinds of people you can meet.

Q: Is there storage space for my packing material?
A: Yes, there is a large service area next to the Art Show which we have permission to use for storing artists' packing material.

Q: What size are your bid sheets?
A: Bid sheets for work in the auction are 5.5" high by 4.25" wide. Tags for Quicksale-only or NFS work are 3.67" high by 4.25" wide.

Q: What is the lighting like? Can I bring my own?
A: The show takes place in a room with picture windows on three sides, so light levels are good during the day. For 3-D art, there is reasonably decent overhead lighting, and we can place you by a window by request (handy for stained glass work especially). 2-D art is lit by floodlights we provide. We can place tables near outlets, by request, for your lighting or other electrical equipment. Power for panels is more limited due to the location of the electrical outlets in the room.

Q: Can I use my own material for covering my table?
A: Yes, that's fine. For artists taking a whole table, the hotel may also be able to provide black or red table coverings instead of white, with enough advance notice.