Getting Started – The Essentials
There are few things more satisfying than meeting someone so excited about your art, that they BUY IT and take it home! Don’t let what you don’t know about booths, set up and how to accept credit cards prevent you from trying & succeeding at events.
The best tips are going to be from other artists. At First Saturday Arts Market, you’ll find many are happy to share their stories and ideas. I highly recommend visiting us before investing your time and money.
Suggestions – I have some product suggestions on a Pinterest page, linked below.
- THE TENT gives you your own showroom/gallery, protects you from the sun/rain and sets you apart from other exhibitors. Your tent is also a 100 square foot kite and can easily ruin your day, art and cause injury. Therefore you need good …
- WEIGHTS for your tent. I recommend a minimum of 100 pounds total, 25 pounds per tent leg. 30 – 40 pounds per tent leg is ideal. You have to buy these online or make them yourself. Order from Amazon, or Walmart and pick them up at your local store.
- DISPLAY is very important but don’t go broke getting started. Start with what you have and invest as you go. You’ll pick up a wealth of knowledge from other artists (by talking or observing). *Visit markets or look on Pinterest to get ideas for do-it-yourself displays on a budget.
- MONEY is what you want to take home. Get a credit card reader, they’re inexpensive and work with today’s smartphones. Most artists use either Square or PayPal.
- Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit – In Texas you are responsible for collecting and paying sales tax on your sales. Just like you pay tax for items you purchase everyday, if you are engaged in business, you must do this. The permit is easy to obtain on the comptroller’s website, be sure to jot down the number and keep it on you for surprise comptroller visits. You’ll need that number for your application as well.
* Direct link > https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit/
Fortunately, the sales tax ID is the only legal requirement needed in Houston.
- SCAM ALERT: There are many companies that will “obtain” your tax permit for a fee. You do not need them, this is a simple online form. The link above is all you need, do not give away your personal data to 3rd parties for your tax ID. **An employer identification number (EIN) or federal tax ID from the IRS is not the same, I do not need that. Read more about EIN here.
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