Artist Back Alley Resources Blog

This collaboration is all about supporting new and emerging artists, which is exactly what the SMASH! Chibi event is for. SMASH! has a surprise for fans and artists this time: a trip down memory lane at the long-time beloved Rosehill Gardens venue, and a second taste of SMASH! in 2025. We believe setting up your first, or third, artist alley table should be fun and easy, not a puzzle. That's why we build lightweight, portable, modular booth kits that help you make your stand (literally) and help your work stand out. This partnership is our way of helping you smash your convention goals in comfort. What we're bringing to the table, literally We offer custom coloured table setups with foldable hooks for fast, self-serve setups that look the part next to your art and help you earn more. Here's what's included with this collab: Free custom hi-vis and artist planner: when you pick up your order, you'll get a limited edition SMASH x Artist Booths branded hi-vis vest and a booth planner to help you get organised. Summer freebies: November's warming up, so cool off with a SMASH x Artist Booths fan. A discount on us: enjoy 15% off our booth setup kits to help you build the display you actually want. Search for Artist Booths in your SMASH emails for the link, or message us with your SMASH acceptance screenshot to claim it. Free pickup at SMASH: skip the shipping fees and pick up all your booth gear for free at the event. Purchase before 19 Nov 2025 for the discount and free pickup at SMASH.It also combines with welcome discounts and 5% auto cashback, so that's up to 25% off your first order. Together with SMASH, we can't wait to see how you make your space uniquely yours. We're here to back up new and seasoned artists alike and we're always happy to help however we can. We can't wait to see your displays. More on the SMASH! Chibi event If you're interested in attending the SMASH! Chibi event, you can find out more here. There will be festivities to get your Christmas shopping started ahead of schedule, with gifted local artists and talented performers on the floor. With a more affordable ticket and shorter waits to see and take part in the cosplay opportunities, you'll have more time to explore, connect, and enjoy the day. Say hello to a rainbow of new colours You asked, and we listened. We're thrilled to announce 17 new colours for our booth panels, just in time for the spring cons. Now you can customise your setup to match your art and your brand. Want to see these colours in action? Check out the examples on our Instagram, or take a look below. Fully Black Ivory White Tan Brown Mustard Yellow Peachy Orange Salmon Pink Cherry Blossom Pink Indigo Purple Blue Sky Cobalt Blue Avocado Green Mint Green Emerald Green Pine Green New: Lemon Yellow New: Lilac Purple New: Snow White We're genuinely thrilled to be collaborating with SMASH to help power the next wave of Aussie artists at Chibi. This is your moment to let your creativity take centre stage. Use your Artist Booths setup to spotlight your brand, show off your personality, and stand out in the artist alley crowd. Together with SMASH, we can't wait to see how you make your space uniquely yours. We're here to back up new and seasoned artists alike, and we're always happy to help however we can. Can't wait to see your displays. Curious what a Shapeshift kit actually looks like in person? Head to the Artist Booths homepage to see the full lineup and find the one that fits your table.

Conventions are a lot. Three days on your feet, the same chair, the same conversation on repeat, and somewhere in there you're supposed to keep your prices straight and your energy up. If you've ever gotten home from a con weekend and slept for twelve hours straight, you already know the toll it takes. Looking after yourself during a show matters as much as your display does, and it's a lot less complicated than it sounds. Move, even in small doses Hours of sitting behind a table leaves most people stiff by lunchtime, and drawing commissions on top of that turns your hands and shoulders into knots by day two. Take a minute every hour or so to roll your shoulders, stretch your wrists and fingers, and stand up straight. If someone can cover your table for five minutes, take a short walk down the aisle. It's not just about avoiding a sore back, moving around actually helps you stay sharp for the next customer who stops by. Actually drink water This sounds obvious and it's still the thing most vendors forget. You get busy with a commission or a good conversation and suddenly it's 3pm and you haven't had anything but con-hall coffee. Bring a real bottle, not a tiny one, and refill it whenever you pass a water station. Dehydration sneaks up as a headache or that flat, foggy feeling by the afternoon, and it's a lot easier to prevent than to fix mid-show. Take the break, even when the table's busy The instinct when things are going well is to power through without stopping, because what if you miss a sale. But nobody does eight hours straight without their work suffering for it, whether that's snapping at a customer by accident or just running out of steam by 4pm. If you've got a table partner, stagger your breaks so one of you is always there. If you're solo, ask a neighboring vendor to keep an eye on your table for five minutes, most will happily return the favor. A few break habits that actually help Eat a real meal, not just snacks grabbed between customers. Low blood sugar makes everything feel harder than it is. Step outside if you can, even for two minutes. Convention halls are loud and fluorescent-lit, and a bit of daylight resets your head. Use the bathroom before you think you need to. Waiting until you're desperate is its own kind of stress. Dealing with con nerves Feeling anxious before a show is normal, whether you're worried about sales, a big crowd, or just being "on" for a whole weekend. The advice that actually helps: focus on what's in your control (your setup, your prices, your pitch) and let go of the rest, because attendance numbers and how busy the floor is aren't up to you. A written checklist the night before takes a surprising amount of pressure off, since you're not trying to hold the whole weekend in your head at 6am. Small wins count. A stranger complimenting your art, a commission you're proud of, a good conversation with the vendor next to you, these add up over a long day even on a slow sales day. If you're feeling overwhelmed, say something to a nearby vendor. Most artists have been exactly where you are and are quick to offer a laugh or a hand. Some days are just harder, and that's fine Not every show day feels good, and that's not a sign you're doing something wrong. If you need five minutes with headphones in and your favorite playlist blocking out the noise, take it. Your energy isn't infinite across a three-day con, and pacing yourself is part of getting good at this, not a failure to push through. The bottom line Taking care of yourself at a con isn't an indulgence squeezed in around the real work. It's what lets you show up at your table with something left to give, on day one and on day three. Stretch, drink water, actually take your breaks, and give yourself permission to have an off hour. The rest tends to follow. Curious what a Shapeshift kit actually looks like in person? Head to the Artist Booths homepage to see the full lineup and find the one that fits your table.

You got accepted into your first show and now you're staring at a blank shopping cart wondering where to even start. Let's turn this into an actual list you can work through, roughly in the order you should buy things. Step 1: display structure Buy this first because it determines what fits on your table and how much product you can realistically show. A flat table alone limits you to whatever fits on its surface. Vertical display, grid panels, shelving, a backdrop wall, multiplies your usable space without needing a bigger table. A tablecloth that reaches the floor, to hide storage underneath A vertical wall or grid system sized to your table (half table, 90cm/3ft, or full table, 180cm/6ft) Small easels or stands for anything that needs to sit upright, like prints or framed pieces If you're not sure how big a display you'll need long-term, a modular option is worth the slightly higher upfront cost. The Shapeshift Base kit runs from $699 and scales from a small counter setup to a full 180cm table using the same panels, so you're not buying a whole new display when you move to a bigger booth next season. Step 2: payment and money handling Cash box with a $150 to $200 float, split across small bills and coins Card reader, tested and charged beforehand, ideally one that works without perfect wifi A backup payment option taped somewhere visible, like a Venmo or PayPal QR code, in case your reader dies Step 3: pricing and labeling Price tags or small stands, visible without anyone having to pick the item up A simple price list taped to your table edge as backup, in case tags get knocked off during the day A notepad or phone note to track what's selling, so you know what to restock for next time Step 4: the boring but essential stuff Painter's tape and clear tape (you'll use both more than you'd expect) Scissors, a box cutter, zip ties Extra pens, a phone charger, a portable battery pack Business cards or a small printed catalog for people who want to buy later or find you online Packaging: bags, tissue paper, backing boards for prints so they survive the trip home A basic first aid kit, mostly for blisters and paper cuts, more useful than you'd think Step 5: comfort items you'll be glad you packed Snacks and water, since con food lines eat into your selling time A cushioned mat or insoles if you're standing on concrete all day A light jacket or layer, convention halls run cold more often than hot A folding chair, even if you mostly stand, your feet will need the break What to skip for your first show Don't buy custom printed banners, a matching table runner set, or a fully built wooden display before your first event. You don't yet know your real layout preferences, and a lot of that gets rebuilt anyway once you've seen your table in person under actual show lighting. Spend your first-show budget on the things above, then invest in the polish once you've got one show's worth of real experience behind you. A simple gut check before you check out For every item in your cart, ask whether it solves a real logistics problem (storage, payment, price visibility, transport) or whether it's there because it looked good in someone else's booth photo. The first category is worth buying now. The second category can wait until you know your own setup well enough to know if you actually need it. Curious what a Shapeshift kit actually looks like in person? Head to the Artist Booths homepage to see the full lineup and find the one that fits your table.

Pack your whole booth into a 56 x 36 x 23 cm carry-on. Here's how flat-pack panels fly, what to protect, and how to set up in under 30 minutes.