Hello to be or seasoned artist.
We're here to help you leap or level up in the vibrant, creative chaos that is artist alley. Whether your heart’s racing with nerves, excitement, or a wild mix of both, know you’re not alone. Every seasoned creative started with that very first table, bursting with ideas and a dream (and, let’s be real, more questions than answers).
But never fear! We’ve put together a checklist and some tried-and-true tips to make your debut as smooth and as fun as possible. Let’s set you up for a legendary first show!
🎒 Artist Alley Essentials Checklist
The must-haves for your first table:
Your Art: Your creations in all their glory! Prints, stickers, charms, and pins are the most popular categories! The artist alley welcomes all things self made like pottery, crochet or 3d printed, or resin made or home made.
Your setup
Display Panels/Booth Panels: Let your art steal the spotlight with our booth panels, available in 17 exclusive colors. You can mix and match to create a setup that reflects your personality or brand and fits your vibe. If you need a little inspiration, scroll through our Instagram for creative display ideas and keep an eye out—we’ll be sharing plenty of photos! Sydney artists have the option to pick up panels early or collect them during bump-in, making your con prep even easier.
Tablecloth & Decorations: Personal touches bring your brand to life. Add some cute lights, your fave plushies, some flower decor or anything you like. Make it yours!
Signage: A clear, friendly sign with your brand name and prices makes shopping a breeze! Don't be afraid of adding some bundle deals, customers will love it.
Float/Cash Box & Payment Options: Be ready for cash and card, get that bread! Make sure your card reader is updated and ready to go for the big weekend ahead. Do some tests about a week early, and keep your cashbox nice and safe.
Stationery Supplies: Pens, tape, scissors, sticky notes, blutack etc. (trust us, you’ll use them).
Portable Storage: Boxes or crates for easy setup and pack-down. You can check out our Boofs Tote bag for easy transport of panels as well.
Snacks & Water: Stay fuelled and energised, con days are long and full of surprises!
Hi-vis vest and enclosed shoes: Wear these during bump-in, as most venues require them for safety while setting up your booth.
Top Tips for First-Timers
Plan Your Layout: Mock up your table at home. Try different panel arrangements until you find what shows off your work best (bonus: no mid-con meltdown!).
Arrive Early: Give yourself time to set up and ease into the day. Also a great time to do some early shopping from your booth neighbours.
Engage With Visitors: Smile, chat, share your story, your table is like a mini-gallery and you’re the friendly curator.
Watch & Learn: Check out other tables for inspo on pages like Instagram or Tumblr, you can also see Booths in the Wild our on Insta page.
Take Notes: After your first event, jot down what worked and what you might change next time. Growth = progress! You can also keep track of what items sold best for you, for that particular event.
Why Booth Panels Are a Game Changer
Booth panels help your art shine above the crowd, save precious table space, and let you get creative with your setup. They’re also sturdy (goodbye, falling prints), reusable, and easy to tweak as your display evolves.
We design and test every panel with care right here in Australia. Our colours are exclusively ours and custom made so you can't find them anywhere in this world. If you need advice, custom sizes, or want to check out what’s worked for us and others, hit us up! Making displays easier, lighter, and more fun is our jam, and we’re always down to help.
The ultimate Con-quest planners
Good luck and happy selling! Can’t wait to see you shine.
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