Knowing Your Audience: Lessons from an Eastown Vendor Event

By Chelsea Holley, Creative Director

Recently, I had the chance to be part of a vendor event in Eastown, organized by my amazing friend Carah from Creative Coven. She’s constantly creating opportunities for local artists everything from curated markets to hosting Art Battle and this event was another great example of her bringing creative people together.

The event stretched through some of Eastown’s most iconic spots: Billy’s Lounge, where I was set up, all the way over to Mulligan’s Pub, with vendors woven throughout. It was a smaller, more local event, but honestly, those can sometimes be the most impactful.

The Big Lesson: Know Your Audience

Eastown has always had this bohemian, slightly edgy, artsy vibe and leaning into that made all the difference. Since I don’t have a huge inventory of original paintings right now, I brought some of my master study pieces from my painting classes and reworked them. I added unexpected, whimsical, and sometimes darker elements- eyeballs and teeth in floral bouquets, a shark in a bikini, mermaid skeletons in beach scenes, dragons layered into peaceful mountain landscapes. Those pieces hit.They matched the energy of the neighborhood, and they sold better than almost anything I’ve brought to other shows.

Pricing Matters, Too

Another big factor was pricing. Because this was a smaller, more grassroots event, not heavily promoted and very community-based. I adjusted my pricing to fit the crowd. That made my work more accessible and helped move more pieces.

It’s something I think a lot of artists overlook: the “right” price isn’t just about the work, it’s about the environment you’re selling in.

Not Every Event is the Same

This wasn’t a juried event, it was first come, first served. And you could really see the difference. Some vendors had work that didn’t quite connect with the Eastown crowd, and it showed in their sales.

It’s a good reminder: not every event is for every artist, and sometimes success comes down to choosing the right space or adapting your work to meet it.

The Experience

Beyond sales, it was just a really good day. I had a great spot next to some interesting, thoughtful women, and we had some real conversations about art, audiences, and what works (and what doesn’t).

My husband, Charles, came with me, helped me set up and tear down, and hung out for a bit, which always makes these long days better. We had friends stop by, good energy all around, and it just felt… easy.

Takeaway

If you’re doing vendor events, here’s what I’d say:

• Know your audience

• Choose events that align with your work (or adapt your work to fit the space)

• Price for the environment, not just the piece

• And don’t underestimate smaller, local events - they can surprise you

This one definitely did for me.