The Artist Alley Checklist: Everything You Need to Sell More at Conventions
The Artist Alley Checklist That Actually Protects Your Sales
Most Artist Alley packing lists tell you to bring prints, a tablecloth, and tape. Useful, but they skip the part that actually costs artists money. The weekend doesn't go sideways because you forgot binder clips. It goes sideways because you sold out of your 11x14 prints by Saturday noon, your card reader died during the afternoon rush, or you ordered prints too late.
This is the complete checklist, organized the way experienced vendors actually pack: products, displays, payments, marketing, emergencies, comfort, and a countdown timeline. Work it top to bottom, and you'll have the gear plus the backups and the resupply plan that separates a smooth show from a stressful one.
First Convention vs. Veteran: What Changes
The same checklist serves a first-timer and a tenth-time vendor, but they make opposite mistakes. Knowing which one you are tells you where to spend your prep energy.
If it's your first convention, the temptation is to go deep on one or two favorite designs and assume they'll fly off the table. They usually don't — you don't yet know what this crowd responds to. Bring breadth instead: more designs, fewer copies of each, and a way to reorder fast if something unexpectedly takes off. First-timers also tend to under-prepare on payments and over-prepare on stock, which is backwards. A dead card reader with no backup costs you sales all weekend; a thin stack of one print costs you a single restock trip.
If you're a veteran, the risk flips. You know your bestsellers, so the danger is over-committing to last year's data and getting caught flat when a new piece outsells everything. Your edge is the resupply plan — reordering a hot design mid-season without a giant bulk buy — and the small operational details that compound over many shows: a backup reader you actually tested, a price ladder that nudges browsers up a tier, signage that answers questions before anyone asks. The veteran's checklist isn't about remembering more; it's about removing the few failure points that still cost real money.
Either way, the throughline is the same: don't let inventory decisions lock you in before you know what sells. The sections below are built around that.
Why Most Artist Alley Checklists Fall Short
Many convention packing lists focus only on art prints and display equipment. In reality, successful Artist Alley vendors prepare for much more than that.
A complete convention setup includes:
- Products to sell
- Display equipment
- Payment systems
- Marketing materials
- Emergency supplies
- Personal comfort items
- Backup plans
The artists who consistently have smooth convention weekends are usually the ones who prepare for problems before they happen.
Art Prints & Products Checklist
Your inventory is the booth. A spread of sizes lets fans buy in at their own comfort level, and the small sale often turns into a bigger one once someone has stopped at your table.
Art prints — common Artist Alley sizes:
- 8 x 10 prints — affordable entry point, easy to carry home
- 11 x 14 prints — the reliable mid-tier bestseller
- 11 x 17 prints — strong presence without a poster price
- 12 x 18 prints
- 13 x 19 prints - statement pieces that pull people in from across the aisle
Other products to consider:
- Postcards
- Mini prints
- Sticker sheets
- Die-cut stickers
- Comic books
- Zines
- Art books
- Coloring books
- Original artwork
- Acrylic charms
- Enamel pins
- Commission slots
Inventory tracking:
- Inventory spreadsheet
- Printed inventory count sheet
- Price list
- Sales tracking sheet
Variety beats volume for a first show: bring a range of designs rather than a deep stack of one or two. And after their first convention, most artists realize that knowing what sold is as valuable as having had it to sell.
The resupply problem most lists ignore: "order early" assumes you won't sell out mid-weekend or mid-season. If a design moves faster than expected, no-minimum, blind-ship fulfillment lets you reorder a single bestseller without buying a fresh bulk run or revealing a third-party printer to your customer — the difference between an empty rack and a restocked one.
Display Equipment Checklist
Attendees decide whether to stop in about two seconds, and they're scanning at eye level — not down at your tablecloth. Vertical space is where booths win or lose.
- Tablecloth
- Table risers
- Storage bins
- Display crates
- Print sleeves
- Portfolio books
Vertical displays (the highest-impact upgrade to most booths):
- Grid walls
- Wire cubes
- Mesh panels
- Easels
- Sign holders
- Display racks
Banners & signage — at a glance, someone should know your name, your brand, and what you sell:
- Banner (often the first thing people notice from down the aisle)
- Price signs
- Product labels
- QR code signs
- Commission information
Payment Processing Checklist
Every payment method you can't accept is a sale you hand to the booth next door. Redundancy here pays for itself in a single afternoon.
Card payments:
- Card reader
- Backup card reader (not optional — readers die at the worst moment)
- Charging cable
- Mobile hotspot for when a venue Wi-Fi buckles under the crowd
Digital payments — display QR codes for:
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Cash App
Cash payments:
- Small bills
- Change
- Cash box
- Lockable pouch
A meaningful share of attendees still pay cash, and "sorry, I can't break a fifty" is a lost sale.
Marketing Materials Checklist
A convention sale is good. A customer who finds you again next month is better. Marketing materials are how a single weekend keeps paying out.
Business cards — include:
- Artist name
- Website
- Store link
- Social media handles
Postcards pull double duty as:
- Mini portfolio pieces
- Promotional handouts
- Future convention reminders
Email list signup:
- Signup sheet
- QR code signup form
- Giveaway entry form
QR code signs linking to:
- Online shop
- Portfolio
- Newsletter signup
Many attendees would rather scan a code than carry more paper — meet them where they are.
The Emergency Survival Kit
Something always breaks. The artists who stay calm are the ones who packed for it.
Repair supplies:
- Painter's tape
- Gaffer's tape
- Zip ties
- Velcro strips
- Safety pins
- Binder clips
Tools:
- Scissors
- Utility knife
- Screwdriver
- Multi-tool
- Sharpies
- Pens
Technology backups:
- Power bank
- Charging cables
- Extension cord
- Power strip
Personal Comfort Checklist
A convention is a multi-day endurance event, and a drained vendor sells less.
Food & water:
- Water bottle
- Protein bars
- Snacks
- Electrolyte packets
Health items:
- Pain relievers
- Allergy medication
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Lip balm
Clothing:
- Comfortable shoes
- Extra shirt
- Light jacket (convention halls run cold)
The Countdown: When to Do What
Most last-minute panic traces back to a missed deadline weeks earlier. This is the part worth taping to your wall.
One month before
- Finalize print quantities, product mix, and pricing
- Order art prints, comics, postcards, business cards, and banners — this leaves time for proofs, production, and shipping
- Plan your restock strategy so a mid-season bestseller doesn't leave you scrambling
One week before
- Confirm booth number, setup times, parking, and vendor rules
- Test your card reader, QR codes, payment apps, lights, and displays
- Never assume something works because it worked last month
The night before
- Pack products, displays, cash, chargers, and food
- Fully charge your phone, tablet, card reader, and power banks
- Check the weather for anything that could affect travel or load-in
Frequently Asked Questions
How many art prints should I bring to Artist Alley?
There's no universal number — it depends on your fanbase and the show's size. First-time vendors usually do better bringing a variety of designs in modest quantities rather than a deep stack of one or two pieces. The bigger safeguard is a resupply plan: with no-minimum fulfillment you can reorder a single bestselling design mid-season instead of over-ordering everything up front.
What size art prints sell best at conventions?
8 x 10, 11 x 14, and 11 x 17 are the most common because they balance affordability, portability, and shelf impact. Many artists anchor their table with one or two larger statement pieces (12 x 18 or 13 x 19) to draw people in, then convert with the mid-size prints.
Do I need a banner for Artist Alley?
It's not required, but it's one of the cheapest ways to improve visibility. A banner is often the first thing attendees notice from across the aisle and helps them identify your booth and brand from a distance.
What payment methods should I accept?
Cash, credit cards, and at least one mobile option like Venmo or PayPal. Bring a backup card reader and a mobile hotspot, since a dead reader or weak venue Wi-Fi during a rush is a direct hit to your sales.
Should I bring business cards?
Yes. Many attendees browse first and buy later, and a card with your store link and socials is how they find you after the show. Pair it with an email signup so one weekend keeps generating sales for months.
The Booths That Win Are the Ones That Prepared
The best Artist Alley tables aren't the biggest or most expensive. They're the ones that don't run out of the right print, can always take the payment, and built in time to reorder before the show. Use this checklist before every convention to cut stress, avoid costly mistakes, and give both you and your customers a better weekend.
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