Why nobody came to your art show

The Art Biz Success podcast episode 271, hosted by Alyson Stanfield, diagnoses why artists' exhibition openings fail to draw crowds. Stanfield argues that last-minute marketing in the 5–10 days before an opening is insufficient; the real work must happen months in advance. Key reasons for low attendance include letting one's mailing list go cold, relying on the venue to promote the show, depending solely on social media posts, failing to communicate the show's personal importance, and being afraid to send email reminders. Stanfield emphasizes that personal invitations—direct, heartfelt messages to individuals—are far more effective than mass emails or social media. She advises artists to maintain regular contact with their list, use multiple touchpoints (postcards, newsletters, flyers), and segment their list for targeted reminders. The episode references a July 9 workshop on follow-up and a 2010 post by Lisa Call about the importance of Quilt National. Stanfield quotes: "While you may think you're bothering them with too much marketing, they're thinking, why didn't she invite me?" The post was originally published February 28, 2018, and updated with the podcast.