Art Market Tips: How to Deal With Difficult People

Most people who visit your art market booth are friendly, curious, and genuinely interested in your work. In fact, the vast majority are a pleasure to chat with and may even walk away with a print or two. But every now and then, you’ll run into difficult people.

Whether they’re trying to haggle, dominating your time, or touching everything with jam-dirty fingers, these interactions can wear you down if you’re not ready for them.

Fortunately, awkward customers are the exception, not the rule, and with a bit of practice, you can spot the warning signs early on and deal with them calmly.

Here’s a rundown of the most common types I’ve come across after years of selling face-to-face, along with how I handle each one.

The Critics

Most people who don’t like your work just keep walking. But now and then, someone feels the need to tell you exactly what they think.

Well, you’ve put your art in the public arena. It’s gonna happen.

They might ask, “Did you really draw this?” or say it looks traced. It’s frustrating, especially when you’ve spent untold hours on the work. Worse still, it often happens in front of others.

It’s insulting for sure.

But hey, you can’t argue. There’s nothing you can really say that won’t make it worse. The best thing you can do is ignore them and let it pass. Don’t give them the satisfaction of a reaction. Anyway, the same old tit-for-tat gets boring.

What’s helped me most over the years is learning how to cope with it. Here’s what I do:

Try to see the funny side of it. Share the story later and laugh.
Write it down. These moments make great anecdotes later on.
You can’t please everyone, so don’t waste time trying.
Put it into perspective. A rude opinion isn’t the end of the world.
Most of all, take criticism with a big pinch of salt. It’s subjective.

Critics are a minority. Most people are kind, or at least polite. When you get a bad one, don’t let it knock you off course. Let them go, and carry on doing what you do.

The Snobs and Know-It-Alls

Some people walk into your booth with their nose in the air, already convinced that you do not measure up. They’re not interested in your work, they are interested in showing off what they know.

The snobs look down on anything sold at a market stall. They believe real art belongs in a gallery, spotlit in a gold frame with a ridiculous price tag. If you’re selling prints and affordable work you are by their definition, a failure.

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been asked what I do for a living while I’m selling my own artwork. It’s a joke. Maybe that’s a British thing, I don’t know.

Then there are the business know-it-alls. They always know how you should be drawing or painting, what subjects you should pick, how to price your work, and how to run your business. They speak with authority, but they are not artists and they’re not customers.

Some deliver it as polite advice, others go into full lecture mode. Either way, they are wasting your time. They are not there to support you, and they are loaded with false assumptions from the start.

The best thing to do is smile and let them talk to themselves. You don’t need their advice or approval. You are running a real business, not conforming to some fantasy stereotype.

You are out there doing the work, putting your art in front of people, and making a living from it. That already puts you ahead of every armchair expert who just wants to hear themselves speak.

Ignore them.

Three pygmy elephants. A pencil drawing by Kevin Hayler — ‘Kindred Spirits’ One of my Drawings

The Nosy Parkers

Some people are just too nosey. They wander into your booth and start asking questions that have nothing to do with the art in front of them.

They want to know how much money you make, where you get your prints made, or how much profit you get from a print.

These guys are usually ‘fellow artists’ wanting to do the same thing. They are not looking to buy. They are there to pick your brain. They want to know how to start a business of their own. In effect, they want you to tell them how to set up a business similar to yours and compete with you!

It is not a conversation, it is a one-way fact-finding mission. All take, no give.

You should never give away your business secrets. You have spent years figuring this stuff out. Be polite, but protect your boundaries. Share what you are happy to share, but do not let anyone milk you for information just because they ask.

Sometimes I just keep it vague and steer the chat back to the artwork. Most people take the hint.

Here’s a tip. If you want to get rid of someone, just start selling them something, they’ll be gone in a flash.

Young woman dealing with a difficult customer at an art market

The Negative Friends and Partners

You can have someone genuinely interested in your work, then watch the whole sale fall apart thanks to a friend or partner standing next to them.

They might pull a face, shrug their shoulders, or quietly whisper something that changes the mood. Just a quick comment like “You don’t need that” or “Where would you put it?” can kill a sale on the spot.

I have even had people say, “I’m not having THAT on my wall,” right in front of me. There is nothing you can do when that happens. You just have to let it go. Grin and bear it.

Sometimes a customer comes back later, once the partner has gone. I have had married people buy the print they liked in spite of what their other half said. That’s their business, not mine. As long as I make the sale, I do not care who gets the last word. Haha.

You cannot control someone else’s relationship, and you cannot win them all. Just stay polite, carry on as normal, and move on to the next person who walks in.

The Loiterers

Some people treat your booth like a waiting area. They stop in the entrance to chat, check their phone, or even wait for someone who is shopping nearby.

They’re not looking at your work and they have no intention of buying. But by standing there, they block the space, and put off real customers from stepping in. Most of the time, they are completely unaware of what they are doing.

Strollers are one of the biggest problems. People park them right across your opening while having a conversation.

The best approach is to stay calm and polite. I usually start straightening up some prints or cleaning something near them. Then I gently ask if they would mind stepping to one side while I carry on. It’s a contrivance but it works everytime.

People do not want to be in the way and all it takes is a small nudge.

I’m not suggesting you get rid of people who are not buying, Only those that are blocking the way. You need browsers to be mooching about your booth to entice others to come in too.

Your job is to keep the booth welcoming and accessible.

The Disrupters

These are the people who interrupt at exactly the wrong moment. You are mid-conversation with a genuine customer, and someone barges in with a random question, or a complete change of subject.

They might not mean any harm, but they kill the flow. Any decent salesman will recognise how an interuption will scupper the sale. It has the same effect as a comedian being interupted before the punchline. That’s how important it is.

Usually it’s a complete stranger, sometimes a friend, and worst of all, sometimes it’s another trader, and that’s unforgivable.

The key is to stay focused, keep your attention on the person you’re talking to and as a quick aside just say ‘I’ll be with you in a minute’. Do not let the interrupter take you away.

That one line can save the sale and keep your priority clear.

You do not have to be rude, just firm. You are there to sell. Anyone who stops you from doing that, even by accident, needs managing quickly and calmly.

The Sneaky Photographers

You will get the odd person trying to take a photo of your work without asking. They do it quickly, often when they think you are not paying attention.

Most of the time, I let it go. Unless they are being really obvious or standing there snapping away, it is just not worth the fuss. It’s rude and discuteous, but sadly, it’s 2nd nature to many people.

Challenging someone in front of other customers can backfire into an avoidable conflict. It can make you look petty or over-defensive, and that can damage the atmosphere in your booth. Who wants that?

Think rationally, and not emotionally. If they want to steal your image, they will. It’s the world we live in now.

I will only say something if someone is being blatent, but I keep it calm and low-key. The last thing I want is to cause a scene over something that is never going to be a sale anyway.

A few sneaky photos are not the end of the world. It is irritating, yes, but making a big deal out of it usually does more harm than good. I save my energy for the real customers.

Refunds and Returns

Returns are so rare that I do not make a big deal out of them. My policy is simple — I give a refund or replacement with no questions asked.

If someone brings something back, I just hand the money over or swap it for another print. I do not argue, I do not quiz them, and I never make it awkward.

Sometimes the returned item is not in great shape. It might be creased, folded, or damaged in some way. Even then, I still smile and replace it. I might grit my teeth, but I never let it show.

It is just not worth turning it into a scene. The loss is tiny, only the printing cost, but the goodwill goes a long way. People remember how you treat them, and a smooth return builds trust.

You are not just protecting the sale, you are protecting your reputation. A friendly, no-fuss return policy makes you look confident and professional, besides, most people never ask in the first place.

Dealing With Awkward Cusomers: Final Thoughts

Awkward customers are part of the job, but they’re a small minority. Most people who visit your art booth are kind, curious, and respectful. They like your work, even if they do not always say so out loud.

The key is to stay calm, stay professional, and not let the odd bad moment ruin your day. You are not just selling art. You are running a business, and that means you are allowed to set boundaries and protect your space.

Every awkward encounter is a learning experience. You get better at spotting patterns, handling situations, and keeping your cool. It gets easier with time.

Focus on the people who appreciate what you do. Those are the ones who make it worthwhile.

You are putting yourself out there. That takes guts. So back yourself, trust your instincts, and keep doing what you do best.

You’ll find a wealth of information like this in my guide

Everything you need to know about selling art.

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How to deal with awkward people in an art fair. Image featuring an artist dealing with a customer

Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy