Getting hired · 7 min read
How to book guest spots
A guest spot is a week or two in someone else's shop. Done well it fills your calendar, grows your audience in a new city, and doubles as an audition for a permanent chair.
Pitching a shop
Message four to six weeks out with dates, your style, and how many days you want. Include your portfolio and say whether you're bringing bookings or need the shop's help filling the week.
Be explicit about money in the first message — it saves everyone time.
- What are the dates and how many chair days?
- Is it a flat daily rate, a split, or a fixed guest fee?
- Who takes deposits, and when do you get paid out?
- What does the shop supply, and what do you bring?
- Will the shop post about the guest spot, and when?
Filling the week
Announce three to four weeks out with specific dates and a booking link, not a 'DM me'. Post flash designed for the trip — pre-drawn pieces book far faster than open custom slots.
Take a deposit on every booking. A guest week with three no-shows is a week you paid to lose.
Turning a guest spot into a chair
Arrive early, keep your station cleaner than the residents', finish on time, and be pleasant to the front desk. Most permanent seats are offered to a guest the shop enjoyed having around, not the strongest artist who passed through.
Frequently asked questions
- Do guest artists pay rent?
- Often yes — either a flat daily rate or a percentage split. Agree the number in writing before you travel.
- How far ahead should I book a guest spot?
- Four to eight weeks gives you time to announce dates, take deposits and fill the week properly.
Looking for a seat?
Open roles and studios hiring
Chairs, apprenticeships, guest spots and front-of-house roles — reviewed by a person, not scraped.
Keep reading
Free weekly email
Running your own chair one day?
One email a week on pricing, deposits, consent forms and filling a calendar — the business side nobody teaches in an apprenticeship.