Howard Alan Events commentary (re-posted thread)

Comment by Geoff Coe: This comment thread concerning Howard Alan Events originated in a blog post of mine entitled "Love Bugs Infest the Siesta Fiesta," posted on May 2, 2011. Because the comments are useful but unrelated to my original post, I've tagged them appropriately and moved them here. If you'd like to re-visit my original blog post, click here.



Comment by Daryl Cohen 4 hours ago OHM, how gross. I thought the heat of the NJ shows last year, and the wind breaking $600 of our glass in Prescott last year was the worst we were going to have to put up with. Do u do a lot of Howard Alan shows. ?? Are they as difficult to do. as difficult people to deal with and as duplicative of good exisitng shows as I've benn told?

Comment by Melanie Rolfes 4 hours ago: I have only done one Howard Allen show, and it was great. It was scheduled for an early morning set up, but at the last minute they got the ok from the city to set up the day before, so we were all contacted and able to set up on Friday. We had plenty of space, many with corner spots without having to pay for a corner. I am sure each show is different depending on what the city allows them to do. I too had heard negative things before my HA show, but none of what I had been told was true.

Comment by Daryl Cohen 3 hours ago: Thank you Melanie, I was definently scared away. Maybe I will try to get in one.

Comment by Melanie Rolfes 3 hours ago: I would suggest trying one Daryl. I liked working with them. They tell you what they willl do, what you need to do, and expect you to do it, and they do what they say they are going to do. It is definetly run as a business opposed to a warm and fuzzy neighborhood art show that is there to support the local dog park. Since my art background is wholesale, I actually prefer this approach. You don't have all the extras like breakfast, cold drinks brought to you, t-shirt, prize $ or booth sitters, but those are not important to me.

Comment by MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK 55 minutes ago

Let me know what you feel about HAE shows after you've done a couple of the 5 AM Saturday setups. And if you wait until 5 AM to setup, you'll be way late. Most artists get to the site by at least 4 AM to be able to park - or park and dolly - as close to their booths as possible.

I need a corner booth location to enhance my sales and HAE doesn't give me one, even if I request one immediately after I get my acceptance notice. The corners go to the favorites who do almost of their shows each year. Oh, and don't cancel a show, even for a good cause, because you won't get a refund of your booth fee - unless you cancel more than 60 days from the show date.

I just think HAE could be a bit more artist friendly, coffee and donuts notwithstanding.

Comment by Daryl Cohen 13 minutes ago

Michael, this is what I have heard. Also that the Mrs can be rude and uncooperative. Also, thta they set up shows across the street from a long standing exhisting show on a regular basis. We are going to Florida, end of December, from Tucson, this year to try the ACRE show in Orlando. I want to book east coast Florida shows around the ACRE show. Any suggestions? I think I am going to skip 4 am set ups. life is too short. Thank you. Advise from you guys would be much appreciated.

Thanks Geoff for moving this.

I hate early morning set up probably more then most, but you know about it before you sign up. I really can't dolly in my stuff. Well, I can but it is beyond difficult and damaging to my work. So I don't apply to shows that require you to dolly. Now when a show decides to add more booths and change the set up to a dolly in only situation for some of those booths and doesn't inform me of this until after I arrive, that is not cool. I had no suprises with HAE. I knew what I was signing up for. They followed through with it, and made sure they got a good size crowd to shop. That is much more then many other promoters do. I know HAE style doesn't suit everyone. I had just heard so many negative things it did scare me away a little. I am glad I had a chance to do their show and would be happy to do one again. This is just my take on it.

Replies

MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK May 5, 2011 at 9:50pm

Because of the economy - and now the outrageous price of gas, Florida is off of my go-to list for the foreseeable future. The best months to do FL for artists who don't live in FL or nearby states would be Jan-Mar. I don't know what the ACRE show is, it sounds like a wholesale show. Maybe Nels Johnson could help you with this info - what he doesn't know about FL shows probably doesn't exist!
Dawn Vertrees May 4, 2011 at 10:04pm

Michael....they won't even jury me into their "A' Shows...they tell me "I'm must not be good enough" when we complain about not getting in or they say my booth isn't up to par...you tell me what's going on and I have never met the Mr. or Mrs. ONLY Daren.
- Gary & Maureen Shull > Dawn Vertrees May 5, 2011 at 5:13pm
  
  We've been doing Howard Alan shows for about 12 years, and are very pleased with the results. I'd like to just share a few points:
  
  1.) All shows are not Saturday set-up.
  
  2.) Tent rental is less than $200 (unless that's changed just recently.)
  
  3.) If you cancel, you can put the booth fee towards another show.
  
  4.)As Melanie stated, you don't get the fluff, but you do get the meat-strong advertising and attendance!
  
  5.) Everything is run very professionally.
Melanie Rolfes May 4, 2011 at 7:31pm

Thanks Geoff for moving this.

I hate early morning set up probably more then most, but you know about it before you sign up. I really can't dolly in my stuff. Well, I can but it is beyond difficult and damaging to my work. So I don't apply to shows that require you to dolly. Now when a show decides to add more booths and change the set up to a dolly in only situation for some of those booths and doesn't inform me of this until after I arrive, that is not cool. I had no suprises with HAE. I knew what I was signing up for. They followed through with it, and made sure they got a good size crowd to shop. That is much more then many other promoters do. I know HAE style doesn't suit everyone. I had just heard so many negative things it did scare me away a little. I am glad I had a chance to do their show and would be happy to do one again. This is just my take on it.
- Geoff Coe > Melanie Rolfes May 4, 2011 at 7:44pm
  
  I can't add much beyond what's already been said in terms of pros and cons. But I WILL say that as a FL artist, I did a lot of Howard Alan shows when I was getting started in 2008. Most of them were in American Craft Endeavors. If you are a newbie, the "American Craft Endeavors" arm of Howard Alan's enterprise is a great way to get your feet wet. These are non-juried shows, open to fine art as well as crafters, and are low-pressure events compared to the fine art shows of Howard Alan Events. They're also less money (around $220-230, as opposed to the $350 and up of the fine art shows). In addition, HAE has done a lot of work on social media--facebook, blogging, and the like--and has posted useful information on booth shots. Worth checking out, whether you decide to do HAE/ACE shows or not.
  - Melanie Rolfes > Geoff Coe May 4, 2011 at 8:00pm
    
    And I recently got that email about the company that will rent you a tent and walls, all set up for you. According to the email this is an option at all HAE shows. I don't know what they charge, but that would really help out with the early morning set up.
    - Geoff Coe > Melanie Rolfes May 4, 2011 at 8:07pm
      
      I remember checking that out when I first started doing shows. I think it's $200 or so (no less, but might be a bit more). I've seen them in action and they do a great job. It's a fine option to have; I've envied the hell out of some of the artists that use them after a long day working followed by a Trimline teardown.
      
      I'm eternally grateful to Marco and his team for the quick action they took on the one occasion when I got caught in a violent downdraft while knocking down my tent at Hollywood Beach. The wind shifted direction over 90 degrees in about 20 seconds, flipping my half-down tent over the seawall. Marco and two of his team members appeared out of nowhere, jumped over the seawall (while I could only climb over it), and unsnapped the roof snaps within a matter of seconds to kill off the "kite effect" and stop the tent from pinwheeling down the beach. It sustained only minor damage, easily repaired the next day.

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