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I recently returned from a month in Colorado doing art shows and only have time to do a combo review.  This was my first time showing in Colorado and what a great experience.  The three shows I was a part of was Cherry Creek, Open Arts in Boulder and Cheesman Park in Denver.  Here we go.

I have lived in Atlanta for 16 years and I haven't spent one summer here.  Way too hot, so I always found somewhere else to go to enjoy the summer months.  This year I decided to try Colorado.   On the drive out we decided to enjoy the journey and spent a night in Nashville enjoying the nightlife and then a night in Kansas City which was a good place to recover from the nightlife in Nashville.

First  stop was Cherry Creek.  I was a roadie for my partner and it was the first time either of us had gone to the show.  Obviously we were excited to be part of this one.  I am not sure how much needs to be reported on this show as far as layout and such since this is a rather famous show, but I will do a quick rundown.  Big Big show.  Streets run parallel to each other with booths down each street and a perimeter of booths around.   Booth lay out is on the street against the curb with no booth across from you. The area has chain stores, boutiques, restaurants and galleries.  Depending on what is behind you may have a lot of room or just a little but it seemed most had a decent amount of room in the back on the side walk. The booths were not too tight IMO so we weren't packed in. 

This year there was A LOT of construction.   Many of the streets are one way and dead end so between all these obstacles is was confusing to get around.  Three day show, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday set up during the day for most unless you were on the dreaded Columbine St and yes we were on Columbine, more on that one later. Set up was after 5pm for that street.  Luckily all the artists that do this show are pros and the police seemed to know that and let us all work it out.  The outer perimeter streets are wide and easy for all of us to fit, unload, set up and get around each other.  All in all a relatively easy set up considering. 

Friday this year was the 4th of July.  It was hot.  People came early.  Patrons didn't seem to care about prices and wanted art.  This is a big show and most of the people will walk the entire show before they make a decision.  There is a lot of competition for the sale because everyone in this show has amazing work.  Starting at lunch and between 4pm the show seemed to come to a lull.  It was hot and I think it was siesta time.  This was true all 3 days in our area.  After 4pm the patrons came back out and would get serious. 

Now back to Columbine Street.  There was some controversy with the artist and this area.  Many of the people didn't know there were booths on this street.  There was a lot of construction on the street and construction on the streets that lead to Columbine so it looked like the show was over.  This street definitely had about a third of the traffic that the rest of the show received.  BUT I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing depending on what type of art you sell.  This show gets huge crowds.  Often when there are big crowds people just shuffle thru the herd.  We didn't have that problem because our street was never crowded and if you walked down our street then those people saw every booth.  Also many of the popular streets had distractions like women in feather bikinis doing acrobats on ropes and  big vendors and other performances that distracted from the art.  Again we didn't have this problem on Columbine.  And finally those patron who were serious about spending thousands on fine art were going to make the rounds.  So if you are not a spontaneous seller than being on Columbine wasn't a bad thing.  Since it is an art show and there are artists there complaining will happen no matter what.  Personally I would be happy to show on this street again.  Pros and Cons to all spots.   

Sales, they were all over the board just like any other show.  Most people were happy.  Many were ecstatic.  Some wouldn't come back.   All of our sales happened between 4pm and 6pm on Friday and it was an AMAZING show for us.  Go figure, but people were ready to drop big bucks.   It is Cherry Creek folks.  If it is your market you are going to make some money. 

Ok on to Boulder.  Open Arts Fest.  What artist wouldn't love Boulder where even if you have a bad show you can smoke it (as long as it isn't tobacco), drink it or hula hoop it out.  Great town and great group who runs it.  This is a college town, reminds me of Berkeley but with people who would rather have fine art than fancy cars.  The main part of the show runs along a bricked outdoor mall.  Funky stores, some higher end stores and restaurants.  Booths are laid out here and there.  You pay more to be on the mall.  There is one street that cost less on the actual street.  Set up for that is on Friday after 5pm, booths against the curb across from each other.  Room in back on the sidewalk.  Since it is on the black top it is about 20 degrees hotter and it is an off shoot from the show but a traditional set up.  On the mall the booths are set up here and there depending on the planters and kiosks and benches, etc.  Depending on where you are you may or may not have extra space.  You set up early Saturday morning.  Again pros and cons to each spot.  Still can't decide which area is the place to be.   Not a small show but not too big.  The organization who runs this show took it over 4 years ago and have turned it around to a fine art show. 

Since it is Boulder you get all types of people.  There is ALOT of street performance.  Some who have permission some who don't and most of it is very distracting to the arts but it is all entertaining.  Every booth is subject to it.    Luckily I had THE ABSOLUTE  BEST both Saturday and Sunday.  Evidently this is not a new thing for the area but it is new to me.  The Silent Disco!!!  This involves a wonderful women named Jody who likes to dance and her husband just want to get her out of the house.  All good clean fun.  So he bought her 20  high end head sets that blue tooth together and a bunch of hula hoops.  The headsets all synch to the perfect dance music.  It is free.  Folks put on the head sets and all dance together, in silence for  the rest of us, and you can add the hula hoops if you  want to.  PERFECT IMO!!!! if your booth has to compete with fire breather, a brass band, drummers or feather bikini acrobatics I pick the silent disco every time.

It was a VERY hot weekend for the area again,  And if you were from Colorado you would say humid but come on they don't  know what humid means in Colorado.   Ice cold water was served to the artists like nobody's business and the artist breakfast was first class.  Load out was a free for all.

Sales, well I don't know of anyone who had a killer show.  I was disappointed but will consider it for next years run.  Sales seemed to be down,  maybe it was the heat.  If you go treat yourself to The Black Cat reataurant, one of the best in the world.

Next up Denver again, Cheesman Park.  Second year for this show and not an easy show to get into.  Artists accepted into Cherry Creek were rejected from this one.  Go figure. Beautiful park and wonderful people to work with.  The show was small and most of the work was good.  Friday set up on the street that runs through the park.  Decent amount of space between each other and room on the grass behind.  Booths on one side.  The set up was on Friday and the show was Saturday and Sunday.   Parking a bit tricky, it is a big city.  You had to park about a mile or so away but they had shuttles to run us back and forth.  The patrons were similar to the Cherry Creek folks just not as many of them.  Again great people to work with.  All the Colorado people are so nice and that is coming from a southern women.  Break down not too bad for a park setting.  Just parked on a nearby street and dollied out, but if you were a tiny bit patient you could drive up to your booth and load then drive out. 

All in all the Colorado tour was a success.  IMO it is like doing Florida in the winter.  I try to escape the heat of the summer and go to higher ground.  There wasn't a drop of rain at any of the shows.  We enjoyed the Rocky mountains and all it had to offer including hiking, white water rafting and of course the amazing happy hours that include food and drink at all the fine restaurants.  You can live like royalty out there in the summer without spending too much $$$.  I love the healthy life style even at the food trucks.  Every show had recycle, trash  AND compost.  It made it easy to keep on track while on the road.

Finally Love and prayers  to the Teilhet family.  Rebecca brought joy into all our lives. We are all heart broken.