This was my second summer show, and usually it is a killer--this year it was a bummer.
Part of the reason was the rain--we had a dire forecast and it held true. On Saturday we covered up, then reopened, only to have to do it five times. It killed the crowds and sales. That is usually one of the biggest days there.
Secondly, for some strange reason, the crowds seemed uninterested in looking at the art. Way too many were on there cellphones and were not even coming into the booths for a look.
Consequently, there were too few opportunities for big sales, which I usually can depend on there.
People were buying mainly lowed, well under $150. This made for a slow three days with lack-luster crowds.
I cannot put my finger on it why sales were down. But people were holding back.
I bumped into the show director later in the summer at Madison and told him how I had fared there and he commiserated that the show had been way down on their revenue goals. That really tells you something.
Personally, the show is too long in its present layout. It goes over two rising and falling spans across the river (artists booths are on these bridges) then you have to travess longs street rows of artists booths along both sides of the river plus two additional wings of booths that deadend. It is a bit much for most folks in warm weather. Because of this layout, you don't get a lot of be-backs. They mean well when they tell you they just started, and will remember you on the way back, but it usually never happens. It is very tough getting only one shot at them.
This show has been very good for me over the years, consistently so. But this year I did not see many Good Shoes People, and you need them to make big sales.
I left, very disappointed, I did less than 50 per cent from the years before.
Unbeknownst to me, this was a harbinger of what this summer would become.
Comments
I believe Art Shows have been around far longer than the boomer generation Valerie. Old Town, Ann Arbor, Coconut Grove.....yes, there are more of them now and unfortunately, more added to each show, which you are right-doesn't help....but I too feel that there is a major swing in the public interest. It's crazy really, but it's becoming very tangible, and when I see it at a show, it gets harder to have that attitude you need to sell work. I can't help it, I start to get really bummed and I know when it shows- it sure isn't helping my sales. I don't know what the answer is...but I think we are all just going to have to ride it out.
Nels,
When an art show continues to add more and more artists, do you think this could be a problem (e.g. over choice) or are we seeing this slow down related to changing demographics?
The concept of the art show is a product of the boomer generation. Could art shows be following a natural curve... intro, high popularity, maturity, etc. which is tied into the boomer cycle. What do you think can be done to rejuvenate the concept of the art show?
I read this comment: but that with all the turmoil in the world, folks are uncertain of the future and not buying.
I agree. Art shows have been hit with a change in the public's notion of "that's very nice but I don't need it". Back when everyone thought they had money (good steady income and the country was optimistic), sales for my shows were excellent. I sold a few originals but a ton of my prints and volume was my benefactor. Now, sales are 25%-50% lower, but I have to work just as hard. The large sales days are over for now. Boomers who used to spend like they had money now say, "We have full walls". or "We are downsizing". So they buy functional stuff or gifts for the grandkids. When I have someone in my booth on a cellphone, I politely escort them outside so they can concentrate on their yabbering and not distract really interested lookers. They don't mind oddly enough. They get it. My goal is to keep my potential customers entertained with my work, and chat them up. Let them get a sense of my personality. It does help and keeps me from getting bored. I do get some ancillary business from these moments like commissions or wholesale accounts. But I won't give up. I keep doing shows, you never know when the right customer will show up and.... "or you'll be back?". Yeah, sure.
Nels, I just returned from Syracuse, which in the past had been a good show. Same thing up there. Also all the other shows this year were at least 20% down from previous.
It seems folks are coming to art shows to be seen walking their dog, pushing their kids strollers, or pushing the stroller for their dogs, ANYTHING but buying art.
I did spread your theory about "good shoes" and had other artist checking out the shoes. There were some good shoes in the crowd, but they were few and far between, and as someone said, so many lookers, kids, dogs, etc. to get in the way when trying to work with a buyer.
I think the icing on the top was when all the homeless people decided to come into the booth and critique my work. They liked it, but I had to get out and get up wind real quick.
My friend Mary Robertson (beautiful jewelry) has been experiencing the same trend and her husband has a theory that it isn't necessarily the economy, but that with all the turmoil in the world, folks are uncertain of the future and not buying.
My Mom and I were talking about this as well this weekend at Akron. The weather in Ohio has been a mess (it rained 27 out of 32 days) so we understand that's a factor, but there seems to be a lot more "Lookie Lou's" then usual this year.
I agree, Nels, the amount of people playing on their cellphones is getting scary. Why are you outside at an art fair if you are just going to stare at a phone? Then you have the people who are looking and want to be there being annoyed by their family on those cellphones. Then complaining that they are tried or hungry or hot and want to go. I have one women try on 8 necklaces and I spent almost 35 minutes with her and she ended up buying nothing. This is becoming more the norm lately, unfortunately. Like going into high end fashion stores and trying on everything just for fun cause you know you can't afford it (my pieces only range from $20 to $70). Mom and I are stumped, is the economy tanking again and no one told us?
We were just saying how something is different with the Shows this year. No one particular show, but buyers are not ... buying. I can not figure it out. Of course the weather has not helped. But its more than just the weather. I don't get it.
I was just saying to my husband the other day, I'm tired of hoping for a couple good shows a year to make up for the crappy ones. It shouldn't be that way. It should be mostly good shows with an occasional crappy one.