After 6 years of applying we were finally accepted. YES!!! We had heard great things about this festival and were excited to finally be participating.
Edmonds is a suburb about 10 miles north of downtown Seattle with some very affluent neighborhoods that we pass on our way to the park. The festival is sponsored by the Edmonds Art Foundation and is always held Father’s Day weekend. Edmonds is located on the Puget Sound and the Field has a nice view of the Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The festival has 2 sections for artists booth, the Field with about 200 booths and the Plaza with another 40 or so booths. The Plaza is more traditional arts and crafts including soap, food products, beaded jewelers, etc. The Field is intended to be more Fine Art. There were a few booths on the Plaza that had me wondering why they weren’t on the Field and vice versa, not sure it’s really clear to most of the attendees either. The show is run with mostly volunteer support and they do a great job with communication before and during the show. Overall quality of art at the show was very good, I didn’t see anything that was obvious buy / sell and got the chance to talk with artists around us who travel more extensively for some of the bigger national shows. The show seemed well balanced and I judge that by the fact that not once all weekend did I hear the comment “oh, another jewelry booth”.
Artist amenities include breakfast and coffee each morning, artist dinner on Saturday evening, booth sitters and free RV parking a couple of blocks from the festival. Warning, steep uphill from the artist parking to the festival, not fun to be pushing anything heavy from your vehicle. Load in was fairly simple, structured in 4 different time slots throughout the day on Thursday. Load out, well, it was organized, if people would follow directions and be courteous, but it’s a tight fit to get the vehicles in and it’s a long wait to get your vehicle in. You had the option to dolly out, but parking around the Field was scarce and the field was damp enough that the soil was very soft so plan on a good workout if you want to dolly out. The show ended at 6 PM on Sunday and by the time we got the truck onto the Field, loaded and packed, we were pulling out of the Field at 8:30 PM, about twice our normal load out time. So, be patient and bring a book (or in our case our Kindles). Artist check out (this is a commission show) wasn’t as well organized as other shows we’ve participated in, signage and directions on which line to be in if you were paying with cash, check or charge was not clear, so that also slowed down the load out process. Booth fees were $150, plus $100 for a corner and more for a 10x15 or 10x20, plus a 15% commission on all sales.
Show hours are fairly long, 10-8 on Friday and Saturday, 10-6 on Sunday, so by the end of the weekend, we were sleep deprived. As jewelers, we take our products home each night and have to put them all out again in the morning so we’re usually some of the first artists to arrive and the last to leave. We had elected to drive back and forth, about 70-75 minutes each way and by the end of the weekend were wishing we had just brought our RV up and parked in the free parking lot. Lesson learned, next time we’ll know.
Friday the weather was warm, sunny and beautiful. The booths had a bit of a “sauna effect” going on, especially the inline booths that had neighbors on all 3 sides. The sun baking the roof, the moisture from the ground coming up and the insides of the booths were a little warm. For a Friday, the crowd was larger than usual. We started our day off by making our booth fee at 10:15 with our first customer, great way to start. Sales were strong until about 1 PM, then a lull, then picked up again in the late afternoon as we had the first wave of people coming in after they got off work. Sales on Friday, for a Friday were strong for us, we left there pleased.
Saturday, the day started out overcast and the sun never really broke through, although we did have some sun spots and a small amount of blue sky a couple of times, we also had some showers off and on but it didn’t seem to affect the crowd. After all, this is June on “wet side” of the Cascades, we expect rain showers for most of June . The crowd was large, but not enormous. On Friday we kept hearing that we should expect wall to wall people on Saturday, all the folks on Friday said they came on Friday to avoid the crowds. Well, we didn’t see that the crowd was much larger on Saturday than Friday. Our sales were a bit higher, but not as much as I had expected based on everything I’ve heard about this show. Quantity of sales on Friday for us were relatively small, but most were for higher dollar items, on Saturday the lower price points were selling well, but not the higher end.
Sunday was noticeably cooler than the previous days, very cloudy, but the rain managed to hold off until after the show ended. Sales on Sunday were good and with a last minute customer and our largest sale of the entire weekend at 5:50 PM, we ended up with our best sales day of the show. Just one more reason my husband keeps reminding me, “it’s not over until the fat lady sings”. Well, with that last sale, I could have sung all the way home if I weren’t quite so exhausted!
Sales results for most of the artists I spoke to were good, some were up over previous years, others down. No one I talked to reported having a horrible show, some had mediocre results while others were very happy with their results. Overall, we were happy with our results, a bit higher than our average, maybe not as high as our expectations given everything we’ve heard about this show, but it is one we definitely would like to do again.
The picture below was taken about 2:30 Friday afternoon. The food court was behind me when I took the picture, up the hill just a bit, so those sitting down for a snack or beverage enjoyed a wonderful view of the Olympics and Puget Sound. Pretty good crowd for a Friday afternoon.
Comments
Linda - thanks for the recap. It really helps to understand the history. I have noticed similar trends at shows too. Tempe certainly went through changes like that and I don't know that they have figured out the right mix yet.
Hi I live in WA state and was also at the Edmonds show this year. I was an artists there for 3 years in a row, then they had new people as directors, for about 4 years couldn't didn't make the jury cut for 2 of those years didn't apply for 2 years applied this year and got in, only to find out that these new directors had been replaced. Years ago, when I first was in this show, I soon found out that it was not only a 'high end' show, but a show that the people of especially, the city of Edmonds, then everyone else who attended it, just LOVED! Because it wasn't all about high end products. Everything was still hand made, but, there were booths with things that were 'kitchy' things, and I remember some gal standing in front of her booth dressed as a 'fairy' with associated product! Sales were phenomenal, People were buying Christmas gifts ( in June, mind you) Birthday gifts, things that they could afford. AND still the high end stuff, the Yard Art, Jewelry, Apparel, etc. It was quite a versatile show. I had my singularly biggest sale of my career at this show. I make one of a kind very unique felted hats, with lots of bling bling, etc. I had a lady that came to my booth, bought 4 hats one day, and brought her coats back the next day so I could match her coats with more hats, and sold another 4 and 3 purses. It was amazing. But even without this sale, the show was always a good show, with lots of buyers, and it was true about Friday, OF course at this time, the word was that the REAL Buyers came on Friday, The ones that were out to get first crack at everyone's art. As years went by, the new directors felt the show should basically be a high end show and cut out all the folks that had a lower price product, or if they felt it was too 'arts and crafty' put then in the Pavilion. The Pavilion is OK, if You don't mind hand carting all your stuff up stairs , as there is no way to bring your car anywhere close to your setup. The Pavilion also used to sell food items, like things such as very special Barbeque sauce, Spice mixes in little packets, and things like that, not that that's a bad thing, it's just why they were on the pavilion. But also on the pavilion, were jewelry, wall art, apparel etc. The 'field' then was covered in very high end garden art, paintings and jewelry. The word around town ( remember, people had been going to this show for years and considered it a real easy going, show with affordable stuff for every budget) was that the show was not for everybody anymore but for serious art buyers, unaffordable for most, and much like the Bellevue Art Museum show, known for their incredible high end art and prices. ( Been to the BAM show too, 4 or 5 times, my hats start at $135 and keep going, and I'm the cheap hatter' at that show!) Anyway, so as the last few years went buy, the artist weren't happy with Edmonds as the check out was a nightmare as the staff at the show wanted to check everyone's 'sales book' that You have to use for every sale, for the 15% commission you pay. Some people were hung up for hours and didn't get out till midnight as they checked out every single book! Since this was a real bone of contention for the artist as who doesn't want to go home, asap after 3 days and one set up day? So after talking with other artists at Edmonds I heard some really interesting observations about the buying public and how they've changed. And I'm sure that everyone has an opinion, the point is, is that it's really changed since since the 'big meltdown' a term that I've heard at many shows. It's true that You can't blame the economy for everything, but, it's a sure fire thing, that things have definitely changed at art shows.
I had a pretty good show this first year back at Edmonds, nothing to complain about that's for sure, and have received some really nice emails about my hats, etc, but, it's certainly not the same as it was, right down to the crowd size. All in all the Edmond festival, is wonderful. It has some of everything, very sought after, not easy to get into, but, all in all, a good time for all. I have been doing shows here for about 10years now, or more, who can keep track? and have many artists friends that have done every single show in the state. So what I know about this show and others, is usually first hand stuff from either my self or artists that I know... You know how we all talk!! Linda~ golden goose hats
Ruth, I am trying to fix that problem at Art Show Reviews. Also, I hope you don't mind that I have pestered you on occasion to fill our reviews for us. We really have appreciated all your help. You have been great!
Yep, but I'm sure Connie is open to improvements too. We all should be. But thanks for the tip on looking on the right side and scrolling past the ads! I too have trouble with affording some of the other art sources that I submit reviews for. I love all the information on this site and much of it is easy, but there is always some diggin'. Thanks and everyone keep reviewing!
Kay - I've sent Connie a message regarding the Art Show Reviews, after telling you to go search based on state, I was quite dismayed to find that WA/OR/ID weren't on the list when I chose to search search by state. Yes, I know we're in a NW corner of the country, but sheesh, we're still individual states! Blogs can be searched more easily if people do a better job of "tagging" their blogs.
Recent reviews can also be found on the Art Show Review site, but you have to look at the column on the right and scroll past all the advertisements first. So, yes, the Art Show Review site, could be made a little more user friendly. Last year we subscribed to AFSB, not something we can afford every year, but I found it a little more easy to search on specific shows. This site (Art Show Reviews) is free so while it's a little more difficult to search, you do get what you pay for!
I like the blogs too, just they are harder to search on to pull information when researching shows. I'd still like to see a post roll or something that would bring you to the most recent reviews or comments on shows so you could just scroll through them. I don't like the functionality on the artshowreview section...too much clicking for 2 little results....I'd like a counter eg Bayou City Memorial Park 7 reviews before you click on it and even most recent review date. A lot of shows in the SW do not have much in the way of reviews. I've done a bunch at least 5. Thanks
Kay - I usually (though not always) fill out a review. If you look at WA and ID shows, you'll see I completed quite a few last year and maybe even a couple in OR. I don't always remember to do that, although Connie has someone on her staff who sends me a nice little reminder email if I publish a blog or a write up in the art fair discussions and don't fill out a review. I actually spend more time thinking about and writing my blogs than I do the show reviews, I like the creative writing challenge of a blog vs. filling out a form. Forms remind me of the corporate job and school.
I actually find the blogs written by other artists more useful than the reviews, especially when people give insights into load in / load out, show communications, etc. I look for both when considering new shows, the blogs are just more entertaining!
Ruth - so glad to hear that the show was good. Your review was great. Can I ask a silly question? Do you actually fill out the review on the review tab too? I notice that many people comment, but don't do the review section. I'm curious why that is.
Connie do you have a comment on this? It makes a difference, so many of the listed shows on the "Review" tab have no reviews or only a couple. ALSO I would love a way to see only recent show reviews - for example regardless of where posted "discussion, blog, art fair business, etc.) I'd LOVE a section on the HOME page that listed RECENT show reviews. Is there a way to do that? Do others want that too? I just know when I search I don't get as much info as is out there. Plus it would be a quick way to see trends.
Ruth, great review as usual. Glad that your show was good! Great photo, too!
Yes the wind was concerning. The glass artist was right across from us so we say the damage first hand. Glass breaking is so load and can be heard throught out the festival. Glad you had a good show!
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