Now that I have your attention , I'll mention that other artists' results varied: some of the 2-D artists I spoke with who sold only original works, with no reproductions at lower price points, suffered. But there's no question about the uniformly high quality of the art, the nice balance of the mix (not too heavy on any one category), and the fine treatment of the artists. Promoter Patty Narozny and her Hotworks LLC staff know how to run a show, and this one was as seamless as could be.
Miromar Outlets, the host venue, is an upscale outlet mall (there's an oxymoron for you) with a strong identity in this well-to-do community between Fort Myers and Naples. The show takes place in a cordoned-off section of the parking lot in one corner of the mall. Setup was available all day Friday, as well as early Saturday morning. This was handy, given that a strong cold front--the first of the season in SW Florida--had ushered in storms on Thursday night and stiff breezes and near-record lows on Friday morning. So it was nice to be able to watch the skies and plan my arrival accordingly. The load-in was a snap, as you could drive right up to your booth location.
Saturday dawned crisp, clear, and still a bit breezy, but that didn't deter the crowds. I had early arrivals perusing my photos as soon as I lifted the front flap, and crowds were steady and enthusiastic all day (and, except for a lull early on Sunday afternoon) stayed that way. My last sale, at 4:15 on Sunday, was my biggest of the weekend. As mentioned earlier, though, not everyone I spoke with was praising their sales totals...so it will be interesting to hear from other artists in attendance.
Artist amenities are prominent at a Hot Works show, and although I personally don't use them as a factor in deciding which shows I apply for, I will confess they're nice to have when I stumble onto them. Patty and her staff provided coffee and water during Friday setup, roving water deliveries during show hours, and an artist award breakfast at 9 AM Sunday (which I didn't attend). No booth-sitters that I know of, though, in case you're keeping score.
We Florida artists, like most traditional retailers in the Sunshine State, are always eager for the arrival of "snowbirds" (seasonal visitors from the north and from Europe). And there's no question that they've arrived: I had a number of customers from Minnesota, Canada, Germany and the UK, in particular over the weekend. Many of them come down in October or early November, then return home to see the grandkids for the holidays, and return for the duration of the winter in the first days of the New Year. So if you're selling 2-D, it's smart to have, and make known, a user-friendly shipping policy--and even better, small sizes that will fit inside a suitcase. I've started making my own packing bags from aluminum insulation, and they're cheap enough that I can provide them at no extra charge to customers who buy my large Gallery Wraps to help protect them in transit.
It was a treat, too, to be able to drive only 20 minutes to my home each night. No hotels, for the first time since May! But it was too good to last--I'm off to the East Coast this coming week, before returning to Estero for a Howard Alan show at nearby Coconut Point mid-month. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that the weather, and the snowbird luck, holds through Christmas.
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