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  Tom Baron November 10, 2010 at 3:31pm

  I was also there, and in fact, met JoAnn for the 2nd time. This was my 2nd show ever and I thought it went pretty well. We had great neighbors and the patrons were all nice. Most of my work is fused dichroic jewelry, but I also have kaleidoscopes and etched dichroic panels. We hit our financial goal and then some due to the sale of my largest kaleidoscope. There were some kids there, due in part to the student art exibit. It was great interacting with the kids, showing them the k-scopes, encouraging them to stay with it if they like art. So often the kids don't have anything to do while the parents are looking at the art work. As JoAnn said, it was rough for a lot of the 2-d artists. Eiother no sales or very low. Anyway, for me - even in a down economy right now, it was worth doing the show and I'd do it again. Great setting, good parking and loading options.
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  Friday Flatt November 9, 2010 at 5:17pm

  Not only did I do the Lake Mary Heathrow Festival, it was my first show ever so I didn't know what to expect. It seemed very well organized but I did learn that there was a much larger show (Eola) nearby and that, coupled with the surprise cold front, kept people away. After I got my new tent out of the tree when it blew away across the field while we were putting it up, things actually went pretty good. There weren't a lot of serious buyers as the majority seemed to be there to view their children's work in the school art tent. It was refreshing to see so many kids interested in art. Even though I was in one of those less desireable, side path shoot off spots, I happily sold a couple dozen prints to make the weekend worthwhile (about $500 each day) and it was a great learning experience on tent putting up or more importantly, tent anchoring down in gusty wind. Based on the depressing sales I heard about from the other artists, I was surprised I did as well as I did.
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  Joe Clifton November 8, 2010 at 9:42pm

  An "immobilizer module" is on the newer vehicles that have a key that is specific to the vehicle. If someone tries to hotwire a vehicle, it disables the vehicles computer for 24 hours. Basically an anti-theft device.
  
  I estimate that there was approximately 150 artists booth at the show.
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  JoAnn Wedge November 8, 2010 at 9:38pm

  WEll, I did the Lake Mary show too. I loved the layout, much better than at the shopping center.(did that one 2 yrs.). The 3 artists in the boonies were given a chance to move on Sunday and only one said yes. They were offered much help to get moved but I agree, they should never been put there to start with. There were at least 4 spaces at the end of the sidewalk I was on right near where they were and it would not have been that bad to move.
  
  I also did about $1500 for the weekend and that was good based on those around me .( I did considerably better in the 2 yrs past at the shopping center but times were different 3 yrs ago.) I do think the crowds might have been a bit light just because the wind was so cold under the shade on most of the sidewalks, they may not have braved it. I thought the jurying was well done as the quality of art was very good. Three sets of judges came around with colored stickers for the name cards. All spent appropriate time in my booth and listened to my explanation of the process and techniques I use. There were lots of police for security both nights. It was clean with lots of garbage receptacles. easy load/unload, artist parking close by. I even heard a great ad on the radio for the show Saturday morning.
  I brought the concern for the 3 artists to the show director and she said that would not happen again as they were part of a line of artists that did not show. It was on a road with no traffic- road closed off by police; it had no customer parking near it, no potties close by, no reason for anyone to go their direction. Just a poor decision to have anyone there.
  
  The awards ceremony was Sunday morning along with a "hot" breakfast; very nice.
  Award money was very generous- total of $20,000. Best of show-$3500; another award-$2500; Award of Excellence-$1000; 10 -$800 awards; 5 - $600 awards; 10-$200 awards-
  judges choice awards. If you did not sell, you might end up with a ribbon to off set it.
  I would do it again. The entry fee is not that high and potential is still good to get sales
  depending on what you have. I did see more 3-d moving around than 2-d and jewelry was not over done. Total of 110 artists were juried in; nice size show. The quality of the patrons was
  very good as well. Not alot of small kids, or pets.
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  Kathryn Riechert November 8, 2010 at 8:51pm

  I did this show last year and was lucky to be placed in a good location on the inner circle of the festival. I managed to sell about $1500 for the weekend. After seeing where some artists were placed (waaaaay out in no-mans-land) I was scared to even think about giving the show another try!
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  Alison Thomas November 8, 2010 at 7:59pm

  I used to love doing Lake Mary. Then they moved to the park and doubled the number of booth spaces. It went downhill for me for two years and I bailed this year. I didn't do all that great at Halifax but I did better than the last two years at Lake Mary combined.
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  Geoff Coe November 8, 2010 at 5:41pm

  Nice review...but what on earth is an "immobilizer module"? If it is designed to immobilize your truck, I'd say it did its job! ;-) Glad you are on the road OK, anyway!
  
  I've never seen anyone do a survey, by US region, of average sales totals. That would be interesting to see, for sure!