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2011 Southwest Arts Festival

Posted by Nancy Roux on November 18, 2010 at 8:54pm in Art Show Information and Discussions

Hi All,

My name is Nancy, and I own Nancy Roux Photography - new to the forum and so very grateful for all your generous contributions to the discussion board.  I recently received word that I've been accepted to the 2011 Southwest Arts Festival, January 28-30 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.  We exhibited at several craft shows and holiday boutiques last fall, but SWAF will be our first "real" art show.  As you might guess... we're pretty darned excited!

 

Have any of you participated in this show before?  Anyone going to be there this year?

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  • MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK November 19, 2010 at 12:41am
    Nancy,

    Don't forget to read the fine print. On top of the booth fee is a 15% commission due on sales. For many artists, especially if they drive a long distance to this show, it can be a deal breaker. Good luck with sales!
    • Nancy Roux > MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK November 19, 2010 at 1:45am
      Thanks, Michael! Yep, that little tidbit definitely caught my attention when we researched the show... :-) Fortunately, I'm an hour's drive from the venue so travel expenses should be minimal. We're looking at another local show this summer that also has a pretty steep commission, but we're going to wait and see how we do on this one before committing to another. As it is, our expenses will be high on this show (being our first) as we'll have the initial investment in the canopy, the cost of upgrading our current displays... and let's not forget building up inventory! But, I'm reading a lot of great info on this forum that will definitely help us make sound decisions. Thanks again for your feedback!
  • steve appel November 18, 2010 at 9:10pm
    Congradulations, . I have not done it but friends of mine did last year. One said it was good for them and the other was not so happy. I personally have quit applying for the show. Been turned down two times and that is enough for me. the first time it took them 6 months to return my money. the 2nd was thru zapp so fortunately they only got my jury fee. Good luck.
    • Nancy Roux > steve appel November 19, 2010 at 1:33am
      Hi Steve,
      Thanks for your feedback. With so many things affecting the success of these events, I'm not surprised that the outcome can be positive for one exhibitor and not so good for another. Any way you slice it, I guess it's still a gamble. Not sure yet if that's a good thing or a bad thing! :-) I'm sure I'll have a better sense of that after the fact. Gotta tell you, though, the folks like you who have replied to my posts are just wonderful for sharing your experiences, whether good or bad. Thanks so much.
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