Tomorrow begins the six day festival in downtown Oklahoma City, reputed to be one of the "big ones". My impressions may be mistaken, so bear with me, as I've never participated in this one. As I understand it all sales go through a central concession and the festival collects the money and sends you a check later for your own sales. This allows them to collect a commission and then they reinvite the top earners for the next year, I'm thinking it is the top 30%. This insures they continue to have the best earners return, but to artists trying to participate it means fewer spaces available. Hence the reason we never did it. I'm looking forward to the reports.
Here is the story from a local blogger with all the details: http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/2011/04/22/festival-of-arts-to-celebrate-spring-showcase-changes-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/
And here is a good story about a local glassblower, Toby McGee, having the pleasure of exhibiting in his hometown: http://newsok.com/downtown-arts-festival-gets-red-hot/article/3561482
Been there? Done that?
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OKC Festival of the Arts not only has a wait list for artists, but one for volunteers as well.
They say it's held for so many days because the weather usually takes out a few days. Looks like this year's weather will be great for the duration.
I did it the past 3 years and it was consistently good for me. As with all shows, other artists did not feel it was worth it. One year they ran a story on my work in the newspaper and people came from all corners of the state to see & buy my work. I would have gone back this year but only made the wait list and had to drop out of that as I've gotten too low on work.
The long days make many wonder if it's really worth it, but once that direct deposit makes it into my checking account, it is for me.
It's a three year invite as long as you maintain about $3,500 in sales. The central sales booths are not a problem because they've always had them and the people are used to them. The first day of the show is usually the best for a lot of high end artists because all the corporate buyers come around before the show opens and pick out what they want using pre-pledged money to the art center.
I've known painters to do really big numbers (over 50,000) and my $10,000 - $13,000 was low compared to some of the other photographers I know.
They run preview parties all year and promote the art so the corporate buyers know in advance who they will be purchasing from.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100