Hey all, anyone know about this show? I didn't find anything in the artfairsourcebook, which seems strange.
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Hey all, anyone know about this show? I didn't find anything in the artfairsourcebook, which seems strange.
You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!
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Arts Beats and Eats is a good show, with its own quirks. It's a grueling 4 days, with many people there only for the music, the food and the spectacle. The buyers tend to come early to avoid the crowds and get out quickly before it gets nuts. The show runs late every night except Monday, and they provide electricity for lights. Sales are good for me, but a bit below my daily average for a good show. I'm local, so I can sleep at home, and some of my sales are usually to previous customers or to people that I know personally.
It's crowded. There are beverage vendors in the center aisles -- beer, slushies with a noisy grinder, cokes, and there are food ticket vendors. No food, but other non-art booths down the center. The streets are wide, so two load in on Washington is easier than some shows. Sales seems a little better on 7th for some people than on Washington. The booths on Lincoln are quieter, and more removed from the main traffic flow. This year they charged less for those spaces.
I've done it for several years. While it gets a bad rap from many artists, I like it for its unique character, its location in downtown Royal Oak, (a funky destination in its own right) and for sales. Even though it's four days, it does rank well in my yearly totals. It generates sales into the fall for me -- I usually get a few calls around Christmas from people who have seen my work there and postponed buying.
The show directors do listen to feedback from the artists, but it is a for-profit organization that runs the show, and they are in it for the money. Last year, Donna Beaubien took over in Connie's spot, and brought her artist-centric point to view to the show. The other co-director, Lisa Konikow, works with John Witz, the promoter, and is a caring, hard-working individual with years of gallery experience. As I understand it, Lisa is taking on the lion's share of the director's position this year. That said, they listen to the artists, and try to fix those things that are truly broken -- like the bad layout the first year it was in Royal Oak, and the fudge truck blocking one entrance to a section of artists. Other things are not as easy to change, like the drink vendors in the middle of the street.
The show is pretty unique. It draws a huge crowd. Many of those people come to look at the art. Some of them buy the art. If you can handle the hours and the split personality of the show, you may do okay here.
Excellent summation, Jim. I hesitated to step in because I have such a history with the show and involvement. I agree with everything you said: big crowds, not all of them there for the arts, but an opportunity for great exposure to people who do have good incomes and just might love your work. Especially if you reappear in the metro area you can build up a following.
Then, the other side of it is, you might have some fun too. I always loved the concerts in the night after the art was closed, the great food and the chance to experience this multicultural city and hang out in a cool downtown.
Thank you all very very much! This sounds like a show I'd like to try especially if i can hook up to another on a concurrent weekend between Ga an Michigan.
The hooking up should not be a problem. This is prime show season throughout the Midwest, Jerry, and finding a show should not be a big problem. Have you seen this site: www.CallsforArtists.com? Good choices there.
Thanks all. I do love using the AFSB. It is expensive. I was stymied why Arts Beats and Eats wasn't in it and now I know. Seems Greg is slightly misrepresenting his book.
"The Definitive Guide to the Best Juried
Art & Craft Fairs in the United States" is the description his website. I believe that was true but now should add "..that pay to subscribe". Functionally it is a small matter,I believe, but it leaves a bad taste.
You can't deny its usefulness in filling in lots of details.
Art fair sourcebook chooses which shows it wants to list these days. All the top shows used to be listed for free, in fact all the shows, it was how AFSB gathered their info. He listed the shows and people who did the events sent in their reports.
The editor has started requiring shows to pay him to be listed in the book now and many shows are resisting not understanding why they should be contributing to his business undertaking which is to sell information to artists that he has gathered.
I think this is not a great idea because it will leave large gaps in the AFSB data which will undermine its usefulness to artists.
Also, Jerry -- "search" on AFI - there is lots of info about this event.
Wow. I am a long time AFSB subscriber. I had no idea shows now pay to be in it. It used to be pretty objective, there had to be firm sales data and enough audit cards returned or a show would not be listed. I have always gotten the Midwest regional edition. I have noticed that last few years that a lot of shows have only basic listings, not the comprehensive data of the proven shows; even shows that used to have complete listings.
In the Editor’s notes for each show, though, sometimes there are pretty critical comments made. This makes me wonder….would shows pay, and allow those to be on there?
Hey Jerry, check www.artshowreviews.com. We have a couple reviews there, too. Also, put Arts, Beats, and Eats into the search bar up above. There was a lot of talk here about 2 years ago.
I helped out 2 years ago at the show. There is alot of activity going on there. People are there to see the musical acts as well as to see the art. There is food everywhere but not in the art area. I have heard people have good sales. That is a nice area to do an art show. There are plenty of shoppers.
The year I was there it was hotter than a biscuit. And the people still came to shop.
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