I have a quick art fair dilema
So I got into Artsarben in Omaha - but now I am a little concerned. Read below what their Zapp says - I have an EZ-UP, but I also have stabars on three bottoms and one top side. Plus I am going to weight the crap out of it. My fear is that I will go all the way there and they will send me home because I have an EZ UP. It doesn't say absolutely no EZ-UPS, it says they do not recommend them. Hmmm. What to do?
Below is what they say about it on Zapp.
A single booth is with one (1) selling side (a 10’ section across the front; booths abutting on both sides and 2’ of storage space along the back of the booth).
Structures should be built to withstand gusty winds. Any artist with a hazardous display will be required to close and will forfeit their registration fee. The Festival recommends that artists DO NOT use EZ Up tents as they have proven not to withstand potential high winds.
The event takes place on a paved surface, which does not allow for anchoring of any supports into the ground. Structures should be built to withstand gusty winds. Sandbags and/or other appropriate equipment is required to ensure the stability of displays. The Fair provides free sandbags that are first come, first served. Any artist with a hazardous display will be required to close and will forfeit their registration fee. The Festival recommends that artists DO NOT use EZ Up tents as they have proven not to withstand potential high winds.
Attached are examples of my booth. I am upping the weights significantly for the next set of shows this fall.
Replies
I'm glad they approved you... but I would think twice about being in a place where the wind is so high to begin with. I'd be worried about my art getting blown away or damaged!
I am good to go - got approval from the show promoters once they saw all my booth shots and descriptions. Better safe than sorry.
Wait, just a minute!
You said you got in to the show, right?
You sent them a photo of your booth, right?
Then they know you have an EZ-Up type tent and let you in! I would just make sure you have extra weights for this show.
Yes I got into the show, but I am not sure how evident it is to tell it is an EZ-Up by the submission photo. I will post it. My big issue is the wording of recommend not to use an EZ-Up.
Kale Van LEeuwen Booth Shot Dark Floor.jpg
I called and they sounded pretty anti EZ-Up, but they would look at my display. I also sent them a weight breakdown of what I am using - about #75 on each corner, with 5 gallon buckets of water with a lid as a backup if the forecast calls for wind. I also noticed that the pics from last year Artsarben had lots of EZ-Ups in it. I would say probably 1/3 of them, maybe 1/4. Countryside Village which was in Omaha had gusty winds and my tent didn't go anywhere.
A lot of the bias is due to newbies using poorly weighted $100 EZ-Ups or even cheaper clones, and when heavy rains or winds hit, the things take off like a box kite or they crumple like a Tinker-toy house with a patio block dropped on it.
A few years ago I was at a show in the Chicago north suburbs with rain predicted and heavy winds. I looked around and spotted several cheap and casually set up tents. I told myself that those wouldn't make it, and sure enough when the thunderstorm rolled through, those didn't survive. One newbie photographer had one of the fancy pavilion tents with the ceiling vent louvres, and sure enough the blowing rain went upwards and inside, and leaking all over several hundred dollars worth of prints.
I am fairly new, but I am a worrier so I do my research and take all precautions. Hopefully they will be fine with my display. If they don't allow my EZ-Up- I better not see a single one there.
What did they mean when they said (in your post just above) that they "would look at your display"? Did they mean they would look at your booth shot? Or did they mean they would look at it once you had set up at the show?
I do not recommend "hoping" anything. There are a lot of unknowns and variables in this business, so it is better to have certainty around the things that you can.
As Robert suggested, let them know you have one of the more sturdy EZ Ups (specify the model), read to them the description of how you will have it weighted, and request that they tell you yes or no before you go to the time and expense of getting to the show.
If they tell you "no," it is fair for you to point out that a recommendation is not the same as a prohibition, and see where that gets you.
According to the info on ZAPP, you can withdraw before August 15 and get your booth fee refunded (less $50 processing fee). So if you call and get closure on this today, you have time to come up with a Plan B if it's necessary. Plan B could include renting a different kind of tent, or bailing on the show and finding another one, more EZ-Up friendly, to take its place.
They are going to tell me yes or no. I sent them images and a detailed description of what it entails. A recommendation and a NO or definitely two different things.
Write to them and ask. Specify how much weight you use, and that you use Sta-Bars. It looks like you're using one of the heavy duty EZ-Up tents and I would mention that. Keep in mind a recommendation isn't an outright prohibition.
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