Black Swamp Arts Festival Setup Advice

Linnea Lahlum September 3, 2017 at 10:26pm

Get a headlamp. I used to have a battery powered lantern, but the headlamp works so much better. Because unlike the lantern, I am literally never standing in my own shadow. I bought mine in the camping section of a big box store. It lasts a long time on 3 rechargeable AAA batteries. I use it more for those times when I run out of daylight on evening-before set-ups. I have 2 in the car at all times. With mine I have 2 light settings, and can angle it straight ahead or down. It was very inexpensive... $ 15 maybe?

Rick Braveheart > Linnea Lahlum September 4, 2017 at 5:04am

Oh wow Linnea that's a great idea. I have several of those with my camping gear and they would definitely help light a small area. I suspect your headlamps tip combined with Robert's idea will give me all the light I need. Thanks so much.

Robert Wallis September 3, 2017 at 9:35pm

If the street lighting is bad, use a battery/inverter combination to power for lighting, although there are several LED work lights that have a built-in battery good for about 4 hours or so. If set-up starts at 5:30, arrive earlier and unload. I do the same thing for a local one day show in the heart of Indianapolis. As long as you know where your space is, you're good to go. Unload, set up the tent on the sidewalk if the street is not closed yet, and just walk it into place when traffic is blocked. Then start hanging panels and work after that.

Rick Braveheart > Robert Wallis September 4, 2017 at 4:59am

Great suggestion Robert. We'll be arriving the day before and checking out our booth space is at the top of the list. And, since we always carry a marine battery & inverter, I might throw in a high power led or two to help light the area. For me, assembling and raising a Trimline as the first step of setup is not hard but it sure helps to see where the parts fit together so you do it safely. As for unloading on the sidewalk if the street's not closed yet is a great idea. I sure appreciate your sharing that tip.

Greg Little September 2, 2017 at 12:40am

I've done a few show that had a early morning setup. I did not enjoy being sweaty, tired and worn out by the time the show starts. I don't apply to them now. A show that has a nighttime setup with time to shower and rest ia much more reasonable and appealing now...

Rick Braveheart > Greg Little September 5, 2017 at 7:29pm

I've never done a nighttime load-in, but have come across several folks in other festivals that have somehow worked "load-in" magic for several hours in the night gone to their hotel, had a nap/shower and looked great opening day of the event. I know for me I wouldn't be at my best but sometimes, like you, we find a way to make it work and then know better whether or not we want to do it again. I hope the rest of the festival season is a good one for you.

Larry Sohn September 1, 2017 at 5:55pm

I've never done this event but I'm starting to steer away from events that don't allow "day before setups".

There is a particular promoter that wants artists to come at 3:00am to drop off their stuff. Then leave and return after 5:00 or 5:30am to setup. Then wait until the show opens around 10:00... ugh! Think how many hours and inconvenience invested before you start your work day.

Cindy Welch > Larry Sohn September 5, 2017 at 6:38pm

Yuck! Why do artists put up with this?
- Al Scovern > Cindy Welch September 6, 2017 at 8:50am
  
  Good question Cindy. Artists are nothing if not inventive and we come up with solutions to every problem thrown at us, but should we? I did Three Rivers this year in Pittsburgh: wasn't given a pass to drive near my booth until 10 PM, had a long dolly, set up in the dark until 3 AM. Was also told I had 20 minutes to unload (you take as long as you need but the pressure is a pain in the ass) and then had to move my high roof van somewhere in the city on a busy Friday night. No artist parking. I grew up in Pittsburgh and know my way around but it was still a challenge to find a suitable lot half a mile away across the river. This weekend I did a show in a beautiful location but my booth space was on sloping ground with a 4 foot high fence post exactly in the middle of my space. Crazy stuff. Exorbitant booth fees, unrealistic set ups, few amenities, rules upon rules, sometimes surly promoters-- is it that artists just gradually get used to it? Is it some variant of the Stockholm Syndrome? The few times on this site that someone has suggested unionization, there has been a tepid response which is sad, because the shows won't change without collective pressure brought to bear. I know that artists, and especially artists on the fair circuit, fancy themselves as mavericks, rugged individualists, independent entrepreneurs, etc, etc., (and therefore resist collective action), but sometimes when I watch us all schlepping from city to city, standing in line, abiding by all the imposed rules, we seem less like mavericks and more like herded sheep.
  - Connie Mettler > Al Scovern September 6, 2017 at 12:42pm
    
    Hi Al. We did Three Rivers just once many years ago and experienced the same logistics problems as you did this year. Once was enough. I remember pushing the dolly up the ramp from the lower level parking structure ... won't forget it.
    
    The closest artists have come to a union is the NAIA (click the link on their logo on the left hand side of this site or visit their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NAIA.Forum/). This organization has made some important changes with the festivals. It is the only unified voice. As an individual voice shows need to know in their surveys what is making it hard to do their shows ... individual complaints or constructive suggestions are usually listened to. The alternative tell them you're never coming back. I've certainly done that.

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