Hi there!!
Newbie here, was checking out all the discussion forums, and it seems I may be the loner over here on the East coast!!
My question is... does anyone know of great craft fairs on the East coast? I've been doing Sowa craft fairs for a few years, but their prices are getting outrageous. I randomly tried a few other craft fairs, and they were terrible! I just don't know how to go about finding good ones. Any help would be appreciated!! I'm on the South Shore of MA, will travel up or down! Thank you!
Replies
The class promoter in New England is Castleberry Fairs. www.castleberryfairs.com. I've been doing shows with them since the 90s.
They're doing a show in Orleans this weekend on the Cape and next weekend they're in Gloucester. After that I'll be doing their show in Topsfield, MA on Labor day weekend.
This is one promoter who is not afraid to advertise. And she has a loyal following of both customers and exhibitors.
Hi, Virginia here. I'm a little out the way down here but some of the bigger Craft Show promoters here in the Virginia/Maryland/DC area include EMG Management, Gilmore and Sugarloaf. They tend to do three day shows. Booth fees vary by show. I believe that Sugarloaf may have shows further north while Gilmore seems to concentrate on the Southeast. Artist experience seems to vary widely by artist depending on show, season and medium. I've only been showing at Craft Fairs for a few years now, so still a lot to learn.
Maine here....yeah...not a lot of ART Shows, Mostly craft and High end Art/ Craft shows on the East Coast.
And not a lot of juried shows, and those that are, juried, well you have to be a member of the organization promoting the show, which means...yearly dues, AND jury fees, and still no guarantee that you'll get in. It's a rat race here. You either, do the smaller local craft shows, and farmers markets, or go broke joining all the "organizations" and paying dues and jury fees. We have lots of festivals here...those are the shows that I choose to do. I could book my summer SOLID...almost daily, with festivals. Another venue is the Agricultural fairs...4 day to week long gigs. One set up, one tear down, as most have night security. I like those too!
Need a camper though!! Tenting it doesn't work for me anymore....
I am in CT and would also like to hear more about the many shows going on in the state.