Has anyone done the Boise Art Museum show - BAM Art in the Park - in September? They say there are 265 exhibitors, but I couldn't find any attendance numbers.
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Just did the 2011 show (also did it in 2010 and way back in the late 70s with weaving) and will give you a brief report. I was once again (by choice this time) in the smaller area behind the rose garden. This area is close to two key areas: the shuttle drop-off, and the kids' art booth. A couple of other advantages are that the area is more grassy dust-free than much of the rest of the park, and the load-in distance is pretty short. However, foot traffic is not what it is in the main part of the park, and so next year I may very well opt to be within the main park.
I did almost what I did last year; maybe $200 less, which is not bad and could be attributable to having less stock this year. When I checked out, the accountant reported that "Mostly everyone makes about the same." Within the group she had checked up to that point, her highest amount was over $10,000--someone who sold prints, she said.
Which brings up one of the unpopular points about this show: the 20% cut the Boise Art Museum takes and also the checkout procedure, which is lengthy. (Took me 2 hours to get through the line.) Other seasoned vendors in the waiting line had plenty to say about how they have never encountered such a process at any of the other Northwest shows. (For me, the Bend Summer Festival checkout process was maybe 10-15 minutes, and Corvallis about the same.)
There is a dinner (with a drink) for vendors on Friday night, but unfortunately they ran out of food--and went for more, but I didn't feel like waiting around. Snacks and water during the day in a hospitality tent, and lunch on Saturday. Booth sitters were easy to get and prompt--at least in my experience.
They used a new booth layout in the main park (parallel rows perpendicular to the main walkway instead of meandering trails of long, askew rows) and while it made sense to me, but all I heard were complaints. I know, I know: lots of shoppers expect to return to the same exact spot every year to find their favorite vendors.... (Must be a vestige of caveman food-gathering instincts.)
The weather was hot, but in my opinion that's more bearable than rain. Had a couple of blasts of wind one day but show organizers ran around to inform those with delicate items. We're used to heat here so it doesn't seem to keep folks away.
The woman who ran the show the last two years will soon start a new job, so things could change in 2012--who knows?
A few years ago I tried applying for this show, since I am in the Northwest and have relatives in Boise. Two years in a row I applied and was rejected---once with the same set of slides that got me into Cherry Creek! After that I decided they didn't need my donation.
Steph Mader > Sheila EvansFebruary 14, 2011 at 1:15pm
Thanks everybody. Hey Sheila, how is the Spokane Artfest? I have heard conflicting reports about it, so I've been putting off applying. I'm just over the mountains from you, on the West side. Did you apply to any of the three Bellevue shows?
Sheila Evans > Steph MaderFebruary 14, 2011 at 1:28pm
Hi Steph, I like Artfest and I think it is on the upswing. Last year they tried a new layout and did some really nice jurying. Their ranking on AFSB jumped into the high 100s as a result. As for Bellevue, I usually do the Museum show. I applied to the Festival of the Arts this year too just in case, but I've never done it. The museum show is usually my best show of the year.
Steph Mader > Sheila EvansFebruary 14, 2011 at 1:57pm
Thanks for the info. I'd like to try the show, maybe I'll see if I can squeeze it in.
I did the Festival of the Arts last year and did pretty well. I think my work was a little underpriced for that show so I'm making some bigger/higher priced work for this year. Well, assuming I get juried in. I apply for the 6th street fair too, just in case. I think my recent work needs to mature a bit before I'm ready to make the most of the museum show. Maybe next year. I do love the promoters of the Festival show, they are really wonderful. It's a nice, relaxed atmosphere, although it can get hot outside on the pavement in those parking lots.
Do you do quite a few shows in the NW? I think I'll do about 12 this year.
Sheila Evans > Steph MaderFebruary 15, 2011 at 10:24am
Last year I did Artfest, BAM, Sun Valley and Art in the High Desert for my NW shows. I'd like to do Art in the Pearl as well, but have done Sausalito the past few years. We'll see how that goes! In the past I've done Edmonds, but it seemed to make more sense to consolidate and just do BAM, since almost all the people who bought from me at Edmonds go to both shows anyway.
Steph Mader > Sheila EvansFebruary 15, 2011 at 12:15pm
Hi Sheila,
I applied to Edmonds for this year. Last year I went over to walk the show on Friday and it POURED down rain. A few brave customers were still dodging from booth to booth buying art. They must have been native NWers. I think the weather is always iffy in June, to say the least. End of July for Bellevue is more dependable, for sure.
Sausalito is a pretty good haul from your town. It's a beautiful setting for a show. Do you drive down?
Joe Clifton > Steph MaderFebruary 14, 2011 at 3:49pm
I've done the 6th street show for five years and have been very happy with it. It's the least expensive of the three shows, and I can park right behind my booth! The staff is nice and they have all the cold drinks one could want.
I have a number of friends that do the museum and Festival of the arts and from what I gather from sales there doesn't appear to be any difference.
On Boise, the work I saw was mostly of high quality and sales were very good. It's the 20% commission that hurts, but at least it's going to a good cause.
Steph Mader > Joe CliftonFebruary 14, 2011 at 5:52pm
Thanks Joe. Maybe I'll try for BAM this year. I'd like another fall show & I know it's hard to get into Art in the Pearl in Portland.
I met a couple other artists recently who do the 6th street fair and are happy with it. They feel like it's "not so snooty" - their words. It does sound like it's a little more low-key, that's worth a lot to me. And seriously, you can park by your booth??? Were those angels I heard singing? Do many artists have this good fortune, or does your magnetic personality get you special treatment?
The load in and out at the Bellevue Festival is a little complicated, but well orchestrated. You park about a mile away & the staff up there give you a pass & release you to go down to the site to unload at a designated time. Last year there was a herd of teenagers who swooped down and had my van unloaded in about a minute and a half. You take your vehicle back up to the lot & ride the shuttle down. That seemed to work pretty well. My main objection was the heat, as the show is on asphalt. But it's a good location.
Replies
Just did the 2011 show (also did it in 2010 and way back in the late 70s with weaving) and will give you a brief report. I was once again (by choice this time) in the smaller area behind the rose garden. This area is close to two key areas: the shuttle drop-off, and the kids' art booth. A couple of other advantages are that the area is more grassy dust-free than much of the rest of the park, and the load-in distance is pretty short. However, foot traffic is not what it is in the main part of the park, and so next year I may very well opt to be within the main park.
I did almost what I did last year; maybe $200 less, which is not bad and could be attributable to having less stock this year. When I checked out, the accountant reported that "Mostly everyone makes about the same." Within the group she had checked up to that point, her highest amount was over $10,000--someone who sold prints, she said.
Which brings up one of the unpopular points about this show: the 20% cut the Boise Art Museum takes and also the checkout procedure, which is lengthy. (Took me 2 hours to get through the line.) Other seasoned vendors in the waiting line had plenty to say about how they have never encountered such a process at any of the other Northwest shows. (For me, the Bend Summer Festival checkout process was maybe 10-15 minutes, and Corvallis about the same.)
There is a dinner (with a drink) for vendors on Friday night, but unfortunately they ran out of food--and went for more, but I didn't feel like waiting around. Snacks and water during the day in a hospitality tent, and lunch on Saturday. Booth sitters were easy to get and prompt--at least in my experience.
They used a new booth layout in the main park (parallel rows perpendicular to the main walkway instead of meandering trails of long, askew rows) and while it made sense to me, but all I heard were complaints. I know, I know: lots of shoppers expect to return to the same exact spot every year to find their favorite vendors.... (Must be a vestige of caveman food-gathering instincts.)
The weather was hot, but in my opinion that's more bearable than rain. Had a couple of blasts of wind one day but show organizers ran around to inform those with delicate items. We're used to heat here so it doesn't seem to keep folks away.
The woman who ran the show the last two years will soon start a new job, so things could change in 2012--who knows?
Thanks for the info. I'd like to try the show, maybe I'll see if I can squeeze it in.
I did the Festival of the Arts last year and did pretty well. I think my work was a little underpriced for that show so I'm making some bigger/higher priced work for this year. Well, assuming I get juried in. I apply for the 6th street fair too, just in case. I think my recent work needs to mature a bit before I'm ready to make the most of the museum show. Maybe next year. I do love the promoters of the Festival show, they are really wonderful. It's a nice, relaxed atmosphere, although it can get hot outside on the pavement in those parking lots.
Do you do quite a few shows in the NW? I think I'll do about 12 this year.
Hi Sheila,
I applied to Edmonds for this year. Last year I went over to walk the show on Friday and it POURED down rain. A few brave customers were still dodging from booth to booth buying art. They must have been native NWers. I think the weather is always iffy in June, to say the least. End of July for Bellevue is more dependable, for sure.
Sausalito is a pretty good haul from your town. It's a beautiful setting for a show. Do you drive down?
I've done the 6th street show for five years and have been very happy with it. It's the least expensive of the three shows, and I can park right behind my booth! The staff is nice and they have all the cold drinks one could want.
I have a number of friends that do the museum and Festival of the arts and from what I gather from sales there doesn't appear to be any difference.
On Boise, the work I saw was mostly of high quality and sales were very good. It's the 20% commission that hurts, but at least it's going to a good cause.
Thanks Joe. Maybe I'll try for BAM this year. I'd like another fall show & I know it's hard to get into Art in the Pearl in Portland.
I met a couple other artists recently who do the 6th street fair and are happy with it. They feel like it's "not so snooty" - their words. It does sound like it's a little more low-key, that's worth a lot to me. And seriously, you can park by your booth??? Were those angels I heard singing? Do many artists have this good fortune, or does your magnetic personality get you special treatment?
The load in and out at the Bellevue Festival is a little complicated, but well orchestrated. You park about a mile away & the staff up there give you a pass & release you to go down to the site to unload at a designated time. Last year there was a herd of teenagers who swooped down and had my van unloaded in about a minute and a half. You take your vehicle back up to the lot & ride the shuttle down. That seemed to work pretty well. My main objection was the heat, as the show is on asphalt. But it's a good location.
I've tried five times and have not been juried in yet Steph, so last year i gave up even applying.
I've been told by other artists that its trending down. I think they are more interested in the 20% than in a quality show.
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