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How far would you travel to save $150. per night hotel fee?

Posted by Gordon Ekback on March 31, 2010 at 7:59am in Art Show Information and Discussions
While the "jury" is still out I'm doing some ground work for a New York show in a very affluent area. It is also on the busiest weekend  of the year. That being said, there is nothing available in the area for almost $200. per night and it is a three day show. Having lived,worked and commuted in NY for 38 years traveling to work is just another part of life so a 1 1/2 to 2 hour commute for reasonable rates is not a problem for me. In these slow economic times my expectations for a rewarding show are not great but his area does have fantastic "possibilities" but nothing is guaranteed.
So my question is how far would you or have you commuted to a show to keep expenses as low as you can?

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  • Chris Hoyt April 3, 2010 at 7:13am
    Anyway......I have researched and found the State Parks.....

    FYI... If anybody is considering going to upstate New York for shows this summer and plan to stay at any of the State parks, Call first! Many of the parks have already been padlocked because the state is broke and cannot afford to open them this year.
  • David Hipwell April 2, 2010 at 11:48pm
    First when I look at which shows to enter, Ill often enter a show nearer to home if the close show is almost as good as the one far away......but sometimes it is hard to tell.......this is where good research comes into play.....I look at number of booths verses the size of the crowd,etc....email artists who live near the show, etc......I even look at the road pattern.....for me going north south is easier that east west.....of course interstate makes it easier to get home....my tax return tells me that car expenses are my biggest cost by far....almost double the the other categories of booth fees and art reproduction/matting fees.....and again.....I stay close to home, most of the time.

    But I break my own rules from time to time....there is a show that is good which is 20 minutes away....so what am I doing.....I have been juried in to a good ( but not better) show that is 3 hours away....but hey I am human.....and some of my buddies are going to the show far away.....and I like to try new things too....

    I am planning on doing more camping in my car this year......I always stayed in motels or drove home in the past.....but last year I started camping......in my car.....one night I even slept at a truck stop......really liked it....cost me nothing.....took a shower in the trucker showers......went into the trucker lounge....and did not like what I saw. The truckers were fine....but sort of dishevealed a bit.....but they looked like very interesting characters.....Ill have to work on being friendly with them.....or maybe not....Ill have to think on this one....

    I also got up at about 4.....and ate an omlette in the truckstop.....then went back to sleep in my car til 7......it was great......loved it.......only the sun woke me up.

    Anyway......I have researched and found the State Parks.....they look nice.....and I found a real nice private campground near one of my shows ......$20 per night......run by a nice lady with an accent.....and she said come ahead.......no reservation is needed.....but again I have researced it.....and it looks very nice.....still you have to be careful and safe.....and Ill admit it is easier for a guy than a gal.....
  • Sheila Wissner April 1, 2010 at 9:35pm
    I'm doing a show in June in Charlevoix, MI., and don't know how well I will do. So I really don't want to pay $100 a night for a room. It's 2 1/2 hours away, but I guess I'm going to try commuting.
  • Linda Anderson April 1, 2010 at 1:32pm
    Not sure if you're interested in the Midwest area. My Wisconsin and for the most part, Illinois shows are all within a 2 hour drive and I have no problem with that. The majority of my shows are in Michigan, both Lower MI and the U.P. I will try to do a couple of those back to back without stopping at home. We've set up our Caravan with a bed and camped since the 80's so are very comfortable finding wonderful Michigan campsites (with wi-fi access) for the nights - some with rates as low as $8.00. The only problem we have had finding campsites is around the Detroit area (several shows there). I have a Mariott card so I have a favorite "Residence Inn" that offers a bedroom/living room/kitchen for $52 per night as well as breakfast and dinner at no charge. Luckily we annually qualify for a free nite or two with Mariott. We must bring our dogs, so we were happy to find that Mariott was not only quite inexpensive, but allowed dogs. Many times the shows have an area for free artist overnight parking and we make full use of that. I know we've been spoiled and when we start doing shows in states other than WI, MI, IL and MN, our expenses will increase greatly. We are 59 and 62.
  • Gordon Ekback April 1, 2010 at 8:32am
    Chris,
    This is a show that has great potential but with this economy the key word is potential.
    I'm not sure your of your definition of young is but at 57 I still love camping and I don't consider an RV as camping so that's what we do when we can.
    You being from VT. probably understand when the name "Hamptons" comes up. Land of the mega rich. But with that comes the huge expenses trying to stay overnight in their community. Chain hotels and not allowed so your choices are now B&B's and very exclusive motels and they all come with a steep price if you can get one.
    Being from that area I know other areas to stay but will require a little travel time. No problem.
    But for other incoming artist, be prepared..
    I appreciate those who have responded and still curious on others travel times.
  • Chris Hoyt April 1, 2010 at 7:38am
    I've "commuted" as long as three hours each way to a show. That was when I was young and foolish. But I'm older now.

    I've also used campgrounds and slept in my Expedition.

    But we have also done shows near NYC and used hotels in western New Jersey. Weekend rates are great. And the traffic on Rte 80 on Saturday is non existant.
  • Karin Neuvirth March 31, 2010 at 2:05pm
    I'll only drive if the show is less then an hour away. I do shows in the Minneapolis area that are 1 1/2 hours away and I always book a hotel - who needs that drive after a long day at a show.
  • Jan Raven March 31, 2010 at 9:46am
    I always look for the nearest campground and set up my little backpacking tent. I routinely drive 30-45 minutes to get back to camp. This is how I keep my show expenses at a minimum. I am also fortunate to have friends scattered around the country and frequently stay with them as well. Failing that, I will spend a fair amount of time online looking for the cheapest motels I can get and I am willing to drive up to an hour to save money. The extra gas cost doesn't even come close to surpassing exorbitant motel costs.
  • Oscar Matos Linares March 31, 2010 at 9:38am
    The thing to consider is how much gas your car will eat? How much you save in food? Can you get through hotels.com or something like a better price?
  • Diane Wright March 31, 2010 at 9:23am
    I have driven about 2 hrs so that I can stay at home. It was a pain but the show ended around 6 each day.
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