I have two shows, and I think I need to choose one. This year I have been invited to all of the Ann Arbor shows, but the the original is probably the best, which runs Thursday, July 19 – Sunday, July 22, and the Bellevue Art Museum show, which has setup on July 26th, and runs July 27, 28th and 29.
Problem is, there is 3 days and 2,300 miles between the two shows. That is alot of driving in not much time.
So, do I do both? Interested in any thoughts or feedback
Replies
I'd hate to recommend one over the other. I've never done BAM so I can't comment. There is no way you can do both. If you think you can drive 800 miles a day after doing Ann Arbor, buy some life insurance and make me the benefactor. I could use the money.
Ann Arbor isn't always 100 degrees. The weather was great last year and is most of the time. It's been ungodly hot 3 out of the past 5 years. There are good artists but a lot of junk too. Flip a coin and pick your show. Most people stay in the same spot year after year, selling to people who come back year after year. I know a jeweler who does 100k. That's not the norm, so, don't think you are going to do that. In the old days Ann Arbor and Coconut Grove were the best shows in the country. Those days are long gone.
If you do Ann Arbor, maybe Connie will come and say hi. That's worth the price of admission right there.
We have done BAM for 10 years, it is always our best show of the year, huge numbers. We are jewelers and have a following of collectors that come to the show to buy from us. We also live on the West Coast. For 7 years we lived just down the street from the show, now we live four hours away and we still go every year. With that said buying energy has changed at Bellevue in the last four years. The show used to claim it had 350,000 attendees, I’d say it’s more like 75,000 now. The buyers have changed from older art educated buyers to a mix of younger millennial’s not sure what to do with art. Load in at Bellevue is fairly easy load out is usually a nightmare. The show has long hours they have to keep the same hours as the mall 9:30 to 9:30 there is no admission charged so people can shop as early as they like. There are two other shows in the area. The people who shop Bellevue museum show are very loyal to the show. The quality of the museum show can range from incredibly high to how did they get in? The museum has a new director and the last two or three years artist quality and buying energy has really changed. If you’re coming from far away I’m not sure it would be worth the drive, you would be so exhausted doing two big shows with such long hours. We decided that local is better might make a bit less, but expenses are less. In the long run we make more and we are tired of wearing ourselves out with long hour driving and long hours at shows. We are in the same pickle you are. We are accepted to Columbus Ohio, now we are realizing how expensive it would be to drive or fly and there is an issue with weather there, so I think we are going to pass on Columbus Ohio this year. Good luck!
Thank you for the thoughts. I just drove to Coconut Grove, Florida, from Denver, and back. It was a good show, great crowd, a bit subdued do the high school shooting, but I am glad I went, needed a good excise to visit Florida. the Columbus show I heard is pretty good though; and hard to get into, so congrats to you on acceptance
I forgot to add what is very important that the quality of the Original, Guild and South U. are all excellent.
Donna Gilbert
Actually, I misread the Zapp summary, I have been invited to the Original and the Guild shows; the jury is still out on the S University show.
Thank you for sharing your experience Donna. If you have been doing it 13 years, it is obviously worth your time.
The person who wrote about "junk" was talking about the scab shows on the streets off State Street. There is not junk at the four main shows.
We've never done BAM but have successfully done the South University Ann Arbor Show for 13 years. Here's what you need to know about the Ann Arbor Shows. The 4, Original, State St, South University and Guild all have the same hours. They're difficult to do because that 3rd weekend in July is always, and I mean always 95 to 100 degrees and the days are about 10 hours long. We have elegant very functional pottery and have done well but the competition for 2D and other forms is fierce because each show blends into the next and people get eye weary. Attendance the last 2 years has dropped some, but still about 4- 500,000 people. Obviously you won't see all of them. I like Maggie Ladd as a director for South U. who has always been professional and helpful. I also like the location on South U. Avenue. I would suggest you at least eliminate the show that's on State Street. People walk it zombied out and it's wide and they don't see both sides because (as you'll see by the map) at either end they can wind their way into other parts of the show. My husband and I work together and honestly, you need another person to help you do these shows. It's physically demanding. I can't speak to the set up of other shows, but the South U. show is wonderfully organized and everyone listens to the block captains and you're told the time and location of where your particular booth line up will be to drive to. No nonsense and stress over where to go. We line up early (9 am) and often the block captain lets us in sooner because they're ready. You then have the rest of the day to set up. Although we never cared much or considered it a factor for an artist's dinner, the South U. show has a very good buffet for several hours the day of set up at a large restaurant within a block of booths. No talks, no waiting, no formalities, just go and eat and sit in Air Cond. with a variety of good Italian food, salads, hummus, desserts, soda. at your own table or booth. It's relaxing. We have a long set up and we took a dinner break walking to the restaurant and ate then went back to finish setting up. And honestly, in the heat, the offer of a comfortable ac, good food, quiet reprieve for an hour was great. If the other Ann Arbor Shows offer ease of set up and other aspects that you like, then you're set, but I'd try not to be in the show that's on State Street. It's a wide body to body street and people only see one side and then can wander at either end of the street into other shows. Not sure if they return to state street easily. Good luck with your choice. Also, pay for electric at any show because you have evening hours and can have rain.
I’ve read about BAM, seen the high average per artist sales, bought into the hype, read the reviews, and said “never again” after having done it once.
The people that seemed to be doing well were weirdos with the most eccentric, non traditional, hipster, wannabe different for different’s sake crap that the greater Seattle young adult population hilariously prides themselves on.
I walked around and saw high end artsists from lots of medium standing aloof with crickets chirping in the background. That is just my experience. There are like 1-2 more huge art shows, same time, only one street away (6th street art show?) and so there are like 600 artists all showing in a compacted little area. Personally, I see that as just more competition and less likely buyers.
If you do choose to do it, bring your own lights and I hope you have a great show.
Hi Dori, thank you for the input. I get what you mean about the hipsters. Sorry that you had a bad show there. I am old and gray myself, but for some reason my work also appeals to hipsters. That said, Washington is a heck of a drive.