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Indoor shows vs outdoor shows

Posted by jonna ellis holston on June 6, 2010 at 2:48pm in Business of Art Fairs
I have been accepted to my first indoor art show, Charlotte Fine Art Show. The promoter called me, She said she loved my work but my display needed help. She suggested that I buy Pro Panels with pedestals, carpeting, lighting and the list continues. That's a huge investment for me and I'm not sure Charlotte will net me enough to cover the booth fee (over $500.).

Does anyone out there have any experience with this show or have suggestions on how to make this transition from outside to indoor less painful? I have grid walls and expect to buy some Pro Panels.... gradually.

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Replies

  • Lindsay Pless June 16, 2010 at 5:31am
    Amy...thanks for getting back to the subject. I've deleted my posts and I sincerely apologize for falling into a useless disagreement . Artist to artist courtesy is far better than lowering myself to that level.

    Amy Flynn said:
    Getting back to the subject of inexpensive displays for Jonna's first indoor show...When I suggested pedestals, it was just off the top of my head. And you're right, you usually expect to see sculpture on top of a pedestal. Which is why I think it would work for Jonna's jewelry. What she has here is art, and if you make the public look at in a different way---on a pedestal rather than on a rack--maybe they will be more likely to perceive it as a work of fine art.
  • S. Michelle Babcock June 15, 2010 at 12:12pm
    Lindsay I wouldn't be copping an attitude on fine craft versus being a stringer. Your statement pisses me off. When I do a show that is full of stringers I know I'm in the wrong show. Fine art and fine craft shows means you don't string things on a strand that is all pre bought. Jonna belongs in fine art shows you belong in country craft shows. Get over this argument and accept there is a difference.

    Jonna your work is amazing.And this is a good general question not just for jewelers. Good luck figuring out your indoor display. I have dynamic display cases that really bring up the quality of my display. I'm going to do some inside shows in December so I'm trying to figure out my walls too. I don't even think pro panels would fit in my van.

    Lindsay Pless said:
    "I only wish more people saw what you do and then look at what they do to really understand what can be done with beading... That is another post however..."

    You're right, you should put this in the jewelry thread and for the record, those of us that make jewelry do know what can be done with beading.........some of us just opt to do what we do best with our stones and beads.

    Sorry but this just ticked me off.
  • Amy Schulz June 13, 2010 at 3:59pm
    In the past I have hung a deep colored material on the backside of my gridwall to soften the look of it. Gridwall has such an industrial look to it, but the material does help.

    Pedastals may be overkill, but if you can create it for low $ as described earlier, it might be a great way to showcase a special piece of your art. I always like to highlight my most intricate work. Most of us do not make a living off of those pieces, but they do their job of getting people to look at the rest of your items for sale in the various price points. I can't help but think that your amazonite freeform piece is crying out for a pedastal- it deserves it!

    I love lighting and use it all the time, even outside. The more the work sparkles and the details can be seen the better. Wal-Mart has clip on lights that are inexpensive and have held up for me. The are around $12, I think. The clip is nice for versatility and work well on the top of grid without paying the price for grid specific lights.

    Amy Schulz
    Happy Magpie LLC
    custom engraved art & gifts
    www.happymagpie.com/etching
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-AZ/Happy-Magpie-LLC-artist-Am...
  • Michelle Sholund June 12, 2010 at 8:04pm
    First - Now that's what I call beading! What beautiful work you do! I only wish more people saw what you do and then look at what they do to really understand what can be done with beading... That is another post however...

    Second. When it comes to the Pro Panels comment - it could very well be just a recommendation and only that. The jury/promoter probably is wowed by your work, yet like what another person commented - your work could be even more up scale with "something like Pro Panels". There are other alternatives you know. I would hit websites that focus on "retail display" or further more "jewelry retail display". Some of the ones that come to mind are www.chdisplay.com (formally www.dlrsupply.com) and www.dynamicdisplaysystems.com - I highly recommend seeing their image gallery - great ideas and I think they all are collapsible . While Pro Panels are great - in many ways - it seems that they are pricey and bulky and can be heavy. I think dynamic display systems is the place to start to at least get ideas and go to other site similar to what they offer to round out your decision. You may find having raised tables with Acrylic risers work for you using your jewelry busts, but I think pedestals are going over board. When I see pedestals I think ceramics, sculpture, and so on - not jewelry. At least with raised tables you have the opportunity to hind your travel totes and such.

    I am in Maryland and see many ads for other shows in VA - From what I know, anything in Chantilly at the Dulles Expo Center is worth trying. They bring in big crowds and you find all kinds of art/craft there - from copper sculpture to photography, fiber art, ceramics to the people do who dip bowls and sell dips. Keep your eyes open to what goes on with your local and state dept. of tourism calender of events too. I think $500 is typical for the caliber of shows you should be doing, just go to a few though and make sure before you fork over the money. Usually if a show, in that area, says fine art - it is.

    Good luck! - Michelle, By the Bay Botanicals
    www.bythebaybotanicals.com
    www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
  • jonna ellis holston June 8, 2010 at 3:55pm
    Thank you, Amy, the pedestal is a great idea! I looked at puzzle mats at the store yesterday.
    Thank you for the compliment on my work, that means a lot. Have you ever done a show in Charllotte? I'm not sure that is my market. I think the cash would be better spent on excellent images.
    I just got rejected by Bayou in Houston, but I was close to the cut off score. If my images had been better I'd have made it, I think.
    Oh, dang, you're the Fobot woman! I LOVE the Fobot! You're from Raleigh, aren't you?

    Amy Flynn said:
    Jonna---I looked at your website, and your work is dazzling. Very creative, very unique, very high-end. Which is why, in my humble opinion, hanging it all on a grid would cheapen the look. But there are ways around spending thousands on display. Go to a big hardware store and brainstorm alternatives. One that comes to mind would be to buy some concrete forms (they're basically heavy-duty cardboard columns for casting cement pillars), cover them in some luxurious fabric, add an 18" tile on top, and you have a pedestal. I'm sure you can think of something better. You will need a floor covering, but it doesn't have to be fancy--black rubber puzzle mats are cheap and feel really good under your feet at the end of the day. And there's no way to get around buying lights---if you're going to do art fairs, eventually you're going to need them--but they don't have to be too expensive either. Nobody will be looking at the lighting or the floor--they'll be looking at your work, hopefully!
  • jonna ellis holston June 7, 2010 at 7:50pm
    Hey, Larry, thanx for the input.
    I read your article in Independent Artist...great information!!!
    I didn't really balk at the booth fee but to be told that I need to buy another $2000. in display was mind boggling. She even told me to buy lighting at Lowes and then return the lights after the show. I have never done something like that and it leads me to loose confidence in the promoter.
    I make intricately woven beaded jewelry. It's not work that is ruined by rain, but there are so many jewelry artisans competing and my items are fairly expensive. Have you ever done a show in Charlotte?
    The money that I do have , I think, would be better spent on top notch images.
    So I have grid walls, it's not that terrible, is it?
  • Larry Berman June 7, 2010 at 8:40am
    $500 is about average for a booth fee and don't forget you'll need electricity at indoor shows for an additional fee. I don't recommending spending too much money on a display. Ask the promoter if there's something you can rent for the show or ask friends if anyone can loan you their display. At least with the show being indoors you don't have to worry about wind or rain damage. Not knowing what kind of work you do makes it difficult to suggest alternate ways to display.

    Larry Berman
    Digital Jury Services
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
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