Hello there - this is for anyone who has done Old Town in Chicago in the past...
I took the plunge and applied for the 2013 Old Town Art Fair back in December. According to ZAPP, results come out "February 2013". No date, nothing. The booth fee would be due March 1, so I assumed that early February would be when artists would hear about their results. It's mid-February, and nothing. I'm SO hoping to get in, and so I'm checking ZAPP every day and going a little crazy.
For artists who have applied to this show in past years - does Old Town wait until the last minute to inform artists? For those who have applied for this year - have you heard yet? I'm just trying to figure out how to relax while waiting...if I know that they wait until the 20th, I'll just try to focus more on other things. Thanks!
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Well, the wait is over...rejected. Sigh. I was thinking so, due to the wait but also knowing that although my jury photos are good, they don't make a "cohesive" body of work as much as I wanted. I altered my photo collection for shows I applied to later than December, and got into all of those; so I think it's a learning experience for next year. I hope everyone else got in, though!
Noper, me neither. Happy that I don't have to deal with the goat rodeo that is the combined shows of Old Town and Wells St. I lived in Old Town for a while, and I do miss the neighborhood, but I don't miss having to setup there in pouring rain and narrow streets. Parking is a bear when you are towing a 16' trailer with a 21' truck in Chicago!
We were pretty fortunate and did Old Town for at least 15 years. When we were "not invited to return" we tried to find other shows on that weekend: Wells Street (hoping to lure our customers to the new location for us--didn't work much), Talbot Street in Indianapolis, Flint Art Fair in Flint, MI. There are other choices, but this is the prize on that weekend.
I know all of you have gotten into some other solid shows this year, so you can't win them all and life goes on. I look forward to hearing the results of those shows. I really appreciate your candor and sharing here. It is so helpful to so many.
Columbus has yet to report, and that can be a good show. I'm trying to take it easy on myself this year. Only in 15 shows so far. LOL.
Hi Elizabeth! How are you holding up today? I still haven't heard anything from Old Town. Just wanted to see if you are handling the anticipation ok. I know it can be maddening at times. A bunch of shows I have applied to have notification dates for tomorrow. We will see how that goes :-)
Hi Elle - still checking like 3 times a day if I can keep it under control - ha. Trying to keep busy by making new work! I know, I'm waiting on some more shows that have dates tomorrow - I was just hoping to hear from Old Town by tomorrow, so I can know if I can apply to another show where the deadline is tomorrow - if I'm rejected by Old Town, then I know I'm available...
And Jim - I heard Wells Street is awful, but I'm hoping that Old Town would be a little easier on me just because I'm local and so don't have far to travel to get there...I haven't done a Howard Alan show, are they really great? Good to know. I also hope to get away from the more drunken crown that frequents Wells, vs. the more calm shopping vibe I've seen when visiting Old Town...but of course, I have to get in! It's the biggest show I've ever applied to, which is also why my nerves are high.
I'll post here if I hear anything...eventually!
Do not compare Wells Street to Old Town, just because they are on the same date just a few blocks apart. It is night and day. Old Town is not easy to do, set up can be challenging, but the rewards usually make up for it.
It is also pretty heavily grandfathered making it even more of a challenge to jury in. Best wishes to all of you.
Thanks Connie! Still no word yet. I was hoping this year I'd have a better shot at getting in; they changed their grandfathering system a little, decided to open up 50% of spots! I thought it would make it the best opportunity to try to get in. Getting a little geared up for a rejection at this point due to the time passing - the booth fees are due 3/1, and I've heard from other shows already that give about a month before booth fees are due, which I think is pretty standard? So, since there's no word, I'm thinking I'm probably on the reject list. Sigh...
Don't give up hope yet. Often when shows are late announcing who's in and who's out, they will also extend the payment deadline for the booth fee.