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On the road with the art and the kid(s)

Posted by Clive Bridges on September 16, 2010 at 9:26pm in Art Show Information and Discussions
My wife and I are planning on hitting the road in the springtime, heading out from Northern California to try to find some joy (and money) in the Socal, Arizona and Texas show circuits. We will be accompanied by our homeschooled daughter who turns 11 in November. Although we've done many vacation road trips before, we've never tried to do shows with our daughter and I was wondering how other artists who have their families accompany them deal with coping with their kid(s) whilst trying to present a professional face to the customers in the booth.

We will be trying to get into some of the more prestigious shows like La Quinta, Bayou City and Fort Worth. Are the show promoters accommodating to artists who have to bring their families with them? Are there other artist-families out there who are likely to do these shows that we can connect with?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Clive

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Replies

  • David Plank October 21, 2010 at 6:21am
    I can reply only as a resident/visitor at the time to the Ft. Worth shows - 2003-2006. I saw several artists with their children in attendance, but then, maybe they did a better parenting job than I did with my children which was good practice for herding cats. My take: children add a personality factor that dilutes the snob appeal - a good thing. The upscale photo-only gallery in Milford, PA where a member brings her delightful (8 yr old?) daughter is a great current example.
  • Clive Bridges September 27, 2010 at 9:18pm
    Hi everyone,

    It's so great to hear all the stories about doing the art shows with children. I feel very fortunate.
    I photographed the booth on the lawn today; first spring show application deadline is Thursday. Let the mystery unfold.

    Thanks

    Clive
  • Bill and Jon Slade September 21, 2010 at 9:18pm
    Clive; My son Jon , who is 26, has gone to Art festivals since he was 2 months old in an R.V.; Jon and I blow glass together for the last 8 years; he knows all the artists of all ages , and has maintained a great family relationship with all, many watching him grow and mature; My wife and I are proud of his accomplishments; even though we did no pushing towards being an artist. I have great stories over the years, as do our others friends. This is a great life that we choose as artists; even if last weekend stunk// like Atlanta (a latter blog on that and censorship after I recoup). I hope you enjoy as much as we did ; we saw alot of the U.S. as a family. I am pretty sure you only get to do this once; Fair Winds, and safe fruitful travels;;
  • Connie Mettler September 21, 2010 at 8:32am
    And here is the photo of our Art Fair Intern, Allie Maher, part of the art fair business since she was two weeks old, at Arts, Beats & Eats -- Allie knows all the ropes
    • Annette Morrin > Connie Mettler September 27, 2010 at 3:21pm
      That's our girl! We have so many wonderful memories of traveling with Allie to art shows. How many parents can say that about their jobs, working with your kids near by? If we were traveling afar to do a number of shows we looked to see what fun educational places and things we could do along the way, we have hiked many state and national parks, toured numerous museums(and outlet malls ) and played every road game there is!!!
      Art show kids know where the families money is made and all the work it takes to create it. Allie had many money making opportunities, for shows that were not bothered by it she sold her own watercolors, tiny kites that really could fly, Halloween fimo jewelry. She booth sat, worked at food stands and also entertained and babysat other artist little ones. Over the years she had "artshow" friends and looked forward until the next show when they would be together again. Allie was not home schooled, but went to a Montessori school where they believed much learning is absorbed outside the school walls, so it was never a hassle to take her out for a week or 2 at a time. Never did we think about giving up our work and life as "art fair artist".There are still shows where past customers will stop and ask how our daughter is and how they remember her in a playpen behind the booth! (Louisville, St James CT)
      So Clive, pack up the family and enjoy a artist life on the road!
    • Tina Cloud > Connie Mettler September 21, 2010 at 9:00am
      Here's another reason to bring you slightly older kids. If they are in Girl or Boy Scouts they always need to accumulate lots of community service & leadership hours. They can do this by becoming an official volunteer for the art show. They can help you set up, and then get the community service volunteer hours by doing things like delivering water to artists. Or they can get the leadership hours by volunteering in the children's art activity tent. Or they could be their own entrepreneurs by offering to babysit, boothsit, or dog walk for other artists for a few bucks. So many good things for your kids to learn by hanging out at the art shows with you.
  • Connie Mettler September 21, 2010 at 8:24am
    Another thing kids learn while meeting the stream of people entering their parent's booth is how to be pleasant with strangers, how to greet someone they've never met. They learn the sales patter, how to explain about the process of the art, how to answer questions. Some friends, Jerry Berta and Madeline Kaczmarczyk, whose kids did art fairs with them all their life, told me the story, that even though their kids both went into the sciences (PhD's both of them, I believe) that their son was always the spokesman for his team. Recently they discovered some new star or meteorite or some other heavenly body and because Zach was the person in charge of announcing it and other communications that the object was named after him!

    Moral: don't leave the kids at home!
  • Lisa B Wiertel September 20, 2010 at 9:57pm
    Hi Clive,
    I am another one that brings their kid to shows. I have a 10 year old daughter(who is also homeschooled). She is pretty mature for her age and is a big help to me in setting up my booth. She knows how I like to present my greeting cards etc. so I give her that job. She also helps me wrap customer items. She goes gets food for us. I also pay her according to how long the show is. I also tell her if we sell "x" amount of dollars she gets a commission! LOL!

    With that said, a day at the art festival is not always fun for her so she brings some things along. Her ipod, Ninetendo Ds(hate that thing!) and a book to read. I also have to remind her on occasion not to interrupt me when I am talking to a customer unless it's an emergency. An emergency is not asking me what Chic-Fil-A puts on their sandwiches! She did that this weekend when I was trying to close a sale!

    With that said, we had a blast at the hotel and driving home. A lot of fun memories and conversations to share. Good luck!
  • Boomer Houston September 20, 2010 at 11:39am
    No worries Clive,

    My son helped me with a show and actually brought people into the booth whilst blowing bubbles when he was younger! He showed the kids where they could get bubbles while their parents shopped the booth! (eyesight range of parents...)

    It helps if they learn the art and many shoppers are captivated by this! Good luck in Texas. Hope you get all of the friendly folk that I have come across.

    Regards,

    Boomer Houston!
  • Dawn Waters Baker September 20, 2010 at 11:39am
    I have three little girls and they are too young to bring but I look forward to the day I can have them there with me to help and to learn from other artists. Just as an aside: I had some of the nicest (most genuine) comments come from kids of artists (at the shows). I am sure they have seen a lot and found them to be very insightful.

    On a another note I have also had a young lady stay in my booth for two hours wanting to talk about how to do art. It was hard to talk to costumers and also eat my lunch. Her father wanted her to go around and talk to the other artists and get a feel for what art was about (which I think is a good thing) but I would also advise that you teach them how long and when to talk to other artists. I certainly wouldn't want my daughters stuck in my booth all day but I wouldn't want them hindering the work of other artists.

    I think it's neat that your letting your daughter in on your life. I'm sure it's so much more fulfilling to see your family around you and for them to see they are a part of it, not seperate from it.
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