I love the Paradise City shows in Northampton! They are absolutely the best in terms of sales, quality of work, and ease of set-up and take-down. There is great food, the facilities are lovely, and the organizers are approachable and caring. It is an honor and a delight to be in these shows.
Here's info for anyone not familiar with these shows:
The website is paradisecityarts.com
The shows take place in Northampton, MA. (Paradise City also does shows in Marlborough, MA. These have been nowhere near as good for me, and I did not apply this year.) The Northampton shows take place in three buildings at a fairgrounds. The biggest building is very tight in terms of tent space - cheek by jowl 10x10s. There is a new barn building, and I am not sure about the space in there.
I am usually in the smallest of the buildings, the Morgan Barn. This is a wooden barn, with birds flying in and out, and the faint smell of cows always present. Carpet is laid over the wood floors for the show. Space is great - behind the tents is 4 or 5 feet of space where you can store pretty much whatever you want.
You can drive right up to the barn to unload. There is easy exhibitor parking near all three buildings.
Yes, the Morgan Barn gets fewer visitors - but if someone is looking to buy, they go through the entire show.
The shows are expensive to do - $900 plus electric, but they are three days long, are heavily advertised, and there is a gate fee.
There is excellent food at these festivals (including fantastic Indian food), and you can sign up to have booth sitters. Security is top-notch.
This year (Memorial Day weekend 2013), was not the best in terms of sales, though I did make money. It was freezing cold on Saturday, and rainy, with a brutal wind blowing through the barn. People came, and bought - but they were cold, too.
I had good sales on Saturday, making my booth fee and edging into profit. Sales were slower on Sunday and Monday, though Monday night, I sold a large painting to a woman who'd been there Saturday morning.
This year, as in past years, the show has generated sales after the show. I have gotten a number of very good commissions from these shows every year, and that has continued this year.
The people who come to these shows are knowledgeable, interested and excited about seeing and buying art and high-end craft. The skill level of the artists at these shows is unparalleled, in my opinion.
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