For years, I have participated in a Seattle late autumn show known as Best of the Northwest, and have been asked to come to a meeting with recommendations about how to spur 2D sales. I am asking for ideas.
This show has a long and often difficult history, having been held in a crude, leaky, dirty, and cold abandoned naval airplane hanger for many years. Last year the show was forced to move, because the hanger was sort of condemned until it might someday receive a multi-million dollar renovation. The new location is in an exhibition hall near the Space Needle, in a building created for the 1964 World's Fair. Last year's sales were abysmal for most, with dramatically reduced attendance, perhaps because of the move and more importantly, panic about the sudden recession. This year attendance surged and sales were good for clothing and jewelry and some fine crafts, but for painters, photographers, and other 2D artists, sales continued to be poor. I am tempted to blame the intense interest in jewelry and clothing on the influx of self-possessed Californians to Seattle, but that might be snarky, unkind, and untrue. Could it be as simple as the crash in the housing market dousing any interest in home decor?
My history at the show: Ten years ago my sales were about $6,000; but a long slide downhill in sales terminated with me hitting a new low this year of about $1,300. My booth fee was $900, so I cannot afford to continue unless something major changes. My work changes yearly, so I don't think it is a simple matter of people getting tired of my style.
The show itself has pretty good publicity. The admission fee is $7, which is certainly a deterrent to the notoriously thrifty life-long Seattlites. There were wonderful wines for sale this year, and the show has a non-profit tie-in with a children's hospital, which brings in quite a few attendees who want to support the benefit.
I am looking for any ideas relating to how to reinvigorate a tired show. The show has an energetic new director who is actively seeking ideas; and I would love to help.
Lee Rentz
Shelton, WA
lee@leerentz.com
http://leerentz.wordpress.com (my latest blog entry is about a trip to the California ghost town of Bodie, which is threatened with closure (it is a state park, and the guvernator has proposed closing Bodie to help balance the budget)
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