I went and had one of the best shows of the year. I sell an xmas item, that is reasonably priced, and yes it is gifty. I also had friends to stay with so i cut my expenses. i only got a 10x10 booth but had a corner. i did make the mistake of not getting curtains and lights which later i purchased and it made a difference. I would agree with the others most seem to be looking for inexpensive gifty items. Ruth does treat her artists well and i like that. And yes i am going back this year. i for some reason can not get into balloon or her spring show but that is life.
Pati Deuter > steve appelNovember 30, 2010 at 11:05pm
Just finished doing the Weems Artfest which is in the same location...crowds were down considerably...have friends that do the Rio Grande show and say it is pretty good...stock you low dollar gift stuff if you have it...will get you through the booth fee...Good luck...Albuquerque is an art educated community....
Thanks for the response. I do not seem to have work that fits so did not do the show. Spend a lot of time in Taos, so may try a touristy show or so up there and may even take a chance on a Santa Fe show. I guess the coming Spring season will determine if I am able to do the art fair business. Was invited to a number of shows in the fall when I was trying to see if I could develop some opportunities (some personal travel plans kept me from doing the shows, but wanted to test my opportunities) but not having as much good fortune for the spring shows.... will see what happens). Finding artists to be very generous with their advice and experience and I'm most appreciative. Best regards, David
steve appel > David H. RosenbergDecember 1, 2010 at 10:14am
David, i was there i even wrote a review about the show. you did not miss anything. i did ok and will do it again but i have a holiday item so i thought. Big seller at the show was bread. someone selling bread in food aisle sold out. at $5.00 a loaf. Artists around me were not real happy as was the case last year. Quite a few new artists. Parking in back of hall was a joke. I have never seen so many trailers at a show in one place. I personally thought the crowds were down. Sat. was only day that it looked crowded. Sun. few and far between. Inexpensive work sold ok. High end not so good. i was down by almost 600 from the year before. we stayed with friends so it made the trip worth it but if i had to stay at hotel i would rather stay home.
I just finished the Rio Grande Arts Fest during balloon fiesta and crowds were great but people were looking for small "gifty" items. I did sell a few larger framed images but it was a "tough" crowd. They do draw in the people if you have those kind of images that are "gift" sizes. Becky
steve appel > Becky DonatucciOctober 16, 2010 at 4:04pm
Thanks for letting us know about rio grande balloon i was wondering how the second weekend was. i did it a few years ago but lately have been rejected and who knows why since i did so well there. what were people around you doing and were they selling.
Thank you, Michael. Your response was just the information I was looking for. I am new to the art fair business. While I've been doing photography since the early 60's, my career was in law and my retirement last year let me pursue my photography passion full time. I've had one gallery showing (Act One) in Taos, but I have made a commitment to the art fair bus. I have done a few museum wrap images but I do not intend to give them away. I have had this fear that this November show was primarily a "small gift for Christmas show" and I did not want to commit to that kind of show for my "first."
I spend a part of the year in Taos (otherwise Dallas based) so NM shows would be convenient for me and I hope that we cross paths as time passes. Your input is helpful and appreciated.
Best regards, David
MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK said:
I have done shows in Albuquerque since the late 1970s, but hadn't done any since about 2006. I tried the Rio Grande show in Nov. (Thanksgiving weekend), 2009, and again last March. I bought 1 1/2 booths + a corner, $725. I have a wide variety of work, especially the warm colors and soft forms of the SW and Mexican architecture. The staff and director, Ruth Gore, couldn't be nicer to the artists; they worked hard to make sure I got a good booth location each time and that all of the artists are treated with warm respect and a caring attitude. They are also on the lookout for buy/sell, which gets short shrift from the staff. Being inside, it was easy to be comfortable and not sweat the weather that seems to plague our business at so many outside shows throughout the year. The hours are reasonable and you have all day before the festival to set up. That being said, I found that the people who come are looking mostly for inexpensive, even cheap art. Since we are both photographers, David, I can truthfully say that if you don't have photos on canvas, which I don't, or cheaply priced photo plaques or frames made of barnwood, which I also don't have, you will have a tough time making money. If I hadn't had friends to stay with in town, I would have made expenses only - which is not the way you should want a show to turn out. I really wanted the shows to make a profit for me, but I won't be applying again. In our business, unlike baseball, it should be two strikes and you move on! If you want more details, respond to this reply. Good luck!
I have done shows in Albuquerque since the late 1970s, but hadn't done any since about 2006. I tried the Rio Grande show in Nov. (Thanksgiving weekend), 2009, and again last March. I bought 1 1/2 booths + a corner, $725. I have a wide variety of work, especially the warm colors and soft forms of the SW and Mexican architecture. The staff and director, Ruth Gore, couldn't be nicer to the artists; they worked hard to make sure I got a good booth location each time and that all of the artists are treated with warm respect and a caring attitude. They are also on the lookout for buy/sell, which gets short shrift from the staff. Being inside, it was easy to be comfortable and not sweat the weather that seems to plague our business at so many outside shows throughout the year. The hours are reasonable and you have all day before the festival to set up.
That being said, I found that the people who come are looking mostly for inexpensive, even cheap art. Since we are both photographers, David, I can truthfully say that if you don't have photos on canvas, which I don't, or cheaply priced photo plaques or frames made of barnwood, which I also don't have, you will have a tough time making money. If I hadn't had friends to stay with in town, I would have made expenses only - which is not the way you should want a show to turn out. I really wanted the shows to make a profit for me, but I won't be applying again. In our business, unlike baseball, it should be two strikes and you move on! If you want more details, respond to this reply. Good luck!
Replies
Thanks for the response. I do not seem to have work that fits so did not do the show. Spend a lot of time in Taos, so may try a touristy show or so up there and may even take a chance on a Santa Fe show. I guess the coming Spring season will determine if I am able to do the art fair business. Was invited to a number of shows in the fall when I was trying to see if I could develop some opportunities (some personal travel plans kept me from doing the shows, but wanted to test my opportunities) but not having as much good fortune for the spring shows.... will see what happens). Finding artists to be very generous with their advice and experience and I'm most appreciative. Best regards, David
I spend a part of the year in Taos (otherwise Dallas based) so NM shows would be convenient for me and I hope that we cross paths as time passes. Your input is helpful and appreciated.
Best regards, David
MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK said:
That being said, I found that the people who come are looking mostly for inexpensive, even cheap art. Since we are both photographers, David, I can truthfully say that if you don't have photos on canvas, which I don't, or cheaply priced photo plaques or frames made of barnwood, which I also don't have, you will have a tough time making money. If I hadn't had friends to stay with in town, I would have made expenses only - which is not the way you should want a show to turn out. I really wanted the shows to make a profit for me, but I won't be applying again. In our business, unlike baseball, it should be two strikes and you move on! If you want more details, respond to this reply. Good luck!