I am a pretty easy going person that doesn't let most things bother me, but this one does. Most shows say unload and get out for set up, and take down before you bring in your vehicle. The ones that enforce these "rules" make life easier for everyone. I try to get on the street/site as early as possible, unload the Suburban in 15-20 minutes and get out of the way. It takes us about 3 hours to take down and by that time we are one of the last to come in to load up. If it's raining, drop clothes protect my stuff (rain can ruin leather art work).
I have a hard time understanding artists that park their vehicle at their site and then take 2-3 hours to slowly unload the tent and put it up, then unload tables and accessories, next individual pieces of art contemplating their placement, and you get the picture. You can bet during take down they are there with their vehicle 5 minutes after closing for the revers process. The first time I did Crested Butte, I got locked into grid lock of vehicles as I got started late. I wanted to get out but couldn't.
Life would be a lot easier if everyone followed the stated set up and take down rules.
You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!
If I can drive up I do, unload everything and then go and park and come back and set up. Same for pulldown. If parking isn't too distant and I have a helper I'll park first and then dolly everything in.
Robin Chard > Annette PiperJuly 30, 2012 at 7:57pm
Yeah, no one cares about a few minutes! It's when you are ready to leave and someone pulls some huge thing in and blocks the whole road, and they are not loading, just starting to pack up!
Hmmm... so this is my first year, My husband is always with me and we unload quickly then I send him to park, while I set up. However, I do usually have him help me get the tent up (not the sides but frame and top) as it is easier with two, takes less than 5 minutes and allows me to really start getting the rest of it set while he is out parking. Is that acceptable, or should I stop that practice?
Wouldn't it be nice if all exhibitors were considerate when setting up and tearing down?
I was tearing down at a show a few years ago - well within my area - and an exhibitor was in such a hurry to get on the road he actually ran over part of my both, crushing it, while waving goodbye and driving off.
We all want to get set up and back on the road. I guess we do need the block captains in place at the shows to keep all exhibitors in line. Sad but true.
Unless there is a system in place like a block captain, this will always be a problem. The sad truth is that there are divas who just don't care about their fellow artists. I cannot even count the times my load in and out has been made that much more difficult by them. They see us having to dolley in while their vehicle is parked in front of our space. I remember well the photographer at the Silver Spring art festival who pulled his SUV and trailer in front of three booths across the street from his booth and slowly set up all morning and moved the trailer only ten minutes before the show opened. Think he cared about the other three exhibitors? Yes they are at every show, they are even reading this post and will continue their arrogant behavior.
That became a problem for several years at the Ocean View Art Show. We then closed the drive-up option for a couple years. Now we only open drive-up on Friday. Saturday AM and Sunday PM we close the curb lane of the road, which allows everyone a closer place to dolly from than the parking lot. Still, we ask that you unload and move. Most do move since it's obvious we're on a busy street. I think being on a busy road helps influence people to load/unload then move.
The main reason we don't have drive-up on Saturday or Sunday is that people tend to drive on the grass when there is a vehicle blocking their way. That could get us kicked from the park! The other reason is that people in the neighborhood tend to walk along the path when the weather is nice, and we want to be "good neighbors".
The Gosport Festival, in Portsmouth, VA, handles it well. They have block captains that will direct you to come in when you are packed up, then "suggest" you move when you are loaded. They will even help you load up. They try to let vehicles enter in the right order so that several can load/unload at the same time.
Replies
If I can drive up I do, unload everything and then go and park and come back and set up. Same for pulldown. If parking isn't too distant and I have a helper I'll park first and then dolly everything in.
Yeah, no one cares about a few minutes! It's when you are ready to leave and someone pulls some huge thing in and blocks the whole road, and they are not loading, just starting to pack up!
Hmmm... so this is my first year, My husband is always with me and we unload quickly then I send him to park, while I set up. However, I do usually have him help me get the tent up (not the sides but frame and top) as it is easier with two, takes less than 5 minutes and allows me to really start getting the rest of it set while he is out parking. Is that acceptable, or should I stop that practice?
Wouldn't it be nice if all exhibitors were considerate when setting up and tearing down?
I was tearing down at a show a few years ago - well within my area - and an exhibitor was in such a hurry to get on the road he actually ran over part of my both, crushing it, while waving goodbye and driving off.
We all want to get set up and back on the road. I guess we do need the block captains in place at the shows to keep all exhibitors in line. Sad but true.
Unless there is a system in place like a block captain, this will always be a problem. The sad truth is that there are divas who just don't care about their fellow artists. I cannot even count the times my load in and out has been made that much more difficult by them. They see us having to dolley in while their vehicle is parked in front of our space. I remember well the photographer at the Silver Spring art festival who pulled his SUV and trailer in front of three booths across the street from his booth and slowly set up all morning and moved the trailer only ten minutes before the show opened. Think he cared about the other three exhibitors? Yes they are at every show, they are even reading this post and will continue their arrogant behavior.
That became a problem for several years at the Ocean View Art Show. We then closed the drive-up option for a couple years. Now we only open drive-up on Friday. Saturday AM and Sunday PM we close the curb lane of the road, which allows everyone a closer place to dolly from than the parking lot. Still, we ask that you unload and move. Most do move since it's obvious we're on a busy street. I think being on a busy road helps influence people to load/unload then move.
The main reason we don't have drive-up on Saturday or Sunday is that people tend to drive on the grass when there is a vehicle blocking their way. That could get us kicked from the park! The other reason is that people in the neighborhood tend to walk along the path when the weather is nice, and we want to be "good neighbors".
The Gosport Festival, in Portsmouth, VA, handles it well. They have block captains that will direct you to come in when you are packed up, then "suggest" you move when you are loaded. They will even help you load up. They try to let vehicles enter in the right order so that several can load/unload at the same time.