Some input from other artists would be greatly appreciated on this subject. There is a show that I know of that has a policy to not allow anyone to break down early (3 day show) for any reason including weather. This show is in an area that can have some serious weather during the summer. This past summer, there was high winds (up to 50mph) and pouring rain and lightning, and some artists had to break down or risk losing everything. They were all sent a polite letter saying they would not be welcome back. This is pretty extreme, as most shows will make allowances for severe weather, or even allow the artists to break down before a weather system comes through. Any thoughts on how to write up a policy suggestion to better support the artists would be most welcome.
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What show are you talking about that has this bad policy? I'm sure many of us would like to know so we can avoid this show...
One of the considerations has to be additional time at the end of the show to allow bad weather to pass over. It would be reasonable to delay tear down until high winds and blowing rains have stopped. If the show is on a barricaded street, there may be a deadline arranged by the city to open it up to traffic. If that's the case, you're screwed.
As a photographer myself, I understand all too well that rain and matted photographs do not play well together. A policy should be in effect that takes into account patron safety as well as artist safety AND art inventory safety. If the high winds and weather conditions are going to be sustained, then that presents a hazard to the fair-goers which would be frowned on by the fair's insurance carrier.
It therefore follows if the weather conditions present a potentially hazardous situation to the fair-goers, then those conditions are multiplied for the artists and their possessions. The issue of liability needs to be weighed against closing the show early. Raising this liability issue should be part of your presentation to the show arguing for early striking of the show.
As another aside, very seldom have I seen artists do the obvious thing when tearing down in rain on the street; if at all possible back your vehicle into the booth and load up under shelter. Collapse everything inside and load up inside your "portable garage" and stay dry as long as possible and particularly, your artwork. That thought hit me one year at a downtown Chicago show during a horrific thunderstorm as I watched a metal sculptor haul his work across the street to his truck while lightning was crashing all around. He had room to back his pick up underneath his tent and do that in relative safety.
If it's blowing wind and raining, not extreme but enough to blow rain into your tent, then it should be fair game to zip up to protect your work. That's the opportunity to start packing up out of sight. If they bitch about that, then I would reconsider if this is a show I would want to do again.
thanks so much for the input! One thing I think needs addressing to these folks is the potential for someone to be hit with a flying tent. Over the years I've seen several tents (it is mostly e-z-ups at this show) get whipped into the air and end up in the lake or across the parking lot. I'm guessing that the liability if one hit a patron would not be good. Most shows are really good about letting the artist judge when weather is too hazardous to stay open, and won't punish an artist for leaving early. I want to convey to the organizers that artists are paying money to be there, and don't want to leave- however, they do not want to lose all of their work because they feel like they cannot break down even when their safety and the booths safety are compromised. This is just my train of thought at the moment.
You might add on that a minimum of 40 pounds per tent leg should be mandatory requirements for artists. Most EZ-Up users (many newbies) underestimate the amount of weight needed to hold a tent down in wind.