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Sugarloaf crafts festival Philadelphia opinions?

Posted by Larry Sohn on October 20, 2016 at 6:10pm in Art Show Information and Discussions

Has anyone had experience, good or bad, with the Sugarloaf crafts festival in Oaks / Philidelphia, PA. It is the Fall show 11/4 - 11/6/16

I've read the opinion from Mr. Hart.

Any other ideas?

It's a bit costly. Of course that is relative, if we do the numbers.

I'm trying to make a last minute decision.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

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Fall, Oaks, Phila, Philadelphia, Sugarloaf, festival

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Replies

JillStanley November 5, 2018 at 1:39pm

We stopped in last year to check it. the Fine Arts were not selling well, seemed to be more crafts . Lots of food booths which were selling the most. Rather expensive show,$800-900! I did not choose to enter. glad to read Lynnette considered it worth while. Shows should have reduced entry fees for fine art otherwise they will soon all become craft shows.
Lynnette Shelley November 5, 2018 at 4:43am

I just did the show and posted a review

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/sugarloaf-crafts-fall-o...
Larry Sohn November 10, 2016 at 9:36am

Interesting... I cannot find any current reviews of this show. Nor some of their others. Although I was accepted, I decided not to go into this show. However I'm curious to read honest, informative, reviews of it. Can't seem to find them anywhere?

Anyone on these boards do it?
- Lynnette Shelley > Larry Sohn October 26, 2018 at 10:40am
  
  I live nearby and decided to do the Fall show at Oaks this year. It's coming up next week. I do fine art (contemporary animal art paintings). I live half and hour away so I figured I could give it a shot and see how it goes. Since it is indoors it's way less stress for me (weather, tent set up etc) so I am willing to take a chance on it. I'll let you know!
  - Larry Sohn > Lynnette Shelley October 26, 2018 at 2:07pm
    
    I look forward to your thoughts on it.
    
    If you don't want to reveal everything public, then just PM me a confidential report.
    
    Thanks
Tony De Masi October 24, 2016 at 5:06pm

I did this show, once, in the spring of 2014. For me it was my worst show in the last four years, financially. I'm a wood turner and although I don't sell in quite the numbers as some artists, I average about $1000 per show day. In Oaks I sold one piece for $145. So you can imagine how much I lost considering gas, food, hotel, etc. This particular show was not well attended either. I have done George's show in Chantilly, Va. where the crowds are much larger.

As for Sugarloaf in general, I am doing my last one this December. His prices are going too high for me relative to return on investment.
- Larry Sohn > Tony De Masi October 24, 2016 at 9:36pm
  
  Thanks Chris, Judy, Tony.
  
  Now I'm getting a bit concerned. I have not found positive reviews of this event. As you & others have stated, fairly pricey with the hopes of a return on investment. Not a huge profit in my medium.
  I need the Fine Art venues for my type of work.
  Trying to compete with the photogs that are doing the small prints with premade / bought matts, selling for $25 is not an area I wish to pursue.
  Not that there is anything wrong with what they do, (premade mats & small prints) just not for me or what I want in the level I try to work within.
  - Connie Mettler > Larry Sohn October 25, 2016 at 10:06am
    
    It is in a nice area and we did the show once, many years ago. After that it didn't fit into our schedule, there were others closer to home, not because we didn't sell well. Functional works best with the Sugarloaf shows, but we did them for many years because there wasn't much competition in fine art and did reasonably well, so weigh that into your decision. Pretty much though, if you live near, I'd do just what Chris said above.
    
    P.S. moved the discussion to this section ;)
    - Larry Sohn > Connie Mettler October 26, 2016 at 12:24pm
      
      I agree with Chris as to the value of checking a show out as a "viewer" first to do market research. Then attending at a later date.
      
      However I'm also of the mindset of not allowing opportunities to pass.
      
      As a photographer we learn to take the shot when we can, for it might not be available later. I tend to live that way also.
      
      I do now, whatever I can. Although costly it may be at times.
      
      Thanks for moving the discussion :-)
      - Howard Clark > Larry Sohn October 26, 2016 at 11:28pm
        
        I too am a photographer. Be prepared for company. I visited the Sugarloaf show in Chantilly back in April. There were only 17 photographers to share the pie.