Today I was checking out the Sweet Pea Fesitval (in Bozeman, MT) application on Zapp. I noticed that their booth fee actually went down this year from $295/$445 (I think) for 10x10/10x20 last year to $265/$400 this year. Their app fee is $40 though, ouch! I hope this is trend (wishful thinking.) Anyone else know of shows doing this?
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I did this show in 2010. The old-timers were complaining then about sales being off, too. I was hearing estimates of about two-thirds that year. I drove up from CO and it totally wasn't worth it for me. If you have someone you could stay with instead of getting a hotel that might help, My take on this is that this is more of a community festival than an art fair. People had to pay an awfully steep gate fee to get in - $12 each in 2010, I think. Depending where you are load-in/out can be easy or really tough. I had a grassy hill to go up and down with the hand truck. Artists' parking is half a mile away - literally - and the shuttle stop is half way there so not very helpful. The only artists selling well when I was there were the fractals guy and the tie-dye T-shirt guy. I think it could be a good market for an art fair if they just took that aspect of the festival more seriously. To me it just seemed like a sideline.
I tend to agree with much of what you said, especially about promoting the art more. However, it did seem that at least some people came to buy art, ie they weren't just walking through (except in the evening when they were headed for the music stage.) I was in the back row so I wasn't close but not too bad, however I ended up hand carrying much of my stuff to my spot because of tree roots. I did set up early which made it easier. I could walk through unoccupied spaces instead of going around. I sold enough and had enough interest for me to give it another try. I really liked the town and the people.
Last year was my first year there. It was "ok" At least the people seemed engaged with the art and I made a few good sales. I need to cut expenses to make it work for me. The 2d people I talked to said their sales were down significantly last year so I'm hoping it will go back up this year. Last year it started on the day they downgraded the debt. I'm going to give it another try if I jury back in.
I see you do fused glass. There was a glass guy there that I talked to and he said that last year wasn't great, but the previous 2 years were good. Le me know if you jury in and I can give you more specifics about set-up etc.
Thanks alot!! will do....
They are the anomaly from what I've seen.