Traveling From Miami to Oklahoma City

I have recently been accepted into the Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts (April 26-May1, 2011). I have only been doing away shows (outside of South FL) for a little over a year and they have all been on the east coast (near family and/or friends). Doing this show seems like a great undertaking.

I need some advise. If you have done this before, can you tell me:

1. Do you recommend this show?

2. How do you travel multiple days? Where should I stop overnight traveling from FL to OK (which cities)?

3. As a painter, going to a show with tents provided, would it be cheaper or easier to have my work shipped and fly to the show? Do you know anybody that does shipping of framed art?

4. Specifically about the OK show, what product sells the best? I do realistic paintings in Soft Pastel in sizes from 4"x4" frames up to 24x36. I also have giclees, framed and unframed. I have heard smaller stuff does better at this show. Is that true?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan Bondroff

http://www.danbondroff.com

There are two or three other recent discussions on OKC. You should read them.

As for traveling, if I were driving alone I'd pull into a rest stop and sleep in my vehicle to save money. If traveling with my wife, she wouldn't let me drive past about 7:00 o'clock and base where we stay on a Cracker Barrel map because they have the best breakfast.

Though they provide the outer structure and cover, you still need walls to hang your work. I'm saying that based on the tents they used in the mid 1990's. Things might have changed with newer tents. bring a few rolls of clear plastic and clips and bring enough clip on lights to do your whole display. The only thing we didn't use from our regular display was the canopy but I did use my clear Craft Hut sides when it rained.

Is it a good show? You should have asked before applying, but yes it can be a good show. Read the other threads. They wouldn't have accepted you if they thought that your work wouldn't sell because they depend on the commission, so bring the type of work you juried with.

Read the information about the print tent for your reproductions because when I did the show, you couldn't sell reproductions in your tent. They handle the sales and get the same commission. And if you have stuff that can sell for $3 to $5, the children's area can also make you some money.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

Replies

Larry Berman November 27, 2010 at 2:46pm

There are two or three other recent discussions on OKC. You should read them.

As for traveling, if I were driving alone I'd pull into a rest stop and sleep in my vehicle to save money. If traveling with my wife, she wouldn't let me drive past about 7:00 o'clock and base where we stay on a Cracker Barrel map because they have the best breakfast.

Though they provide the outer structure and cover, you still need walls to hang your work. I'm saying that based on the tents they used in the mid 1990's. Things might have changed with newer tents. bring a few rolls of clear plastic and clips and bring enough clip on lights to do your whole display. The only thing we didn't use from our regular display was the canopy but I did use my clear Craft Hut sides when it rained.

Is it a good show? You should have asked before applying, but yes it can be a good show. Read the other threads. They wouldn't have accepted you if they thought that your work wouldn't sell because they depend on the commission, so bring the type of work you juried with.

Read the information about the print tent for your reproductions because when I did the show, you couldn't sell reproductions in your tent. They handle the sales and get the same commission. And if you have stuff that can sell for $3 to $5, the children's area can also make you some money.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

This reply was deleted.