Virginia Shows

Suzette Mason February 23, 2010 at 10:29pm

Hi Sara!

Thank you so much for your input. I received emails both last year and this year to apply to the show but I have been hesitant. Yes I do a couple of four day shows each year so three days would be fine. I live in PA though and the furthest I have traveled is Maryland. May I ask what your art is?

Sara Hunter said:

Hi Suzette,

I have participated at both the VA Bch Christmas and Spring Shows and found it to be a great show. Truly, I have not seen any buy/sell at these two shows. This is a juried show and those type vendors are weeded out. The first year I participated, I was surprised at all the business I got (2007). The next year, the economy was bad, but I still came out on top despite the downfall. Last year, I did both Spring and Christmas and was quite surprised with my sales despite the down economy. Have you done a three day show before?

Sara Hunter February 23, 2010 at 7:35pm

Hi Suzette,

I have participated at both the VA Bch Christmas and Spring Shows and found it to be a great show. Truly, I have not seen any buy/sell at these two shows. This is a juried show and those type vendors are weeded out. The first year I participated, I was surprised at all the business I got (2007). The next year, the economy was bad, but I still came out on top despite the downfall. Last year, I did both Spring and Christmas and was quite surprised with my sales despite the down economy. Have you done a three day show before?

Pauline Ross February 21, 2010 at 1:07pm

I have been getting those same emails Suzette. I thought about it but I would rather know someone to give a report just like you are seeking. So I will hang low until then. I think they might be too crafty and buy/sell for fine art. I tried something like that years ago at the Virginia Beach Convention Center and there was hardly any fine art booths and lots of crafts and buy/sell. Terrible sales when the mind set is lower scale items at a bargain. I barely made the booth fee.

I have done the Whalehead Country Club art show a couple times. So-so for sales. The weather can just kill you too. Experienced sudden blast of thunder, lightening, wind and rain storm one year that nearly knocked us all over and out! The show is right on the bay. No time to hunker down. Thankfully my canopy hung in there along with four people holding the poles! Not such luck for my neighbor though.

You can look up the Seawall Art Show in Portsmouth VA, Artisans in the Park in Virginia Beach and Ocean View art show in Norfolk to try out also.

k3t0fksqoojc > Pauline Ross March 16, 2011 at 9:35am

The Artisans in the in VB is not a good show for anyone. Minimal sales. Don't know of anyone with fine art that did well. Seawall can be good but is hard to get into. The Port Warrick Art and Sculpture Fest in Newport News is great as well as the Neptune Fest in VB.

Suzette Mason February 19, 2010 at 10:51pm

Thank you both for your responses. They keep sending emails so I am thinking that artists must not return or they wouldn't be looking so desperately for new ones. I would love to do some shows in the VA and NC area so I will keep looking.

Dave Hinde February 18, 2010 at 3:52pm

I have heard of the shows, but not from an artist's point of view. I know people that get to the Christmas Show long before the doors open to get the good bargains! It's always a crowded show, like they represent on the website, but also I suspect it's mainly buy/sell. The items I saw purchased were buy/sell.

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