Hi everyone,
I'm a stained glass/mixed media artist. I do simple copper foil stars and variations of stars. Several years ago I started using vintage frames and Windows with the original clear glass intact and added my own stained glass and vintage jewelry/Czech glass/small plastic animals or antique Cracker Jack prize kind of items, hence the mixed media. These pieces have been well-received. They seem to appeal to people because of their puzzle-like quality, not always sensical but intriguing and colorful. My prices for suncatchers begin at $24 and my frames around $35-65. My windows are between $100-300 each.
Here's my question I've done local Ohio shows for over 15 years. A good day for me is $600-1k. This year, I applied to some out of area shows. Country Living Fair which isn't really an art show, but I expected there to be buyers there. St James Court this past weekend. I was not in a great space this weekend and both shows had rain two out of three days, but I'm not sure if I can blame sales on those things. Totals for both shows hovered around 1200. For a three day show with a high booth fee this is not much profit.
My question is when do you know not to try again somewhere? What do you use as the cut off? I find myself thinking (after time goes by and the weariness had dissipated) oh, maybe I'll try again next year.
I live in a rural area in SE Ohio and don't get to hear from a lot of other folks trying to develop a regular schedule of decent paying festivals. I know this has been a tough year (and I have a theory that ALL election years are, but this one seems worse). I don't know if I should settle for the customers I've already connected with or try and build.
I have a small retirement income, I'm 55 and my kids are now in their 20's so I feel I have more freedom to move about, but I'm kind of at a crossroads in my art and my life, I guess. Single, not as strong or tough as even ten years ago. Tired after a huge festival and not riding on a wave of profit. Anyhow, I welcome other's feedback. Thanks!
Replies
I do know quite a few women artists locally but it's interesting that we are all in the last few years just starting to branch out to shows which require some travel and overnight accommodations.
I'll keep reading and listening to what others have to say. Sometimes I think I'll just get a box truck and do the winter circuit through Florida and Texas, and other times I think "who am I kidding?" LOL. It's a balancing act between work creation and sales and just some healthy down time. Working like nuts and then risking damage in bad weather, fatigue and losing studio time for little profit all are frustrating. I appreciate the time folks have taken to respond!
Now I'm embarrassed. I didn't read this thoroughly. Obviously not a new person in the business are you, Cindy? For us the "when not to" was when we'd given the show one more chance and it just got worse and there were no extenuating circumstances such as rain. (Refuse to blame the election). We also made it a policy to do at least one "new" (as in never been done before) each year and also to try something new for us, but around.
One of our most popular podcasts was with photographers Alison Thomas and Leo Charette who live in the East. I'd heard them talk about their record keeping and thought the podcast was going to be about balancing their books, taxes, etc. Instead they talked about their databases of information and how they show choices not based on "oh, this one sounds like fun", but on the stats in their bookkeeping. Here is the link to that one. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2014/02/21/taxes-artists-keep...
At the Application conference in Houston last week I heard Carroll Swayze, a painter, speak of how she also made those choices and how hard it was for her to give up going to her favorites where she had lots of friends and fun, but the pocketbook won out.
Cindy, I think the questions you have are good for all us no matter what level we are working at. After just a few years of doing shows I am at the point of reassessing ... do I want to continue doing them is the first question. Then I ask myself which ones bring the most pleasure for me -- I have to get some enjoyment being there. Then, is the $$ there. Lots to think about.
Great question, Cindy. Well put with lots of helpful info. My first inclination is to think about the age thing. One of the things folks rarely focus on is what a healthy life style this is and also that you have to stay healthy to do it. Do not let age be a reason for not still trying. We did shows until I was in my mid 60's and only quit when my husband was too ill to go on.
At the next show you do, if you have the time, take a look around at the other women who are doing the show. They aren't in their 20's! and they thrive on the comaraderie (I can't ever spell that word correctly) and many of them are traveling by themselves. Weekends are a good healthy work out at the shows. They certainly build stamina. I can stand for hours on end. Right? During the week I went to the gym. Please don't let getting older have any impact on your choosing this lifestyle. Of course, if you have health issues that is another story. I know a bunch of women in Ohio who would be your buddy, maybe share hotel rooms with and be your art fair friend with adjacent booths at shows.
Since you've been doing local shows I'd guess you know a few yourself who might want to travel with you for economy reasons, friendship and moral support. I think you are fortunate to be single, kids pretty much grown, creative, have the desire to work for yourself. You have a long career ahead of you.
Have you ever listened to my podcasts? Lots of good information available at ArtFairRadio.com.
Your work sounds pretty cool and definitely affordable in today's economy. (Like age I'm not going to blame the election for getting in the way. I'm not going to put weather in that category though!)
This weather thing will always be with us. Have you ever attended the Columbus/Cincinnati Winterfair? I'd guess you live near. Why don't you give yourself a holiday the first weekend of December and go to the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus and shop and check out the other women who are sole entrepreneurs? If you really want a treat go to Chicago that same weekend for the One of a Kind Show at the Merchandise Mart for a real eye full.
I've done St. James in the rain. The first time we even left Sunday morning but I didn't care that we didn't make much because prior to that I was shut into a classroom teaching and it was so liberating to be on the street with other adults.
What do you think of these ideas? I'm sure there are many in the same boat. I don't know if these ideas will make you money, but sometimes it is about much bigger things than the money.
Hi Cindy,
Of course you know that everyone has different $dollar amounts in their heads for different reasons.
I used to do shows in Ohio when I lived there in NE Ohio. We're planning to move back to OH and my husband and I have had some talks about this- just this past weekend. Also retiring. My husband surprised me by saying that doing a one or two day show close and not making as much money is ok because he will have much more time than he did while working. Apparently the time factor is not as valuable. The number he mentioned was "less than $1000" which means $1000 per day. In the past we always wanted to make at least $1000 a day for a less stress, close to home show, hoping for more like $1500. These are with booth fees ranging from $100-$175 or so.
Since we moved, we now have been doing shows where we must travel and stay in a hotel. If we are making a minimum of $5000 for the show we are satisfied but of course our expenses- and work and time put in- are much more.
Trying to keep our expenses low, this $ amount has worked.
Until this year-2016, we've been satisfied with most of the shows that we have been doing. I have no good info for 2016 as we have only done three shows:
Cain Park in Cleveland- did not get to $5000 but my husband feels that we made enough to return, perhaps cut our expenses a bit.
State College Festival of the Arts in town- satisfied with our sales.
Art Show In Mystic, CT- great town but so unbearably hot (for me!) that weekend. Did not do well enough to return.
I know that sharing $ numbers is not something we are all up for doing- and again, I know it varies greatly for all of us.
At ST. James, were you able to talk to some of the other exhibitors, did you find that you were selling on par with everyone else?
I take that into consideration, too, as to whether to return.
Good luck.