I've noticed in my humble 4-5 years in the business that it is darn hard to make decent money at outdoor Florida festivals in December. There are only a handful of shows the first week of December, and the only one around in week 2 is the Winterfest affair in Holmes Beach, west of Bradenton. Now, I'm sure there are others, and the point of this question isn't to find shows to apply to (I'm as booked as I want to be). It's to inquire as to why there are relatively few shows to choose from.
Is it because shopping malls don't need to rent space to shows, they need the parking for Christmas shoppers?
Is it because promoters have tried, and found that artists (like everyone else) have their own shopping to do?
Or because artists are too busy fulfilling Christmas orders to do shows?
Thoughts?
Replies
Funny I was just telling some tourists yesterday how we really look forward to the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas here, because after the crazy weeks of Fantasy Fest, Parrotheads and Power boat races, things slow down and we catch our breath until Christmas when things start getting crazy again! Of course that's just here in the Keys but I bet it is similar in the mainland except for the big Nov. crazy events.
And interestingly enough, I have had quite a few artists ask me if I couldn't start a show for December! Here in KW it would be too quiet with mostly locals.
Lois
I think as it gets closer to Christmas people are thinking more in the lines of gifts and not for themselves. While I think art as a gift is great for it's unique and personal nature, it's also more difficult to decide on for someone else. My online sales do increase this time of year to give as gifts. However, these people mulled over the decision over several months after seeing my work earlier in the year.
Well Geoff, on our side of Florida, the tourist and snowbird season seems to start after the holidays. When I was at Los Olas in October, I mentioned to an artist that I really liked the show and he said it was a lower end Howard Alan show and he couldn't get into the Jan and Mar ones when the tourists were in town. Maybe producers want the time off too before the Winter Season starts.
And the biggest show (number of artists)held in Chicago is the first weekend in December and Amy Amdur has even gotten into the indoor art festival business that weekend too so maybe going up to Chicago before the snow really starts to fly is the place to be.
Atleast we can get into any restaurant we want to while the weather is gorgeous and the northerners are where they are supposed to be!
Thanks, Geri! I've also heard that indoor shows don't go well in FL, but there was already a thread about that elsewhere. So based on limited responses, it's sounding like the Florida "dead zone" exists outside of Fla, too.
Geoff - not sure this is just a trend in Florida, although I must admit I was surprised that it would be in a state that has great outdoor weather this time of year. We have 1 strong wekend in December for shows, the first weekend and then it dies an absolute and sudden death in the Pacific NW. As I have been researching shows across Western US states for our 2012 season, I notice the same trend in sunnier places, like SoCal and Arizona. Even in those locations I don't see many good shows after that first weekend of December. Makes one really tempted to try a few Nov and maybe an early Dec. show and then take some vacation in the sunny climates before heading home for our Christmas holidays.
Why? I really couldn't tell you, although usually by the time we get to Dec. 5th or so, we can't wait to pack it all in for a while. The last few years we've had 5 shows in a row from begining of Nov. thru that first weekend in Dec. and then we are ready for a break and some family time. By the time we get to that first weekend of December a lot of the artists we know up here are looking and feeling frazzled, starting to run low on stock and just want some downtime.
Goeff, this is probably no help whatsoever... but its quite different in Australia . Our show seasons are split - spring to Christmas (summer) and then its deathly quiet for a couple of months before starting up again in autumn (fall). The spring shows are better than the autumn shows - probably because we have people thinking about christmas as well so often buying gifts as well as items for themselves.
I would imagine the cold weather would be offputting as it is in winter here. Winter is my time to regroup and make for the coming spring/summer. Post Christmas its just too hot to think let alone create!
Thanks, I should have made it clear to our international, not to mention non-Florida, readers that Florida show volume is both weather- and tourist-driven: Hardly any shows from June through September (with a few exceptions) because of the heat and rainy season, which ends in October. Late October ramps up just a bit, due to end of rainy season and the arrival of early "snowbirds" (folks from colder climates who begin coming south for the winter). November is moderately popular as temps cool and more snowbirds arrive. Then some folks who still have homes up north fly back up for Thanksgiving and often come back after the holidays.
High season in Florida is January through March. Snowbirds begin leaving for northern homes as weather warms, planting season begins, and taxes are due (April 15 in the US). Easter weekend is the traditional end of winter season. There are still some really strong shows in April, but fewer of them. By late April, artists are heading northward; the better Fla. shows tend to be in the northern part of the state. May mimics October in many respects. Then the heat is upon us, and the cycle begins again.