Anyone do shows in Wyoming or Montana? I've seen comments on the shows in Bigfork and Billings, thumbs up and down respectively, and the NIC Fest in Casper, Wyoming. Anyone have more experience with these shows, or with others in these beautiful states? I'd love to make a western loop next summer, and would appreciate any insights.
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Hi, Carrie and everyone. I'm reviving this thread since I'm researching the West. I'm considering the Sweat Pea Festival in Bozeman, MT for August 4-6 with zapplication deadline of April 1. Booth fee is $345. I'm 5 hours from Bozeman and I drive 60mph and slower. It's their 40th year and it appears quite festive! Wonder about the art sales...maybe we'll see! WOOHOO!
Hi Barrie, I've heard mixed reviews on Sweet Pea, some artists do really well, others won't go back. We were accepted several years ago the first time we applied but were also accepted to Anacortes and gas prices spiked. Since we lived in Seattle at the time it made economic sense to stay home. Ironically we've never gotten into Sweet Pea again so haven't yet tried that one. We're now spending all of August in north Idaho, so it wouldn't be too far away but haven't gotten in.
Thanks for your comments, Ruth. I thought about that Anacortes show since there are a few events happening simultaneously. There's that juried indoor event and then the outdoor event. I might rather do both at the same time, but I couldn't really get behind trying that this year. I did in fact consider this possibility last year. Anything you can shed light upon with these venues would be helpful to me and probably others here. The outdoor event is on zapp and the deadline just passed. The indoor "Fine Art" event has a deadline of April 4 and that app is on callforentry.org.
Thank you for all the information on this thread!! We did Bozeman and couple of weeks ago and I was also interested in other shows in WY and MT. Appreciate it!
Barrie - you asked about Rapid City, the only SD show I've heard much about was the Spearfish festival. I know a few Montana artists who tell me it's worth it for them to travel from MT to SD for that show, we've never tried it as I had a hard time justifying traveling from Seattle when we had local shows we could do that same weekend.
Susan - it did take us 2 years to finally get into the Custer shows, again, I would only try those if you have some reasonable price points considering the Spokane market. I have not tried the Prosser show you mentioned, haven't heard much positive feedback from any shows in the greater Yakima area. You would think they would have a good art and wine show but haven't seen it thus far. I also heard that the Arbor Crest winery in Spokane has a small show in August where a few artists who are invited, I know one artist who did it in the past and thought it was good for a small local show. Have you considered any of the Seattle area shows? There are some there that are definitely worth doing.
Hi, Ruth. I don't think I mentioned Rapid City, but rather Sioux Falls area. Rapid City might still be a little too western oriented, or just not oriented at all. Sioux Falls is another story and I've spent plenty of time there just traveling back and forth from Wisconsin and other places. I like Sioux Falls and think the climate is right for art culture and collecting art.
Ruth, I am looking at Seattle/West Coast Shows for 2015; hard to know which ones I should apply to. Any help from others is appreciated!!
Hi Susan,
Since you live in Coeur d'Alene, I definitely suggest trying Art on the Green, I've posted previous blog posts and reviews on Art Show Reviews. Another one to consider would be the Sand Point festival, for a very low booth fee, it can be a reasonable show. I think the first year we did it, the booth was $185 and it was very easy to achieve a decent profit when we sold more than 10x booth. We do better at Art ont he Green and are really trying to limit how many back to back shows we do, so Sand Point is no longer on our list. Plus, CDA provides free overnight parking for artists with RVs, Sand Point can be an expensive place to stay.
Spokane has an art show in June put on by the Spokane Art Museum. We only did it once, wasn't worth it with a drive from Seattle for only one show for that weekend, no other shows to make it into a road trip with multiple shows, but if you can sleep in your own bed it might be worth trying. We've had good luck in CDA, horrible track record in Spokane, but yet many, many patrons at CDA tell us they've seen us in Spokane at the Custer shows or the Museum show, so can't quite figure that out.
I also know a LOT of the Spokane area artists that do Chataqua every year, we've never tried it but they seem to think it's worth their time.
I've also heard great things about the Boise Art Museum show, we go to CA at that time, didn't like the idea of a 20% commission, but I've heard it's a great show in Sept.
HTH, as Connie mentioned, we've done many of the WA & ID shows so feel free to ask.
I have tried to get into the Custer show in Spokane, but they are tough to get into. They limit jewelry so someone that has done it previous would have to drop out and I know they get lots of new vendor applications. I missed the deadline this year but will try for the Spring show. Keep trying and some day... Their booth fees are quite high and it is hit or miss but I have to pay my dues for the better shows.
Spokane is a tough market, people tend to want things for under $50 which is tough to do. I actually have had luck with the Ferris (South Hill area) High School show in Oct/Nov. the fee is only $60, it is 2 days, people are friendly and they buy! Last year I did really well, it helped fund my trip to Tucson for the gem show.
Has anyone done the Prosser, WA Balloon festival? I met a couple last weekend in Whitefish, booth next to me, and they do it every year. They said it has been quite good for them and the fees are very low. I am thinking of doing that one, it is in September and looks like I can still get in.
Also, the Artis and Craftsmen of the Flathead have a 3 dayer the weekend of Thanksgiving in Kalispell, MT. I have heard from friends in the Kalispell area that this is a good show too so will probably do that one. My husband and I like to spend Thanksgiving at the family cabin just outside of Kalispell so no need to pay for lodging there too, which is always nice.
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