Held June 20th & 21st, the location of this event is fabulous! At a 500 acre park ran by the McCormick Foundation, donated by Robert McCormick editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, which includes beautiful gardens, excellent museums & facilities and much more. Several tributes & exhibits to WWI and WWII veterans are onsite as well. While I left my hubby to tend our tent frequently during the two days so I could take in part of the grounds, I sure wish I had more time to investigate. Aside from the show, this park is very well attended by families on outings – many, many picnic groups, several weddings, and visitors just touring the gardens and museums.A bonus of this location was the adjacent air conditioned visitor’s center and restrooms. Promoter had set aside one of the conference rooms as the artist break room – fully stocked with ice cold water bottles (did not run out) and a few snacks. Volunteers were amazing and plentiful taking lunch orders and offering break times. The Park’s on site restaurant and Ice Cream café were both great, located in the air conditioned visitor’s center. Art Fair Food court had a variety of yummy food. Music located throughout was fantastic – very well scheduled and good mix of sounds. We especially appreciated the easy listening music during pack up as we were all exhausted and sweaty. There was patron table seating at one end near the food court as well as at the other end at the main music stage thus encouraging patrons to use the full art area. The overall feeling I had during this event was easy going, relaxed, enjoy the event and surroundings. Any patrons I had the pleasure of contact with were the same. Nice, easy to talk with crowd. Several had said they came to this show every year and were always happy with the high quality variety from year to year – evidentially Amdur mixes it up annually. Sunday morning included a full buffet breakfast in the air conditioned restaurant and sit down awards ceremony. Both Saturday and Sunday prior to start up, artists were invited to attend a tour of the grounds.No bad booth locations from what I could tell. Patrons had easy access to stroll the well designed area. Booths are set up in (4) rows. Two rows face each other on the main road leading up to the visitor’s center – one of those rows does not have trees. The back two tree lined rows face each other on grass had marvelous shade with spacing as tree, tent, tent, tree. 10x10 booth areas have ample 3 to 5ft spacing between each. All artists had a huge amount of space behind their tent – the center two rows actually formed a large free area zone behind those booths. Being my first show with Amdur I asked Amy about the rules regarding utilizing space in the back for storage etc. She replied that this area is so lovely feel free to spread out and enjoy the area and the day. What a wonderful way to start my first Amdur show. As I watched the traffic flow, it was my impression that the booths facing each other were a tad farther apart than most shows – at least it appeared that way in the back two rows. I believe this encouraged the patrons to fully walk down one side and up the other rather than just walking the center and glancing in both directions at once. My observation was that this was the right amount of booths and laid out well enough for patrons to actually walk past each booth. Artist setup/take down was not too bad. Drive up for those on the street and a short carry in for the back rows. Artist parking was at the Cantigny golf course area; about ½ miles back on the grounds, but shuttles were constantly available. At check in, each artist received a 2009 Amdur Productions Art Annual – nice 80 page collection of artists and their work who participate in the 2009 Amdur shows. Quite cute were the name badges for our artist helpers (spouses etc) – better half, significant other, along for the ride, banker, free labor etc.Heavy winds & rain Friday night damaged a few tents that set up Friday, and the grassy area was very spongy. My area had severe mud holes but before the show began, Amy had grounds crew spreading several layers of hay. They returned later in the day to add more where necessary. Weather Saturday was full sun and temps in the high 80’s with a slight breeze. Those trees were certainly appreciated by those that had them. Weather Sunday was overcast, but again in the high 80’s and very humid with virtually no breeze. I would estimate Saturday’s attendance at around 6,000 and Sunday’s (Father’s Day) around 10,000. Being a popular family & veteran park anyway, it was hard for me to pin down the attendance. I was initially concerned about a Father’s Day show, but these grounds are heavily visited by veterans and their families and found the show as a bonus.Overall I heard quite a few comments that many had no or very few sales. I heard a few say “my worst show ever” and “I’ll not come back”. There were a few buy/sell booths that got in somehow. One photographer from PA, wonderful guy with beautiful product who exists on his art for a living, was very worried on Saturday but at show end on Sunday, a patron returned from Saturday and bought his two largest items – making the show entry, travel and profit justifiable for him. Several artists had Saturday lookers that returned Sunday to purchase. I personally did not have my typical high four figure weekend but just okay (a bit above expenses) with sales of (4) large framed items on Saturday and many matted only pieces that ranged from $20.00 to $90.00 sell both days. I believe I have had success during my spring shows this year because I have limited my framed work to only a few large pieces and many small to medium sized pieces. I will typically sell one or two of the large framed per show but sell many of the $85 to $225 ones. I also have included an extra matted size and reduced prices of my matted - $20/$35/$50/$90. I do all of the printing/matting/framing myself so I do have an advantage as my expenses are lower than those who outsource. From what I’ve seen, there are not a lot of four figure pieces being purchased this year as compared to previous years. Those not having products in the $20 to $900 range are not having as many sales although I could be mistaken. The grumblers of this show were the ones that only offered the four figure items. The majority of my buyers had indicated they come every year and always purchase a few items.I was thrilled to finally be at a show where I ran into fellow artfairinsiders. Charles Bingham and Colin Murray were both there and it was great to chat with them and see their wonderful work in person. What great guys! How did you guys do?My impression of Amy Amdur as a promoter: Loved her. I will do any of her events. She is quite detail and artist oriented and provides a pleasant atmosphere from the start. She walked the show frequently looking for problems, solving problems and greeting artists by their name. I find her personable, well organized and from what I can judge by my experience during the Cantigny show – provides a wonderful show. I always have empathy for anyone who has a bad show or does not make at least expenses (been there, done that). I do think however that those upset with Cantigny sales are not likely to blame the show production itself.My two videos show an “average” of the show. Some times were more crowded, some times less. You can check them out at: https://www.youtube.com/user/njander listed as Cantigny Art Show and Cantigny 2I’d love to hear other’s comments.Linda AndersonAnderson Photo Works Great Lakes Nautical and Nature Photographyhttp://www.andersonphotoworks.com
I visited the Cantigny show to check it out, and found out when I got there is was an Amdur show. I've always heard good things about their shows. I was disappointed in this particular show, however. The crowds seemed light (it's quite far out from Chicago), and the show was much smaller than I anticipated.
Most of the artists I talked to didn't feel they were doing well. Sales volume isn't necessarily Amdur's problem, but I was surprised by how many "vendors" were mixed in with the artists, anything from newspapers to windows. I know these were show sponsors, but I'd have preferred to see the sponsors in a separate area. Mixing them in with the artist booths did not contribute to a good experience, IMHO.
I'm not recommending against Amdur. I really have heard good things about them. This is the first of their shows I've visited, and it may have been an off day in an off year. I will definitely look at some other shows closer to Chicago... North Shore and Gold Coast, for example. But I don't think I would apply to this particular show.
Wow! another wonderful wrapup. Thanks so much, Linda.
Charles, I wouldn't cancel Riverwalk if I were you. I don't know how your sales work, or how the demographics are these days in Naperville, but it was always one of our better fairs. This is a very nice upscale area with a fair number of younger families and the event is well supported by the community as it is organized by the local art league.
In one of my comments somewhere, I had mentioned how I love Michiganders and I feel at home in Michigan! This is why Charles..... very similar to Wisconsinites..... we are talkers and very comfortable sharing ourselves. I have found the same results as you describe not only at this show, but also Deerfield, Mokena and my brief association with the Wilmette Artist Guild exhibits.
Again, gotta get you into some Wisconsin 'up north' shows - Door County, Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua etc. You'll get what I mean about the commonalities between WI & MI.
See you again soon. Hope your next one is a huge success. You certainly have wonderful talent that is readily visible in your georgous work!
I noticed that the people who attended the show were not the type of crowd I am used to in the shows I've done in Michigan. They really had me confused and frustrated over both days of the show.
I usually spend most of the day answering questions about my art, since it is very unusual and how I make it isn't always clear to most people. I also normally hear a lot of emotional reactions to my work and have become accustomed to using their comments as a segway into a conversation with them.
This crowd had almost no reaction to what they saw, did not ask questions and I was lucky to even see someone crack a smile. They would quietly enter my booth, look very intently at the work, then slip back out.
I figured that maybe I needed to initiate the interaction between artist and patron myself, so I tried talking about my work to them, and it only made them scurry away. I thought, ok - too hard a pitch, so I'll make it light conversation.... no interest. I eventually gave up trying to interact with them.
I was listening in to the booths next to me, and I didn't notice much chatter there either. Maybe it was the intense humidity and heat that had them in a lethargic daze.
The odd thing was that I noticed it also at the first Chicago show I did about 3 weeks ago. (Promenade of Arlington Heights) The crowd seemed stoic and there was much less conversing than I am used to. Then, for a brief few hours, on the last day there, a burst of energy seemed to hit the crowd and I was asked questions one after another and I made a few big sales. It then went back to being quiet. Very strange.
The only explanation I can think of is that these were shows with smaller attendance numbers, and it is hard for a level of energy to build when the isles aren't packed.
I was one of the artists there that had most of my work in the four figure range and, like Linda said, I was not happy with the results. Spent $900 to be there and sold nothing. I can't blame Amdur Productions though... they run things with military precision and do it well. I have 2 more Chicago shows planned... Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile and the Riverwalk art fair in Naperville.... I'm thinking about canceling out of the riverwalk show since I can get my fee refunded before July. Maybe I'll cut my losses in Chicago... or would that be a mistake? I know it is supposed to be a good show.
Thanks for the comments Linda. I would say you have a very accurate appraisal of the event. We did not do well in sales. We did not cover expenses this week. It was disappointing, as I love showing at Amy's shows. She is very good at producing shows. We will do other Amdur Shows, just not Cantigny.
I forgot to mention.... Quite a few of the artists chose to rent tents from Amdur Productions. Not sure of the cost, but they were certainly heavy duty well secured tents that had had no problem with the Friday winds.
Also - a nice bonus I took advantage of - accessible wi fi internet connection worked very well. I had initially chosen the two pay plan in January for this event (I shelled out thousands in application & jury fees in Jan/Feb). Typically with Amdur if you choose the two pay, there is an additional $25 fee tacked on each payment. For my last payment I had called to verify the amount and the Amdur rep told me they dropped the fees for two pay as artists were having a tough enough time this year. To me, that says quite a bit about Amy Amdur!
Comments
Most of the artists I talked to didn't feel they were doing well. Sales volume isn't necessarily Amdur's problem, but I was surprised by how many "vendors" were mixed in with the artists, anything from newspapers to windows. I know these were show sponsors, but I'd have preferred to see the sponsors in a separate area. Mixing them in with the artist booths did not contribute to a good experience, IMHO.
I'm not recommending against Amdur. I really have heard good things about them. This is the first of their shows I've visited, and it may have been an off day in an off year. I will definitely look at some other shows closer to Chicago... North Shore and Gold Coast, for example. But I don't think I would apply to this particular show.
Charles, I wouldn't cancel Riverwalk if I were you. I don't know how your sales work, or how the demographics are these days in Naperville, but it was always one of our better fairs. This is a very nice upscale area with a fair number of younger families and the event is well supported by the community as it is organized by the local art league.
Again, gotta get you into some Wisconsin 'up north' shows - Door County, Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua etc. You'll get what I mean about the commonalities between WI & MI.
See you again soon. Hope your next one is a huge success. You certainly have wonderful talent that is readily visible in your georgous work!
I noticed that the people who attended the show were not the type of crowd I am used to in the shows I've done in Michigan. They really had me confused and frustrated over both days of the show.
I usually spend most of the day answering questions about my art, since it is very unusual and how I make it isn't always clear to most people. I also normally hear a lot of emotional reactions to my work and have become accustomed to using their comments as a segway into a conversation with them.
This crowd had almost no reaction to what they saw, did not ask questions and I was lucky to even see someone crack a smile. They would quietly enter my booth, look very intently at the work, then slip back out.
I figured that maybe I needed to initiate the interaction between artist and patron myself, so I tried talking about my work to them, and it only made them scurry away. I thought, ok - too hard a pitch, so I'll make it light conversation.... no interest. I eventually gave up trying to interact with them.
I was listening in to the booths next to me, and I didn't notice much chatter there either. Maybe it was the intense humidity and heat that had them in a lethargic daze.
The odd thing was that I noticed it also at the first Chicago show I did about 3 weeks ago. (Promenade of Arlington Heights) The crowd seemed stoic and there was much less conversing than I am used to. Then, for a brief few hours, on the last day there, a burst of energy seemed to hit the crowd and I was asked questions one after another and I made a few big sales. It then went back to being quiet. Very strange.
The only explanation I can think of is that these were shows with smaller attendance numbers, and it is hard for a level of energy to build when the isles aren't packed.
Also - a nice bonus I took advantage of - accessible wi fi internet connection worked very well. I had initially chosen the two pay plan in January for this event (I shelled out thousands in application & jury fees in Jan/Feb). Typically with Amdur if you choose the two pay, there is an additional $25 fee tacked on each payment. For my last payment I had called to verify the amount and the Amdur rep told me they dropped the fees for two pay as artists were having a tough enough time this year. To me, that says quite a bit about Amy Amdur!