This was our first time exhibiting at the 54th Allentown show in Buffalo. We've always stayed away for various reasons but this year we decided to give it a try. Set up was the most unusual I've seen in over 18 years of doing shows. Booth numbers are mailed ahead of time and it states in the info set up begins at 6:00 on Friday nite if no one is parked in your space. The show has 400 some artists set up on the streets of the Allentown area with most artists on Delaware ave. Delaware ave is a major artery that runs through Buffalo. Around 6:00 everyone starts setting up but the odd part is the street NEVER closes and there are no police and no show volunteers on sight! Set up went smoothly which goes to show you that if you leave artists alone to do what they do well,they get it done with no supervision! Parking was where ever you can find it and I lucked out with my van and trailer right behind my booth! Weather on Saturday was forecasted for thunderstorms so we were told the crowds were down. On Sunday the show had one of the largest crowds I've ever seen with our booth packed all day!
Unfortunatly a packed booth doesn't always equal sales. We had a slowday on Sat. and sold one small piece on Sunday. We did win a second place award but that won't be enough to make us go back. This is a low end show with few high end buyers. This could be a great show if you have low price items and need lots of people.
A FL painter across from us barely made expenses, a well known veteran photographer sold 2 larger pieces and the rest of his sales were of all small prints. Veteran abstract painter sold a couple small pieces but did have an appointment for a large piece after the show. A Fiber artist with $100-300 items sold well.
The show ended on Sunday with the mounted police marching down the street clearing it. Breakdown went smoothly once again without adult supervision with the road reopening at 8:00 with artists still packing up and traffic whizzing by!
Finally I have to include this picture of this guy wearing one of the great Sonny Dalton's piece's. I told him that I heard Sonny wasn't doing shows anymore but is still creating work for his many galleries.
So as the song goes We'll be leaving here in Allentown!!
Comments
I live an hour or so away and have done Allentown for many years. I quit doing it 3 years ago and have had no regrets. Here are my reasons:
Yes, the crowds are huge. Yes, the awards include large amt's of cash. BUT, this is basically a street show held in a depressed blue collar area. That means throngs of people pass by your booth......mostly talking to each other and not even looking at the art. Many are there dressed in mardi-gras garb and drinking beer from opening til closing. I have seen snakes wrapped around necks, lizards wearing leather vests, tons of pit bulls being dragged along on the hot pavement, and an occasional dog fight. The police had a man cuffed on the pavement behind my booth, I assume for stealing... Another year a bitch-fight was taking place out in front of my booth. This was a great crowd pleaser. I tried to get the crowd and the women to move along, but the police finally had to break it up. In the years where I had a decent show money-wise, I spent the next 2 days flat out on the couch from what I call "show jet-lag." It is a VERY stressful show to do. "Good for you" to those of you who continue to do it and make money as well. It's just not for me.
http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/article450250.ece
article (and I guess the photo too as there was no photo credit) by Colin Dabkowski
Here is another article from the Buffalo paper for those of you who want a little more background on this huge event: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article452066.ece
It includes a video and a list of the prize winners, including our very own Bob Stern. Bob, did that prize ribbon pay for your booth fee?
Thanks Connie! Hope to see you at Ann Arbor!
Woo hoo! Kudos to you Bob for your first blog, plus photos! Good job.
I was so surprised to look at the photos and see the man wearing one of Sonny's pieces because I know Sonny is not up to doing art fairs anymore, and thought maybe Sonny had resurrected his art fair career. Guess not.
We participated in this show once, maybe twice, and our sales and impressions mimicked yours. However, Sonny used to kill them at this show, so I know there is money being made. Another case of finding your own market.