Twice a year the art league on Anna Maria Island holds an art festival, one in December, the other this past weekend. I've exhibited at the Winterfest show for four years and every year the sales improve, this was the first time I participated in Springfest, WOW what a difference. The island is packed with snowbirds, springbreakers and year long residents and as you can see from the above picture many of them come to the show. My sales were double of the best winterfest show I had done here. I was so busy I didn't have a chance to poll many artists about their sales, hopefully a few of our members that were there will chime in.
Set up is on Friday and the layout allows you to unload at your space, generous spaces, many corners, level grassy field, the only down side is that wind can be a major factor so bring extra weights. Breakdown is just as easy. Artists ammenities include donuts, fresh fruit and coffee both mornings, water throughout the day and boothsitters if you want them. Provided artist parking is close. The show also has decent award money. Joyce, Laura and the rest of the volunteer staff are accommidating, helpful and friendly. This festival also has some great music, and it's kept at a level that it still allows conversation in your booth.
This is a fun show to do, in a beautiful setting with relaxed, friendly people. I'll be adding it to my spring lineup and would recommend giving it a try.
Comments
Hi Lori/all,
I'm glad you had a good show. I was there too (as you know) and I agree with you about the logistics, the staff, and the music, all of which makes it a fun show to do.
I did this small, local show last year, and was pleasantly surprised when my sales compared favorably with some of the larger promoters' shows. One of my pelican photos sold out (there's a rookery on the island, and the residents love those birds). So this year, loaded up with new pelican images, I was really looking forward to a fun and profitable weekend (and a visit to the Robinson Preserve, a salt marsh trail in Bradenton, for some post- and pre-show photography).
This year started strong, with two buyers of large canvases in the first couple of hours. But the afternoon dwindled somewhat in crowd size and buying habits, and Sunday was another story entirely. Crowds were less than half what I'd seen the day before. And buyers...well! The mood seemed to shift overnight from "Hey, let's go out and buy some ART!" to "It's a beautiful day; let's take grandma out for some air." There was no buying energy whatsoever.
I had more time than usual to stroll the show since there were so few customers in the vicinity. Most of the artists I spoke with had decent to good sales on Saturday, but were suffering on Sunday. (One Rhode Island-based painter did, interestingly, make several large sales on Sunday, but even she said the crowd was 'way down on Day 2). As for me, I sold a total of 3 8x10s all day...my lowest one-day sales total in three years.
There is something for everyone at this show: There were some fine, fine artists, first-class jewelry, and some beautiful stained glass. There was also a fair amount of art-on-a-stick and mediocre (but low priced) items.
My neighbor, who has done this show before, estimated the total crowd to be considerably less than 5,000. I'd agree with that. And although I like everything else about the show, during tourist season in Florida I prefer be in front of larger crowds than what Springfest produces.
"Winterfest", by contrast, is held during the second weekend in December, and although there may be less "upside", it's just about the only outdoor show within 250 miles of Fort Myers. So if you're in the area before the holidays, it's worth keeping in mind.
Oh, yeah: I made it to Robinson Preserve on Saturday after the show. Didn't see a single bird, and on Sunday my iPhone didn't pick up the change to Daylight Savings Time and I awakened too late to make the trip. Sigh...it was that kind of weekend.