I wrote about this show before. Last year I had my "no.more.trinkets, ever" revelation but got the idea of reproducing my collage on cards from a fellow AFIer and that has proven to be a cash cow. Who knew? And I just have to print, glue and package. Yowza. This year I added 8 X 10 prints of the collage and they sold, also. This is a revelation for someone who has always done one of a kind work. I may get the hang of this business before I'm too old to climb up on my artsy chair.
Anyway, this show is beautiful. The setting is beautiful. The organization is beautiful. The welcome tote bag is beautiful. The glossy catalog of our work is beautiful. There is absolutely nothing that they do wrong. The volunteers are so charming you want to adopt them. But you can't snag the customer's at the gate, turn them upside down and shake the money out of their pockets. My sales were average for a Summer Festival, but since I have this ungodly upper resp infection of some sort, it was good to have enough time to duck behind the tent for some quality hacking time. Most of the folks I talked to enjoyed the show immensely and said they would do it again regardless of anemic sales because we are treated so well and the show is soo...well, you know. This is a crowd that I never thought would utter such a sentiment.
There is an artist reception with wine, beer and munchies, courtesy of every Upstate NYers favorite market: Wegmans. Last few years, the buffet was cleaned out before half of the artists even got to the site. (Ya know, you say the words "free food and booze" to a bunch of artists you deserve what you get) So this year they doled out the food and it was a hoot. Picture a teaspoon of taco dip and one chip. One cube of bread, pre-dipped. Deserts were unmanned, though. Phew!
I'm not sure what they can do to boost sales for us. It does seem to get better every year. This is a pretty Finger Lakes cottage town and there is money floating about. They advertise and promote and run a quality event. Some did quite well, a few tanked. The usual.
You just think sales would be stellar at a venue that is so...yes, beautiful.
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Hey Pat! I think I tagged onto your review last year, too. I agree with everything you said. Beautiful show, place, people. My sales last year were off the chart. This year, down about a third, sadly. And for context, I did the same this gorgeous w/e as I did in 2011 when it poured. No explaining it. It's the only show I do in that area, so it's not like people will see me at the next show, tho nearly everyone asked if I was going to be at Clothesline. (Which I would love to do IF I was a NY resident!) Still, I have high hopes for this show and will go back next year, and pray that the every-other-year buyers come thru. Plus, I did two great barters with potters so I get to enjoy my bounty every day, not just when I put it in the bank.
I define the "area" as Buffalo to Rochester, with Southrn Tier Lake towns. That's like a hundred mile radius. At least a show every weekend, probably 2 or more. It is a saturated field for sure, but the higher quality ones are a bit scarcer.
Pat, a question for you. How many art shows are in the area over the summer?