First off, where is Boston Mills?
First time I heard it mentioned it was by my buddy Jeff Jackson, a great glass artist who lived in Micanopy,Florida at the time. It was 1986. He would come back from the show with a solid $8-10K in his wallet.
So I got a Massachusetts map out and started looking around Boston for this place. No such animal lived there.
So I wanted to apply one year and I asked Jeff, "Where the hell is Boston Mills?"
Down in the valley, dummy", he replied, "Just south of Cleveland at a ski resort."
So I applied in 1988, got in and made better $5K, I was elated. I have done it more than 15 times since then and it was always a money-maker, but it has been sliding slowly downward last three years.
This year it hit rock bottom. I didn't even do three thousand. Others barely made expenses. As always, there were a few happy campers. I may need to give this show a break.
There were two big factors that hurt sales this year. Horrible heat in the low 90's everyday. And of course our wretched economy that is squeezing the middle class badly. That coupled with less good shoes folks, who have the moola to buy, showing up led to dire consequences.
It is held at the Boston Mills Ski Resort at the bottom of the Cuyahoga Valley, south of Cleveland.
Two weekends, always before and after or during July4th. I was doing the first weekend. Some think the second weekend is better. Guess what? They are going to roast just like us.
It is well organized,advertised and staffed. They are pros and do a great job. Nobody has power over the weather. It is always hot here, this year was one of the worst.
They charge a gate fee. They have a wine preview nite for sales and alcohol before the main show dates. You have a choice of being in large tents, with electricity (bring fans) or outside with no electricity. I am always in the tent.
They are scrimping on things at the wine preview. No good foods like shrimp, or crusted mushrooms and nice steak tidbits. It was mostly cheese and fruits and cheap cuts of meat--not good.
Used to be the Ludwigs owned the resort and got all their high-flyng friends to attend. Think Good Shoes people. Now you have a large group that owns the resort and is not so hands on. They don't do a good job of getting the Good Shoes there. Too many were dressed like the Walmart Crowd. Honestly, that is just my take on it after doing it for 15 plus times.
With the horrid heat and failing economy, the crowd was down. Most sales were zip after 2pm.
Ironically, they sent us all a bulletin bragging how the attendance for wine preview was record-breaking. They must be drinking too much of that stuff--because it was bull-----.
Setup and teardown is bearable. Everybody gets out quick. This used to be a great show, but it has seen better days.
That's all I am saying.
BTW, saw the Cardio doc today, we do an exploratory procedure this Monday, THEN I FIND OUT IF THE VALVE IS REPAIRABLE OR REPLACABLE.
ALOHA, NELS..
Comments
Thanks for the review Nels and Patti yes I LUV your attitude!
It was hot and I went through three changes of clothes during set up on Thursday. Two on Friday. Because I can travel to Ohio from Michigan and stay with extended family my expenses are low. So $2000 is not much but is enough of a profit. The fact is, that is what I did last year. Not many artists were happy. I think the heat had something to do with sales as with any fairs. I do believe that the 4th falling in the middle of the week played a role as well. I agree with the lack of "good shoe" people. However when I made a sale It was for $650, $500, and multiple items to the same individual. My sales do not include commission orders with down payment with the patron paying shipping- one item to a winter home in Florida. Because I like being part of" the Group" I will apply again.
Rich
Boston Mills was way down from last year and that was down fron the year before.hummmm I think I see a trend here. The fact that it was hotter than hell didn't help. How they claim the preview party attendance was way up is bullshit!!! People were not spending money...although some artists did well,most didn't. This is my last year doing out of state shows(I live in Florida) due to the fact that we didn't make the money that we used to and the fact that if I wanted to be in 90+ weather I could have stayed home.
Good to see you posting here, Nels. Plus, it is amazing that you have gotten through all these shows since this problem came down on you in May! Hope answers come your way tomorrow and they can get started doing something to improve your condition.
I laughed when I saw Jeff Jackson's name in your review. I remember hanging out with him at BM, he was very gregarious and even Norm liked him ;) Any idea what became of him?
We probably did BM five times over the years and don't think we ever did over $2000, so have never been thrilled by it, although I know painters who always did in the five figures. We were there for some of the great floods and the stinking moldy straw that they put down to suck up the water. But did have some fun hanging out with Rick Preston, Carolyn Carroll -- who else? Hal Larsen lost almost all of his paintings that year. Jan Kaulins was making antler objets and they floated away in the flood. I think they've got that problem under control. It's been about five years since the last one. In fact I've got photos of that in the AFI archives.
We only went to Cleveland to do Cain Park which was pretty good for us for about 20 years, much better than Boston Mills and much more pleasant.
Nels- good luck at the doctors.
As always, a good report on the show. Glad to see you are back in action! Hope things go well with the doc. Keep us updated.
Nels, good luck with your heart stuff---you have a big heart, so I hope the valve is the right size!
Re the heat: because of global warming, I believe the summer shows are just going to get hotter and hotter. This won't be good for anyone. Does anyone have any ideas of how to make this better?
Thanks for the review Nels. I've also noticed a big difference in who organises a show - a well-heeled person always brings in their well-heeled friends and sales go up - they're always the show to do!
Hope the appointment goes well.
Boston Mills used to be one of my best shows. Even the years with the floods and water puddles standing in the big tents. I was in the big tent at the end of one of the ski slopes, guess where the rain water sat. The last two years I did Boston Mills the store clerks I talked to didn't know what it was, and the last year the hotel clerk didn't know what is was. I also had my trailer broken into in the Holiday Inn parking lot and inventory and canopy equipment taken. Fortunately I had stayed over the last day of the show and this is when it happened. Never recovered anything and lost several small originals and a real pain replacing the special connectors for tents and Armstrong panels. I gave this one up for good. Getting too old for the heat, humidity and aggravation.
I LIKE YOUR ATTITUDE PATTI. NELS.
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