I was all set to do "Best of the Northwest" in Seattle Nov. 14-16th. Sadly, I broke my left arm in an accident Nov. 2nd. Doctor has said not to do anything for 2 months. My left arm is immobilized. I immediately contacted them so they could fill my space. I had asked them to at least consider a partial refund if they filled it. They refused, saying it wouldn't be fair to other applicants, plus admin time. They filled it immediately the same day and received another $400 booth fee. I am upset with their practices. I don't think this is ethical. I would like to know of any actions I can take, and your feedback.
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Lynn, wow, that's quite a story. Hope you are back on your feet! This story has been posted to all AF insiders, and I intend to write a letter to each board member of their organization. They do not answer me anymore, or at least the person I corresponded with. Thanks for your input, Lynn
After spending 5 months in Florida working and doing art fairs, I returned to my home in Michigan in late May, 2011, only to find that my studio had burned and that it wasn’t discovered until just a few hours before I’d arrived home. It was caused by a freak electrical/gas accident from an electrc storm that caused a massive amount of smoke damage but no actual fire (until the door was opened) but the damage was significant and would require, in the end, over two months of repair. My summer art fair schedule was pretty much shot.
I’d been accepted in both Cherry Creek and another equally prestigious show in Chicago at about the same time. I called both shows to cancel, and also asked about getting back any booth fees if possible. Cherry Creek was completely understanding, and sent back a check, minus 10%, almost immediately. They didn’t even want to see photos of my studio as proof. Unfortunately, Other Show was a different story.
I sent Other Show photos of my wreck of a studio as proof of the damage it had sustained, but after some thought they emailed back to say they were sticking by their no-refund policy.
Perhaps you can understand that I was in a sort of PTSD moment at that point, worried about all the work I was facing having my studio repaired, my cancelled shows and not having any income, paying bills, etc., and I was not completely sane. I called a friend asking what to do and she posted the whole story, complete with photos and Other Show email correspondence, on both ArtFairInsiders and Facebook.
Within hours I had a call from someone at Other Show, reaming me out for having made it public and assuring me that they had indeed said they were sending me a refund. The conversation devolved into almost a shouting match (please understand that I didn’t have much patience at this point) as I pointed out that their email correspondence said otherwise, but the gist of the whole thing was that I’d embarrassed them by going public. She maintained that they had the no-refund policy because, among other things, they worked so hard putting the show together (she was playing golf during one of my calls) and they had a hard time finding a replacement artist (!) but that they would make an exception in my case. She also somewhat proudly told me they’d that refused to refund an artist from California who’d had to cancel just days before because of emergency surgery less than a week before the show. In my not-understanding-that-at-all way, I told her that she, and her entire other show policy, should be f’ing ashamed of themselves for treating artists, or anyone, with such a callous disregard for circumstances well beyond their control.
Adding insult to injury, she also had the nerve to tell me that their policy also forbid them from accepting any artist who had cancelled a show for the following year’s show. I assured her that wouldn't be a problem and haven’t applied since.
In the end, Other Show came through and refunded my booth fee, minus the standard 10%, and I let it be known on both Facebook and ArtFairInsiders that they had come through. The whole affair left me feeling sad, though, that there are promoters who maintain such a black and white attitude about refunds. Cherry Creek, and many other good shows, understand and promote artists, while others seem in it only for the money.
Perhaps this will help you somewhat. Embarrassing someone publicly isn’t a route I’d suggest to anyone except in the most extreme circumstances, and I’ve never done it before or since, but it worked in this case, and the refund helped me get through a very difficult period in my life.
Good luck, and perhaps knowing which shows are artist friendly would be a great advantage to all of us.
Lynn
Geez! Daze I hope you are fully recovered. I am so sorry you went through that.
I know this is a business they are running but, again they are working with individual people and somewhere there should be a clause to cover such emergencies. They jury us and still let in buy sell which is forbidden in their contracts do we have recourse there, no. So why is that it is ok to stick to some of there contracts and not other parts!
I have to say that when we had a medical problem during Sugarloaf they stepped right in to help us, they could not have been nicer. although we did work the show.
We all moan and complain about these rip off and unfair situations. I lost a booth fee once from a problem which did not allow me to walk. Artists and craftsmen have no clout because they are not a group. The "community" idea is utter nonsense. Wouldn't it be great if there was a petition that every member on this website will boycott their future shows unless the booth fee was refunded. Aint gonna happen.
Some years ago I was hit by a truck on the approach to the George Washington bridge. We were on out way to Gaithersburg for a show. My sister called from the hospital to say we couldn't make it, my head was split open, the van was upside down and all my art work was ruined. Several artists had seen us on the side of the road and reported it to the promoters. As a concession to our accident they gave us an extension on our set up time before we were replaced. We were replaced and of course there was no refund.I would have appreciated a kind word if nothing else...
I see more and more disclaimers on the applications. It's a terrible practice that everyone has their hands out for your money, but when it comes time to give it back...
Sadly, my Father died the day we were leaving to head to a show with Craftproducers in Vermont. Of course, I needed to be at the funeral, I had to cancel. I tearfully called the show and told them about my loss and I would not be able to attend, I was told they would not refund my money but as a courtesy they would not charge me another $150. cancellation fee. I was dumb struck, charging artist another $150 penalty if you have an emergency! Needless to say I have lost interest in this promoter.
I appreciate all your responses to my blog. I am able to type with one hand currently. or I'd write more replies. what It boils down to is that I want to be treated in the manner I would treat others. And I want others to do the same. Artists are not nameless or facelss beings. we don't want to be treated badly, and I think people in other industries would be shocked to learn of some of the policies we put up with just to sell our work. I will be much more careful in the future as to which shows I apply to. Best of the Northwest was one of my favorite shows to do under the old management. It has changed dramatically. I will no longer deal with them, unless management changes are made.
I would think that the promoters would simply pass the cost along to those that have to cancel due to unforeseen emergencies. Very easy to do and builds so much goodwill. Simply wait until the event has passed and then total the booth fees for the folks that canceled and pool them, subtract out the booth fees collected from the wait lists (accounts easily for any booths left completely vacant) and then add any direct cost such as re-printing programs and any other direct cost. Divide that by the number of cancels and that the amount of the payments made that are forfeited equally by all those that canceled. Simply send out single sheet accounting for those numbers along with the balance that is being refunded to the small group this represents and its completely fair to everyone and no one feels ripped and the promoter didn't have to eat any cost or reap any benefits from someone's misfortune.
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