So, because some people here asked me to post my review of this show here it is...This show is put on by Rose Squared in Brookdale park, a nice park in Montclair/Bloomfield, NJ (the park is actually in BOTH towns). The surrounding neighborhood looks like a middle/upper-middle class suburb, nice area, but not fancy. This was my first show with Rose Squared.Communication with Janet and Howard Rose (Rose Squared) before the show was excellent, they send out communications detailing all the necessary information. I emailed them saying that I would be arriving after the posted check in time on Friday and asked if I could get my space number and set up in the evening anyway and they were accommodating. As it turns out I made it there early enough to check in anyway.Setup:It would be hard to make setup here any easier. Setup is friday afternoon and/or sat morning. The show takes place along a paved path in the park. The path is paved and the booths are set up on the grass on either side of the path. You can drive right to your space and park behind your booth all weekend...can't beat that! The booth space is about 11' wide so you have room to walk around to the backside of your booth if needed.Show:The show is sat and sun 10-5. The public shows up right around 10 too. The crowd was there all weekend, never any real dead times at all. TONS OF PEOPLE WALKING DOGS...and people who did not seem interested in art at all other than a nice thing to look at as they walked on the path through the park. The show allows craft and food vendors as well, lots of people walking around eating roasted nuts or something. Some people were selling pies that looked delicious too! The average age of the crowd seemed to be on the older side.Sales:Everything about this show was great...except for sales. The public was definitely there, but not many people seemed interested in spending any money. Most of my sales were for my lower priced pieces and a couple mid range pieces, no high end sales (although there was some interest). Every artist I spoke to had the same story, the crowd was there, but stayed on the path and when they did come in for a look, they did not spend. The most common thing I saw people walking around with (besides dogs) were inexpensive metal lawn ornaments. I heard that there were some artists that did well, but did not speak with any. I did make a profit at the show, but a small one.Overall, I would consider doing the show again if I had nothing else going on that weekend because it's a really easy show to do and EXTREMELY well run. It's also not very far from where I live on Long Island in NY. If I had a long way to travel just for this show it would not be worth it for me.
As Evan said, he was not being critical of the show promoters, nor personal in his attack, yet Ms. Norley had to take that attitude towards him, very unnecessary, very unprofessional, then backtracks because she was called-out. And this from a woman who, in fact, has NOT done shows for 35 years (her husband has), married into the craft world and tried to incorporate Chinese manufactured products into these same craft shows a few years ago (reversible people earrings) because she has no integrity or respect for crafting, otherwise you would not even think of such a deceitful tactic.
I am very busy and working hard towards our next show. My comments are just that, my comments. Please don't take them personally or try to engage me in a back and forth rhetoric as I will not go there. Have a great day and I hope your next show is a successful one.
Thanks for your comments about such a great show. I feel conflicted and driven to comment when I hear anything negative about such a wonderful show and clientele.
I am usually too I busy to comment much. We do 32 shows a year and look forward to any Rosesquared shows. I am not trying to insult anyone, just passing along positive input.
I have such good things to say about this show. It was my first time exhibiting and I was excited about the park and I heard good things about the promoters. My communication before hand was easy and helpful when deciding which size booth to reserve. When we arrived we found a gorgeous tree lined park and kind, warm people that made us instantly feel welcome. Our set up couldn't have been easier and we were even able to sleep in our camper directly behind the booth. We were even allowed to use our noisy generator through late hours to set up since we arrived late, as long as we kept out generator out of ear sight of others. Day one we were thrilled..people were art aware, sophisticated, paid mostly in cash and were just lovely to us. They were especially excited that we were new. Day two promised the same good sales. Over all we did more than higher priced shows and with no hassle. In my 25 years of making and selling art, this has to be one of my all time favorites. Exhibiting in a place like Lincoln Center you find huge booth fees, a very unfriendly experience with the promoter (he actually sold me a $1400 booth once with a permanent granite bench in front of it!) parking fees that were the price of this Brookdale booth and the most stress I have ever encountered in any show. This show is nearby that NYC customer base, but for zero stress . People are walking dogs at this show because there is a dog park inside the park, nothing wrong with that for me. A final note on the promoters, I just have to say they really stood out to me as kind and connected to artists. I was completely impressed and would do all of their shows if I could. Hats off to the them for a great show.
Are you suggesting that I do not interact with buyers or that I don't keep my work "fresh"??? LOL...
I agree with your statement in general that a lot of artists complain a lot about not making sales, but then sit around and expect sales to just happen...however, I am NOT one of those people. As I stated above, there were some buyers at the show, and I did fair, but below my average show. For the size of the crowd I would have expected much higher sales.
I am also not talking bad about the show at all, it was an extremely well run show for sure! Sales just fell short of my expectations.
Buyers were in abundance at the Brookdale show. The weather was perfect. The setting sublime. The only other variable is what we, as artists, sell and the kind of effort we put out to interact with attendees. We should look introspectively when some people have a great show and sell both low end and high end pieces, and some don't. Spend time trying to keep our line fresh. As a long time exhibitor in the same show and area, we always work hard to use new materials and create new pieces to display. That keeps people coming back. Saying hello and paying attention to people, smiling and engaging them in conversation gets them to look at what we have made. If we can't win them over after that, then we must look at what we are putting out and how it is displayed. The show was, and always is an excellent one.
We have been doing Rosesquared shows since they started. All of the venues have been carefully chosen and extremely well advertised and organized. As you said, never an easier set up or better access to your vehicle.
The demographics in the Montclair area don't get much better with the vast majority of people having well above average income and education.
We work hard to communicate with the crowd, who,yes, many have dogs, using that on many occasions to break the ice and start a dialogue. We find them very interested in our craft and willing to take the time to peruse all of our displayed items, not just those in the front. Almost without exception, they make a loop around the entire show before deciding on what to purchase. The mornings are spent making friends and good impressions strong enough to have customers remember you and come back to select their purchase. They do come back, they do buy, and they are interested in commission work as well.
Rosesquared customers are also loyal and appreciate it when they are reminded that we are coming back. Our sales were good, as always, and, for a spring show, I would say they were excellent. We look forward to the fall shows with Howard and Janet, but wouldn't miss Brookdale or Verona in the spring.
As promoters go, it doesn't get any better. They are present and supportive both before and during the show. The only way they could improve it is if they helped us all pack out. Ha ha ha. Hope to see everyone in the fall at Anderson and Brookdale Parks. Have a successful and happy summer.
Comments
As Evan said, he was not being critical of the show promoters, nor personal in his attack, yet Ms. Norley had to take that attitude towards him, very unnecessary, very unprofessional, then backtracks because she was called-out. And this from a woman who, in fact, has NOT done shows for 35 years (her husband has), married into the craft world and tried to incorporate Chinese manufactured products into these same craft shows a few years ago (reversible people earrings) because she has no integrity or respect for crafting, otherwise you would not even think of such a deceitful tactic.
Evan,
I am very busy and working hard towards our next show. My comments are just that, my comments. Please don't take them personally or try to engage me in a back and forth rhetoric as I will not go there. Have a great day and I hope your next show is a successful one.
I am usually too I busy to comment much. We do 32 shows a year and look forward to any Rosesquared shows. I am not trying to insult anyone, just passing along positive input.
I have such good things to say about this show. It was my first time exhibiting and I was excited about the park and I heard good things about the promoters. My communication before hand was easy and helpful when deciding which size booth to reserve. When we arrived we found a gorgeous tree lined park and kind, warm people that made us instantly feel welcome. Our set up couldn't have been easier and we were even able to sleep in our camper directly behind the booth. We were even allowed to use our noisy generator through late hours to set up since we arrived late, as long as we kept out generator out of ear sight of others. Day one we were thrilled..people were art aware, sophisticated, paid mostly in cash and were just lovely to us. They were especially excited that we were new. Day two promised the same good sales. Over all we did more than higher priced shows and with no hassle. In my 25 years of making and selling art, this has to be one of my all time favorites. Exhibiting in a place like Lincoln Center you find huge booth fees, a very unfriendly experience with the promoter (he actually sold me a $1400 booth once with a permanent granite bench in front of it!) parking fees that were the price of this Brookdale booth and the most stress I have ever encountered in any show. This show is nearby that NYC customer base, but for zero stress . People are walking dogs at this show because there is a dog park inside the park, nothing wrong with that for me. A final note on the promoters, I just have to say they really stood out to me as kind and connected to artists. I was completely impressed and would do all of their shows if I could. Hats off to the them for a great show.
Are you suggesting that I do not interact with buyers or that I don't keep my work "fresh"??? LOL...
I agree with your statement in general that a lot of artists complain a lot about not making sales, but then sit around and expect sales to just happen...however, I am NOT one of those people. As I stated above, there were some buyers at the show, and I did fair, but below my average show. For the size of the crowd I would have expected much higher sales.
I am also not talking bad about the show at all, it was an extremely well run show for sure! Sales just fell short of my expectations.
Buyers were in abundance at the Brookdale show. The weather was perfect. The setting sublime. The only other variable is what we, as artists, sell and the kind of effort we put out to interact with attendees. We should look introspectively when some people have a great show and sell both low end and high end pieces, and some don't. Spend time trying to keep our line fresh. As a long time exhibitor in the same show and area, we always work hard to use new materials and create new pieces to display. That keeps people coming back. Saying hello and paying attention to people, smiling and engaging them in conversation gets them to look at what we have made. If we can't win them over after that, then we must look at what we are putting out and how it is displayed. The show was, and always is an excellent one.
The demographics in the Montclair area don't get much better with the vast majority of people having well above average income and education.
We work hard to communicate with the crowd, who,yes, many have dogs, using that on many occasions to break the ice and start a dialogue. We find them very interested in our craft and willing to take the time to peruse all of our displayed items, not just those in the front. Almost without exception, they make a loop around the entire show before deciding on what to purchase. The mornings are spent making friends and good impressions strong enough to have customers remember you and come back to select their purchase. They do come back, they do buy, and they are interested in commission work as well.
Rosesquared customers are also loyal and appreciate it when they are reminded that we are coming back. Our sales were good, as always, and, for a spring show, I would say they were excellent. We look forward to the fall shows with Howard and Janet, but wouldn't miss Brookdale or Verona in the spring.
As promoters go, it doesn't get any better. They are present and supportive both before and during the show. The only way they could improve it is if they helped us all pack out. Ha ha ha. Hope to see everyone in the fall at Anderson and Brookdale Parks. Have a successful and happy summer.
Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever sold something to someone who had a dog with them.
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