Yeah, I'd be smilin' too
My first blog this year was about me just about throwing in the towel, quitting on two Spring shows in Texas (with trailer loaded and all). The result of the hangover from the final show I did last year, just a terribly painful experience. This one is about ending up on a happy note (despite the bad SJC show the week before).
Texas was like a best kept secret for a while, then the ecomony crashed and the word got out that Texas was really Shangrila in the Southwest. Overall, I think it's been good for both the shows and the artists to find what life is like down here. Not perfect for sure, but overall a good place to keep on considering for a while.
Bayou City
This was my first downtown Bayou City show, did the Spring show the year before last and did right fine. Knew this one was different, more cityfied but the same deal, pay for entrance. The Art Colony folks promote the bejezzus out of the event, and people come to buy. You know, right off the bat that as a new artist, odds are you will not receive a prime spot.Get juried in next year and you can have a chance to choose where you plunk the tent down. Seems fair to me.The show has a series of arterial streets that feed the main area, several gates that people head into.These areas have the traffic, but lack the buzz and energy that helps create that buyer frenzy (read piranhas on a pork chop).It often feels like what it is, folks heading right by on their way to the main areas.Means you have to work the crowd a bit more than normal,something my son and partner does much better than I at times.
We were on Lower Bagby, not the best but by no means the worst place. Unless you consider my back 40.....
Ever had that eerie feeling of being followed?
Our sale were good, the better part of $5K which was my goal here. Those around me did "OK", met Gary Siddel and his lovely wife Rita, and these guys just killed it.Don't think Rita would allow it any other way.Spent some time with Nels (in his undercover tourist persona), saw Josh T., Oscar Linares, Mark Mckinnon,and quite a few others.
Photography catagories here are broken down to film, digital and then computer manipulated art, and this is about as fair a shake as shooters get. No moaning about life not being fair. Overall quality, can't complain about this either as the work was all top tier.
So the year ends for me, only 5 shows but did an average of $4200. No real big time events, but all in all pretty happy with the outcome.More importantly, I regained my own personal energy and optimism. I tweaked and tuned and refined my work, and while there are other subjects I shoot, the ones I show are from the soul. Not just something I think will sell or looks pretty on a wall.
I chose to stay positive this year, to learn about the people behind the work, not judging them on what they might show. I made sure I was a good neighbor, that the directors heard my opinions rather than bitch to the dog when I got home.I made some good friends, ones that I will look forward to seeing again next year.
The year was about perspective for me, understanding participation is a priviledge. Nothing guaranteed from acceptance, to weather or sales. I gave it a good shot and came away feeling a bit better than I did to start.
I will take that for what it is.
Comments
A few years ago at a show, an artist put some fake dog poo in my booth when I was gone for a bit. I freaked out while the nearby artists in on the joke rolled around on the pavement for a while. Then, I got back at the gal - I bumped her gently on the rear, and she walked around with TP stuck to the back of her belt for a while. More rolling around by neighboring artists. She and I still look at each other at a show and just hoot with laughter at the memory. Ya gotta love this biz!
Thanks for another fine report -- and yes, I'd say Houstonians (especially downtown Houstonians) are not Louisvillians -- by a very long shot, booth space location or not.
Norfolk Show = Stockley Gardens Fall Festival.
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