Posted by Wendy Boucher on February 9, 2010 at 2:39pm
This coming weekend I will be participating in the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. I have not been in such a large show before. Any advice for this show in particular?
Sales have been spotty at CG the last several years. No surprise that they are calling former applicants. I'm wishing everyone 10 X booth fee, at minimum!
I would love to hear from those folks who do the show. They have sent me entries for the past 2 years and this year they called me to ask me to participate. The cost was just too high, the parking too much, and the traffic terrible. The past 2 weeks they have had adds on TV constantly, so now I know why the cost is so high. I will be doing the Delray Garlic Festival in Delray Beach, (which is modeled after the festival in Gilroy California) for the thrid year. It has great entertainment, food and hospitality, and I've done well in the past.
That will be our 5th year at CG be early, take weights it is going to be windy,
most sales are until 2:00 pm then it is more party crowd. focus on your morning ours.
LOL Connie, I was just writing down booth numbers of all the people I have been reading the past year.
I think the booths back up to the curb at the median and the median is used for storage behind the booths. I could be wrong though.
Sorry about your weather in Michigan. We are supposed to be in the mid 60's this weekend which is a great change from the past few years of heat. It should increase the energy of the show. With the comments about food, am I to assume they no longer provide lunch for the artists? There is a gigantic food area with more than just the usual festival foods. Some of it is even healthy.
So according to Nels, I should be negotiating when I want to buy something? I hesitate to ask "is that the best price" but I will hopefully find enough interesting things this weekend to try it out!!
Between CGAF, St. Stephens and Artigras, there will be close to 1000 artists in South Florida this weekend. Wow!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful and successful weekend.
1. Sounds like a great weekend in south Florida -- wish I could be there, but can't even get out of the driveway.
2. Phil, I'm thinking there is a grassy median in the middle of the street and you will be backed up to it, facing the Mutiny (nice location, by the way). Now Norm says we were ON the median --- no matter there isn't anything too uneven in the area, your shims should work.
3. I sure hope someone can get a photo of uber art fair patron, Geri Wegner, at the Grove! Prizes to all sightings from AFI. Post it here please.
Thanks, Phil, I will drop by your booth! I'm in booth 195, which is on the cross street at the eastern side of the show. I hope someone can answer your question about the pitch of the street.
Thanks everyone who has offered their words of wisdom. Nels, I hope you are right about the Ben Franklins! Good luck to everyone this weekend at the various shows here in Florida: Coconut Grove, St. Stephens, Artigras, and I'm sure several others. Cheers!
Just keep cranking out new inventory and come with a mindset that says,"I am going to sell a lot of my work this weekend. Be ready to deal--have yourself priced in a way that allows for that. You will see a lot of Ben Franklins flying around the Grove this weekend, make sure you snag your share of them.
Best wishes, Wendy. I hope it lives up to hits reputation for you.
1. Be there early
2. be patient during set up
3. Take your time
4. be kind/make friends with your neighbors
5. Stay sharp, you've spent a lot of money to get here, make every moment count
6. Remember the visitors have paid money to see the festival and they do want to take some art home - make it be yours
7. sparkle, sparkle - as my friend Holly Olinger says, "be a rock star in your booth!", you're the show
Comments
most sales are until 2:00 pm then it is more party crowd. focus on your morning ours.
I think the booths back up to the curb at the median and the median is used for storage behind the booths. I could be wrong though.
Sorry about your weather in Michigan. We are supposed to be in the mid 60's this weekend which is a great change from the past few years of heat. It should increase the energy of the show. With the comments about food, am I to assume they no longer provide lunch for the artists? There is a gigantic food area with more than just the usual festival foods. Some of it is even healthy.
So according to Nels, I should be negotiating when I want to buy something? I hesitate to ask "is that the best price" but I will hopefully find enough interesting things this weekend to try it out!!
Between CGAF, St. Stephens and Artigras, there will be close to 1000 artists in South Florida this weekend. Wow!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful and successful weekend.
2. Phil, I'm thinking there is a grassy median in the middle of the street and you will be backed up to it, facing the Mutiny (nice location, by the way). Now Norm says we were ON the median --- no matter there isn't anything too uneven in the area, your shims should work.
3. I sure hope someone can get a photo of uber art fair patron, Geri Wegner, at the Grove! Prizes to all sightings from AFI. Post it here please.
Thanks everyone who has offered their words of wisdom. Nels, I hope you are right about the Ben Franklins! Good luck to everyone this weekend at the various shows here in Florida: Coconut Grove, St. Stephens, Artigras, and I'm sure several others. Cheers!
1. Be there early
2. be patient during set up
3. Take your time
4. be kind/make friends with your neighbors
5. Stay sharp, you've spent a lot of money to get here, make every moment count
6. Remember the visitors have paid money to see the festival and they do want to take some art home - make it be yours
7. sparkle, sparkle - as my friend Holly Olinger says, "be a rock star in your booth!", you're the show