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Comments

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  Mike Guyot June 8, 2011 at 9:44pm

  I had a great show up until I lost half my stuff. Original paintings, walls snapped, poles bent and reproductions ruined. A 10 minute warning is all I needed. My tent has made it through stuff almost like what happened Saturday, but the tent next to me was not up to speed, it was set up for the emerging artist. It had no sides except a curtain like thing that when the wind blew it just went up and under my tent and blew the top off, then the walls came down snapping all the zip ties. I have been doing shows for 3 years and never had a problem with my system. Even last year in Columbus it stood up to those winds.

  I just think a warning would have at least given us 10 minutes, that's all most of us needed. I have 200 pounds of weight on my tent and every wall is secure to it. If  the tent next to me was up to speed I don't think this would have happened to me. And I hope someone will look into a storm tracker app on a mac and use it. It worked in Ann Arbor.
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  lisa ark June 8, 2011 at 7:51pm

   All I could think of when the storm hit were my brand new pro panels!  I held them down while hail and rain flooded my booth My entire booth had over 3" of water I was lucky only my cardboard boxes for my paintings and some reproductions were destroyed. I have 200 pounds of weight on my booth and it was still trying to lift up from the winds. A large food tent with Columbus restaurants(they had wonderful food ) was behind my booth, as the storm was about to hit I heard the police on their bull horns yelling run for your life to the customer and vendors in the tent, it was surreal to heard this and see all the people running...
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  Nels Johnson June 8, 2011 at 2:37pm

  Thanks Amy.  That was a super effort.  i am glad you did good on Sunday, you deserve it.  Lets all hope we get in next year without a bridge being in the big picture.  see you soon, at Des Moines.
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  Barry Bernstein June 8, 2011 at 9:48am

  I never saw the show at the new location.  So, they are moving the show back to the old location.  It's funny that the first thing they said was there were going to be no spaces on the bridge.  The bridge spaces were really windy.  The show was on both sides of the river with spaces on the connecting bridge.  People said there was a good side of the river and a bad side.  I don't know about that. I was always on the perceived good side.
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  Barry Bernstein June 8, 2011 at 8:22am

  I stopped doing this show about 10 years ago after I got towed because I was parked in the wrong section. lol, after I was assured by more than one committee member that I was parked in the correct lot.  I always thought it was strange that the show lasted until 9 PM but most restaurants closed at 6 PM.  Plus, I was leery of the show layout, like booths on the bridge.  It seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.  Here's another link: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/06/05/...
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  Michele LeVett June 8, 2011 at 8:13am

  It was bad on ninth street but I was on gay street and lucky that I could park behind my booth.  what worries me is that next year if a storm like that comes we will be in the river
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  Barry Bernstein June 8, 2011 at 8:10am

  Maureen, I want to personally thank you for posting here.  I can see you will fit in to a certain group of us who aren't afraid to tell it like is is. Welcome!! I look forward to more of your truthful insights.

   

  A post on this show should have been front page news. I had to dig for this info.  I wonder if you know this, but, the storm in Columbus wiped out about 12 booths, work and all.  There is a fund, started by the show, to aid those affected artists.  Here's a link to the news report:

  http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/06/06/...
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  Nels Johnson June 8, 2011 at 7:10am

  Maureen.  Thanks for stepping up to the plate.  I am sorry you had to go thru such a stressful event so early in your career.  But, you showed great pluck.

  That Ninth Street section should have never been put there.  They didn't get the full crowds, not that it mattered.  They mostly walked with beer in their hands.  Occasionally walked in a booth, and then out, with nothing in hand besides the beer.

  The show is full of contradictions.  They did a lot of things right, and then turned around and did some stupid things.

  On 90 degree days how can you not have some cold water.  The artist breakfeast was a fiasco, they ran out of food.  The daily Rice Chex snacks were pretty lame.  Hey they had A/C and Wifi.  Their cleanup crews were always on the spot.  There were ample volunteer help everywhere.  Leah, the director, was very accessible.  Sales this year were way off.  Mine by 60%.  The Good Shoes people never really showed up.  The show is held in the middle of an urban desert.  No restaurants anywhere.  The show hours are way to long.  Closing at 6pm on Sunday is a waste.  If they hold this show on the bridges downtown next year it will be a disaster.

  I could go on, but i will stop there.

  I am waiting for some useful insights from Jim Parker.

  Oh Gee! I guess I have to go search for the Fobotsite since they choose not to post here.  Wjhat gives with that?
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  Annette Piper June 8, 2011 at 3:52am

  Wow Maureen, thanks for the rundown on the show - one you won't forget in a hurry, I'm sure.

   

  Nels, I saw the Fobots posted briefly about the show on their website blog directly after the storm hit.
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  Nels Johnson June 7, 2011 at 11:47pm

  They just did it.