Posted by mary barrett on December 10, 2009 at 10:03am
As a patron, I attended Winterfair in Columbus Ohio last weekend. As an artist, I had planned on applying to Winterfair this year, but missed the deadline (or so I thought; they extended their deadline the last that I noticed from early September to early October. Friends that I knew who were doing the show said artists showed up that were on the waiting list or just hopeful and where admitted at the last minute (Thursday's take in day). Most of the exhibitors were wonderful as always. A few of the booths looked flea marketish; crammed full of things for sale and not presenting a very cohiesive display. And most of the artists I talked with said they had been having a very good show. of course just hearsay, hopefully some exhibiting artists will respond. They liked the 3 day run. less expensive for them. The crowd on Sunday was huge!!One comment from a patron's standpoint, however. I feel qualified to say this as a buyer of art and an artist who does shows. I have had the bad shows where you just want to get done and go home. But you must show at least a little interest in the people in your booth, "Hi, how are you". One of the reasons I do shows is to talk to the people who buy my work, to tell them how my work is made, maybe something special about a specfic piece, whatever. On the other hand, I don't like to be pestered by an artist when you walk in their booth "what are you looking for, can I show you something, etc". But you must, MUST, as an vendor, at least acknowledge the presence of the person in your booth. I can't tell you how many booths I walked into and the person in the booth was either reading, talking on a cell phone, working on a computer, etc. More than a handful!!! In one booth I had picked out a piece that I was going to purchase and I turned and walked out, because the person in the booth totally ignored me, and I had turned and looked at him several times, nothing!! It was not a booth sitter, those people are at least polite. Artists, at least say hi. on the whole, everyone was in a good mood. Good thing it was last weekend, because like most everywhere else in the country, winter is here!!have a nice holiday season!!mhb, ohio
I exhibited at Winterfair for the first time this year. I was impressed by the ease of load in/out, the layout of the show, staff organization, and the quality of the work. I did fairly well here, Friday and Sunday were my best days for sales. Saturday attendance seemed lower. Lots of 50+ attendees on Friday, Sat. I noticed more younger women with children, and Sunday was just flat out packed full of everybody.
I have like Mary, also witnessed artists who appear disengaged when a customer is in their booths at most of the shows I do. (more than one show I do features drunken artists who are SLEEPING through the show ) For me, if I love a piece of art but don't care for the behavior/attitude of the artist, it ruins the piece for me. I can't enjoy a piece of art in my home if the artist turned me off. Maybe that is my fault, but it is the truth. Why would an artist invest so much into a show and then blow it when all they had to do was acknowledge the person in their booth? I don't know.
I got a terrible migraine in the night before the show and wasn't sure I would be able to open that day, you just have to suck it up and present yourself as best you are able and grab those sales!
Comments
I exhibited at Winterfair for the first time this year. I was impressed by the ease of load in/out, the layout of the show, staff organization, and the quality of the work. I did fairly well here, Friday and Sunday were my best days for sales. Saturday attendance seemed lower. Lots of 50+ attendees on Friday, Sat. I noticed more younger women with children, and Sunday was just flat out packed full of everybody.
I have like Mary, also witnessed artists who appear disengaged when a customer is in their booths at most of the shows I do. (more than one show I do features drunken artists who are SLEEPING through the show ) For me, if I love a piece of art but don't care for the behavior/attitude of the artist, it ruins the piece for me. I can't enjoy a piece of art in my home if the artist turned me off. Maybe that is my fault, but it is the truth. Why would an artist invest so much into a show and then blow it when all they had to do was acknowledge the person in their booth? I don't know.
I got a terrible migraine in the night before the show and wasn't sure I would be able to open that day, you just have to suck it up and present yourself as best you are able and grab those sales!