I'll be doing this show as the last of my season and would appreciate any thoughts, reviews, hints and suggestions. The last several shows have been alot of physical effort without much/any return, and I'd like to break whatever jinx is affecting me. Thanks much.
Here's what I heard from DeerPath: Regarding SET UP: Set up will take place Sunday morning, September 4th, beginning at 4am. Art League volunteers will be available to check artists in, direct artists to their booths, and assist with set up.
This year's altered check-in timing and revised artist check-in traffic flow is due to the City of Lake Forest's 150th Celebration, with a major event taking place on Saturday night.
Victoria, I heard that they are some years that artists are not able to set up until the day of the show - you might want to double check that because they are a few areas where you can only set up on Sunday. It's better to set up on Saturday when it's more relaxed than to feel rushed on Sunday. Hopefully, this hot weather will cool down by then. It has been a tough year for shows with this heat. Will you be able to set up on Saturday??
Yes we are driving over on Saturday and my plan was to set up Saturday, if I could, though I remember reading something about that being limited...I need to pull out my information. I was waitlisted but made the invite list awhile ago, so at least I dont' need to hang around! Thanks for all the info!
I just went back to my database and looked up my sales figures and the year. It was 2006. As I recall, we collected the money directly. We set up on Sunday morning before the show. It was cloudy, but not really raining. Sales were respectable, but not great.
Victoria, Are you able to set up on Saturday this year??? Every year is different at this show. If you are, I would strongly suggest that you do because it gets a little crazy on Sunday morning.
I don't know the last time Jim did the show but if he did it when you had to pay at one central location, it has changed for the better. You can now sell directly to the customer so impulse buying is in play. There are far more artists from outside the Lake Forest area bringing in much higher quality than when it was more of a local show.
I don't know about sales and like Jim said, this year is too unpredictable. It is certainly an upscale market (lots of corporate executives live there and there are still lots of old money residents too). The crowds have been fairly good the past few years also.
From what I understand, there is a policy that if you are waitlisted, you can show up on Sunday morning to see if there are any no-shows and get in to the show. Apparently a lot of artists feel that it is worth it for this show.
I love that they start the show with the National Anthem played over the loud speakers. It adds a small town feel that just makes you feel good.
Did this show once. Energy was low, and many locations were sub-optimal. Seemed as if the spots on Western Avenue were the best. Some spots were on grass in a little grassy median, facing invwards, and some were on side streets feeding Western. It was damp that day, and we had a buy/sell wood inlay artist group next to us. Many photographers, none seemed to do well. I tried jurying a couple times after that, but never did the show again. This was several years ago, so they may have changed the layout since.
Logistics were easy. I dollied a short distance, and was able to park in a lot near the farmer's market in the alley (which BTW was fantastic). Traffic flow was never busy, but was steady both Sunday and Monday. Not quite sure why this show goes Sun-Mon, but it seems to work out ok.
You're not alone this season. Many shows are suffering due to the hot hot weather, lackluster economy and too many art shows in a demographic area. Lake Forest is off in it's own little world, so you may get lucky. Sorry I can't be more upbeat. It seems as if Chicago's North Shore is afflicted by the same malaise that is bringing us all down this year. Good luck!
Comments
This year's altered check-in timing and revised artist check-in traffic flow is due to the City of Lake Forest's 150th Celebration, with a major event taking place on Saturday night.
Victoria, Are you able to set up on Saturday this year??? Every year is different at this show. If you are, I would strongly suggest that you do because it gets a little crazy on Sunday morning.
I don't know the last time Jim did the show but if he did it when you had to pay at one central location, it has changed for the better. You can now sell directly to the customer so impulse buying is in play. There are far more artists from outside the Lake Forest area bringing in much higher quality than when it was more of a local show.
I don't know about sales and like Jim said, this year is too unpredictable. It is certainly an upscale market (lots of corporate executives live there and there are still lots of old money residents too). The crowds have been fairly good the past few years also.
From what I understand, there is a policy that if you are waitlisted, you can show up on Sunday morning to see if there are any no-shows and get in to the show. Apparently a lot of artists feel that it is worth it for this show.
I love that they start the show with the National Anthem played over the loud speakers. It adds a small town feel that just makes you feel good.
Did this show once. Energy was low, and many locations were sub-optimal. Seemed as if the spots on Western Avenue were the best. Some spots were on grass in a little grassy median, facing invwards, and some were on side streets feeding Western. It was damp that day, and we had a buy/sell wood inlay artist group next to us. Many photographers, none seemed to do well. I tried jurying a couple times after that, but never did the show again. This was several years ago, so they may have changed the layout since.
Logistics were easy. I dollied a short distance, and was able to park in a lot near the farmer's market in the alley (which BTW was fantastic). Traffic flow was never busy, but was steady both Sunday and Monday. Not quite sure why this show goes Sun-Mon, but it seems to work out ok.
You're not alone this season. Many shows are suffering due to the hot hot weather, lackluster economy and too many art shows in a demographic area. Lake Forest is off in it's own little world, so you may get lucky. Sorry I can't be more upbeat. It seems as if Chicago's North Shore is afflicted by the same malaise that is bringing us all down this year. Good luck!