The art fair opened on Friday and then Friday night as the artists were all tucked safely in their little beds a serious storm swept through the event site. One of our members, Carla Fox, who traveled all the way from Oregon, had such destruction to her booth that she (and three others) had to pack up and leave on Saturday.
Here's the rest of the story from the Des Moines Register: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100627/ENT01/6270338/1046/ENT/Volunteers-mop-up-fix-up-for-Day-2-of-Des-Moines-Arts-Festival
And here's another story, more about the storms themselves: http://www.kcci.com/news/24053483/detail.html
Comments
C
I also subcribe to AFSB, and talk to as many real people as possible about their personal experiences, the fair, the promoters, the sales (which are indeed arbitrary, but not a difficult question to answer. Or not).
I have met and become friends with a good number of show organizers, and know this much, I am much happier on my side of the fence. Not for the weak of heart to be sure, but it's not that difficult to keep people informed of where they stand if you maintain the human, compassionate connection.
C
Waitlists:
Shows do these differently. Some may make one wait list and pull the artist off the top as artists drop out. It's easy for them to give artists their wl position. Other shows maintain wait lists by category and may even break it down further, by styles within the category. An example if a functional potter drops out of the show, the may skip past the sculptural potter and invite the next functional potter on the list to keep a more balanced show. In this case it's very hard to tell artists where they are on the wait list. one can always email the show and see if they think there is any chance of coming in off the wait list.
Reports of sales:
This is very arbitrary. It depends on so many factors, do you have collectors in the area, have you worked your mailing list, is it a low end price point or a high end price point show. We are jewelers....2 years ago we had a so so show at Des Moines. The 2d artists next to us earned 5 figures, at the same show, one booth down.
If you want good info on shows subscribe to Art fair source book (you can google this). It is the gold standard for info on shows.
As to comparing how one show does things to how another show does things this is silly. Running a show is a complicated process, and there is more then one way to solve every problem.
Hth
Carla
Ps this was typed on the move so please excuse any random typos
As to feedback from the shows. Whew. How much more valuable a piece of info is this. Status of the wait list is pretty easy. Ft. Worth shows you where you are at (within catagory) on Zapp. I have recieved heads up when I ask from almost every show I have been waitlisted on, and most seem to understand how difficult the logistics are residing in show purgatory. The judging, that's a whole 'nother smoke. I think one critera for a judge should be having lived the life, knowing how much their decision affects things on a human level, the emotional roller coster, as well as the planning of the year. Shows like Bayou that at least tell the score (they give your points total,let you know the cut off line) are of some comfort. No word, no contact, no acknowledgement that we live and die with every decision has become acceptable to most. Yeah, if you are gonna do this thing be ready for lotsa highs, and lows. But it sure feels good when somebody treats you like a human once and a while, flaws and all.
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