As Casey Kasum, the super rock jock, used to say, "The hits just keep coming."
In my humble opinion the Uptown and related art fairs at Loring Park and Powderhorn are in a serious downward death spiral, just like Ann Arbor, but for different reasons.
To give a little perspective, I have done the Uptown since 1990 and it has always been in my top ten shows for years, with serious sales figures, but about four years ago I noticed a big change in my sales--going down,down down.
I have always loved the journey to do this show. From Michigan it is about ten hours. Most years I stop over in Madison and visit my friend Christopher Berg who owns a little empire of restaurants (see my related Tequila Report).
Since this show is always after Ann Arbor, with a whole week off in between, I have always taken advantage of it. For years, I camped in the UP of Michigan at the Porcipine Mountains, other years I explored and hiked the north shore above Duluth. Many years I hung out canoeing around Hayward, Wisconsin. It is always nice when you can do some eventful exploring along with making serious moola at an art show.
But kiddos, I think this was my last year at Uptown. It just aint worth it.
You have rip-off booth fee (nearly $500), a director who doesn't care much about how the show is run, along with serious declining sales.
I know, I know. There are going to be some of you out there who did it and are saying, "Is he nuts? I killed 'em there." But guess what folks, you are a seriously slim number.
Again, when I review a show and talk to as many people as possible, I am looking out for how most of us did.
This year, most of us did badly.
Last year I blamed my paucid sales on the fact that it was ungodly hot, hitting high ninties on Sunday, killing any meaningful sales.
This year, it was warm on Friday and Saturday, high eighties, and downright delightful on Sunday, high seventies. Yet sales still sucked.
Here is my take on why that was.
1. The economy and the market slide. People are scared to reach in their pockets and spend, unless you give them a good reason.
2. The demographics have changed over the years. Declining crowds and lack of many "Good Shoes" people showing up to make our day. They are not there anymore. Might be because of parking hassles, declining quality in many booths, but they do not come out and spend like they used to do. Many of these patrons have winter homes in Naples, Bonita and Ft. Myers. They used to buy my tropical work to decorate these places. This year, I had nary a one.
Which leads us to ....
3. You got lots of young kids coming now and they are not buying. First, a lot of them have no appreciation for art, they are not raised with it or taught about it. Also most would rather have big flat screen TV on the wall. Not art. The kids are infatuated with their digital texting worlds. Their world now resides on those little screens on the Smart Phones. They got no time for art.
Sorry, the journey to Minneapolis is not worth it for me any longer. Not enough return on my money and hours spent. I am a very pragmatic businessman. I always make money, but you gotta know when to cut a show off the list and look for greener pastures.
Comments
Thanks for the kind comments warren.
I didn't say I never made money. I turned a profit--just not what I expect for such a journey and layout of money. Yes, AB@E will be very interesting--I am hoping for good things to happen.
As a Minnesota native who is currently displaced into IN (no dis on IN.....) I was thrilled in 2007 to get into the Uptown show (I was on the blvd. by the way). Well, I arrived in town just as the I-35 bridge collapsed into the Mississippi. That took the Minneapolis police department into other things to do then watch the fair. There was major damage that year all around me thanks to a drunk at 3 a.m. who smashed whatever he could (sculptures and photography were especially damaged). The Zone Bar people were in front of me in a tent that kept moving closer to me with every passing second and gust of wind. Next to them, the Menthos people.....paid models handing out candy and making people do the 'mumbo' under the giant Menthos tube....next to me? The Anderson window guy of course. Hawking windows by terrorizing every possible customer walking by. Do you all know how my weekend went now? I did have a homeless drunk laying in the mud in my booth on Sat. telling me not to give up as my talent was a gift from him (he was GOD). That was about the most positive thing that happened all weekend. Thought I would cry at the end. Massive amounts of people stuffing themselves with free food and candy running away from the 'window guy' don't buy art. The show may have been the pinnacle of art fairs in MN at one time but until at least some of that commercial stuff goes away there are too many issues. Hot tubs, new autos, window sales etc. really don't belong at art shows......it was just disappointing. And, while I have not been back, art show friends and clients tell me all that stuff is still there. :(( I love MN with all my heart and soul and it is a great state for art with a population of people that support it immensely but this show needs to take a look at the commercial part of itself.................
And for that, Barry, we'll refund your booth fee and give you the Best of Show check.
Connie Mettler & Lisa Konikow, art directors of the fabulous Arts, Beats & Eats.
Connie, I should only be so lucky. I'd love to win Best of Show, though.
I just saw where they announced some of the headliners of the 200 musical acts that are planned for the show: Vince Gill and George Clinton, with the possibility of having Brett Michaels, Lou Gramm, the Psychedelic Furs, and the Tom Tom Club(whoever they are, lol). But don't worry, if you are doing the show for the first time and you're thinking that you're going to have to shout over the music to communicate with your customers. The loud music is situated well away from the art part. The only music that you might hear, close by, is the acoustic stage and the jazz. Unfortunately, I can't remember hearing any music by my booth which was disappointing because some of the less commercial performers are the ones I want to see and hear.
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