Posted by Paul Flack on September 24, 2010 at 9:30am
Atlanta Art Festival last weekend was a complete disaster and the line up for this weekend at the Atlanta Midtown Festival seems the same. A folk art show has been added for next year. Please, stay away if you value your entry fees. They are dogs, or rather dawgs. Too many shows means money for organizers and less for artists. Beware
Yes Roxie, Art in the Park, Palmetto Bay, Florida, let's follow them and see what happens. At least they are willing to underwrite the effort of the artists in promoting their community!
Each year Fearrington Resort in N.C. holds an invitation only show. They use it to attract customers who hopefully invest in the property. They do not charge artists, provide food and in years' past even provided hotel rooms!
My friend just got this note from a FABULOUS, thoughtful adn a listening promoter
We have received a number of phone calls and emails from artists who have been in our at show letting us know that they cannot afford to pay the fee to enter the show this year.
Taking this into consideration as well as wanting to have the excellent artist return, our Board made the decision to lower the entry fee to $175 from $321.
In fairness to everyone, when you set up on October 29th, we will be refunding $146 to you…the difference between $321 and $175.
We hope you will welcome the good news…the economy has made it very difficult for us all !
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I agree. I also feel that Artists should let the promoters know what they think. I have written letters to the heads of the Festival in this area and sent a copy of the blog about it. They need to hear it directly from the artists and we ALL need to stick together on this or nothing will change.
Here is a note from one particular promoter that has now realized they were charging too much because the artists TOLD them. for Art in the Park, Palmetto Bay, Florida
We have received a number of phone calls and emails from artists who have been in our at show letting us know that they cannot afford to pay the fee to enter the show this year.
Taking this into consideration as well as wanting to have the excellent artist return, our Board made the decision to lower the entry fee to $175 from $321.
In fairness to everyone, when you set up on October 29th, we will be refunding $146 to you…the difference between $321 and $175.
We hope you will welcome the good news…the economy has made it very difficult for us all !
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I do understand that it must be an added workload when someone cancels and can certainly understand the addition of a small cancellation fee to administer it. But, the fact that the artist will not be there does not mitigate the added effort no matter what the reason.
If an artist cancels (for any reason) the space will most likely be filled. I would think the vast majority of shows have plans to accommodate cancellations. It happens every show so a prudent director would have something in place. An artist need not give a reason. It is a personal decision. If a cancellation I would think that a director would grumble about the added work but feel an obligation to return the fee (less a small administration fee) to the artist after the space is resold. Obliged ethically if nothing else.
From reports on this site it sure sounded alot better than anything at piedmont ; especially just ONE DAY //and the set-up--down had to be better//Maybe the marginal show was piedmont; they have along way to go to maintain atlanta arts festival of past//There were too many shows in atlanta recently// I know shows are way off// I am not selling smaller pieces// those people are having a hard time paying bills, forget buying something they don't need// it takes a long time to reeducate the public towards buying nice work; after they have been dumbed down by the artist who cheapens his work for survival// I understand; but the art buyer who is really buying will buy quality and the nice piece of work. They are out there// I saw alittle of that at piedmont. Each show is different for each of us ; and we move on down the road. Fair Winds
I couldn't bring myself to read this year's survey yet, but last year artists reported that overall sales were down, people were purchasing smaller items and expenses were up. When asked about what they intended to do..."more shows!" How bizarre? Artists need to explore non-festival "pop-up" marketing opportunities and other festival alternatives.
" a first year show blows Atlanta open - with Good Buyers" I think that is an over statement or wishful thinking, particularly for a two-day show that was rained out on the second day. The truth is shows are way off, promoters seeing an opportunity to make money by adding marginal shows and again... taking money from artists!
Hey Paul, Back to your original rap /looks like we missed the gravy train by a week/ a first year show blows Atlanta open- with Good Buyers-/ way to many shows grouped at one time of the year- The WRONG TIME. oh well- off to the next ones
"When an artist cancels a show at ANY time for ANY reason and the space is subsequently filled, then the artist will have the booth fee returned." B. Meyer
Mostly agree with all above -- but how about an artist who calls you a week or so before the show and say they decided not to come because they decided they needed some time off, or their kids are coming to visit, or there is a death in the family and they called you last year with the same reason, or they are going to do another show and want their assistant to come to the show or....and you have processed their application, completed your database, put together promotion materials for the press, printed brochures, made booth signs, name tags, done a layout with their particular needs in mind, found special parking spots for their oversize vehicle/trailer, added their images and links to your website, plus you were thrilled that they were going to bring their fine work to your event, etc....?
Not particularly, but at least they have one compared to shows that don't offer a refund at all. If artists only applied to shows that offered what they consider to be a fair refund policy there wouldn't be that many shows to apply to. But that has nothing to do with why the Atlanta show didn't work last weekend.
Comments
Each year Fearrington Resort in N.C. holds an invitation only show. They use it to attract customers who hopefully invest in the property. They do not charge artists, provide food and in years' past even provided hotel rooms!
We have received a number of phone calls and emails from artists who have been in our at show letting us know that they cannot afford to pay the fee to enter the show this year.
Taking this into consideration as well as wanting to have the excellent artist return, our Board made the decision to lower the entry fee to $175 from $321.
In fairness to everyone, when you set up on October 29th, we will be refunding $146 to you…the difference between $321 and $175.
We hope you will welcome the good news…the economy has made it very difficult for us all !
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Warmest regards,
Name withheld for blog
Show Coordinator
Here is a note from one particular promoter that has now realized they were charging too much because the artists TOLD them. for Art in the Park, Palmetto Bay, Florida
We have received a number of phone calls and emails from artists who have been in our at show letting us know that they cannot afford to pay the fee to enter the show this year.
Taking this into consideration as well as wanting to have the excellent artist return, our Board made the decision to lower the entry fee to $175 from $321.
In fairness to everyone, when you set up on October 29th, we will be refunding $146 to you…the difference between $321 and $175.
We hope you will welcome the good news…the economy has made it very difficult for us all !
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Warmest regards,
Name withheld for blog
I do understand that it must be an added workload when someone cancels and can certainly understand the addition of a small cancellation fee to administer it. But, the fact that the artist will not be there does not mitigate the added effort no matter what the reason.
If an artist cancels (for any reason) the space will most likely be filled. I would think the vast majority of shows have plans to accommodate cancellations. It happens every show so a prudent director would have something in place. An artist need not give a reason. It is a personal decision. If a cancellation I would think that a director would grumble about the added work but feel an obligation to return the fee (less a small administration fee) to the artist after the space is resold. Obliged ethically if nothing else.
Mostly agree with all above -- but how about an artist who calls you a week or so before the show and say they decided not to come because they decided they needed some time off, or their kids are coming to visit, or there is a death in the family and they called you last year with the same reason, or they are going to do another show and want their assistant to come to the show or....and you have processed their application, completed your database, put together promotion materials for the press, printed brochures, made booth signs, name tags, done a layout with their particular needs in mind, found special parking spots for their oversize vehicle/trailer, added their images and links to your website, plus you were thrilled that they were going to bring their fine work to your event, etc....?
Larry Berman
Digital J u r y Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
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