Circumstances couldn't have been better for this 5th in my series of seven Florida art fairs. Booth numbers are not given out to artists until they check in on Friday, so I was surprised to see that I got booth number one, the first booth on the left when patrons enter the art fair at the main entrance. There was plenty of room to spread out in the back as well as the side with a side wall to boot. I was able to unhook my trailer and keep it there while I did a leisurely setup. I was no longer flying solo because my wife Marcia finally left Saugatuck, Michigan behind and joined me for a few weeks in Florida.
I had been getting lots of good advice from the blog about why my sales have been so dismal here in Florida... advice that I had taken to heart by making lots of changes to the booth layout. The biggest change was to de-emphasize the low-priced items and eliminate the bins in the middle of the booth. I put the emphasis on my best and largest pieces. Barry Witt, the show's director, confirmed my decisions with some of the same advice I got from Connie and other Art Fair Insiders bloggers.
On Saturday morning Barry had another surprise for me. He showed me the program listing all the artists at the show. The cover featured one my new pieces that I used to jury into the show. Things were definitely looking up. Us art fair artists are naturally optimistic. When things go poorly, we always find a reason (bad location, bad weather, poor turnout, wrong booth layout), but at this art fair all the stars were definitely in alignment. Unfortunately the buyers just did not materialize for me (again). I did about $270 in sales on Saturday and was actually relieved to do $900 on Sunday. That's how low my expectations have fallen in my Florida tour.
I like this show. There are a lot of really good artists here, and the location is pleasant in the parking lot of a shopping center off of the Tamiami Trail. Its well organized and well promoted, but, I felt that the turnout was light. Seemed that lots more people were here when I did this show a couple years ago. Could be that three shows in Bonita (this is the third one of the season) might be pushing it. People who live in the upscale development adjacent to the shopping center had already gone to two art fairs... why go to a third?
Anyway... Winter Park next weekend. I had one of my best shows there a couple years ago, so, I continue to be optimistic. I'll keep making adjustments to the booth to try to maximize my sales. But it could be that Florida is just not my market.
Since Marcia arrived I have been staying with friends in Naples, which is a relief to be able to save the hotel bills. so, in keeping with the optimism required from an art fair artist, I can analyze my sales and see that I did, in fact, make a meager profit on this one, however dismal my sales actually are.
Comments
Hey Geoff, what a great idea for a red dot to hang from your tent. That would be a good idea to look into.
I am pulling for you John. I hope your Winter Park show is the best one yet.
I lucked in to a great location--booth 13 was at the intersection of the path leading from the entrance and the second cross-row...everyone coming from the east was staring at my booth the entire time. I thought I was going to kill it. But I think being local actually worked against me, people knew--or at least, assumed--that they could contact me later, so they just nabbed a business card and kept on walkin.' Not unlike that judge. :-O
I enjoyed meeting you, Geoff. Your impression of the way the judge went by your booth was priceless. Also enjoyed catching up with you, John. We both live in Saugatuck for the summer months but hardly ever run into each other. I think your new work is great and that you just need to find the right venue for it. Winter Park could be it. It has always been my best show in FL when I'm fortunate enough to get in.
As for Bonita Springs, I had my worst one ever. I did $700 on Saturday and $1250 on Sunday. The crowds were way down. As for Barry, he is knowledgeable and friendly to me, but has never given me a decent spot in the show. I'd have loved to be front and center like you guys. I was at the butt-end of the show as usual.
Oh, yeah...forgot to mention seeing Terri...she's from Ft. Myers too, and really great. Maybe we AFIers should put those stickers on our tents, not our trailers, so we can find each other at shows.
I'm no curmudgeon.
Bill Slade had me ROFL!!
Terry Causey is a fantastic person. I had great interaction with her.
I agree with Barry (Bernstein) about Winter Park...I've never gotten even a sniff of an acceptance there in three tries. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that this is a big one for you that makes all the prelude worthwhile!
I appreciate the comment on reporting my sales figures, John, but in truth you, not I, am setting the example here. (Besides which, if I ever get audited I don't want some Fla. Dept. of Revenue guy finding this blog and saying, "But Mr. Coe, you said on your blog that you sold $3K and your books only say 1800..." ) ;-)
It was great meeting AFI member R.C. Fulwiler, who stopped by on Sunday to say hi. A great guy, and sorry I never made it to the other end of the show to see his work. Besides Barry B., whom I'd also liked to have met, I had a couple of interesting and useful conversations with Bill Slade (who, with his son Jon, was one of the award winners).
Not to put too fine a point on it -- hoping for a great Winter Park for everyone, the last time we did Winter Park was the last time we went to Florida. We had an excellent corner space right on the main drag, no excuse. Florida just didn't do it for us any more.
I have to agree with you on all the good points about Barry. A great guy who really understands artists and does everything he can to help them earn a living.
Hope you have great neighbors in Winter Park. Maybe you should stop by my house on your way home next week and we'll do a debriefing! Just go due north from Indy (instead of NW) and you'll hit our place.
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