Posted by Nels Johnson on December 24, 2015 at 1:30pm
This was last weekend in South Straub Park across from the bay. A perfect spot among million dollar condos and trendy restaurants.A little background.I am a photographer with 41 years in our biz--I bring a unique perspective to it. Also, I am born in St. Pete and have watched my town bloom into a fantastic traveler's destination.December is a rough month to make a living selling art in Florida.There are not a lot of good choices for shows.There is Palm Harbor, near Clearwater, forget about it, the committee that runs it is clueless .there is Englewood,below Venice, wrong time of the year, the money is not there yet.Equally said for Anna Maria also. Another clueless director who will listen to no input.Vero Beach, same thing, money people are no there yet.HA craft show on St. Pete Beach, small time sales, you take your chances.People don't buy a lot of art for gifts, and if so, it is usually low end.About four years ago, a gallery owner on Central Avenue, put on a Christmas show in the north Straub Park location,right next to the fine art museum.About 70 artists set up, about 60 of them failed, not enough people showed up.Then two years ago, Bill Kinney (Paragon) showed up. He put the show on in its present location on South Straub Park. He started small and steadily built it up.This year there were 105 artists, a perfect number, where most could make money.I waited til this year to try it. Bill charges $395 for the booth-- a high,dear amount.That amount should return ya $3-4K in sales--I was not sure it could do that.Well, I booked it, and I am glad I did.My previous two shows for the month sucked Royal Canalwater. I did not even clear $1K in sales for Anna Maria and Englewood combined.So I showed up on a windy, cool Friday to set up.There are only limited parking spaces, curbside, at the park. So part of it is luck,some of it timing, to find a spot.I lucked out, I usually do. In 41 years I have rarely been disappointed in finding a spot. I am blessed.Most of us had close neighbors on our sides but we had oodles of room in our rear and savvy artists took advantage of it with the promoter's blessing.It was a good looking show. Not a lot of chotzey looking work. There was a lot of great art and craft there, and a lot of it was in the high end range.I went back to Ybor City across the bay, satisfied with my set up. One of the reasons I took a chance on this show, was knowing if I died at it, at least I was sleeping in my own bed and not paying a hotel. We take our small comforts where-ever we can.Saturday bloomed brilliantly. Clear skies,cool breezes and lots of people walking about, greeted me in the morn. I got there early, walked up Central Avenue five blocks to the Dome Restaurant and had crispy hash with eggs. A short walk back and I was ready.Let me tell you about St. Pete now. Not all of you know a lot about the place.St. Pete (SP) sits on a unique piece of geography on Florida's Gulf coast. It is on a peninsula bordered by Tampa Bay,to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the west.It is equally blessed with sparkling beaches and a park-laden bayside location.When I was a kid in the forties it was known as the green bench city. People who could not afford Miami and Sarasota flocked here because housing was cheap and it was a really nice small town.Johnny Carson mockingly referred to SP as "God's waiting Room" where all the retirees came to die.There were lots of great neighborhoods to the north and south of downtown with wonderful Craftsman homes built in the forties.In the 50's thru the 80's downtown SP was mostly retail with a few good restaurants and theaters. Not a lot of people lived downtown.Then in the late 80's savvy builders saw the real potential of SP."Geez! Why not live right downtown here. You have this gorgeous waterfront abutting downtown, lovely parks to walk in, a cool pier to go out to, yacht basins all over the place."Let's build condo high rises to lure the money people downtown. Next let's build great restaurants and bars for them to hang out at. Then came galleries and museums, coffee shops,ritzy retail shops. And, it was all walkable. In a ten block square area you could do everything.And so it came to pass--SP's potential finally blossomed. This place is a magnet locationfor the monied traveler.I will say that the tried and the true traditional art sells best here. Still a very conservative Protestent edge here.So that gets us back to the present--this show.I sold steadily all day Saturday. My biggest sales was only in the $300 range--but it sure beat the hell out of Englewood and Anna Maria where there was zero interest.I sold to a lot of out of towners. I met people from New England, some from Chicago,many from Columbus,Ohio. A few from Iowa and one from San Francisco.They all had money. Nobody tried to get me down on the price. They were a class act.A fellow photographer near me had a 4K-plus day. Painters beside me sold several 40x60 pieces. Several jeweler sold some really nice pieces. Several artists around me zeroed.I drove home to Ellen in Ybor a happy camper. It was a great night for sushi.Sunday's weather was even better than Saturday's,a little warmer in the seventies.Crowds were bigger than Saturday. A lot more people walking their dogs.My sales were half of Saturday. But it still was a very good show.Several painters who zeroed Saturday had big sales on Sunday.According to Bill, who mines data like a maven, the average artist did a little better than $2.5K. That' s not bad for a December show.I still think the fee is a bit high for the return, but Bill can get it, because where else are you gonna go.Tear down is always a hassle, especially with limited curbside parking. You are supposed to be torn totally down to the ground before loadin out. Well, you know how that goes.Most people were out of therein less than two hours, some in one hour. Most went home happy.For me the show was a lifesaver.I would have had to slit my throat if I had ended with the Anna Maria show where I made $425.00.So I am reinvigorated for 2016--I see a killer year ahead.
Thanks, Nels, for the comprehensive review. You hit all the points that I'm always curious about; good on you! Happy New Year to all, and may the 2016 season be ever better.
Comments
Thanks, Nels, for the comprehensive review. You hit all the points that I'm always curious about; good on you! Happy New Year to all, and may the 2016 season be ever better.
This show sounded like a great way to wrap up 2015. And nice that you could sleep at home.
Great to hear you had a satisfying show Nels. May 2016 be an ever fantasticker one...
Great detailed review, Nels. I always like to hear positive show experiences. It keeps me going.