Well my last show in the Southeast until fall... I love the fact that the Gilmores have an all day set up at their shows. Even though they are not present, they post the space listings on the office with a vendor list and booth number along with a note that says "feel free to set up." It just makes life so much easier and you do not feel rushed.Today is the first day of the show and it runs from 10:00 to 8:00 Friday 10:00 to 6:00 Saturday and 11:00 to 5:00 Sunday. It has been a slow but steady crowd here on Friday and the weather is beautiful. I just hope people will take advantage.
Yes it is very difficult to jury into new shows. I moved 6 years ago to NC and after doing shows in MI since 1993, this is the most difficult time I have had. I have awards, publications, good work, good pictures and just have a terrible time getting into shows. I hate paying the jury fees just to be turned down, and am so frustrated that I've just stopped trying to get into shows and am using other venues. But I love the shows, and so wish it was easier to jury in. In the meantime, I get invites from Michigan shows constantly because I was in that circuit for over 10 years and had a good customer base there. I love NC and am glad we moved, but really would like to find shows that are good that will consider new jewelry artists.
Sorry for the delay but with a three hour tear down and a 14 1/2 hr drive staring at 4:00am this morning I was exhausted. Sunday was my best of the. Three days and according to some. Others it was a toss up between the three days. I did in three days what I generally do in one. But oh well, I hold no one to blame except for the whoever put that damn fortune the cookie I had last week.
I cannot speak to the jury process for the Gilmore shows but I can say they do have jewelry. And I might add that the jewelers I have seen show impeccable work. No matter what show you look at jewelry is an over saturated category which makes it difficult to jury into new shows.
So all in all it was not a good weekend but I will return. I have two more shows with the Gilmores this fall and I am planning to expand my Spring tour for 2013 with them to include 2 more shows.
I'm going to try again. Maybe they will take jewelry now. For the past two years, I've tried but they wouldn't take an application. Just downloaded and printed the application to try again.
no I'm not mistaken. They have their jewelry people and will take no more. It's stated on their website. I've written to them several times in hopes they will look at my work, but they say there is no room for any more jewelry.
Last day...I got her early to hook up my trailer and park away form the crowd. Someone stole my traffic cones on Friday that I use to reserve the space in front of my trailer and the last two mornings my trailer was blocked by vendors who do not pull a trailer, go figure! I am still optimistic about today. I have only heard a couple of vendors complaining but I attribute that to lack of experience. It's just business and if you expect mega cash flow at every show you may need to consider that self-employment just may not be for you. The weather is once again beautiful and I am hoping that many attendees were saving Sunday for their day at the craft show!
What can you do... All the pieces were in place for an excellent show. A great selection of vendors, a good promoter, lots of media and advertising, and the attendance is still pretty dismal and so were the sales. Todays attendance was up over yesterday and so were the sales but very little. I am still holding out hope for Sunday...
Comments
Yes it is very difficult to jury into new shows. I moved 6 years ago to NC and after doing shows in MI since 1993, this is the most difficult time I have had. I have awards, publications, good work, good pictures and just have a terrible time getting into shows. I hate paying the jury fees just to be turned down, and am so frustrated that I've just stopped trying to get into shows and am using other venues. But I love the shows, and so wish it was easier to jury in. In the meantime, I get invites from Michigan shows constantly because I was in that circuit for over 10 years and had a good customer base there. I love NC and am glad we moved, but really would like to find shows that are good that will consider new jewelry artists.
I cannot speak to the jury process for the Gilmore shows but I can say they do have jewelry. And I might add that the jewelers I have seen show impeccable work. No matter what show you look at jewelry is an over saturated category which makes it difficult to jury into new shows.
So all in all it was not a good weekend but I will return. I have two more shows with the Gilmores this fall and I am planning to expand my Spring tour for 2013 with them to include 2 more shows.
It would be really nice to be involved with their shows. I've heard they are super.
I'm going to try again. Maybe they will take jewelry now. For the past two years, I've tried but they wouldn't take an application. Just downloaded and printed the application to try again.
no I'm not mistaken. They have their jewelry people and will take no more. It's stated on their website. I've written to them several times in hopes they will look at my work, but they say there is no room for any more jewelry.
Did you know that the organizers of this show will take no jewelry applications? I would love to apply for these shows.
Did they come out and buy on Sunday ? (I hope so!)
Let us know the final outcome of the show, Rich. I hope Sunday is good for you.
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