It's a great idea to have a little demo area in a booth. But we have to deal with other issues in our booth - the first is that Jay uses a wheelchair - it takes 5 ft for him to make a turn. So we have to set up a booth based on the wheelchair,. We don't want to block aisles and intrude on neighbors. We have had to get a booth and a half when the booths are 8 x 10 or smaller -- to accommodate the wheelchair. We've asked for ADA accommodations - LOL -- that isn't going to happen. And before we can consider doing a show, I am emailing to find out if the venue is accessible. You'd be surprised how many times I have received answers of 'no - this would not be a good venue for you.' Scary in 2012 but our reality. The other thing is that I've had my hip replaced. I'm not supposed to be shlepping, lifting, moving, pulling, carrying anything over 10 pounds. OK - stop laughing. We know that's not a reality when doing shows. And I have all the 'itis's' -- bursitis, tendenitis, arthritis -- who happily let me know that they are all having a fine time partying in my body when doing shows. I have to be sitting some of the time - because of this. So we try to figure out the best in/out - lifting/shlepping that we can so that I don't do any damage to myself. If it's too far for us to get in/ouit; if there are steps or obstacles -- then we have to negate that show -- because we physically cannot deal with those kinds of parameters.
It's pretty incredible that we are able to set up the way we do. It can get squishy ... and every inch counts when knocking off 5 fee to start.
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Wow, Allison, you bring up some additional troubling issues. In the report that Art Fair Insiders sent out about Artist demographics, it was very instructive to read that 75% of festival artists are 50 years old or older. We have got to change our thinking and planning if we are to accommodate these fabulous artists and encourage them to continue to sell their art. This is especially tricky if parking is not as close as we would like. Thanks for your important input, all of you! I do think that this would be a good thing for NAIA, especially if Fairs are truly not compliant!
One reason why I will never grace Lake Mary with my presence again. My husband, 6 months out of a double hip replacement (yes, both at once) dropped me off at the show in the morning and then tried to bring me lunch. They wouldn't let him park in the artist parking even though I wasn't parked there. They had no handicap spaces. They sent him to patron parking where the $5 donation was demanded. He physically couldn't get on the shuttle bus so he went back to the entrance where they finally let him park on the empty street. Then he asked one of the people zipping around on golf arts for a ride since he couldn't walk long distances and they told him unless he was in a wheelchair or on crutches they wouldn't give him a ride.
This is a remarkable thread. I've just stumbled on it. I know there are other artists doing shows who have your requirements, Deborah. How do we find them? I like the suggestion that we get the NAIA onto this issue. Also, I'll propose it for the next Zapp conference, and I wonder if it isn't part of the IFEA guidelines also. I've seen people participating in shows over the years in wheelchairs at Ann Arbor, Old Town, Columbus Winterfair, but these events are not near you.
Can anyone else come up with some ideas?
In addition to this issue, as we got older in the business we wouldn't do the shows that didn't make it really convenient to set up and take down, this is why it is always important when people leave the reviews to include that information.
I have also had difficulty with not being provided with shows not being sympathetic to the disabled. They say "sure we'll make sure you can easily get to and from everything" then when you get there you areon the outer edge of the show and the only way to get anywhere is over a "road" that is "paved" with boulders. It looked like a dry creek bed. I have MS and walking can be tricky on boulders. I do let them know that I am disabled and have problems carrying my stuff. I figure if they don't want me there because of that it is their loss.
Yes, again -- it probably was amazing. But we have to 'minus' 5 feet out of the 10 foot booth to start with so that Jay can get in/out and turn around. Just that -- and we are squishy as can be.
I dis a stone carving demo in a 10'x10' space in the Liberty, Missouri Arts Squared show on June 1st. I was performing stone carving techniques. This idea is a good one artists just talking are not as interesting as artists who are quietly performing.
My goodness!!
My lil' ol town here in Maine is currently upgrading our crosswalks, signals, sidewalks and whatnot for just those needs! And I NEVER heard of or seen promoters or organizers treating anyone this way, let alone someone with alternate needs! And believe me, we have some hide bound & backwards attitudes here. All of my shows have been amazingly cooperative- from the large week long events, to the street fairs, right down to the local schools! Terry had a good Idea... I think if WE ALL start damanding they provide accessible booth space, load in/out then maybe they will start listening. Frak, it's the law!!
Most of my shows are advertising themselves as accessible- I will have to start checking this more here, as well. Even though I won't be attending any of your shows, I would be willing to fire off a few emails about accessibility issues!! We should start a list of the problem shows, so that we can all file complaints!!
It's so nice to get such positives from fellow artists. Thank you... and Debbie - couldn't you be a bit closer to us? We are trying to figure out which shows would work for us -- as this was our 2nd year doing outdoor shows. We really haven't found our 'niche' shows... suggestions are always welcomed! So far we've done shows in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, NJ, Philly, Delaware, White Plains (NY), Maryland, VA.
Debbie, YOU GO GIRL!!!!!
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