Seriously. I was robbed. As a result, my art show season ended with some big surprises last fall in Albuquerque, NM.
And really, I’m okay with that.
Now.
I was in town doing The Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, which runs the same time as the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The fiesta is one of the largest international balloon events in the world. 
On day three of the two weekend event I returned to the hotel found a big surprise: my trailer had been stolen.
The police were called in and the papers filed. I was told at that time “good luck” getting it back and that it was probably long gone in Mexico.
In the hope of getting some relief, I talked to the front desk at the Days Inn and asked to talk to a manager. The manager was not in but I was assured there was surveillance video of the parking lot. The next day I returned to talk to the desk because I still had not heard from the manager. I was told she had been ill and would call me later. Did I mention it was the Days Inn in Albuquerque on Menaul Blvd?
I heart those boots.
My good friends, David and Judy who were also at the art show, let the show directors know of my plight. The show directors called a local news station and I made the evening news.
This was good because it brought people to my booth that might not otherwise have stopped.
My second surprise came when I realized the Days Inn in Albuquerque on Menaul Blvd doesn’t give a care about me or my trailer. I never heard from the manager. I never received a phone call. They even refused to hand over the surveillance tape to the police. I even went so far as to call the chain to see if I could file a complaint and never heard back from them either.
We stayed at that Days Inn in Albuquerque on Menaul Blvd ELEVEN days and nothing EVER happened.
Then my third surprise came!
I got a call on the Friday of the second week of the show and the police had spotted my trailer in downtown Albuquerque. According to the police I was one of the lucky 1 in 20 to get theirs back!
Great news, I was ecstatic!
During this time I was thankful I had insurance to cover my trailer. I was lucky that most of my art and booth were at the show. I lost three bins full of prints, display items, packaging materials, lighting equipment and a small original.
However, when I tallied up the number on exactly what it was that I lost it was still at around $2,000. I thought this was still worth putting in a claim. This is where surprise number four came in.
After putting in my claim I was told it was not going to go through. They said it was because my art business is, “only covered up to 500 feet of my office.”
MY office?
What office?
I am a fine art painter! My agent knew the nature of my business when I signed up for the policy. I stated that I need the insurance because I travel and do outdoor juried art shows. I needed protection from weather, theft and car accidents. I needed to have the trailer and its contents insured!
According to the agent, after the fact, none of this was covered. The reality stung.
I felt as if I had been robbed. Again. Twice.
Once by a couple of yahoos in a hotel parking lot and a second time by a licensed insurance professional.
Then I began to thank my lucky stars.
You see, I had been in an outdoor show last spring where a small twister took out 10 booths in a different part of the show. Had I been one of those artists, I would have lost everything. So I am in pursuit of a new agent and insurance because April 6, 7 & 8 I’ll be at the Deep Ellum Arts Show outside of Dallas in Deep Ellum, Texas to kick off my art show season (I’m in Booth 20!)
Lesson learned ……I will make sure all my bases are covered properly. After all, this is a business and not a hobby.
Just to be clear – did I mention it was Days Inn in Albuquerque on Menaul Blvd?
Comments
My father owned an insurance agency and I worked for him in the office for a few years. Learned lots and absolutely agree with Carol! We live in a pre-Civil war house that is insured way beyond its street value. It is insured for replacement value. The dollars spent on appropriate insurance are dollars well spent.
I give a professional program on loss prevention to related organizations and just recently gave one last month that was over the top received. I am amazed at how little information is out there until something happens to someone such as this. Insurance - this is not hindsight - this is telling you like it is - tell your insurance agent exactly about your business - if it's on the road, hauled in a trailer, locked up at night, not, etc. And, be honest about the value of what you own - as it's so easy to value your business for one amount and later find that you had expanded greatly and failed to have your policy reflect that. My goods are covered no matter where they are - period the end. I am covered, my business for liability is covered, and if you teach in your house, you better make sure that is covered too. Too many times, we view what we do and those who are interested in our work as great people - and they are - until something unexpected happens. Please...I have my little tiny business as conjunction with my house/vehicles/etc and each time I do something different, I always check - it only takes a few moments to see if its covered or do I have to have the policy amended. I can't afford the loss myself, for what it costs me per year - its worth every penny. Okay I am off my soapbox now.
Main St. Fort Worth is most definitely worth the trip. Even with the theft, I made lots of moola. If I got in again, I would certainly go back.
The chain was a Marriott Towne Place Suites -- an upscale hotel, not a dive by any means.
Big cities are usually worth the risk, since the risk is fairly small. I lived in Chicago for many years. Never had any real problems other than the panhandler and the con men working the streets. Frankly, there are probably more patrons/artist at the big city shows, than at the smaller shows. If your work depends on traffic or folks with higher incomes, the cities really are your best bet.
No motel is ever 100% safe, but I NEVER stay at certain chain motels because of this kind of rep. Plus I have learned that in some towns, all of the motels are owned by foreign interests, so it is no surprise the manager and motel don't care.
The real question here is - does the show produce a good return/profit for you? Will you risk it again? We all get a little too secure in familiar places but the sad truth is that city located shows are a big risk at best in a variety of ways. My concern for my sanity and personal security usually keeps me out of the big cities. Does anyone think it is worth the risk?
There is a larger number of insurance policies available to artists now, but you gotta know what they cover up front - and ask questions! Plus, you need to PROVE what you lost and because most artists don't' keep an inventory or equipment or product, it's hard to collect for loss.
With boots on the axles, my trailer would have to be forklifted. It can't be dragged more than about a foot before the boots jam up. Good luck with that. Seriously, if they want it THAT bad, take it.
Others have told me that the van and trailer were stolen while the artists were eating dinner and the vehicle was parked in the lot outside. Once it happens to you, everybody has a story. Scary enough to make you want to stay home and put your certification plaque up on the wall in the bathroom. :-)
I have heard stories over the years of robbers even bringing a flatbed truck and dragging or fork lifting the whole trailer up onto it. This is always an issue with trailers.
I know from 15 years of being a vendor at the Balloon Fiesta itself (we fly balloons too) that trailer theft is HUGE in Albuquerque. Balloonists get their trailers stolen often. One thing that is suggested to help deter thieves is to have some type of bold artwork or logos on your trailer. Of course you do not want to advertise that your trailer is full of art! But, really big decorations via paint or vinyl could maybe help deter theft, as the thieves prefer the plain white/brown wrapper. We had to leave our trailer at the Fiesta field last year due to changes in the booth set up and we drove into town to buy a boot for the tire - no way we were leaving it unsecured, even though there is "security" on the Fiesta grounds. Sorry to hear about your loss and especially sorry to hear about the shaft from your insurance company - NOT good. I would also recommend to those doing the art show out there to check out hotels in Rio Rancho - much safer neighborhood and there are cheap places like Extended Stay. It is a very easy drive into town from there.
Christine - Sorry you had to go through that but it's great they got the trailer back at least. As for any anti-theft device working, if they want it badly enough they'll get it. I had a boat trailer that I had chained the wheels on it because I didn't trust the hitch lock. They tried to drag it off and left it when they couldn't get the chains off the wheels. About a week later they came back with bolt cutters and I no longer had a boat trailer. Of course at least making it harder for the thieves is always a good idea.
Connie, please PM me with all the FedEx details. I have contacts...
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