The event is really well organized - plenty of information given to the artists - it seemed that most of the artists there had done the show numerous times before.
- Move in is in 3 sessions to clear the way for vehicles. Parking isn't too far away.
- Artists are given sales books which you must use. Receipts for the art are collected at the gate. These receipts are reconciled later on.
- At the end of the show, you must reconcile sales with the organizer and pay 10% commission on your sales. You know this going in, so it's not a surprise. You cannot exit the grounds without an exit pass from the organizer after you've paid your bill.
- It helps to have 2 people - one to get the car while you pack the booth, and one to pay the bill while finishing up the packing. We were out the door in an hour and a half... not bad.
I know there were ads for the show - I'm sure marketing and advertising efforts were valiant. You can't see the show from the street. There was one electronic sign on a main street.
There were people at the event early Friday, but the crowd thinned out by 2. A few more on Saturday and Sunday... I wouldn't say traffic wasbrisk, but there were people. Most were retirees who live in the area, some were tourists. Not a lot of families with children.
Unfortunately, all I saw leaving the grounds were prints, handbags, small ceramic, pottery, gourds and of course, jewelry. My observation, too many jewelers. One in my area - who usually does quite well - sold absolutely nothing. A mixed media artist sold $10 worth of cards.
I think we all know the routine - lots of looking, admiring...not a lot of buying. I was told Sunday would be chock full of "bargainers" but I didn't get any...however, some of my neighbors were offered 25% of their asking price for their art - from digital wall art to jewelery to handbags.
I am sure some of the artists did quite well - especially those selling small items, and those with a local following. I overheard one artist tell my neighbor it was her best show ever - but she lowered her prices by 80% to make sales!
I didn't see a lot of bags, and no larger pieces walking around. However, most of the people I spoke to did not make their booth fee much less lunch money. I was one of those...but...
...all it takes is one patron looking at my site 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years down the road... deciding to purchase an original piece [it happens]. Or if the couple visiting from Canada really does commission portraits of their kids... it was worth it. Hundreds if not thousands of eyeballs saw my work [more than would have if I'd have stayed home], took my card, my brochure... you never know. Every single show is a crap shoot!
Comments
I have had gallery sales where a piece that was not in the show but was sold to a contact from the show weeks after the show and the gallery owner would not take a commission. She told me if the work was in the show she would have taken the commission. As far as someone wanting to commission a piece and we talked about it at the show I would pay the commission. If I did not advertise that I do commission work and am contacted weeks or months after a show I would not feel obligated to pay a commission that is part of a following you develop.
The show closed early on Friday due to high winds blowing tents away...45-60 mph straight line winds. At one point, there were about ten of us trying to keep a tent from blowing away while others took down it and the walls and paintings down. These winds are apparently common in the area...something to be aware of if you decide to do this show.
Lack of sales is something that we have to deal with, but what did leave a bad taste in my mouth from this show was that prior to the show we had been in contact with the promoter by phone and by email. During the show I watched as she stopped to chat at with the "jeweler" next to us and crossed over to talk to the weaver across from us and the come back to visit with the wood worker on the other side of us. We rented two spaces, rented two tents and drove 3000 miles and it looked like she couldn't be bothered to spend a minute or two with us.
My wife won a ribbon for a pastel painting...we were told that a ribbon was the kiss of death as far as sales went and that observation was correct as far as our show was concerned.
Anyway we all attended on Saturday. My take - I was impressed with the lovely location and the gracious grounds for the event. They layout was pretty confusing. $10 entry - pretty much unheard of in other parts of the country. The cars in the parking lot were BMW's, Escalades, Porsches, Lexus', etc. Not bad! Certainly this event was in the right neighborhood.
The quality of the event was very mixed. Some great work, and some awful work. Lots of not great jewelry. The food, the entertainment, the kids activities really nice. The crowds seemed thin to me on Saturday afternoon. The setting was hands down one of the loveliest I've ever seen with the mountains in the background.
I ran into old friends: Sally Bright (from Fenton, MI), Amos Amit (from LA), Michael Babyak (from Phoenix) and met Sandhi Schimmel Gold -- what a surprise! Sandhi is great online at promotion and so we had "met" online -- great work and a wonderful attitude.
I was mighty surprised as we were leaving and my son had purchased some ceramics to see he had to hand over a sales slip. Is a commission SOP in the West? If so, then what is the booth fee?
I am so pleased to see discussions of West Coast shows. Thank you for filling out this show report section, Sandhi and Diane. Can anyone report on La Quinta? I'd love some details on that too.
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