Kentucky shows so far this month....

Well, the Kentucky shows I'm showing in this year is really a hard sell for driving over 1400 miles! The economy has hit this state really hard. You would think that being an equine artist I would do real well in the heart of horse country but it even hit here. Louisville at the Summit was very slow, the date was changed to the Kentucky Derby Race day....hello...this is Kentucky...this is their superbowl! It was dead on Saturday and Sunday was a wash, rain all day. I had alot of clients that came on Sunday so I did okay but I feel for the other artists that didn't.
LaGrange Arts on the Green was a huge disappointment. I usually slam there, but I knew something was up when half of the store-fronts on the Main Road (the only one) was empty with for rents signs. This is a great little community, great show on a great park setting with a train passing thru on Main Street! But this year the quality of the art was way down. When you hear people walking by and saying 'looks like a flea market' that is when I say bye-bye. High-end art and flea-market type does not mix at shows...Hello..promoters are you listening? Either have a flea market or a nice high caliber art at the shows. People don't like to buy high-end art next to someone selling flea-market buy sell head-bands. So needless to say, I won't be back next year. Too bad, it was always one of my favs.
Onto Downtown Louisville on 4th Street. First year for that one and I was loving my location, I was under an over hang away from most of the weather. Publicity was everywhere but this show should be a Friday, Saturday showing due to its location in 'the city'. Most of the people that work there drive from their suburban homes miles away to work during the week and I don't think they want to come back on the week-end to stroll around minutes from their office. Also this is a very touristy area so by the time they come to see the art, the kids are already tired and want to go home so the parents have to whize by the booths. I have been doing shows with this promoter for many years and they are always trying new ways to promote the arts and shows. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't but when it does...its great...and when it doesn't, oh well. On to the next one. If they change the dates next year, I might be back.
Now I'm waiting for the Francisco's Farm in Midway College next week-end. I'm really looking forward to this show, first year I'm it it and have heard nothing but good things. I would love this to be a great show for me, it would make the loonnnggg drive home to Florida great.
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  • I know, I can't wait! Being also an avid horsewoman I'll be in horsey heaven during the Equestrian games and hope that I'll be so busy I won't be able to see the show! Advertising is everywhere, I went to the park where the games will be and they are updating, building everwhere.
  • The state has spent millions getting ready for this event, it should be huge.
  • I will and will send a report afterwards, I will be heading back to Florida on Monday in preperation for the Equestrian Festival back here in Kentucky in September and October. Although it is not your usual art show venue (its the horse olympics for you guys that don't know, every 4 years it is somewhere else) but these 'off shoots' are good to try if your work is in that area.
  • Thanks, Debbie, for this report on these Kentucky shows. We've been needing someone to let us in on what is happening there. I hope you and Phyllis can bring us a good report from Francisco's Farm. The director there used to hang out here at this site. Tell her hi from me.
  • My mistake, It was the 2nd leg of the triple crown, still Super Bowl here in Kentucky part 2. I heard the Ohio shows was not so great either, weather was bad and very slow as well from what I hear. Yes I knew that 4th Street would be that way, after 4 you can see the 'regulars' coming in and I usually hang out until people are not around but with that crowd, I was done by 4:30! See you at Midway, I'll come on by!
  • Debbie,
    I live in Louisville and the Derby is always the first Saturday of May, the Summit show was the third weekend of May, no one schedules anything on Derby weekend except a Derby event. I did two art fairs in Louisville this spring, one the weekend before Derby and one the weekend after Derby, both are long established shows here in town, I had great shows at both. Maybe you should do Summerfair in Cincinnati or the Columbus show, they are both the same weekend as LaGrange and Talbot St. is the same weekend as 4th Street here in Louisville. I had a feeling the venue of 4th Street wasn't going to be a great one for an art fair, it's a night spot, great if you want to drink and dance for an evening. Hope you have a great show in Midway, hope to see you there, my booth number is 4.
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