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  Kale Van Leeuwen May 8, 2013 at 3:04pm

  I will definitely apply for The ARTsarben this year.    Westport was my first show ever and has pushed me to do more.  I did Art in the Park in Lawrence over the weekend, which was a good easy one day show.  I am applying for Westport again this year, although with a full 10x10 booth.  I was in one of the quads last year.  
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  Robin Samberg May 8, 2013 at 2:49pm

  Hi Kale,

  Yes, I am from KC, and yes, I was invited to ARTsarben's first show. I was a little nervous about a first year show, but that went unfounded - it was one of my best shows last season! (MUCH better than Westport). The people of Omaha are, I'm told, "joiners", and they like to get out and participate in city events.  GREAT attendance for a first year show, beautiful location, and the art was lovely.  A little more offbeat than a "typical" show, but still beautiful, quality work (let's just say I could have spent every bit of what I earned over those 2 days, LOL).  I am pleased that I have been invited back for 2013, looking forward to it!  If you are at Westport again this fall, find me & say hi, I hope to be there as well :)
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  Kale Van Leeuwen May 8, 2013 at 2:27pm

  Robin - you are from KC right?  Did you get into Artsarben last year?  If so, how was it?  I did Westport last year and did great.  I am in my second year in the art fair scene.  I was thinking of applying, but the site doesn't tell me what artists did it last year.  I like to see the exhibitor list to make sure that the quality was there.
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  Robin Samberg April 12, 2012 at 8:59am

  I am hoping to be invited to this one simply because I have not been invited to any of the other shows to which I've applied this season! (I guess the juries don't go so much for "in your face" abstracts too often....ha!).  I've taken it with a grain of salt.  This is only my 2nd season doing shows - last year was my first and it started about halfway through (meaning I missed the deadlines for the majority of summer shows).  Unfortunately I can't apply to everything I would hope to participate in - I have a full time day job, so I'm not really free to do a show every weekend if travel is involved.  I have to pick & choose, was hoping for at least one show each month over the summer, but that didn't happen.  Hopefully ARTsarBen will be a good show - provided I am invited.  Thanks so much for your insight, I learn a lot from all the blogs & discussions here :)
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  Connie Mettler April 9, 2012 at 8:29pm

  Here's the deal, Robin. Shows go away, some shows dwindle into bad sales, things happen to the shows, so there always needs to be a stream of new shows to attract customers, rejuvenate a neighborhood, give some arts minded folks a reason to love artists, etc. When we were doing shows we made it a policy to at least do one first year show every year. We felt a responsibility to grow the business. So, especially if a show is near you, you have nothing else scheduled for that weekend that you are sure is going to make you a $1,000,000, then why not give it a try?

  There is a show this coming weekend in Novi, MI, that I have worked with. The show is in an affluent area, the booth fee is very fair, and there is NO other show anywhere nearby in all of the month of April. Many artists live within a 100 mile radius. Many. If you can sleep at home why wouldn't you give it a try? Do you know anywhere else to make some money in mid-April? Why not help make it a good one for yourself and others and give yourself a place to get a paycheck every April?

  The same for this new show in Omaha. Do you live near? How much overhead do you see for yourself if you do the show? Does it seem reasonable that you can sell that much art that weekend, given that it is in a nice area and the organizers know what they are doing and have good connections throughout the community in the media?

  I have participated in many first year shows that had those qualifications, and some very far away. Say, we were going to be in Florida for several weeks and something came along on a weekend when we didn't have something scheduled, we'd do the show. It always paid for the extra week's expenses. We were rarely sorry. Some we didn't go back to the following year, but we helped get it started so someone else could help build the show. Some were great: 1st year at Arti Gras, 1st year at Cherry Creek, 1st year at Arts, Beats & Eats. Be brave!
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  Robin Samberg April 9, 2012 at 6:13pm

  Thanks Connie!  I'm ready to gamble.  The big Omaha show did not invite me, so I'm hoping to be a part of this new event.  (I'm not holding my breath though - even with the extended deadlines!)
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  Connie Mettler April 9, 2012 at 5:49pm

  They certainly do. Even shows like this in affluent areas with a staff who knows how to put on an event. Starting a new show is very hard. Artists are loath to gamble on something new and rarely does a new show get all the exhibitors they want to start a new venue. What we always looked for in a new show was the location, the possible audience for a good demographic and what the event has planned for media.
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  Robin Samberg April 9, 2012 at 2:28pm

  Received an email from the promoter a little while ago...they are now waiving the jury fee (code FREE on Zapp) until the new deadline for this show.

  Do first-year shows generally have trouble garnering interest?