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This is the second year that I have done the Brainerd, MN Art show.  The setting is nice and set-up is easy and enjoyable.  That seemed to be where it ends, though.  This show is not for artists anymore.  If you do buy/sell, crafts, and crap, you will do well here. 

The attendance was down from last year.  Last year the show was on a Saturday, which I think was much better.  This show was on Sunday, so many that attended were in their church best.  I found I was talking much less to people vs last year, and the crowd was mostly interested in those big bags of popcorn and corn dogs.  It must be like going to a movie, whereas people need something in their hand to mouth.

My sales were a flat ZERO.  Last year was completely opposite, as it was a very good show for me.  I spoke to many other artisans to get a read of the show, and I heard from one jeweler (that I recommended to this show) that she BOMBED!  Sorry.  Another artisan next to me that does wall hangings using wools (nice stuff at good prices) also mentioned that his sales were rather dismal, although he broke even.  I heard the same at most of the booths.  One photographer was also not happy, as he did zero dollars as well.

I did spend some time with a couple that makes wood items like turntables and napkin holders, and they said they were happy with the show.  Their items were nice, but again priced below $100.00.

I think my disappointment with the show is it seemed that it was just "there".  A lot of buy/sell was evident, including the people that do the letters thing, paintings from China, tie dye shirts from overseas, and a lot of crap.  There were also some good crafts and lower priced art, but it was pretty much the same. 

The judges in my mind didn't have a clue what art was, and judging on who won, their was personal reasons for their win.  Congratulations to them, but there were better artists representations there.  I spoke to one person that helped with deciding whether the product was buy/sell or not.  He didn't have a clue.  I saw a minimum of fifteen...that's fifteen vendors with overseas crap.  Being an importer from the past, it is easy to spot.  Obviously the judging crew doesn't have a clue, or they just let people in to fill space.

One other thing that I noticed at this show is that there are women artists that take your time trying to extract information so they can do it themselves.  These people detest me, as it has happened over and again.  To those cheap skates that haven't a creative clue of their own, I'm getting better at spotting them and telling them to get the h*ll out of the booth. 

Anyway, Brainerd, MN will never be on my show list again.  I hope other real artists get the clue.  I know that there are several others that will never show their again either...they will be replaced by another Chinese vendor.

The 16th Annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival is now a sweet, and tiring, memory. It was held in Alpena, Michigan from October 6-9. The main event was held at the APlex in Alpena and there were artistisans, authors, a homemade sausage vendor, entertainers such as Carl Bearinger who sang about the Great Lakes and the wonderful lighthouses, there were satellite events at all the Lighthouses found in Northern Michigan from Mackinac to Tawas to Presque Isle. The weather was absolutely beautiful with temperatures varying from 70 to 89! There were also dinners and auctions.

Aside from being a vendor/exhibitor, I was also the photographer for the festival and did lots and lots of running around taking photos of the events, people and the exhibitors/vendors. It was quite the show. Over the 4-days, I sold lots of my photographs and almost all of my first published book! I didn't do too badly considering that I was not at my booth the entire time, so I can well imagine how well I might have done had I been there manning my station.

If you ever get a chance to come to Alpena, Michigan, please, do stop to see the Lighthouse Festival and/or become a vendor/exhibitor. Considering the state of the economy, we did draw quite the crowd and, for the most part, people were buying!

Now all I have to do is get ready for next year and, hopefully, I'll even have my second book published by that time. Just had to share a wonderful 4-days that I thought were well spent, although exhausting.