This was our 4th time in 6 years participating in this show in Coeur d’Alene ID. The show is the first weekend of August and can be very warm and this year Sunday seemed especially hot as the temperatures came close to the triple digit mark. I reviewed this show last year, not a lot has changed other than our results. I really can’t explain why, but by the end of this show we had our highest ever numbers at Art on the Green. Maybe it was because we skipped the shows in Spokane this year and it was the first time we’ve been to this area in a year.
http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/coeur-d-alene-art-on-the-green
Load in and load out really didn’t change from last year’s write up. I didn’t see as many volunteers this year, but maybe that’s just because we were busier than last year so I might not have noticed any of them checking to see if we needed a booth sitter. I also know I didn’t spend much time wandering this year, another sign that we were busier.
Sales on Friday started a little slow but we had a very steady afternoon and by Friday night had covered booth plus expenses which for us is just gas and meals since we tow a travel trailer and they offer free onsite camping. Saturday sales started early and were fast and furious the first 4 hours of the show then slowed down as the temperatures climbed. We had a small rush of sales early evening and ended the day with our single best sales day we’ve ever had at Art on the Green. Sunday was HOT! Not sure what the official temperature was, but our thermometer in the booth was showing 97. Crowd was small, sales were slow and ended as our slowest sales day of the show. Overall, we were still pleased with the results and most likely will be back to this show.
It was also fun to see AFI’ers David Forster and Dennis Brady. We’re seeing David at several shows this year and it’s always fun to hear Dennis’ perspective on shows in this area as it is his home base.
Word of caution for those of you considering the other shows in town this weekend (the show in the park or the Street Fair), all weekend we were hearing very negative reports from artists at both shows and know a few artists who have done the show in the park for a few years and have sworn they won’t return as they’ve continued to see the other 2 shows go downhill. This town really cannot support 3 shows in one weekend and think that all the artists are going to have a reasonable rate of return.
