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I don’t know how the year has been for most of you so far, but its been a weird one for me.  All my shows have been flip-flopped from 2016. 

Arlington in April was barely worthwhile in 2016, but this year I had a killer show even though Saturday was almost totally rained out so everything sold Sunday!  I did Art Birmingham in May (a first for me) and it completely SUCKED.  Then I got off the waitlist pretty last minute for Round the Fountain in Lafayette IN also in May which I was really excited about because I had a great show there last year, its an easy show, there’s a great restaurant called RedSeven and its just a short 3 hr drive from my home.  And while it was a solid 1 day show grossing over 3K, it was still down by over 2K from 2016.  Last year I sold a ton of $400-600 paintings, and this year I sold one painting for over $1000 and the rest were prints under $100.  Very different….

I went into June really hopeful and really needing some good shows.  I don’t travel to FL in winter but instead hibernate and just build up stock.  That means I live off of my business savings until spring shows when I can start building savings back up.  After a very lackluster May I was really needing June to be a good month for shows.

First stop was Three Rivers in Pittsburgh.  I am on Penn Ave just for Sat/Sun of the first weekend.  I have a 2 yr old at home, so I try to limit my shows to only 2 days if possible and only 2 a month until she gets older, that way I’m home on the weekends at least half the time.  Anyway, last year Three Rivers blew me away with sales, and this year it almost literally blew me away.  That wind can be NUTS going through those tall buildings!  We had to have 4 volunteers help hold my Trimline down during teardown while I removed the propanels.  Once that first panel came off the wind tore through it and the whole thing went walking!!!  That’s NEVER EVER happened to me before.  And yes, I had almost 100 lbs of weights on each leg and even with the 4 guys holding onto the legs it was still blowing all over the place.

Anyway, the important information: 2016 I sold 14 originals and 76 prints at Three Rivers; this year I only sold 6 originals and 65 prints.  I left down by about 3K and was feeling rather downtrodden.  I DID end up having 2 follow up sales and a commission that I’m currently working on, and those will put me only about $1300 down from 2016, so that’s not too bad I suppose.

Then came the Columbus Arts Festival the next weekend of June.  This is my 4^th year doing the show and I’ve always always always had a solid show, but with the way the rest of the shows had been I was not feeling optimistic anymore.  I calculated that I needed at least 8K to put me back in the black, which is totally doable in Columbus, but the year just wasn’t shaping up well for me.  I live just south of Columbus so I can drive home every night and save the hotel money and also restock prints every night.  This is a huge print show for me and I always run out of some print image every day and need to bring more.  I have a really good location on the Rich Street bridge and I always pray every year that I don’t get waitlisted that way I can pay ASAP and request that same location. 

This year the weather was the best in Columbus that I’ve ever had.  No rain and it wasn’t ridiculously hot like usual.  Especially on the bridge, there is always a nice breeze.  I think that really helped.  The crowds were huge and fortunately for me in a very acquiring mood!  I sold a record amount of originals: 25!!!  And a whole slew of prints and 37 copies of the children’s book I wrote and illustrated!  There really wasn’t one day that was any better than the others either.  I sold equally Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Needless to say, I well passed my goal and ended June feeling really good!  Amazing how our artist moods can flip-flop so quickly too…

And then my mood crashed down again.  I did the July Boston Mills ArtFest show.  I was so excited because I got into the show in 2013 and 2014, but juried out the last 2 years, so I was thrilled to do it again.  Both years before I’ve always managed to pull out at least 8K, so I was thinking I was surely going to be having a good July.  Not to be…. For anyone there I think!  I’m honestly so baffled about what happened here.  As I heard from so many artists, this is a “tried and true show” for years and years for many of the artists there.  And I didn’t talk to one artist who was happy with their sales.  I don’t know how the June show was, but it was like zombie land for the patrons at the July show.  Numbers were definitely down from what I remember, not many were carrying packages, I had a couple patrons complain about the rising gate fee, and 3 clients who had come before to the show and only knew to come this year because I had emailed them.  Maybe Boston Mills is slacking on the advertising and just assuming patrons will come every year?  I don’t know.  But it was definitely not the same show. 

Friday was had the most torrential rain during the Preview Party, so that was a big bust.  Saturday it was calling for 50% showers but they never materialized.  So I thought maybe everyone was just waiting for the nice weather on Sunday.  Sunday morning I was able to walk around and talk to other artists.  By Sunday morning most artists who I spoke with had only made a few hundred dollars and some had zeroed.  I told everyone “today is the day!  Be positive!”  For my neighbor it did turn out to be a better day, but still not what it usually is for him there.  For me, it was my worst day yet.  If it’s any sort of a sign, I didn’t restock my business cards one time the entire weekend (at Columbus I restocked about every 2 or 3 hours).  Sunday we all packed up, made that looooong dolly load out, and left grumpy.  Every artist I saw was baffled at the events of the weekend.  I left with only a third of what I have done in the past there…. And I think I was actually one of the lucky ones!  I’m sure there were some artists who were happy, but I didn’t hear from any of them.  The 1 day Round the Fountain was better for me than all weekend at Boston Mills….. so, yeah.

I’m counting my blessings that I’ve always come out with a profit of each of the shows but its just been so backwards from what shows have been the last few years.  I’m so so so sooooo glad I have 6 weeks off to take it easy, take a breather, recoup, and restock.  This business certainly does test your mental and emotional stamina.  Gotta step away every now and then, even if just for a few weeks.  I’m sure after 6 weeks off I’ll be itching to hit the road again.  My next show is the Howard Alan Flats show in Cleveland in August, then Upper Arlington in Columbus, Howard Alan’s show in Alexandria VA, and Bethesda Row.  I have absolutely no expectations for any of them anymore….

After much gentle but persistent nagging by Connie : )  here is my review of 2010 Columbus Winterfair~

Both Dennis and I exhibited this year and were very happy that the directors John Barr and Carole Snyder again accommodated our booth requests to be side-by-side (so important for couples who are traveling and showing in the same venue.) I had a new booth and lighting layout I wanted to try so I spent a lot of time setting up on Thursday-the committee was able to get us extended set- up time and I was grateful for that.

Friday started off with promise; busy, sales holding steady, less for me than Dennis, but still acceptable. Saturday slowed down for almost all in our immediate vicinity, including us. The first real snow of the season was forecast and perhaps that slowed folks down. I talked to a number of mid-price range jewelers like me and they almost all reported soft sales-still, there were plenty of people, a lot of good energy, but cautious, skittish buying ruled the day. I could not seem to close a sale for hours. I took bets with my neighbor on how fast I could run someone out of the booth just by saying,"Hello." Dennis's sales (ceramic sculpture) were way down as well. High-end jewelers, functional ceramics and fiber/clothing seemed to be doing quite well.

Dennis, being the lovable curmudgeon he is, pronounced the show "all done" by Saturday afternoon, and I wondered if my new booth layout had been a mistake. However, Sunday buyers rescued most people I spoke with, and even Dennis ended up  with sales a little higher than last year (forcing him to recant his pronouncement and for those of you who know him, you can imagine how much he liked  doing that.)

Many artists had ongoing doubts about Winterfair's decision to include a "market" of gourmet food, soap and sauce vendors; They are able to provide the buyer with an under $10 gift and most artists can't even venture near that price point. Still it helps bring in the folks which helps create a better buying energy-so for me it's a toss-up...my vote is still out on that. Plus I like buying handmade soaps and lotions, as well as fun holiday mixes and sauces and it's about the only opportunity I get  since I refuse to go to the malls, especially during the holidays.

Overall, the show committee did a great job of promotion with a lot of community advertising and it showed. They were attentive and addressed issues promptly. They have made smart decisions about the length of the show, changing it from a four-day to a three-day event. Our experience with the Winterfair staff has always been positive. The buyers may be more cautious,but there's nothing new about that in the current economic climate.

Given Ohio's economy, it seems that Winterfair Columbus is holding its own.