Blog

(Bill Slade just reminded me/us to post a review of this first year show. Bill: Was wondering what happened to you guys--hope you're feeling better! Here's my review:)

It takes nerves of steel to launch a new show in Florida, the Land of Outdoor Art Fair Over-saturation.  It takes commitment and execution to pull off a winner. And based on what I saw and heard this past weekend, Bill Kinney/Paragon Events' Sarasota Fine Art Festival did the improbable, if not impossible: hit a home run in downtown Sarasota. 

This was a well-advertised, well-communicated show by any measure.  The ad schedule distributed to artists several weeks before the event listed heavy print and online media play, and included plenty of directional signs, flashing billboards (ART SHOW...TURN HERE) to attract the attention of traffic on nearby US 41 and shoppers nearby.  I didn't see the Goodyear blimp, nor dancing monkeys wearing sandwich boards on nearby street corners, but these are minor quibbles.  Kinney had done his homework. And it paid off with steady crowds, not of browsers, but ACTUAL BUYERS. 

I had five people browsing my bins as soon as I had them set up on Saturday morning.  And although my large canvas wraps still weren't selling on a par with my 2012 numbers, there were plenty of large matted prints heading out the front door late into the day. 
Sunday started slowly, but by 1 PM a repeat performance was in full swing, and some late-day canvas sales pushed my sales into high-water territory for this still-young 2013 season. . .in a town where, for whatever reason, I've had a tough time achieving strong results.

My neighbors all were at least satisfied, and several were quite pleased, "especially for a first-year show," said one.  "You never know what you're going to get.  Couldn't have asked for better." 

Kinney reported the show sales results on Monday morning in an email to artists, including breakdown of median and average sales by category for the 66 exhibitors (of 75 total) who reported their sales to him as he strolled the show, notebook in hand, late Sunday afternoon. 

Show quality was excellent, and that's not just my opinion; that's what a number of customers were telling me.  Traditional 2-D art, beautiful functional art, art that made me think, and quirky stuff that made me laugh.  Not a buy-sell booth anywhere. 

Paragon is developing a reputation for exceptional communication with exhibitors, businesses, and sponsors and for doing the little things fully and well.  I, for one, am glad to see it paying off.  And it looks like the buying public is noticing, too.  

Show notes:
* Booth fee: $395 single/$790 double/$50 corner. You can apply through Zapp, but payments are made directly to Paragon.

*Setup: Early Saturday morning. Drive in as directed, then pull right up to your booth. Simple.

* Teardown: Same as above, stress-free.  I was on the road by 7 pm. 

* Artist amenities: None, unless you count the catered artist party Saturday night. Delish!

* Areas for improvement: 

   --The show stayed open until 6 pm Saturday, which all agreed turned out not to be a money-maker.  Next year's show will close at 5, Kinney reports.

   --There was a little confusion over which parking garage behind the show was the one intended for artists.  Several of us pulled into the wrong one and were directed across the street (whoops).  An "Artist Parking" sign next year would be helpful.  (I also learned that my "high-boy" Ford Transit, with roof rack, is 86 inches high, not the 84 inches advertised.  Luckily, the Selby Library had a nice, big lot only two blocks away.)