Trying to figure out my spring schedule and recently got into both the Mainsail Show in St. Petersburg and the Santa Fe Show in Gainsville. Wondering if anybody has done them before and if you guys can give me a heads up about sales and such. With gas as expensive as its getting I need to make sure that these shows are worth the expense or if its better to show in the Atlanta, Nashville and Asheville area (my home base) and leave the driving to others this year. It seems that the economy might be picking up but then the gas goes up (projected 4 dollars a gallon by summer) and its damn discouraging for those of us who would like to take their work on the road. Seems you can't win for loosing! As a relative newcomer since last April, I have learned so much from all of you seasoned veterans at the various shows and also through AFI which I find is so helpful. Thank you everyone for your insight and comments...they are really appreciated.
Florida can be a real challenge in that timeframe; the people do leave right around Easter weekend. It was a real eyeopener for me in Florida as a newbie last year, even with my 20+ years of experience in the western US. Reading sunshine artists, one would think that they are loading up armored cars with all the cash that we're bringing in. That couldn't be farther from the truth.
Challenges include the foreclosures, around 13% unemployment; very little good paying jobs, and too many art shows including some towns that have a show every week.
Most of the people are past the prime art buying age, and the majority of homes that I've been in down here have inexpensive colorful items that one can by at the many outlet stores down here. The shows don't bring in 25% of what I bring in at shows up north, Arizona, California, or Washington.
With fuel prices heading north back towards the $4 range, I'd agree that you're probably better looking closer to home.
The reason Mainsail is such a sought after show is because of the award money. I'm a jeweler and I've done the show in the past, the sales were for me well below average and that was when the economy was good. The crowds are more interested in the entertainment and the libations than buying art. The weather can also be an issue that time of year, last year it didn't rain on the festival but all of the surrounding area had terrible storms which kept the people away. Santa Fe is an ok show but not really worth driving any distance for. Hope that helps
I would not count on snowbirds as an enthusiastic art crowd unless you have what they want at low prices. Think cute, small colorful stuff.
We've haven't done Mainsail in years because it dropped off steeply for us. We're trying it again this year and it is by far the better of the two shows. We gave up on Santa Fe about five years ago after our second $700.00 weekend there.
This is just our experience. I'm a photographer so your work may or may not be more appealing to those audiences.
It's a tough choice. You may think of Santa Fe as a filler show for Mainsail and give it a shot. Mainsail has been a sought after show so some people must be doing well there. You will never know until you try it and I would think at the worst you'd get most of your money back.
I would consider paid parking because you can end up three or four blocks away. They've been closing the park at six after Friday setup and I had to get an escort to get back to my tent for something I'd forgotten. This is a little silly, but you do want to be set up by then. It's a dusty show so be prepared for that. I don't know if this helps, but good luck.
Snowbirds are there until May, I lived in Fl. for 16 years and went to a lot of shows. They don't buy much as many of them are lookies and not buyers. A lot are selling their homes now and not coming down as the economy is so bad there now. It is bad everywhere but there homes are in foreclosure or they are renting them out. They can't afford to pay their association dues.
The weather is nice for the shows though. You pay a lot for the space and you have to have what they want. I am spacing my shows this year and just going to southern shows, I hope my son gets my site going again as my husband travels and can get my cards out. It got hacked and he has to change the domain. Oh well, I wish you luck, try giving them a bargain they love bargains. It is fun meeting people though.
Even the best promoters are having it hard. Artists are finding it hard to pay for the fees.
Comments
Florida can be a real challenge in that timeframe; the people do leave right around Easter weekend. It was a real eyeopener for me in Florida as a newbie last year, even with my 20+ years of experience in the western US. Reading sunshine artists, one would think that they are loading up armored cars with all the cash that we're bringing in. That couldn't be farther from the truth.
Challenges include the foreclosures, around 13% unemployment; very little good paying jobs, and too many art shows including some towns that have a show every week.
Most of the people are past the prime art buying age, and the majority of homes that I've been in down here have inexpensive colorful items that one can by at the many outlet stores down here. The shows don't bring in 25% of what I bring in at shows up north, Arizona, California, or Washington.
With fuel prices heading north back towards the $4 range, I'd agree that you're probably better looking closer to home.
I would not count on snowbirds as an enthusiastic art crowd unless you have what they want at low prices. Think cute, small colorful stuff.
We've haven't done Mainsail in years because it dropped off steeply for us. We're trying it again this year and it is by far the better of the two shows. We gave up on Santa Fe about five years ago after our second $700.00 weekend there.
This is just our experience. I'm a photographer so your work may or may not be more appealing to those audiences.
It's a tough choice. You may think of Santa Fe as a filler show for Mainsail and give it a shot. Mainsail has been a sought after show so some people must be doing well there. You will never know until you try it and I would think at the worst you'd get most of your money back.
I would consider paid parking because you can end up three or four blocks away. They've been closing the park at six after Friday setup and I had to get an escort to get back to my tent for something I'd forgotten. This is a little silly, but you do want to be set up by then. It's a dusty show so be prepared for that. I don't know if this helps, but good luck.
Snowbirds are there until May, I lived in Fl. for 16 years and went to a lot of shows. They don't buy much as many of them are lookies and not buyers. A lot are selling their homes now and not coming down as the economy is so bad there now. It is bad everywhere but there homes are in foreclosure or they are renting them out. They can't afford to pay their association dues.
The weather is nice for the shows though. You pay a lot for the space and you have to have what they want. I am spacing my shows this year and just going to southern shows, I hope my son gets my site going again as my husband travels and can get my cards out. It got hacked and he has to change the domain. Oh well, I wish you luck, try giving them a bargain they love bargains. It is fun meeting people though.
Even the best promoters are having it hard. Artists are finding it hard to pay for the fees.