Well, I go to lunch, after promising Geoff Coe I was gonna write about Naples, and RC sneaks in on me and spills the beans. Good report RC, you covered the basics, now I will give you all an extra filling of meat to whet your appetites on for 2011.
Back in September I was faced with a very hard decision. One, I could go to the annual New Years Party at my best buddy, Richard's, in downtown St. Pete right across from the Vinoy Hotel. We all would of course get to drink about 25-30 of the very best bottles of wine that come out of Napa and Oregon (think yummy Pinots). We would eat deicious orts and just have the time of our lives. I have been fortunate to do this with Richard for more than 25 years.
On the other hand, I could send my money in and try to get accepted for the New Years Show in downtown Naples, now run by the local Art association. Course that meant going to bed at 9 pm on New Years Eve, then getting up at some atrocious hour like 3-4 am in the morn to go downtown, cue up in an adjacent field and set up my booth. Set up a booth or drink good wine--tough choice. This year I went with Set Up the Booth.
Eh, times are tough, just came off a miserable December where you don't make diddle yet everybody still wants their money. Looking at the prospect that I still had booth fees to pay for Des Moines, Artigras, Mt. Dora and Artisphere and a myriad others, it was an easy choice. Go out and make moola on the first day of the year.
The Naples Art Association took over the former Howard Alan show for the first time this year. I know Mariane Megala well, she runs the shows down there for the association. She is very knowledgeble and gets a tough job done well every time. The show ran down the center of 5th Avenue for six blocks like the Howard show. Difference was, there were about 50 less exhibitors with artists set up in quads of four. This left you back to back with your neighbor, but you had a whole open corner on your booth with room on the other side for storage and hanging as well.
Ellen, my wife and I got to stay with our good friends Terri and Lou Causey up in Ft. Meyers. It was a 45-minute ride down Hwy 41 to the show. Yup, we went to bed at about 9:30 New Years Eve--that sucked. We decided to get up at 5 am and then roll on down the road to Naples for setup. Worked perfect for us. Easy setup, still had time for coffee, breakfest and the New York Times.
There were about 200 exhibitors in the show. I figured with booth fee, gas, food expenses and a few tequilas, my nut for the show would be about $800.00. Some had higher costs, some who slept in their vans or trailers had a little less.
Naples has always been a good venture for me over the years. They are my kind of people. Lots of mid-westerners who I sell to in the summer, and now they are here--and they buy, how can you go wrong?
Crowds were fast and furious for times until about 1 pm both days. Then it got quiet and slow until show end at 5 pm, then we got a little finishing flurry each day. Lots of europeans at the show. I sold to more Germans then I have ever seen in 35 years at the shows. Most are well-dressed, a little on the elderly side, but they are out there. I had a great opening day, started off with a $300 sale and never looked back. Sunday sales for me were a little less, but when I totaled it all up--IT WAS MY BEST SHOW OF THE YEAR!
Sunday morn I walked around and talked to about 30-40 people I know to get an idea about Saturday sales. It was very uneven. Some did real great, others had barely made expenses. One european photographer I know, did as much on Saturday as I did for the whole show. One woodworker had major sales on Saturday. My wife Ellen sold one piece for $265--that was it for her on Saturday. Many oldtimers who had done the show during the Howard years opined that this could be a rollercoaster show going up and down from year to year.
Sunday brought great weather (which we had all weekend) and some busier crowds. Many artists who didn't do well on Sat. made up for it on Sunday.
Here is some real meat to think about if you are going to do this show. You are selling primarily to older well-off couples who have very traditional, I would even say very conservative tastes. They buy for the decor not as much for the spirit of art. Know that going in. Also being early January in Florida, there are no real deals for hotels. If you have number in a row to do in January, then I would definitely include this one. That said, this show favors those of us who live in the south.
For me, this is great start for 2011. I have Cape Coral, Bonita, New Smyrna Beach and Ft. Meyers all in a row. Could be a great start for my 36th year in the biz.
Comments
The first year I did Naples National we were allowed to park in the lot that is now a parking garage. the following year I applied expecting the same. When I got the packet I was horrified at the plan for load in and out. I had a five hour drive after breakdown and still needed to be at work bright eyed and bushy tailed at 8AM. I dropped the show because I had no help to come with me and no vacation days left to take Monday off. From what I heard it was a good decision. The next year (last year) I was ready. Everything was wonderfully smooth. It's not a great situation but neither is walking a mile to the artist parking for Bonita Springs.
New Years also was my best show for the year :-) and if it continues that way I'm in trouble. But I didn't get in the National and it will be my last show in Naples for a long time. Come March I am off for Virginia.
I don't think anyone can say that the local artists have "taken over" over the Naples show. The Von Liebig Center is now sponsoring it, instead of Howard Alan. However, Marianne has worked hard to insure that it remains a national show. There were not a lot of Naples artists in the show. (Also, remember, "Naples" artists come from all over the country. Very few are permanent residents. Most seemed to come from the cold north.) The artists that I know who were in the show did not have priority locations. Many had lousy locations.
The parking situation is ruled by the city of Naples. Before any organization can obtain a permit for any special event, they must show the city that they have parking for the people who are in the event (art show, car schow, parade, etc) away from the site, and must ensure that the parking is used by those individuals. You do not get a permit without this aspect covered. Please do not blame Von Liebig, the local artists, or Marianne for this situation. It is the city of Naples.
Bonnie's comments are very revealing as to what happened in Naples and what might happen in places like Kansas City and Denver if local artists ever took over. The local artist's got together and took over a once top show by promising the city they would keep the artist's and their ugly vans in holding pens for the duration of all the art shows and gave themselves priority selection for being in the shows and the prime booth locations. Then they fill the rest of the show with artist's (?) who are willing to put up any with crappy treatment in exchange for being in a Naples show. Everything looks fine the first few years until slowly but surely it will start to resemble a local ladies art club combined with a lot of photography and jewelery more and more.
Attitude...check it...
I know a few of the artists that were in the show and they do quality work and made good money. You never know who might be listening in (reading) what you say and noses can be bent out of shape. And the fact that the Naples artists were in the best spots..hmmmm, not always where they should be. Fair is fair, art is what you make of it. Treat people nice and they will return the kindness. Out of town artists should be accomodated and welcomed with open arms. They are paying just like the ones that live there.
You do no have to live with being disrespected. The National show used to attract the top Artist's in the country before they chose to start treating the artist's so shoddily. I'm sure they will fill the shows with something never the less.
I am one of the local artists who always does a show with the Naples Art Association on the first Saturday of the month. Von Liebig was "kind" enough to let us show on side street on Saturday. We had to pay the same cost per day as the "big guys". In my opinion, we were treated like unwanted step children. We were off the beaten track, had an area between us and the rest of the show. I only made my costs and am very unhappy. This show (January) is generally my best show of the year.
Incidentally. The city of Naples has very tough rules for any event that happens anywhere in the city limits. We just have to live with them. Sorry.
Merri, someone laughed about a patron saying their walls were full but it actually can happen. My walls have as much art on them as possible without looking cluttered but I still have room for pottery and glass.
Sounds like I made a mistake by passing up Las Olas this year.
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