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It's been interesting my first year in Florida learning about what shows to do and what shows not to do.  I decided to do this show versus the Coconut Grove, Artigras, because the Orlando area has been good for sales to me, and I was not disappointed with this show.  This is a two-day show that runs from 11-6 on Saturday and Sunday, and is set up around Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.  It's a beautiful lake and the community around the area is an older area of well kept homes.  The weather was wonderful with temperatures in the upper 70's to low 80's. 

Set up for the show was easy, and I was able to park my one ton dually and trailer for free only a block and a half away from my booth on both days.  I did notice that a number of people on Saturday parked in no parking zones and at meters without paying, and a meter maid was doing double duty photographing vehicles and writing tickets.  Ouch. The show had fresh coffee, muffins, and apples for us on both days.  This was not grocery store items but from the Panera Bread bakery down the street.

This show was packed by any measure.   Anytime I looked from my booth into the isle, I counted from one to fifteen people.  This was pretty much all day Saturday and Sunday until around 4:30, but I was competing with the 70's light rock group Ambrosia.  Enough about the entertainment.  Let's talk about the money.

I'd estimate that 60-70% of the show had some pretty nice art work. I did see a number of larger items traveling by my booth and when I'd take a run to the break room.  Sales were pretty spotty for the booths in my area.  The photographer, she had some nice work, did zilch.  A jeweler across from me told me he did around 600.  In both their cases they were pretty new to shows and could use some display help.  The jeweler had a table with his bracelets out and would change his hand-written price tags depending how he felt for that hour.  I'm not kidding.  He changed his prices four times on Sunday!

I also sold a number of smaller items and two upper items so I hit my goal of 10 times my booth fee.  Additionally, I was honored to receive a blue ribbon and an envelope with a very nice amount of cash in it!  All in all, it was the right choice for me on this weekend.

One word of warning.  Book your room early.  I had a reservation and the motel had way overbooked and there online reservation was still booking rooms that didn't exist.  I called around 20 other places within a 20 mile radius and no luckola.  So I did what any true artist would do.  I found a Mexican restaurant and had a number of jumbo margaritas and fell asleep in my truck.  See you all down the road!