I did Paradise City Marlborough show for the first time, and it was good. It is expensive show, but it paid off for me. First thing: it is very intelligent show, and I like it. Also it is very comfortable show, and "soft animal of my body" likes this comfort very much. Also I like how it is organized, and quality of craft (it was mostly craft show) is very high: the jury has very good taste and knowledge. Show was in Royal Plaza Trade Center. Space is very good: big, warm, light. Nice gallery-holidaylike atmosphere, good food in cafe, great security. Set-up/tear down was ok, we dollied from/to building (it is 1st floor) to parking lot. All artists were very polite and friendly. Sales were good for me. I sold large framed pieces mostly, and very small amount of unframed small etchings from bin. At other shows it goes in opposite direction usually. Maybe I was just lucky this first time. I want to return to check it out. I know how 3 other artists did. Beautiful and expensive fiber wearable did ok. High end jewelry did expenses + a little bit more. Great photographer was not happy, and does not want to return.
I did Paradise City Marlborough show for the first time, and it was good. It is expensive show, but it paid off for me. First thing: it is very intelligent show, and I like it. Also it is very comfortable show, and "soft animal of my body" likes this comfort very much. Also I like how it is organized, and quality of craft (it was mostly craft show) is very high: the jury has very good taste and knowledge. Show was in Royal Plaza Trade Center. Space is very good: big, warm, light. Nice gallery-holidaylike atmosphere, good food in cafe, great security. Set-up/tear down was ok, we dollied from/to building (it is 1st floor) to parking lot. All artists were very polite and friendly. Sales were good for me. I sold large framed pieces mostly, and very small amount of unframed small etchings from bin. At other shows it goes in opposite direction usually. Maybe I was just lucky this first time. I want to return to check it out. I know how 3 other artists did. Beautiful and expensive fiber wearable did ok. High end jewelry did expenses + a little bit more. Great photographer was not happy, and does not want to return.
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One of the greatest compliments is when another artist likes your work well enough to purchase it. I've been doing show for over 30 years and have an enormous collection of pottery and art that always bring back the memories of the artists that created it.
I love your second thread here- - and am in complete agreement with it. I HATE it when I'm paying cash to an artist and then they ask for tax. What about posting this thoughtful thread separately as a blog entry?
I will mention that I usually don't return to the artists who don't discount for fellow exhibitors (even if it's just 5 or 10% although most usually offer more). It's not the discount as much as the appreciation and feeling of "we're all in this together and I understand." I believe it harkens back to an artist I used to buy from at every show (my Mom and sisters-in-law loved his work). It saved me running around "thinking" what to buy them as they were always thrilled to receive one of his pieces. He always charged me full price even when I paid cash as he "sweetly" asked. The last time I was choosing what to buy I heard him offering a customer a healthy discount if she purchased the piece she was looking at. Perhaps I'm being unfair but I consider the fellow artists at the show "as my temporary family." Am I being naive? I've never heard this subject discussed and didn't plan to but was just writing "stream of conciousness and it came up."
Quick report on a couple of neighbors, one two dimensional artist did not do well, not sure if he sold anything but didn't discuss, a new exhibitor who had a variety of interesting "everything," extremely talented, did okay but will return, he sees the potential. A friend who does ceramics (expensive) did terrific, her shelves seemed to be bare. This is a show where people come to buy and we can just hope what we have appeals to them, sometimes yes, sometimes no. I also believe I have more return buyers here than at any show I've ever done. I think there were probably more thumbs up than down. Just a guess.