I've done previous reviews on this show so I'm not going to rehash what I've already written. Do a search for my previous blogs if you want to get further information.
This is a jury by check show and at first glance looks like it is not going to be very profitable for fine art. But there is a lot of fine art here and most of it is segregated in what is fondly or not so fondly called the dust bowl. Booths in the dust bowl are on grass which quickly succumbs to the many feet of the attendees. Booths near the Carillon are on pavement and are nearer to parking which makes load in and out easier. Rumor says sales are better in the dust bowl but I am interested in hearing from Leo Charette about how his sales were by the Carillon.
Setup is by dollying and is allowed on Friday from dawn to dusk. When I arrived early Friday morning there were a couple tents already set up so there may be the possibility of setting up earlier. My first year doing this show I arrived for setup at 1:00 PM hoping to save some vacation time. Don't do that unless you have a very light setup or are a glutton for punishment. Parking for setup is tight and you will dolly a lot further. Setup is also allowed on Saturday morning and the show does not open until 11:00 so there is plenty of time. However people start coming in around 10 so it is best to be setup and ready for customers by then.
It looked like it was going to be a perfect storm this year. There was pouring rain all week long and then a beautiful weekend. It did not materialize. The weather was perfect but my sales were down by half. Attendance seemed to be normal but there was a bike event going on in Richmond that apparently made traveling in Richmond very difficult with a lot of closed streets. It still was a good money maker for me and I do recommend the show.
One last note - I have tried and I have never been able to get to the show when following the directions that the show gives me. If you are coming down 195 to the show instead take the Cary St. exit, turn left on Cary St. and then right on Boulevard St. When you come to the Y go to the right and head towards the tall building (Carillon). There is a 20 cent toll going out, bring dimes.
Comments
I have done this show off and on for a long time. I've also been in several different areas. Sales have ranged from horrible to fantastic. I know what the show is: a huge range of quality with great work and absolute crap. I last did it in 2010 - my sales were awful. Made a last minute decision to detour over on the way home from Florida - always loved Richmond in the spring! The weather was fantastic - not too hot and no dust. My Saturday sales were very poor. I had no expectations for Sunday, but I had a few big sales including my largest piece at about 4:30. I didn't sell much small stuff. I was quite satisfied with my total.
Personally, I think the parking guy is a genius. If you listen and follow directions you will fit right into a space that you never could have on your own.
We always stay at Extended Stay America just north of town. At least it wasn't a NASCAR weekend - rates go up.
This was my third year doing Arts in the Park, and my third year of liking this event. Each year has been a little better than the previous, which is a good thing.
The crowd on Saturday wasn't quite up to last years Saturday crowd, but Sunday was gang buster and made up for Saturday.
The weather both days was wonderful with the wind picking up a little on Sunday Thankfully the bike race was held in different parts of the city on each day and Sunday they were up on Church Hill, which I think made it easier to get to the park.
As for load in and load out, where i was it was not bad at all. You have to truck your stuff in because no one is allowed to drive on the park grounds, but I was able to get a truck and trailer within about 40 yards of my booth. I was located off of Pump Circle. For those folks trying to get closer and actually put their vehicle in Pump Circle, there sometimes was a wait, but in defense of the volunteers, they do a great job of helping as much as they can and always have been very pleasant to me. Don't know about the guy on Rugby as i have never been over there. We had the young man that is a visiting nurse and the gentleman that always has a cigar. Both as helpful as could be.
As for the guy with the tee pee selling pvc bows, my understanding is that he has been coming to this event since it started 43 years ago, so they just grandfather him in each year.
All in all one of my favorite events. Not to mention that Richmond is basically my home town.
Luckily for me this is a sleep in my own bed show. It is an hour and a half drive for me and each year I consider getting a hotel room but I'm glad I didn't this year.
I did this show for the first time this year and was very pleased with my sales. The weather was PERFECT and people did come out and for the most part-spent. I'm not high end art though my average price is about $50. I was very pleased as to how organized the show was.Parking volunteers did a great job getting us in and out and directing us to unload. Im not always a fan of parking attendants but at this show I can see what a cluster this would have been without them. As for the Hotel situation, I happen to land a hotel through priceline in downtown Richmond right smack in front of the bike races start and finish line. WHAT A NIGHTMARE. Most streets were closed and many were one way. It was like being in a maze trying to find the right streets to get to my hotel. Each day I drove around Richmond for over an hour trying to find the right streets to take. Just when I had it figured out, they changed the route the next day so I had to figure out the new way again. Next year I will check the events in Richmond first. Live and learn.