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Hi Friends.....Here is my review of The Main Street Festival in Franklin, TN.  It is a good review and one caveat...I was awarded first place, so I might be a bit biased and still very thrilled; this is my first first place award ever. 

I arrrived Friday evening and checked in with show director, Rene Evans and her staff.  They are all very nice people and very helpful.  We had to wait until 10pm to begin setting up unless the cars were moved from the area where the booth was.  The police were closing the streets at 10 and I got lucky and my booth area was clear by 9, so I started setting up.  The weather was not good.  It was pouring down rain the entire time I set up.  It took longer than normal, due to the rain, but I got it all done and went to the hotel to dry out and get some much needed rest.

I overslept a bit on Saturday due to the short night and being so worn out, but managed to get to the show about an hour before it opened to finish the finer details in the booth.  Saturday's weather was horrible.  It poured down rain all morning and into the afternoon.  Fortunately, there was no wind, just constant rain.  Naturally, the crowds were very light in the morning, but the best part was the serious buyers were there.  Parkas and umbrellas in tow, the people who love art and the festival still came and were shopping.  I had very good sales on Saturday despite the rain.  I thanked each person who came in to my booth for being out in the weather and many of them bought.  There were several empty spaces where artists had not set up and in some ways I can't blame them and in other ways I think they lost out on the good buying crowd on Saturday.  The rain slowed down in the afternoon and eventually stopped about two hours before show closing.  The crowd picked up and everything got more lively. 

Sunday was much better weather, no rain and pleasant.  The crowd was totally different.  It was a crowd of after church people, families and lookie loos!  Very, very big crowd on Sunday.  This festival is well attended when the weather is good, there is no doubt about that.  Unfortuantely, the Sunday crowd was more conservative and not nearly as many buyers as on Saturday.  I sold one piece on Sunday. 

Jurying....This show is a mixture of art and craft.  There was some beautiful fine art there, some very nice crafts and of course, obvious buy/sell and some things that I would not jury into a show.  I am not sure what thier goal is during the jurying process, but I felt they did a pretty good job of it, with a few things that I wouldn't jury in, but maybe there is more to that than I know.  (There may be exceptions made for local businesses/artisans, I got that vibe, and that's totally ok with me!)  

I had very nice neighbors at this show, they couldn't have been better or more helpful.  The show director is very involved and was my booth sitter on 2 occasions.  I felt that this show is well organized and well ran.  My sales at this show were good and after all expenses made a modest "paycheck" profit.  I think if Saturay had not been so rainy I could have made more.  I did have a few pieces that got wet and needed repair, so they were not out.  I think if they were out, they likely would have sold too, making my sales total better.  Overall, I am pleased with this show and feel it was worth it.  Having won first place in the show, I am automaticly in next year and I will do the show again.  I will give this show a solid A in terms of organization, staff, attendance, sales and overall artist experience.  I encourage anyone who is thinking about doing Main Street Festival to apply for it and if accepted, by all means do this show!!!!!!!