This isn’t a show review, because I actually wasn’t at the show. This is one I have done a few times before, but wasn’t accepted this year. After talking with artists I was really, really thankful that I was spared the experience this year, and I’ll definitely be waiting at least another year before applying again to see if they can pull their act together or not. What I heard was so astonishing that I was kind of surprised that no one else is talking about it (and I only put a few of the most important points because I was getting tired of typing). I would love to hear from more artists that did this show to see what they thought.
Pre-show communications to customers: FAIL
- The week before, I was in the Minneapolis area doing a show and heard more than one patron remark that they were surprised to hear that Stone Arch was happening, because the website still said the show was cancelled and they had not planned on going. This is mostly why I was curious as to how the show went and went around looking for people to ask about it.
- I know people in the area, and apparently the advertising that was done wasn’t very clear as a number of people showed up on Friday night (which was music only) and were very disappointed that the artists weren’t set up and open for business as well.
Pre-show communications to artists: FAIL
- YOU CAN’T CHANE THE HOURS OF THE SHOW AND NOT TELL ANYONE. (Edit - according to Diana below, this info was in the packet sent the week before to artists, it's just that many artists did not notice the change in hours and were surprised by them at the show) Artists found out only when they got their packets at the show that they had decided to extend the hours on Sunday to 7PM. Because there are so many condos in the area, they thought it would be nice to give those condo dwellers the chance to shop at the art festival after they got back from their weekend activities. (Because obviously the arts are so important to them that they can only fit them in between 5PM and 7PM on a Sun night.) A number of artists were caught having to get an extra night’s hotel room they had not expected. And it’s not like this is on streets with bright lights, this is in a park with poor lighting which is not somewhere I’d like to be working after dark. I can only imagine how pissed off I’d be to find out a last minute change like this.
General attitude toward artists: FAIL
- And now we are getting to the really astonishing part. An artist I spoke with was across from an infamous sponsor booth that was blasting loud rap music (which really doesn’t work for most art show patrons anyway!). This artist got them to turn it down briefly a few times, but eventually the volume would always get cranked again. Finally, he found a member of the show staff and asked if they would ask them to keep the music down. He was told that she wouldn’t (not couldn’t) do that, as the sponsor had paid to be there. WTF?!? When he pointed out that HE had paid to be there too, the response was that the sponsor was local and that local sponsors are what make the festival go. Huh. Kind of thought artists are what people came to an art festival to see, but maybe we should all just stay home and see how many people come out to see booth after booth of gutter people, newspapers, and health food drinks.
Now, this is the subtle subtext for too many shows, that artists don’t matter and the sponsors can pretty much do whatever they want. But I’ve never heard of any show person actually SAYING it out loud. In a way, their honesty is quite refreshing.
Artist response: FAIL, FAIL, FAIL
- And this is mostly the reason I decided to write this up, even though I wasn’t at the event. The show did do a questionnaire at the end of the show, but the artist I talked to said that he didn’t fill it out and wasn’t sure that the other artists that spent the weekend complaining filled it out either. But he thought that so many people were pissed off that surely someone else filled out the form. Argh!!!
When you find yourself at a show like this with multiple points of failure, take some responsibility and make the time to let them know why you are mad. Instead of deciding to never touch the show with a 10 foot pole in the future LET THEM KNOW WHY they won’t be getting an application from you again. These are all terrible mistakes, but the show staff isn’t psychic. And obviously the line “they should know better” is false, because if they did know better they wouldn’t have done things the way they did. The collective bitch-fest that seems to be the state of the industry these days won’t change anything. Calling shows on their behavior is the only way to let them know that way of doing things is not acceptable. Then you’ll either see a show that makes changes, showing they get it, or you’ll see a show that ignores you, showing that you are only as important as your booth fee (and if they can’t get that booth fee from you, they’ll just get it from some other sucker). Either way, you'll find out if that is an organization you really want to do business with in the future or not.
Comments
I agree with most of this. I disagree that this is an established show. It is in the same location and date but this is a new show ... different name and organization. The last time I did Stone Arch was 3 years ago (I did it the year before as well) and the same issues about the sponsors existed as well as with the organization ... no one really checking in on the artists, etc. I always fill in surveys and am totally honest with how things were at the show. It did not change anything ... I talked to my friends who have done the show . I gave it a shot this year since it was a new organization and a show at "home" but it got worst not better. They were whizzing by on their carts but no one actually wandering around ... nothing for booth sitting ... good thing that my hubby is always with me ... he actually was nabbed by our neighbors so that they could go to the restroom or get food. As for a survey I did not get one. I was actually hoping to get one to let them know about what I saw. I do agree it probably would have fallen on deaf ears. We did get notified about the hours but they really don't make sense. Maybe 7p for Saturday ... which is iffy ... 6p is more reasonable. Sunday is nuts! On Sunday, the vast majority of people don't show up until 11a and are gone by 3:30 - 4p. I was also surprised how run down the paving on the street was. There were a few times when I tripped on missing bricks. I did notice more crafty and looked like buy/sell on Mills and in the park. NOT GOOD!
I do hope they get better. It's actually a nice location.
RC, I love it. You should print up cards to give to the promoters as needed. Better yet it should be a quick symbol of what shows to avoid. The "Privy Award" or "Don't Crap on Me Award" for best of "it stinks all the way around".
Thanks, you made me smile, it's been a tough week.
Several years ago, I was treated so badly by a show that I went home and created this picture.
Has anything changed?
Title: "Any Given Sunday; Bombs Away"
Tahmi,
The comment that I thought the show looked like more "crafters" were coming in was just an observance of mine. Maybe there were just more of them around my area this year? Now that you mention it, when I was talking with some of the artists throughout the show a lot of them did say that this was their first year. I don't know why they would jury out quality artists that have participated before. I hop this doesn't eventually turn into a craft show.
OMG! I just finished a show in La Jolla, CA, and a number of us complained vocally and in writing to the promoter about the constant barrage of worthless info coming over the loudspeakers, hurting the ears and driving away customers. Guess what? They listened. Good feedback, and next year will be better. They shine on nearly everything else, so if you're unhappy and payiong princely sums to be there, step up or step out. BTW we got hit with later than nornal hours and they promise to scale them back, too.
Lori: It’s really interesting that you thought it had a more crafty feel than years past. I had a hard time finding someone to talk to about Stone Arch because many people who have done it in the past did not get juried in this year. I wonder why was a decision on their part to make it more crafty rather than arty this year?
Diana: Thanks for the clarifications. Apparently, some artist reading comprehension skills need to be improved too! But I don’t think that really changes the main points I was trying to get across – first that the attitude of the show toward artists needed to be adjusted, and that artists need to speak up when shows treat them badly. Otherwise how is the show supposed to learn? If this was a brand new show, I might be more inclined to give them some slack. But this is an established show, with an established brand and established expectations. They really needed to have done their homework better before getting involved.
Warren: Yeah, the whole trailer fiasco was one of the points I left out. Giving artists a pass to park their vehicle, then telling them they are on their own to find a place for their trailers - again, this group just does not understand the realities of artist life. You are lucky you found a place in the lot. People I talked to said they were down to just the handicapped spots when they were ready to park. When they asked a show person where else they should go, all they got for an answer was a shrug and a "you figure it out."
Thanks' Diana, For a different point of view, and we need all points. And thanks for taking the time to write it. However if we are going to cut them some slack while they are on a learning curve then they should not be raising fees until they get it right. We are the ones paying for they mistakes/education, and I for one do not have the extra $.
I live in Mpls. area and the buyer beware alert had gone up before the show. I did not do the show but have been there as a patron two years ago and found it very crafty and full of window sales, and water softeners at that time.
I did StoneArch this year - my 3rd year in a row. I agree that communications weren't the best, but you are incorrect in a couple of your statements.
One of the first items in the artist packet (sent a few weeks ahead of time) stated that the show hours were extended to 7pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
I don't know how the old website was changed, but there was a new website (with a new URL) up at least a couple months before the show that showed the dates/times of the show. Remember that the old website was owned by the previous organization, and the new owners might not have had the ability to change it.
I was also disappointed that none of the show organizers stopped by to say HI - but when I was running to the bathroom and saw a dog pooping in one of the customer walkways, I flagged down someone with an official t-shirt in a cart whizzing by, and the poop was gone by the time I was out of the bathroom.
I think there were actually a few improvements this year, like the booth layout in my area - and my sales were slightly better than last year, despite rain on both Saturday and Sunday that really dampened spirits.
Do they need to learn from their mistakes this year and make some improvements next year? YES. But I'd cut them a bit of slack since this was their first year running the show.
I was at this show as I have been for many years before. It's always been a decent show. The bonus was that it's close to home for me. Yes, new people were running it and they did not change it for the better.
The late hours on Friday were a joke. The artists that had far to travel were angry and I don't blame them a bit. I personally didn't have ANYONE from the festival even stop in to see if I needed anything. They were driving around on their little carts, but good luck flagging one down. I ended up having to setup early Saturday morning just because of my own schedule, but I couldn't find any registration booth to get my information packet. I continued to look and even asked volunteers. They pointed me in a direction and I found no one. I finally gave up when the show opened thinking there would be at least one unclaimed packet and they would come around and investigate. NO ONE. It also seemed to me that there were a lot more items on the "craft" side of art than there has been before. I think they wanted the extra entry fees.
I made up my mind by Sunday night that I probably wouldn't return to this show next year. It made me very sad to see what happened. I too finally found someone that looked like they were one of the coordinators and expressed some of my disappointments and by their reaction I think it fell on deaf ears.
I agree! I would want to save another artists from a costly learning experience. I know we are all creative and independent, but if we don't get-together and start getting the word out about these events ( I won't even call them art show/fairs) We will continue to lose time and money and these events will continue to play us for fools.
THANK YOU Tahmi for taking the time to write a very good review. I missed the dead line and I am glad now that I did!
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