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  Roxie Spell January 26, 2011 at 6:17pm

  I do not expect the stores to close ever for any reason, I just do not care to compete with them, that is my choice. The main reason for the discussion was to see how everyone did in the location. I feel it benefits the mall more than the artist, I do not want to have to wait till next year, in case it gets better. I just feel the buy/sell we contend with is enough. I would shop in the mall if I went all the way out there and saw the selection of stores, things we do not have in our town and there will be other art shows. And Bill I do not like anyone walking through my booth to go to a store. They need to walk around if they are not making a purchase or really looking at my work.
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  Bill Sargent January 26, 2011 at 5:14pm

  Roxie, I did mean to say check out the sales at the stores next time.  If you think of the mall stores and the art show working with each other it's a lot easier.  I personally saw it as a good mutual draw.  If someone walks through my tent on their way to a store, maybe that's where they'd planned to buy that day before even realizing there was a show there.  Who knows, after they were finished they may have visited the tents.  Thinking about the stores as unfair competition makes little sense to me.  They live there and pay rent.  Yes, we're paying rent, too, but I don't think we'd get far if we required that the stores close the day of the show.  It might kill traffic.
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  Roxie Spell January 26, 2011 at 1:07pm

  There were many complaints this year on the buy sell and I wrote to them after the event adn let them know that many people were unhappy with that. And the free giveaways, many people came for their free bags, but I still did well, worth the trip for me. The Floral City one requires photos of the artists or craftsman actually making their work, due to the complaints, same group. We have to speak up or get stomped on. Thanks!
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  Lin Glore January 26, 2011 at 12:28pm

  Not to be argumentative, but if you are referring to the Crystal River Manatee Festival, the part run by the Rotary, I actually wrote a letter of complaint requesting a refund two years ago.  It's a mid- to low-end craft event that highlights, in red capital letters "NO BUY/SELL -- ALL ITEMS HANDCRAFTED!!!!"  I was next to the plastic Sponge Bob Square Pants balloon guy whose idea of handcrafted was to attach a stick with a rubber band.  Next to him was the glass paperweight vendor who was actively picking the "Made in China" stickers off the bottom of her wares.  When I asked the official Rotary representative (Mary?  The one surveying the booths on a golf cart) why the contract wasn't enforced I was clearly informed that her job was to fill the booths (for the booth fee) and to attract attendees (for gate fee), both of which she had accomplished -- to the point of accepting vendors on the day of the festival.  That the buy/sell was so evident was of no consequence, and I was welcomed to leave as soon as the show closed for the day.  I did exceptionally well financially, but of course I won't return. 
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  Roxie Spell January 26, 2011 at 10:03am

  Thanks Brett,

  This is good information. I can appreciate your thoughts on  Manatee Festival. I do well there, but some did not.

  Thanks
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  Brett Miley January 26, 2011 at 9:43am

  I barely made expenses at this event and I know several others that made about what I did or much worse. A painter near me zeroed and he had some smaller items. I was at one end of the show, so I frequently got the "we just got here" and then saw them with purchases later as they walked by back to their cars. Since I was near the parking lot, I got alot of wind. I was in just far enough to get almost no sun all weekend due to the store buildings. I do think that it had much to do with sales. I walked the show Sunday, starting off fully covered and had to take off most layers when I was out in the sun. I had to put all layers back on when I was back in the shade of my booth. Most of the people that I know that did poorly were on the shady side of the street. I did get serious interest, so I might be back. They were just not ready to from me yet. I had several be-backs that ended up taking cards. One came back 5 times. The show was fairly great except for sales.

  I have done the Manatee Festival and only sold one print and had little interest shown in my work.
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  Roxie Spell January 26, 2011 at 5:30am

  Bruce, Congrats on your big sale, would you have felt differently if you did not make that one big sale?  My work is not as pricey as yours so I have to sell many more pieces to make it worth my while. I was at the Manatee Festival in Crystal River, a 100 mile RT for me, but well worth it, no mall competition and lower booth fee. I do feel the Suncoast Arts Festival folks are trying, but they are not struggling artists so they do not really care if we like it or not. They were unhappy that I am having this discussion and they told me in no incertain terms that I was NOT TO REPRESENT THEM. In caps! (I am sure I will be blacklisted by them.) I told them I am representing the artists. We need to be proactive or all shows will move to wonderful malls because it is so convenient for them, and they have nice bathrooms. I tried to tell them artists that do outdoor shows are used to the outdoor facilities. By the way, I too have an easy up and had at least 60 lbs of weight in each corner,  my neighbor with a light dome had 45, theirs moved and shifted, Mine held strong, with my weights and my prayers. There were a few with barely any weights that actually blew into the crowd. Bad, luckily no one was hurt.
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  Roxie Spell January 26, 2011 at 5:15am

  Bill, I hope you do not mean the SALES at the mall. Competing with buy/sell at a show is one thing we do not like, why would we want the BIGGER buy/sell of the mall. As one artist said, half the people she talked to did go for the mall. Some were unaware of an art show, though the advertising was good.  Jury is still out. Please get more artists to comment if you know some that attended this year. We need to be proactive when it comes to our lively hood.
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  Bill Sargent January 25, 2011 at 9:42pm

    I can't blame anyone who had a bad experience here for not planning to come back.  There are supposedly good shows I can't do anything with.  Mainsail is one of them.  I do much better at the Kumquat festival in Dade City.  I'm not making that up.  

      Keep in mind I live close to this show, as do many who plan to return for sales they would not venture much further for.   All I'm saying is keep an eye on it.  As average sales increase so will its radius of appeal for artists.  As for those who do participate, don't think of yourself as competing with the stores.  Think synergy.  And dammit, check out those SALES.  
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  bruce ferguson January 25, 2011 at 7:49pm

  I like this area for the art festival. This is my second time showing here and i have had two completely different spots. This time I was in front of Barnes & Nobel. I had a real problem with the gusting wind tunneling through the alley of buildings, but I hung on.

  Even though the wind and climate was cold, I saw a great crowd and potential buyers braving the elements. I didn't think I would hold up in an easy up, but I did. Other artists helped each other and we made it for another day. A few artist packed it up.

  I'm glad I held up for a beautifull Sunday. I had a great day afterall selling a big painting. It was still wet with paint, yet the customer wanted it unframed for the full price of $1200. My big sale with a few prints for a good weekend.

  I thought the crowd was a good customer crowd. I often ask, if they are here to buy a painting if they seem interested in my art to ask good questions. For the most part I was answered wih yes and they even had sizes and style in mind. That tells me one they got or read the advertisment, or knew that the show fall on the same weekend they are here in Florida. In some cases I was able to direct to a another artist.

  The Mall is good and the parking lot is for cars Lori.