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A mid-week show can be a nice bonus paycheck, assuming that it doesn't prevent you from doing shows on the weekends fore and aft.  So when I heard about this small (100-artist) show in Currituck, on the Outer Banks of NC, on June 20-21 (Wed.-Thurs.), I figured it was worth a shot, even when I couldn't book a show on the following weekend that made logistical sense.  There is lots of money in the Outer Banks, where hotel rooms can, and do, fetch upwards of $175 a night in season. 

Unfortunately, the show was perfectly timed to catch near-record heat along the Eastern seaboard, which slowed attendance to a crawl and sent most artists packing with near-empty pockets. Which is a darn shame, because the organizers do as good a job running a show as you could hope for. 

The show is held at the grounds of the Whalehead Club, one of many duck hunting clubs that sprang up in the early 1900s to cater to the wealthy who had the means (pre-roadway) to get there.  ("Currituck Duck" was a real delicacy at finer restaurants in your daddy's day).  The club itself is a 25,000 sq foot, five story home overlooking Currituck Sound--not really a club anymore, but I spent several hours taking a house tour the day after the show, and it was fascinating and educational.  As for the surrounding grounds: Beautiful, with sprawling live oak trees, dock and waterfront views, and pathways throughout to keep visitors from getting lost.  

Artists were arranged around the pathways, with some lucky ones getting spaces under the shade of the live oaks.  Others, like myself, weren't so lucky--we were in  3-4 rows in the center of the show that received direct sun all day long (10-6 Wednesday, 10-5 Thursday).  Some of us had battery operated fans.  I used two all day Wednesday and they were overmatched by the sweltering heat.  On Thursday, I dragged out my the Honda generator and powered two larger fans, which helped some:  I made about $400 in sales on day 2; as for day 1: don't ask!  Overall, my take was barely enough to cover my gas, meals, and booth fee. 

Although I had thought that the show would attract local residents as much as vacationers, that wasn't the case:  I'd say one in five visitors to my booth were from the Outer Banks; most were visitors from NC, VA, and (surprisingly!) a heavy representation of folks from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. (A local Chamber of Commerce director confirmed to me the next day that that mix sounded about right.) 

Hotels on the Outer Banks are pricey, but I stayed about 30 miles away  (50 minutes' drive) in Jarvisburg, on the mainland, for about $50 a night.  It was a hotel that caters mostly to duck hunters during season, with threadbare carpeting and minimal amenities, but it was scrupulously clean and you couldn't beat the price!  Several artists who zeroed (or came close) mentioned ruefully that they wish they'd known about it before they booked a stay along the coast. 

So, amenities:  Artist breakfast both days, a catered dinner on Day 1 where checks were handed out for five top winners (prize monies ranging from $1000 to Best in Show to $100 for 5th place; there were no categories).  Boothsitters. Very friendly staff and volunteers. A low booth fee ($150 for a single booth), and those with trailers could stay for free on the grounds of the Club from Tuesday setup through the evening after the show.  The Club directors even arranged for free house tours for the artists for those not too hot and exhausted to take advantage. 

When I posted a query about this show several months ago, I was advised that it could be a good show, but attendance was heavily dependent upon the weather.  "Don't do it unless you have another show in the area on one of the weekends," she counseled.  That advice stands.  But at least I got some good photographs en route, and they'll help make up the hit to the pocketbook I took in the short run.