Hi, My first year. Has anyone done the Scottsdale and Palm Springs circuit in Jan-March? There are atleast 2 a month )and I am thinking of camping out that way and giving them a try. 1) The one in Palm Springs during the Bob Hope Classic Jan 20-22, 2) Talking Stick Wine and Art Festival put on by Thunderbird Feb 10-11, 3) The Palm Springs art festival Feb 17-20 the biggest tourist weekend of the year(4 days). 4) The Carefree Art Festival by Thunderbird March 2-4, 5) The La Quinta Art Festival March 8-11 during the Tennis Bob Hope Classic, and 6) Fountain Hills Wine and Art Festival put on by Thunderbird. Has anyone done any of these? I'd sure love opinions. Also is Texas on the Calendar for next year? I hear they are spending money down there. I have read so many blogs I sure hope I get to meet some of you- Thanks for your reply, sincerely, Christian Rodgers.
The entire area is very saturated with art shows. Besides the bigger shows, their are numerous local thursday night/friday night events that draw locals. Az economy is very down and certain great white northerners almost always try and barter with me- then walk away. I would liek for more off the beaten path smaller venues. If your craft lends itself to smaller shows, look for vintage/local events. Westworld in scottsdale has a very full calender.
Getting across the Canadian border with a vehicle loaded with merchandise for sale may be a bit trickier than you want to deal with, especially coming all the way from California. I don't know anybody here in Michigan who does Canadian shows. You'll need to deal with customs both coming and going.
Well, thank you everyone. I can surmise from these comments that La Quinta (though the 20% is a detractor) and Scottsdale (I am not sure which show you were referring to , or probably which month) ,and Sausalito are in the favs. The jury is still out , from the comments on Tuscon and Tempe. I will be living in Big Bear Lake Ca. and it is a short distance to Palm Springs, I have even heard there is an amazing street fair every week. Does anyone live out that way? Does anyone do the Dec, show at Del Mar Ca. in Dec. ? Does anyone do the Ca. shows? I heard on the Zapp conference that Texas is still a good market, any comments. Also, I have learned that the Canadians are still spending on art- does anyone do Canadian shows? Seriously I had incredible report that the Canadians are spending- Any comments? Christian R.
well...from what I understand...If you're metal...then they'll ask another metal artist to fill your spot from the waitlist...so although that would be ironic, I can't have your spot. They spread out the artists so that same mediums are not near each other. Years ago, when I would go as a patron to just see the glass artists (before I started in glass), they were all together. I liked that.
But yes, the quicker you pay, the better assignment of spot...IF you know what to request.
SO...in the spring, I DID get in on the waitlist, but had the choice of a bad spot or a worse spot. I should have skipped all together, as I didn't even cover my booth fee... Also...I wish that the festivals would only have artist tents....not horrible accordian players...not Dish Network booths harassing people as they walk by. An Art festival should be about the art. Live music is art...but playing a cd for 3 straight days over and over...annoying. I'm more careful now.
ok..so you are on the waitlist..so that means if I don;t pay..you get my space and you are going to pay $535.00 for a crappy spot....RIGHT? It's total crap..all space should be great or divide them up and price them accordingly..if you don't pay for the good one's first, then I can see why you should be stuck with the crappier areas...
I stood at my laptop the day and the exact time of receiving notice of acceptance for Tempe...because I learned from previous involvement....I was a nervous wreck. I got a notification on ZAPP that I was waitlisted...so I was bummed, but calmed down for "knowing"....then an hour later, got an accidental "Congratulations, you've been invited"...then freaked out that an hour had passed before I had paid! well...after my second panic attack, I confirmed...and I am indeed on the wait list...I'm not cut out for the ups and downs! I was relieved that I could hold onto the $535 in my biz account a little bit longer...
I think all the fees seem too high...and I think that if it's hard for me to come up with multiple booth fees four months ahead of time, it's most likely hard for a lot of artists. I wonder sometimes if it's about getting $500/artist x 400 artists....and if they're really concerned if I'm a successful sales artist or not. I wish you could pay after Day 1. I think there should be a festival that let's you pay at the end of day one...it's not like we'll pack up and not pay.
One thing that has been helpful...is paying on ZAPP....using PayPal...and they've added the interest free 6-month delayed pay. I don't know how other artists come up with all the $1000s of booth fees, and build their inventory....and show up on festival day.
well..I basically think that is ridiculous these days..funds are tight for most and totally not fair if you have an open deadline for the same booth fee costs. Premium spots should be an option iwith different booth fee costs..if not..just a rip off!
Unfortunately, that's how it is at Tempe. If you didn't send in your money the day you were accepted, basically you're screwed. The show director came out and told me that the second year I did the show. They assign booths based on when they get the money. And they are not the only show that does it that way.
Comments
The entire area is very saturated with art shows. Besides the bigger shows, their are numerous local thursday night/friday night events that draw locals. Az economy is very down and certain great white northerners almost always try and barter with me- then walk away. I would liek for more off the beaten path smaller venues. If your craft lends itself to smaller shows, look for vintage/local events. Westworld in scottsdale has a very full calender.
well...from what I understand...If you're metal...then they'll ask another metal artist to fill your spot from the waitlist...so although that would be ironic, I can't have your spot. They spread out the artists so that same mediums are not near each other. Years ago, when I would go as a patron to just see the glass artists (before I started in glass), they were all together. I liked that.
But yes, the quicker you pay, the better assignment of spot...IF you know what to request.
SO...in the spring, I DID get in on the waitlist, but had the choice of a bad spot or a worse spot. I should have skipped all together, as I didn't even cover my booth fee... Also...I wish that the festivals would only have artist tents....not horrible accordian players...not Dish Network booths harassing people as they walk by. An Art festival should be about the art. Live music is art...but playing a cd for 3 straight days over and over...annoying. I'm more careful now.
I stood at my laptop the day and the exact time of receiving notice of acceptance for Tempe...because I learned from previous involvement....I was a nervous wreck. I got a notification on ZAPP that I was waitlisted...so I was bummed, but calmed down for "knowing"....then an hour later, got an accidental "Congratulations, you've been invited"...then freaked out that an hour had passed before I had paid! well...after my second panic attack, I confirmed...and I am indeed on the wait list...I'm not cut out for the ups and downs! I was relieved that I could hold onto the $535 in my biz account a little bit longer...
I think all the fees seem too high...and I think that if it's hard for me to come up with multiple booth fees four months ahead of time, it's most likely hard for a lot of artists. I wonder sometimes if it's about getting $500/artist x 400 artists....and if they're really concerned if I'm a successful sales artist or not. I wish you could pay after Day 1. I think there should be a festival that let's you pay at the end of day one...it's not like we'll pack up and not pay.
One thing that has been helpful...is paying on ZAPP....using PayPal...and they've added the interest free 6-month delayed pay. I don't know how other artists come up with all the $1000s of booth fees, and build their inventory....and show up on festival day.
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