I remember it well. It was Ocala, either 2007 or 2008. It had rained all Friday, all Saturday, and sporadically on Sunday. At about 4:00 on Sunday the sky turned black, the thunder started to rumble in the distance and it looked like it was going to get really nasty. People started to break down and about 4:30 an army of vans started coming on the field. The rules said you MUST wait for the go-ahead to bring your van on the field, no earlier than 5:30. There was this poor volunteer attempting to stand in front of the vans coming on the field, waving her clipboard, and yelling “You’re not authorized to come on the field yet”. And they just went around her. I, being a good little do bee, waited until 5:30 to go and get my van and by that time I couldn’t get my van on the field, because everyone else was already there. Guess who was the last person out of Ocala that year, breaking down alone in the dark?
Then there are two shows that come to mind immediately that have a setup time of 1:00PM on Friday. Still being a good do bee, I show up at 1:00. Half the show is already set up. I can’t get a parking place anywhere near my spot and end up circling the block for 45 minutes to get a parking place at all. The following year I show up at 11:00AM and setup is wonderfully easy.
What about those rules that usually work fine when enforced and put anyone who follows them at a disadvantage when not enforced? What about those rules that must have been written by someone who has never done an art show? When you have no one behind you do you spread out the back, not only with your stuff, but with your display area? Do you put your print bin way out in front of your booth until someone tells you to move it? Or do you put your print bin out in front in self defense because your neighbor has done it and everyone is making a wide circle around their display missing your booth entirely?
Where do you draw the line?
Comments
So Munks, tell us your real feelings about idjits! I agree with your feelings, but when niceness fails and the idjits continue to violate my booth space, I will go to the show director and tell him/her what's happening. The good ones are right on top of it and make the offender move over/stop hawking/get back in their booth space, etc. The bad directors will just wring their paws and say they can't really do anything about it. Fortunately, those people are in the vast minority.
If ya ask nice, good things happen; if ya get hostile, then it seems that the powers that be will consider you just another pain in the bipee and ignore you.
Here's a "rule" no one has mentioned (probably 'cause it doesn't come up with most promoters) but it happened this weekend and it really ticked me off. A show in Palm Coast FL stated in its acceptance letter that artists were required to register with the city for a temporary business permit.
Two calls to the city. Two voice messages left with no response. When I arrived at the show, I mentioned it and the director said, "as a matter of fact the city offices are right at the show venue. I've sent a few artists over there today." So I went over and paid $25. Not that big a deal...even though the show didn't mention the amount in the acceptance letter, and of course shows normally pay those sorts of things up front and (presumably) include the expenses in the show fee.
But what irked me was that several of us asked if the promoter was going to make sure that all the artists had gotten their permits, and she replied: "I'm not going to police it." THAT, my friends, is B.S.
The creepers are definitely a sore spot with me too, maybe because I perceive it as an entitlement issue. At one of my shows last summer I was blessed with a two-fer... My next door neighbor was both a creeper and insisted on pulling her vehicle right in front of both of our spots at 4:59 the last day of the show. Lovely.
I'll agree with one poster's comment on cigarette smoke. I am a silk painter and smoke somehow finds and lingers in my work! I think most people think that if they are outside, it probably shouldn't be an issue, but sometimes those breezes carry that stuff right down the rows.
I will never leave a show early except for dangerous weather or situations. I’ve had that last minute sale that makes the weekend too many times.
Setup and breakdown depends on the situation. Personally I think that the expectations that we unload and then move the van and the similar breakdown completely before getting the van are very artist unfriendly. Unless I have a lot of space behind me for my packing materials it all goes back in the van and my work can’t get wet. It is a lot more work for me to setup or breakdown without my van there. So if the rule is not being enforced I will break it. I won’t be the first to break it but if I see others doing it and getting away with it I will go get my van before I don’t have a place to put it.
On the other hand, I will try my best not to affect others during setup or breakdown. For an unfamiliar show or one where I know I can set up before the appointed set up time I will get there early for setup. It gets me out of people’s way before it gets crazy. You’ll notice that one of the first things I ask about a show is generally not how sales are but how the setup and breakdown are. I know I’m slow, usually working alone, and have to be at work on Monday morning. A difficult setup and breakdown are deal breakers for me unless it is a really, really good show. If I know it’s going to be bad, I bring help.
Bin placement – I have a really great bin, holds a lot of work, and matches my walls. But it doesn’t stand well without a wall behind it so I can’t do it. I don’t know if I would if I could. I’m a bit of a wimp so the two times I have been confronted with the problem I have just suffered in silence. After the first time I swore to myself I would say something but the second time it was pretty obvious that everyone was doing it and it was not being enforced. I don’t think confrontation or notifying the promoter would have had any affect. Maybe next time I’ll say something. I hadn’t through of enlisting other artists to assist me.
Jeanne,
It would be good to know the name of the promoter. If we took the time to return the apps to those directors/promoters who acts in this manner along with a note that says something like "We will NOT send you our jury fee because______________." it may wake them up.
I do SO agree with the rule of common sense and respect for others, BUT. . .
What do the organizers/promoters do during the show? What is their responsibility in their role of rule enforcer? Do they ask obvious buy/sell to leave? Do they watch the tornado coming but block tear-down? Do they monitor the parking lot and have trailers towed? If you expand beyond your 10 x 10 space, do they make you move? What rules do they enforce during the show?
What do we as exhibitors actually get for our booth fee? If there's no attendance due to poor advertising, have they broken their contract? What about if they jury for Fine Art and Fine Craft and allow low end? As exhibitors we have a responsibility to act in a professional manner, but what if we aren't presented with organizers who don't?
I've been across from the hawker who stood in the middle of the path -- and at one point actually physically escorted (as in took her by the elbow and led her across the street) a customer IN MY BOOTH. Complaints to the organizers fell on deaf ears. I've been in the middle of two "encroachers" who left my 10 x 10 space measuring 10 x 8. Why was it that close to begin with? I've watched as an exhibitor didn't make a corner with his trailer and took out a neighboring potter -- because tear/down was a free-for-all.
Yes, I have a responsibility to behave in a professional manner. But promoters/organizers also have a responsiblity to have respect for exhibitors. We are THEIR customers.
ps - same show in Amagansett - there was a storm on Sunday. Again, no promoter to be found. But this time, those of us who stuck it out for the 2 days agreed to pack up and clear out as the dark clouds rolled in. I was heading off the field as the sky opened up.
Will I book with that promoter again? I doubt it.
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