I have had too many shows turn around on Sunday afternoon to break down early because of poor sales. It bugs the hell out of me when other people do that as well. I think it is incredibly disruptive to the people who are staying and maybe trying to eke out some sort of profit from a bad show.
However, there are valid reasons to break down early. My general standard is if I feel my work or I am in danger. That is a call that each person has to make for themselves. And weather being what weather is, sometimes we make the wrong one.
I think there are valid reasons to not do a show. There have been a couple occasions when I wish I had made that decision. I did make that decision once with Naples National and it was the right one for me. They had changed from an easy load out to a difficult one. I did not have any vacation time to take Monday off and it is a point of honor with me that I do not call in sick to work just because I am late getting back from the art show. My co-workers and boss are very decent about working around my shows and I owe it to them to not take advantage of that. I found out later that people in my section that year got out around 1AM. That plus a five hour drive home. It was the right call. I did eat the booth fee without complaint. It was my fault for not reading the show literature sooner. Actually I think that if we are willing to eat the booth fee and attempt to give as much notice as possible it is a personal call.
What are everyone else's principles?
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I have had to pack up once, not by choice. Outdoor show, in it's third year, got so much traffic, the State police came and shut it down an hour and a half after opening. Safety hazard- traffic was so backed up, emergency and safety vehicles could not move. That show is now at a different, much better location. With unpredictable weather here, most of our outdoor shows usually have rain dates- or alternate inside locations. This has only happened on two occasions in 7 years. That being said, I have seen many others, usually in a fit of pique because of slow sales, run around bad mouthing the show, then packing up early when they get no joy from other exhibitors. I agree that it IS a contract, that barring acts of god(see severe weather- hurricane/tornado, earthquake or the promoter telling me too), injury, illness, or a death in the family are the only acceptable reasons to disrupt the show for patrons and other exhibitors. Doing so in a fit of pique, because you are not happy with your spot, sales, or whatever other excuse is just unprofessional, childish, and RUDE.
I agree with Larry - its a contract. Sometimes things are going to happen to break that, but otherwise, you agreed to be there and there you should stay, for the whole time the show is open.
I have cancelled one show at the last minute when one of my kids was quite ill and hubby was away - it wasn't reasonable to leave her sick with the babysitter! I'm not sure if they'll blackball me as it was only a show 6 months ago - but given the distance to the show and the lacklustre sales I won't be sorry if they do!
I agree that breaking down and leaving a show early due to poor sales is unprofessional. I have only been doing this for less than 6 months, so I will concede there may be times when early breakdown due to poor sales may be the right decision. But during a slow show, slow day or slow period during the day, I still use that time to work. It may be checking my email from my iphone or reading art fair insiders blogs...write checklists of things that I need to fix, buy or do before the next show...organizing out my tool/tackle box or sales supplies...lots of things I can due on a slow Sunday that will help make me more productive on Monday. It's still a working day regardless of sales :)
Slow sales doesn't mean bad show. You never when nor why that telephone is going to ring from a connection you made at such an event with an opportunity you never would have gotten otherwise. One time at a Florida show, where sales were s-l-o-w...a dude came into my booth and wanted to buy all the stuff I wasn't selling. Like, my painted jacket, my lunch bag, etc. So, ok, what the heck, I sold them. That turned into a connection with a German gallery that turned into thousands of dollars in sales and ten trips to Europe to make and sell more art for this guy. All on the up and up.
Leaving early when it isn't a legitimate safety concern is unprofessional, and how you conduct yourself is how you are. If you're doing this professionally, be professional about it. Believe that it is good regardless of what that may look like at the moment.
For this reason, I don't gripe at shows. No matter what. Sets the wrong vibe. That said, if you run into a non-professionally run show that itself has problems in these areas - give it a wide berth until it straightens itself up for the immediate future.
We've only been called off the waitlists a couple of times, one was a good show that was a 10 hour drive and by the time they called us we didn't have time to get there. however, by not going that year it appears we've been blacklisted and have never been able to get into the show or even waitlisted again. The other time we were called off the waitlist for a better show we did forfeit our booth fee, it was after the dealine to cancel so that wasn't a surprise.
Regarding closing down early just due to poor sales, for the most part I agree that is not a good reason to break down early, however, we did make that decision once in the past 6 years. We were in a dead zone within the show, got about 10% of the traffic and decided to load out Saturday night after the show. Still don't regret that decision. It was a matter of deciding that our time and effort was worth something and if we had stayed for the Sunday it would have been a total waste of time.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is dropping a show because you got into a better show off of the wait list. I've never been in that position, however I have emailed a show and asked them to remove my application from consideration because I have been accepted for my first choice. I do wish ZAPP had some sort of method of doing that online because one year a show supposedly did not get my email and they were one that already had the booth check.
I agree with Larry; you made a commitment to be at a show when you applied or accepted the invitation. Poor sales alone are not a valid reason to leave a show early. Dangerous weather conditions, health and family emergencies are the only reason I can think of to leave early, and then you should speak to the show organizers AND your neighbors in the booths around you, letting them know why you are leaving early.
I broke a tooth once on a Sunday at a show and the organizers had no problem with my leaving early. I notified my neighboring booths that I might leave early and my reason; they all appreciated the notice. As it turns out, the tooth never hurt (it was just the edge of a cusp) so I stayed for the duration. I have only had to leave early once due to weather, and in that case the show staff ran around to all the booths, telling us we had about 30 minutes before a storm arrived. It was a beautifully clear blue-sky day, so it seemed odd, but this was Minnesota, so we all looked to the western horizon and saw a horrible black-blue mass moving our way. I managed to get everything consolidated and broken down into the center of my canopy before the gust front and down pour hit. Nothing like throwing things into your truck in a downpour! This was a Sunday afternoon, so the show was basically over anyway.
As much as I don't think people should leave early, if you are going to, then do it on Saturday night when customers and neighbors aren't effected. As for Lowell's comments. I only have 5 years in this and there are days I feel your reality. I force myself to keep upbeat and keep plugging away even after a bad show. I looked at your pieces, and I can see why you got fabulous comments. Your customers have just not found you yet. I guess eventually though, the good must outweigh the bad unless you don't need the income. I'm interested in hearing comments of those with a decade under their belts.
I remarked to a friend the other day that any homeowner in Florida who isn't depressed is either independently wealthy or just not paying attention. I've had much better luck outside of Florida this past year.
I have a question that is somewhat related to this string but it relates to the overall situation that we all face trying to sell our creations. I have been doing this for three years, and if I were honest with myself I have lost my **s. I have been lucky enough to cover booth rent at least, but I have done two in Florida this spring where there were no sales at all. Everyone is soooo full of complements about quality, and the pieces themselves, even remarking that the prices are most reasonable, but no one is buying. Our last show was blowing so hard that with 65 pound weights we were still holding on by hand to keep from moving so after a zero saturday, I chose not to return sunday. Sunday rained hard all day, but after reading your comments, I probably should not have left, but zeroing two in a row really messed with my mind.
My point is that when I read these discussions, I get the idea that the good old days, are gone, and that times are tuff and people just are not willing to part with discretionary income without a lot of thought and consideration and so, I am just wondering what keeps us paying jury fees, and $300 to $500 for the privilege of keeping this all up? Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel or is it the headlight of an oncoming train?
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