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Time to decide – May Shows  - Go South or Stay Home?  The rainy season has definitely started in Seattle and we are thinking we really wanted to cut the rainy season short with a road trip to Northern CA.  Earlier this year we decided that staying in the Pacific NW for all of our shows didn’t make sense, too many months with marginal shows, too many gloomy months, time to head south and enjoy some sunshine while working!!

After lots of research using this site, Art Fair Calendars, AFSB, FNO, etc. we’re more undecided than ever before. We keep hearing that California shows are not worth the drive (over 1000 miles from Seattle), Arizona is still economically depressed, Nevada has few good shows, so what do we do for May and September?  We’re tired of setting up for rainy Seattle shows, but we don’t want to waste our time or energy heading to Northern CA only to be disappointed and feel like we’ve wasted our time.

Here’s our dilemma, I’m still working that “corporate job” while trying to help my husband as much as possible establish his niche in the art show markets.  I have quite a bit of vacation leave, but it's quickly used up with travel to shows.  He’s the primary artist, I’m the “class A” personality with a few pieces of art, but my contribution is more in the bookkeeping, organizing, business planning, etc.  BTW, did I mention my corporate jobs have been in finance, accounting, process re-engineering and sales support?  So no, I’m not a full time artist, but totally supportive of my artist husband and trying to do everything possible to make his art career a success.

We started doing community art shows / art walks in late 2005, graduated to a few fine art shows in 2007 after we spent a few frustrating months realizing the community events were NOT our market.  We have  a  reasonably predictable schedule in the Pacific NW after the past 5 years of participating in fine art shows, but have a few months a year with few or no show opportunities, hence our idea to expand our market and try a few shows in Northern CA.    We’re a bit tired of the “gloom and gray” of Seattle and the thought of an extra month or two (May and September) of sunshine was worth the travel.

Are California shows really as bad as I’m hearing from other artists in this area? Do we take the risk?  How much vacation time am I willing to burn on this experiment?  Or do we decide to use our airline miles and just have fun on a quick getaway to the sunshine?

Trying to decide if we need to try a different direction for 2012 and would appreciate any feedback or insight.

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Find more art fairs for 2011 & 2012

www.CallsforArtists.com 

1.  Call for artists: Stained Glass  St. Mary's School (Medford, OR) is currently building a Chapel dedicated in loving memory of Patrick Naumes. Seeking artists to design and create our 32 stained glass windows and provide art for the 14 interior art niches. Deadline 11.30.11. Download the Request for Proposals here.

2.  UM: Artist Residency The Ann Arbor Chronicle, 10.19.11
Applications are being accepted from artists and designers interested in the Witt Residency Program at the University of Michigan School of Art & Design. "The Witt residency provides students an alternative learning opportunity to engage with practicing artists who make use of resources across campus, therefore the ideal candidate must value collaboration, have good social and communication skills and be interested in generating creative partnerships across disciplines." In addition to a $20,000 honorarium, the residency provides housing, studio space and up to $5,000 for materials. Deadline: 1.10.12

3.  Creative Illustrator Needed for Medical Project
Interested in using your illustration skills to improve family bonding? Help develop an informational poster to introduce families to the developmental benefits of using sign language with infants. The final product will be published and displayed in our clinic. Looking particularly for illustrators who have experience with graphic design. A small stipend will be offered. Please email as soon as possible with examples of your work or any questions to Linda Schultz lschul@umich.edu

4. Plus, read all about Ann Arbor's Lynda Cole reflections on placing third at the Grand Rapids' ArtPrize and winning $50,000.

Many thanks to the Arts Alliance newsletter for this information, a wonderful resource for arts information: http://a3arts.org/

When I posted my blog piece "Why aren't I selling?" I did not expect the response that I received. All I can say is WOW! I just finished reading each and everyone of them and appreciate the various comments, opinions and thoughtful insights that others have on the subject.

Michael R. made the remark "... sold to 4 out of every 10 that stopped by? Really?" To that I have to respond, "Yes, really," however, when I gave that figure, I did not say whether or not the individual had gone by my booth before without purchasing something. This in fact happened several times and a few of the "4 out of 10" came back either the same day or one of the following days of the show to purchase. When they returned they told me they just had to come back because of the amount of energy, the way they were made to feel important, especially when I would excuse myself to answer someone's question, tell that person I would be right with them as soon as I finished with the other person, and then return to talking with them, tell them to enjoy their day even when they didn't buy anything the first time around. I even joked with one person and told them I felt like a used car salesman when I explained about the festival and what we were striving for. The response I received was that I never made the person "feel like" they were being sold a bill of goods.

I have to agree with Michael that if my numbers matched and/or balanced out with the total number of attendees then it would have been a highly profitable venture to say the least. If I HAD sold according to the attendee numbers, I would have been out of stock the first day of the show. LOL. Believe me, I realize just like everyone that sales don't always go by the numbers and in a perfect world we would ALL realize the fruits of our labors. To me, however, building good customer, or potential customer, relationships is extremely important. I did have several people that were pleased that I was still doing the festival as they remembered me from last year (they did not purchase anything from me then), the referrals to other vendors I had given them when they were looking for something specific and directions to various places of interest within Alpena. They even brought others to the Festival this year to meet me and they all purchased something with a promise that they would return again next year.

Word of mouth on the positiveness and/or negativeness of an experience at a show can make or break a show or a vendor. For example, a vendor had a customer complain about a shirt they had purchased last year that was handpainted. The customer even brought the shirt in to show how badly the paint had come off. The vendor looked at the shirt and asked if they had "hand" washed it according to the instructions they received when they purchased the shirt. Even though the customer did not follow the insturctions, the vendor told them he felt bad about the results and gave them two different shirts at no cost to them. The customer was floored by this and even stated that a lot of BIG companies wouldn't do that. He ended up purchasing a stained class and hand carved mirror from this same vendor. When the customer left the show, he stopped at the ticket/information area to tell them that he would definitely be back and bringing others because of the way he was treated months after a prior shows sale by a vendor.

At Festival, even in these tough economic times, we've tried, for the most part, to be very upbeat and positive. We must be doing something right as we will be hosting our 17th year in 2012! The Festival goes out of its way to make sure that the vendors have what they need, when they need it and be as supportative as possible. However, there are a few that no matter what you do, that are not happy but that happens anywhere.

Thanks again for all the wonderful comments and for the food for thought. Mike R, just want you do know I appreciate YOUR comments as well as wasn't picking on you. The numbers and rationale were right on the money, just felt that your comment was a good one to use as an example of how numbers can be tweaked and not really give a good accurate result. May each and everyone of you have a successful show, meet wonderful people and enjoy all the best that life has to offer.

If you are one of those who is unimpressed with photography and the creativity that is required, you have to take a look at this work by Angelo Musco. If you have a few minutes, take a look at the video at the link also.

Some people might say that humans beings are herd animals. But these stunning images appear to prove the adage beyond any doubt. 

These surreal mosaics, made from thousands of swarming human bodies, were the talk of this year's Pulse LA art fair.

The awe-inspiring pieces, created by New York based-photographic artist Angelo Musco, are, literally, making waves in the photographic world.

i need opinion from anyone.   i am in process of designing a sculpture for someone in tx.  they originally want 100 pieces now supposedly they are down to 20.  I have been redesigning this piece now for over 3 weeks.  They did not like this, i changed it,   they did not like that,  i changed that.   Finally sent them a picture of a final design. Now all of a sudden they want my prototype, sent to them ups for final approval.   So i went from 100, to 20 to 1 

I am not in the market of sending prototypes.   I am sure this is for xmas.  actually they are an oil co in tx with i am sure a lot of welders.   I feel like i am getting jerked around and i told them they are running out of time  since i have 4 shows in 6 weeks time for the holiday    need your opinion    

February 4 & 5
Battle Creek, Michigan
Kellogg Arena
40 Artists

Art from the Heart is an art and craft event limited to forty artists inside the Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek, Michigan. The downtown arena attracts from throughout the country and shares space with an upscale hotel and office building.

The show is perfectly timed for Valentine's Day gift buying. Artists whose work focuses on romantic imagery, jewelry, fashion, fashion accessories, and art gifts will likely be most successful. The show is held concurrent with the Live Green Home Show to assure a large attendance.

Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows President, has been producing and consulting with events since 1982. Integrity Shows offers artist friendly policies such as a three year acceptance system, helping to create a less stressful experience. Integrity Shows also produce the Chelsea Invitational Fine Art & Craft Fair, Royal Oak Clay, Glass & Metal Show, Funky Ferndale Art Fair, Jazzin' on Jefferson and Christmas Wonderfest.

Set-up: Fri. February 3: 11am-6pm

Event Hours: Sat.: 10am-8pm; Sun.: noon-5pm

Applications are available by contacting Mary Strope:

mary@integrityshows.com

Or download the application here:

http://www.artfaircalendar.com/files/artist-artfromheart.pdf

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Find more art fairs to fill up your schedule: www.CallsforArtists.com

How to start...   Oil Paintings

Can you take pictures of your work?  Or must it be done by a professional?

When trying to enter a juried show, how many paintings must you send in,  is each show different?

I only have an ez tent and a table and easels for showing the work...does anyone start this dumb and

this small?

No credit card machine, is it expected?

Would appreciate any help..

Rosie

3rd annual Briarpatch Festival in Eatonton, GA is a down home community event.  There were good improvements over last year in layout and about 100 booths.  Katy Smith, Manager, Eatonton Mainstreet is an energetic and engaging person.  Only 30 minutes from home this is another advertising opportunity for me and may have led to at least a couple commission opportunities.  The A&C range from easy on the pocket items to higher end products which works well for this community.  The shoppers were steady and those that stopped in my booth were clearly interested and asked good questions.  While the crowds were not close to those at Deep Roots last weekend, the profits were almost the same.  The next four weeks will be with Christmas Made in the South in Macon, Augusta, Savannah and Jacksonville.  LOVE the indoor shows. 

8th annual Deep Roots Festival took place October 22.  This show brings lots of people.  The festival is held the same weekend as Family Weekend for Georgia College and Alumni Weekend for Georgia Military College.  Because of the coordinated timing folks come from all over Georgia and beyond.  I've either attended or been an artist and/or media (photographer) for the event for most of those years.  I even chaired the Artist Market for 3 of those years.  I think this year must have broken records for attendance.  I would guess somewhere between 15 and 20,000.  This year there was a LOT of jewelry.  I would hazard to say well over half of the booths either were jewelry or had jewelry among their items.  Sales were just OK.  I made my booth, cost to produce and about $200 profit.  Although not a high end Arts/Crafts show, this is in my back yard so I do it for the advertising as much as anything. There is also a car show, BBQ competition and Kids Zone.  Deep Roots is a Mainstreet fundraising event to help downtown revitalization.  It is a huge social event and the main stage music (geared toward the college age crowd) at night is jam packed. 

Although I don't have a lot of vending/exhibiting experience under my belt, I was amazed when a "seasoned" exhibitor stopped at my booth at the recent Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival and lamated that he wasn't selling anything and people just seemed to pass by his booth. He couldn't figure out what was wrong. I told him I would have to get back to him on that one as I needed some time to gather my thoughts. Actually, I didn't want to hurt his feelings or make him angry with my response so I was just buying time.

Before I give the response I gave him, let me supplement it by saying that I am an extremely observational person and can watch people interaction at events, art fairs, craft fairs, shows, etc. During my perusals of various booths, exhibitors and/or vendors I would watch how they interacted with people, what those who were successful did, other than having top-notch wares to offer, and what they did not do.

That being said, I finally responded to the questioning exhibitor and told him what I had noticed and how that might be a reason for "no" sales. 1) he was either reading a book, 2) texting, 3) watching his small portable TV, 4) not at his booth at all and 5) did not interact with people any any form. I gently told him that people like to be noticed. Even if they don't stop at your booth, at least say hello, hope you're enjoying the show/event, or, if you have a basket filled with treats, "I have chocolate to give you energy to see the rest of the show." Reading, texting, watching TV, not being at your booth, or have someone relieving you so you can go eat, use the facilities, etc., or not interacting with the public gives them the impression you really don't care whether or not you sell anything. He was surprised at my information and informed me that unless people are going to "buy" he's not going to waste his time.  My response was that if you don't get them to "stop," even if it's just to acknowledge your hello, you won't know if they're going to buy or not. Granted not everyone who stops at a booth is going to buy, but if you can get them to stop and look, not pressure them into a sale, ask how they are enjoying the show, etc. you may just get a sale out of it.

I acknowledged everyone that went by and even looked my way and managed to sell either my photography or my book to 4 out of 10 that came by. Now that's not record breaking by any means, but I did get sales and ended up having a very good show result. For me, taking an interest in the people seemed to make them feel important, and they seemed to appreciate the hospitality. If they didn't buy anything and just looked and chatted with me a while, I would thank them for stopping by and direct them to a booth that I thought might have what they were looking for.

The gentleman didn't agree with me, which is fine, and proceeded to keep doing what he was doing, and that was ignoring potential customers. Unless someone picked up an item, he would not even acknowledge their presence at his booth. He did very poorly at the show this year, I am sorry to say. Other vendors that I have become friends with over the years have told me that the energy and positive attitude I project is catchy and they have tried some different approaches this year and have done well.

Just had to proffer my two cents on the "why aren't I selling" question that I see pop up from time to time. You can have the perfect location, fantastic wares and perfect weather, but if you don't acknowledge/interact with potential customers, you could end up with an extremely poor result for all your hard work.

This is the first time I have every written on a "Blog"....so am not sure I am even in the right place to do this....I am a stained glass artist living, and mostly showing, in Georgia...There is a show called Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival near Perry, GA that is held twice a year: spring and fall....It draws both artists and attendees from all over the southeast, and one artist I know even comes from Illinios to participate....This has been a long running event and is overseen by Miss Carolyn, who is where the buck stops....It is my favorite show to do, even though I have only done 3....The venue is in the woods with wide walkways, always covered with fresh straw for each event...Booth spaces are advertised as 10X10, but are actually larger, and not jammed up against each other.  It took me a couple of years to get into this event, because you must receive an invitation from Miss Carolyn to even apply, then she must approve before you are actually accepted....There is very little duplication of styles and media.  My sales at all 3 shows I have done have been consistently good, and folks now have begun to seek me out when they come to the show....It is well advertised, well planned, well executed.  Easy set up and takedown.  I actively sought my first invitation, and now get my call to artists for the next show shortly after one ends.  I have heard that artists can recommend other artists for consideration, as well....Has anyone else had any experience with this event?        Mary Anne Maslanka

I've been having some up and down times lately surrounding my business experiences, really fearful that no one will visit this site anymore, that no one will be wanting to advertise with me, concerned about all the economic news. What if all I have built goes away? Amazingly two RSS feeds arrived in my mailbox discussing these fears.

One was from Steve Harrison who writes about media coverage for authors and speakers:

There doesn't seem to be much good news on the economic front these days.
 
Unemployment remains high and oil prices keep climbing. Many experts say the economy won't fully recover to pre-crisis levels for many years.
 
That may be true but that's still no reason you can't make more over the next year than ever before. Why do I say that?

Because what happens in the "Nation's Economy" isn't nearly as important as what happens in "Your Economy."

The gist of the article is that you can work yourself out of your economic hole.

But the article which really resonated with me (and made me recognize my fears as pretty normal and maybe even useful) was Johnny B. Truant's 6 Ways to Master Entrepreneurial Uncertainty.

My apologies for copying then entire post here -- it is just so good that I want all of you to read it.

I used to think that successful people had it all figured out.

If they wanted to make something happen, they knew exactly what to do.

If they created a new product, it would be instantly popular and profitable.

They knew all the right people, hired the right help, set all the right prices, and pulled all the right strings of the many moving parts of their business to make it all work perfectly.

Had they attained some kind of career Nirvana, a place in which they didn't need to struggle and worry and fail anymore?

It's a pretty nice story, this notion that success puts an end to fear and uncertainty.

But it's a lie.

 

The truth about insecurity

You know those freak-outs you have about whether your new venture will fly, whether you'll make enough money next month, and how people will judge your latest blog post?

You know how sometimes you can't sleep because you're not sure about your retirement, or are nervous that Customer X will demand a refund?

You know, those fears that people will decide that you're a phony?

Those thoughts that you won't be able to do that big thing that's on the horizon?

Well, get used to those fears, because they're never going to go away.

I've met enough of the stars in this field to know that "the ultra-confident and never uncertain successful person" is about as realistic as the tooth fairy.

No one has it all figured out

Not one of the people you look up to is confident all the time. They don't confer upon themselves the same degree of "expert status" that the public has conferred upon them. They don't feel they're infallible.

Every one of them has the occasional periods of doubt, of feeling that their next big thing might be their next big flop.

All of them put their pants on one leg at a time, head to their work spaces, and proceed to worry about most of the same things as every other human being.

Everyone has insecurities.

The difference between people who do big things and those who have the same ideas but do nothing is not that successful people are more capable or fearless.

The difference is that successful people feel the uncertainty, and they freak out a little (or a lot) about how what they're about to do could fail, or make them look stupid, or invite ridicule, or kill their profits for the month.

Then, they do it anyway

Whether you succeed or fail — and whether you continue to succeed or continue to fail — you're human. You're going to be uncertain about things. You're going to be afraid. That's not a bad thing, because the times when you're uncertain and fearful are the times you grow.

Don't fear uncertainty. Use it. Master it.

If you can make uncertainty your ally and your friend, a world of amazing things awaits you.

How to become a master of uncertainty

Tony Robbins has a catch phrase that he says all the time: "The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably live with."

Uncertainty is going to crop up anyway, wouldn't it be nice to find a way to comfortably live with more of it?

Here are six ways you can make that happen:

1. Embrace uncertainty

Certainty is a cage.

Sure, we all like that warm feeling that comes from knowing where we are and what's coming next, but that's not the way life is meant to be lived 24/7.

We are meant to grow and become more as people, and growth is always, always, always preceded by something novel and uncomfortable. You cannot evolve without new and challenging experiences.

You know that expression, "If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten"? It's true.

Uncertainty is your friend, because without it, you'll stagnate, and you'll begin to die a little at a time.

2. Uncouple fear from uncertainty.

The knee-jerk reaction to uncertainty is fear.

If you're fearful about money, that fear comes from an uncertainty as to whether or not you'll have enough money.

If you're afraid of your business failing, what that really means is that you don't know whether what you're doing will work or if it'll fail.

Even a fear of the dark is just a reaction to being unsure about what might be in the dark, rather than a certainty that a particularly scary thing is lurking in it. But even though uncertainty often brings fear, uncertainty is not the same as fear.

Make sure you see the difference.

3. Acknowledge fear, and hear what it is trying to tell you

Look your fear square in the eye.

Don't try to pretend you're not afraid, because as psychiatrist rockstar Carl Jung told us, "What we resist persists."

Fear is not bad. It's here to warn you. It's saying, "This might happen, so plan accordingly." But — and this is key — make sure you don't believe fear knows more than it does about the future.

It's making a guess, not assuring you that something bad will happen. Prepare, and do your best to mitigate any potential peril. Then try hard to let fear go.

Once you've heard the message and have prepared as much as you're able, don't let it keep screaming in your ear, repeating its prophecies of doom.

4. Do something

Action is the antidote to fear.

If you're uncertain and afraid, the worst thing you can do is to simply wait to see what happens.

Do something. Do anything.

If you're worried about money, send some emails to prospects who may hire you. If you're worried about your marketing message, re-read your sales copy and do what you can to refine it.

Remember how I said that uncertainty and fear are the keys to growth? Well, this step is where it happens. Don't just experience fear. Use your fear.

Chuck D. from Public Enemy said, "When I get mad, I put it down on a pad — give you something that you never had." He doesn’t just get angry; he gets angry and uses that anger to write lyrics. Fear works the same way.

It can cripple you, or it can inspire you to do something awesome, even if that awesome thing just feels like a way to escape fear at the time you do it.

5. Be courageous

Think that brave people are fearless, and are able to do the things they do because they aren't afraid of doing them?

Not at all.

Doing what's not frightening isn't bravery; it's rational, everyday decision-making. People who have courage are those who feel uncertain and afraid but proceed anyway.

Mark Twain said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear." Don't think you're doing it wrong if you still have fear. Fear is normal.

Proceeding in the face of that fear is the courage you need in order to grow and to become more.

What fear did for me

Personally, I've felt a lot of fear, and I'm glad for it. Fear is the reason I've been able to build the life I have today, which is honestly pretty amazing.

If a serious financial crash hadn't scared the pants off of me a few years ago, I never would have tried blogging.

If I hadn't seen enough uncertain situations, I would never have realized that there is no spoon.

Without uncertainty and fear, I never would have figured out that (overly woo-woo or not) things really do seem to happen for a reason.

If you're often unsure how things are going to turn out and if that really scares you, then I say: Awesome.

I say: You're on the right track.

If you face your fears, track them down, and then find a way to use them the way Muad'Dib faced and then rode the big scary sandworms in the sci-fi classic Dune, then congratulations, you really do have it all figured out — you've figured out that the key to a great life is being okay with not having it figured out at all.

You've found the wisdom in uncertainty. You've realized that the key to being amazing is doing the things that frighten you.

Keep it up. Deal with your fears about uncertainty, but forge on in spite of them.

I'd close by saying to not be afraid, but that would kind of be missing the point.

I'm in Alpine.

Would love to know what goings on are going on in West Texas.

I'm curious about the availability of some statistics re art show results for the arstist:

In particular, what percentage of artists, on average, lose money, break even and make money at art fairs?

Generalizations gratefully accepted as I realize it is doubtful real stats are available.

Also, what about attrition? What percentage of new participants are gone in a year, two years, etc. Again, I imagine only generalizations will be available.

Congratulations to our members who were prize winners at the River Arts Fest in Memphis this past weekend:

Best of fiber:  Amos Amit

Best of jewelry:  Michael Stephens

Best of wood:  Jay McDougall

you might enjoy this video of Jay at work:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efE7CkpJs_o

Merit Award:  Paul Willsea and Carol O'Brien - Glass

here's a video of Paul and Carol at work:  http://willseaobrien.com/video

Merit Award:  Michael Terra, Ceramics

River Arts Fest - Memphis, Tennessee - October 22 & 23

Best of Ceramics:  Craig McMillan

Best of  Drawing:  Ron Hoyle

Best of Fiber:  Amos Amit*

Best of Glass:  Mitchell Berg

Best of Jewelry:  Michael Stephens*

Best of Metal:  Cecile Keith

Best of Mixed Media:  Sloane Bibb

Best of Painting:  Amy Leigh Carstenson

Best of Photography:  Neil Brown

Best of Wood:  Jay McDougall*

Best of Memphis:  Lester Jones

Merit Awards:

Tim Peters  Ceramics

Michael Terra Ceramics

Yevette Lubbers   Glass

Cameron and Jan Smith  Glass

Paul Willsea and Carol O’Brien  Glass

Kim Young  Jewelry

Bond Blackmon  Jewelry

Daphne Covington  Painting

Frank Gee  Painting

Lorri Honeycutt  Photography

Bethesda Row Arts Festival - Bethesda, Maryland - October 15 & 16

Best in Show                              Benjamin Frey – Drawing, www.benjaminfrey.com/index.html
Best in Show Second Place          David Bryce – Ceramics
Best in Show Third Place             Tricia Young – Jewelry
 
Best in Category
Ceramics                               John Cheer, www.cheerclaystudio.com
Drawing/Pastels                     Anne London, www.aelondonstudio.com 
Fiber                                     Samuel Yao
Glass                                    Henry Levine
Graphics/Printmaking             James Skvarch
Jewelry                                 Fred Tate
MM2D                                   Marie-Helene Grabman
MM3D                                   John Gunther, guntherweavings.com
Metalwork                             Sabra Richards, sabrarichardsglass.com
Oil/Acrylic                             Marjolyn vanderHart
Photography                          Andrew Sovjani
Sculpture                              Nnamdi Okonkwo
Watercolor                            Gregory Strachov, http://strachov.com/
Wood                                    Steve Levine