Just returned from a super show in Rochester Hills, MI… the weather was so-so and the buying crowds were out in small numbers…The Paint Creek Center for the Arts staff and crew really did their jobs… all of the artists around us seemed to do fair to middling well with one glass artist doing much better than "well". The painter next to them said that she was told they did $15,000 on Saturday and $15,000 on Sunday. Of course the painter is French and has trouble with zeros, so it may have been $1500. Actually, I bet it was closer to $150. Still, not a bad take. And the painter had a couple of big sales on Friday night.

The rain pretty much held off after the Thursday afternoon setup, and the Friday night open was downright steamy. A few folks made money Friday night (the aforementioned painter), but most just sat around whining and snivelling about the lack of sales. Saturday was good for me, Sunday not so many sales. I did a couple of deliveries on Monday, to people that had come to Arts, Beats and Eats and followed up with me at the show in Rochester. 

And to make matters worse, I won an award, which came with a big check, which is something you can expect if you show up five years in a row, and have great stuff, like I do. I was happy to stand up on the stage with the other winners (7 in all) and accept my kudos with grace and honor. They like me, really they do.

Even without the awards, I like this show. I'm local, which helps. No travel costs, no gas. Just show up, set up and sell. It's a pleasant venue, usually cooler weather, and a nice stroll through the trees in the Rochester Municipal Park. Booth fee is reasonable ($300), and they have great pie. But many artists say that the show has been slipping over the years, and a lot of buy/sell has crept in. There were three or four of those "alphabet" photographers. You know, assemble your name out of pictures of not-so-interesting architectural elements. More than one kids puzzle maker, too. Joy Taraweiscz is the original, she's been next to me for several years. There were some good jewelers: Trisko was there, as were Marc & Wendy Zoschke. Luciano was there, in his usual spot. And Dog Remien was there, too, texting me in full detail things I just didn't want to know. Dog's a good friend, though, so it was ok. We share.

This show has good potential. The locals do come out, they love it, they love the relaxed atmostphere, and they do buy. Occasionally. My average transaction was up this year, but number of customers lower. People with cash are still spending it. Occasionally. I think if some of the good national artists would come back to the show, they'd be pleasantly surprised. Besides, there's good pie. It's hard to build a show when the only folks that apply are local or buy/sell.

And I heard lots of whining and snivelling. Personally, I'm quite fond of snivelling, myself. I do it all the time to clear my nostrils. I do get a lot of snot up there, and snivelling helps to… Wait, what's that you say? Snuffling, not snivelling? Never mind… Did I mention that they have apples and pie for sale? This is really more of a vegetarian show, but they do have a nice pulled pork sandwich. But mostly apples. I guess that's why they call it Art & Apples. 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, where we've predetermined to talk again about the summer art fair. 

 Aaaah, sunny days, the green grass of the park scattered with cute little white tents, happy artists selling their fine art....

Oh wait.  How much of that line is fiction?  Imaginary?  Delusional? A sham?

I've spent quite a bit of research time lately on the topic of the "fine art fair".  Some of them have a heck of a history.

Every time I looked up one of the grandaddy art fairs, and was able to find their mission statement, they all seemed to have something in common.  Some examples for you to peruse:

---Wanting to create an event where local artists could showcase their work to the community, Womer established the first 57th Street Art Fair in 1948

---The Annual Edmonds Arts Festival began in 1957.  The mission then as now, was to celebrate and promote the arts with a lively and pleasurable presentation of local and national work.

---It all began one hot Chicago summer in the early 80's when four neighborhood artists (Bob Smeltzer, Joe Kotzman, Tony Cachapero and Rodney Patterson) decided to have an art fair--a picnic in the park.  Rodney suggested that it might be a good opportunity for local artists to show and share their work to each other and to their neighbors. 

Did you catch the commonality?  They are all working to showcase the art, to friends, neighbors, community.  To "celebrate and promote the arts".  So how did we get from that, to this:

---Art Fair has become both tired and tiresome.  It's held in the absolute hottest part of the summer.  The prices are ridiculous and most of the so-called art is schlock.  How many times can you mill through the crowds viewing the same old fare every year?

--Taken from a news article about parking garage revenue during the AnnArbor Art Fair, but certainly not a unique thought amongst art fair patrons.

What jumps out at you from that comment?   Maybe the SO-CALLED ART IS SCHLOCK?

Shortly before reading the comment, I read another--this one a discussion at ArtFairInsiders regarding (of course) lackluster art fair sales, and various artists comments about if they would be exhibiting at art fairs next year.  One artist said even with poor sales, she was not quitting.  She would "cobble together" something that would sell. 

What happened to celebrating the arts?  Showing our work to the community?  If the purpose of an art fair is to showcase our work to the community, shouldn't we be showing our best? 

(here comes the politically incorrect part)  Are you an artist, or not?  Are you being delusional in calling what you exhibit at an art fair ART? Ouch.  I suggest if you are cobbling something together that you think will sell, adding to the patron impression that the "so-called art is schlock", then maybe it's time to re-think your game plan. 

There's always a discussion out there somewhere about "what art is" and there are a bazillion different answers.  I suggest that "schlock" is not one of them.  I also suggest that if you are cobbling together something to coax a twenty dollar bill out of some art fair patron's pocket, that something is not art either.  The summer art fair is not dead, but it has been seriously injured.  Injured by artists who have put grabbing a buck, in front of creating their art.  Yes, we all have to make a living, but we'll do it best by keeping our priorities straight.  Art fairs were created to showcase and celebrate art, not schlock.

If you are an artist planning on exhibiting at an art fair next summer, I'm asking you to bring your art.  Bring your BEST art.

Later, Cooper

So, the Gypsy Train rolled into Indy for the Penrod Arts Fair 2011, looking for big sales and happy times.  We were so excited to be a participating artist of “Indiana’s Nicest Day”, the self-claimed tag for the one day show on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Everything was as advertised.  350 artists, multiple music stages, wine stands, gourmet cooking (teaching) chefs, children’s area…heck, even Bud Light taps sprouting from walls of strategically parked trucks.  With the cost of admission at $17, a ‘buying crowd’ was practically guaranteed.

Sold some paintings early in the day and thought we are on our way.

Then the call came.  Frantic.  Desperate.

I don’t know who to call.  He broke his neck.  I don’t know what else to do, where to go… can you pray for us. Yes, of course. 

The  cell call came from a loving Mom (and dear friend of ours).   As we stood in the back of booth Yellow #75, she was floating in a speed-boat on a lake in Tennessee.  Water skiing fun gone terribly wrong.  Her 22-year old son in a freak tangle, had fallen.  Neck snapped.  Face down and unable to move, a Friend in the water rolled him over to save drowning.

The terror in her gut and the look on her son’s face tell Mom …he’s dead…but then she, Dad, Wife, & Friends go into action.

Get him to the rear deck.  Pull him onto my lap.  Call 911.  Put the wake board under his legs dangling off the back.  Flag down that passing boat.  Screaming, waving hands…Please Stop!

The boat pulls along side.  Just happens to be carrying a Nurse.  Her first time on the lake, ever.  She’d swam in it, but never boated.  Today, she boated.  And was cruising by a broken neck within minutes of occurrence.

Take charge.  Stabilize.  Hold neck.  Angel Nurse.

Finally back to the marina. EMS coming.  20 minutes seem like 20 years.

While they wait come the words that would double over the father.

“Dad, can you pray for me…”

EMS arrives.  Can’t do anything here. Call Life Flight from Vanderbilt Medical Center.  15 minutes later the chopper arrives.  Their son, one of the brightest lights and love of their life, just disappears into the western horizon, while they stand and watch.

We left Indy early Sunday and arrived at Vandy minutes before surgery prep.  Prayer chains had been activated all over the country, with resounding, fervent pleas for healing and restoration.

3:33 pm surgery begins.  Fused the 2nd and 3rd vertebrate with bone graft taken from his hip.  Halo head stabilizer screwed on.  Ventilator.  Intubator.  IV’s.  Stuff attached everywhere.

The prognosis comes an hour later…expect a full recovery, with about 15% restricted movement in his neck area.  Not out of woods, but looking good.  Universal Hallelujahs.

Later, one from the Doctor’s team announced…“this is the luckiest man in Nashville.”  

From that same trauma room on floor 10, at least 4 more people would die in the next 48 hours while ‘lucky man’ (translation blessed, for all of us) took baby steps toward immediate healing and a life-long testimony.  His triumph over a near-tragic death came on the same day a nation remembered the tragedy ten years ago on 9/11.

I witnessed a loving, faithful family pull together in amazing fashion.  Made possible by having a foundation.  A source of power and strength; a basis for operating in times such as this.

For the rest of us?  It is not if, but when, we will experience Valleys, hard, out-of-the-blue personal losses and challenges.  That’s life in this world.

Question is… what will lift you up from them?  How will you and your family persevere?

Good looks?  Your great job?  Number of Facebook friends?  Quantity of paintings sold?  Your bank account?  New SUV?

Try taking all of those to the Intensive Care Unit on floor 10.

This family put it all on the Lord’s shoulders.

And not just for a couple of horrible days and nights around a son’s broken neck.  It is a free choice and one they made long before this event.  With it they are promised peace, favor, blessing, mercy, grace, power, in ALL things; even if their son had passed on to heaven that day, it is the strong name of Jesus that would’ve carried the family on.  Thankfully, it is the same name that will now get them through long and painful days of rehab, fraught with discouragement, tears, and frustration.

This isn’t ‘a preach’…it IS to share what I saw work in action this weekend.  And it works like this in countless lives every day.  It is truth.

Some other time I may do an Artist’s review of the Penrod Art Festival…for now, this just mattered a whole lot more.

  I didn’t hear any complaints from the just over 200 artists about setup, not a peep.  The farmers market crew resembled longshoreman versus the artists setting up our dainty ornaments, and they surely set the economic tone early with people bustling about with bags full of produce and baked goods.  The beginning of Saturday was like any other first day, cold at first with allot of walk-aholics, but within my first hour I had a hard bite on a big piece--who returned early Sunday with the family and left with a modest purchase.  The security at the show was tight, and a welcomed sight during last weekend--the upgrade in security, thanks to the township and  Howard Allen Events. Alexandria seemed politely detached from the media-blown depression of our saddest 10 year anniversary--not disrespectful, simply unapologetic for enjoying their day.  Sunday may have seen fewer numbers than in the past, but the people who were there were all (mostly all) walking with one or more different vendor’s bags--which is AMAZING.  It’s one thing to report a great day for yourself, but when you see multiple patrons walking around with three different colored bags, with three different mediums, it makes you feel like you’re in the right place.  

Set up is always my least favorite thing, but the farmers market crew helped me through with their show of country strength and hearty laughter.  Howard, Debbie, H.A. crew, and the local authorities were a delight, neighbors of D.C. and surrounding boroughs came out to meet and peruse, and in closing, I suggest you splurge on the Hotel Monaco or the Westin (where my husband and I stayed) because they’re within walking distance, and a 5min drive respectively.  I heard people got $60-$70 rooms very close as well, for the economically inclined.  Also, with a standard sized van, you can park in a garage between King and Pitt streets for $2 a day!  Sweet :)

Good luck for the final days of the Summer Season.

LU

http://stiltwalker.com/blog/

Hey everybody, I just thought I would pass on some information that I found just in case it may affect any of you. 

On August 16, 2011 Sugarloaf received notice that the Connecticut Expo Center was being sold to a new owner.  The facility will close forever as an expo center as of September 22, 2011.  The center has canceled all show contracts after 9/22/11 forcing them to cancel their show in Hartford scheduled for November 11-13, 2011 as well as future events there.  Hopefully, if you were scheduled to show your work there in November you already know this unfortunate news.

I found this information when I was on the Sugarloaf website.  However, when visiting the Connecticut Expo Center's site, unless you notice the 22nd on their calendar, you might not realize they are closing.  Everything on the Expo Center website suggests it is business as usual.  They still have a list of upcoming events running down the left hand side of their website.   Website visitors possibly have no idea that the Center is closing soon.

Sugarloaf was starting to hear a few rumors that the Center was being sold.  So, they began looking for an alternative venue so that they would not have to cancel the November art show.  Any place large enough for the Sugarloaf Craft Festival was already booked.  Most of the places that were available were just not large enough, didn't have enough parking, or were in an unsuitable location for their Festival.

Sugarloaf is actively looking at other locations for future shows in Connecticut or southern New England.  So, hopefully, eventually the show will be picked up again.

I hope this wasn't a shock for anyone that was scheduled to do that show in November.

Jacki B

Here is an excellent article from WNDU.com in South Bend about the civic funding of events in St. Joe, MI. City residents were polled as to where they wanted their tax dollars to go, getting the nod:

Krasl Art Fair, the Blossomtime Parade and the 4th of July fireworks

Losing: Venetian Festival and Labor Day fireworks

Why am I writing about this here? This article explores the importance of the economic impact of festivals on the local populace, something that is of interest to all of us.

"About 63 percent of residents and businesses said Venetian did not have a positive impact on the community. 68 percent of residents and 73 percent of businesses said the city should no longer support it.

Several businesses in the past have complained Venetian's vendors often take business away or the congestion forces regulars to shop elsewhere.

"Certainly a part of that could be all of the vendors coming in here from all over Michigan and Indiana and usurping some of the customers that they normally would see," said Walsh.

After hearing the results, the commission voted to end providing free public services to Venetian, saving about $23,000."

Haven't we all heard these arguments about art fairs in different communities? Are we surprised that the Krasl Art Fair escaped the cuts? Hardly.

http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/St_Joseph_cuts_contribution_for_Venetian_Festival_Labor_Day_fireworks_129700748.html

What do you think? As an artist don't you see both sides of this equation?

Saturday, February 27

• $15 application fee 
• Booth fees are $110-same as last year 
• Very few rules (no buy/sell)
• Share a booth if you'd like, but all parties must apply 
• Mark things down and move them out! 

This just landed in my mailbox and am glad to pass it on to you as a "public service."

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! The City of Lake Worth is hosting “A Day at the Beach” mural project where local artist will display their talent by painting murals along the north end of the sea wall of the Lake Worth Municipal Beach. Applications may be picked up at City Hall: 7 North Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33460 or downloaded from www.lakeworth.org. Applications and drawings must be submitted to Chief Tim Ehmke at the Lake Worth Pool: 50 South Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth, FL 33460. The application deadline is Monday, October 5th, 1:00 p.m.

More details here: 2011%20Press%20Release%20Packet.pdf

I'd love some feedback from anyone, everyone!  My husband and I set up at the Sylvania, Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Art and Craft show on Sept 11th, 2011.  Our first show!! Obviously exciting for me and he was a great supporter / helper!

I selected this for my first show because it's small and would be a great learning adventure.  It was that and more.  I didn't know there were that many things to learn.....

One learning is that people want to see what you have to sell without having to work at it!  I need to revamp the displays to make sure I don't overwhelm people with too many items that don't stand out much when someone is waltzing past the booth.  Other learning is to have more focus.  I think I had too diverse of an offering.  

People didn't even browse the earrings, somehow those got lost in the shuffle.  Although they're not my main focus, I do make them to match the pendants!   I received plenty of comments about how clever, cute, unusual, blah,blah my items were but darned if we barely sold enough to cover the cost of the show!  Midway through the show we moved the smaller tables out further into the walkway so that people could look without entering the booth.  Also near the end of the show I lowered prices (even tho they're very reasonable already) just to see if that was a contributor to the low number of purchases... it didn't have an impact.

Ideas I've had since include featuring matching sets of pendants and earrings on a pedestal, listing the components used to construct the jewelry (as in Swarovski Crystal), and then offering the pendants separate from the chains so that people look at the item more closely and the clutter of the chains would be eliminated.

Would love your comments, thoughts, see attached pics!  Thanks!

When Brian got juried into the Sausalito Art Festival, there was no way I would let him go alone! So we drove for 3 days through 6 states and arrived with time to spare. Thursday morning set-up went smoothly....what a professional set-up it was...complete with a private cart and driver. That gave us most of Friday to ferry over to San Francisco and be tourists for the day. Friday ended with the opening party on a yacht. Okay, the yacht was parked at a dock, the drink lines were long and the food was sparse, but we enjoyed our time with Minnesota friends Darren Olson and wife Karissa, and new friend and wood sculptor, Sean. Work at the festival was very impressive, with several "museum artists" making rare appearances at an art fair. Brian was honored to show with the best of the best, but that's right where he belongs! 

We rocked to some big-name musicians from our era, like Edgar Winter, Carlos Santana and Kenny Loggins, and met some incredibly nice artists like Vic Lee and John Gavrilis. A volunteer TAPED a fire extinguisher to the corner post of John's booth and it dropped onto John's toe. OUCH! The weather was nearly perfect and I can boast a star sighting...Robin Williams strolled past.

We added a brief vacation to the end of the trip and saw Yosemite for the first time. It was on my bucket list. The photo is me with Eddie our Yorkie, the van and AFI sticker in beautiful Yosemite Valley. Unfortunately, Brian is on the other side of the camera.

Kenny Loggins summed up our Sausalito experience quite well shortly before the festival closed, singing "This is it! Make no mistake where you are. This is it!"

As Bob Marley used to say, "I am a busy man, and I have work to do."

This is one of the biggies on the circuit for me.  It is one of my top three shows in the nation, the other two being Main Street Ft. Worth and Kansas City Plaza.  Can't count Winter park since they have juried me out for 26 years in a row--but hope springs eternal.

I had a pleasant seven hour ride home from it yesterday so I have had time to get my thoughts together.  So here goes.

It is always nice to swim in the same pool with the great ones and taste the sweet smell of success.  Saint Louis (SL) is one of them.

There are less than 200 exhibitors and all of them are pretty darn unique and successful looking--in every medium.

Not everbody makes a ton of moola, but most do far better than your average show.

To give you a yardstick, I did more here in two-and-one-half days than I did in Art, Eats and beats, Uptown Minneapolis and Ann Arbor combined.  It is like a cocaine high.  The hits just keep on coming.  Doesn't mean I do the white powder, but it is a good metaphor.  I mean what else are metaphors, for?

Info about location and setup.

This is a very well-organized show.  Every little detail is taken care of to the enth degree.

If you are traveling say eight hours or more, you will want to get in on Thursday, the day before booth setup which starts Friday at 11 am.  They have an artist special hotel rate at the Sheraton Clayton which is two blocks from the show.  They have free parking in an open guarded lot--they waive the $14 per day parking fee.  Hotel rate is $99 for a room that normally goes for $160.00.  Nice bar and restaurant too.  The show sign up is at the Sheraton and so was the free artist breakfest/awards on Sunday.

Clayton is a north suburb of SL.  It is where all the government buildings are.  Also, a ton of great restaurants to choose from.  Usually you will come in on I-70 then on to I-170 and get off at the Ladue exit.  Hotel is on Bonhomme Street and Beniston.  You can walk two blocks to the show from there.  There is a Starbucks, two breakfest diners plus a news shop that sells ice.  They got it covered well.  Gee Michelle, am I giving you too much info?

I just wish others would give simple info like this to me about a show I have never done, sure makes the job easier.

The show layout is basically on three streets.  Artists are back to back, down the middle of the street.  You have electric with lines running behind your booth.  It is tight in the rear with little room for inventory storage unless you can get your hind neighbor to scoot out  about 12 inches and do the same.  Plenty of room side to side.  I had a corner spot, it was well worth the extra money.

Corners go fast.  I got my acceptance via Zapp while at Ft. Worth.  I accepted immediately and paid booth fee including money for a corner.  If you don't do it pronto you are SOL.  Too many pros out there who know how it goes.  You snooze, you lose.

You are on paved streets, you need good weights, it can get very windy.  Better bring cut nails to nail down canopy feet so your booth does not go walking.

They let you in at 11 am, first come, first served.  They are not art show Naizis so you can hang around with your van for a while.  It is a very mellow setup.

Likewise, teardown is very civilized and easy.  They forgo asking you to take everything down and lay it on the pavement and get a pass so you can get your van.  You just lineup after 4pm, show closing, and they let you in.  What a breath of fresh air.  I was loaded out in an hour and a half and eating at Morton's before 7pm, after a cold shower and a short power nap.

Show runs from 5-10 pm Friday night, then Saturday it is 12 hours, 10 am-10pm.  Sunday it runs 11 am to 4 pm.  How civilized.  You have 22 hours to make serious moola and most people do.

So there, that is a lot of meat, but it is very helpful.  Hope it helps you when you get in this show.  If you were a smart person, you would print this blog out right now and store it in your file drawer under "Dreams."

Lets talk about personalities and moola--always a fun subject.

Lots of heavyweights at this show.  A lot of them had just driven in from doing Sausalito, which can be a biggie if you have the right stuff.

Artists here are comfortable, and expecting, to do big numbers, many in five-figures or better.

SL delivers.  There are several shows in the area over the year like, Laumier, Queeny Park, the Shaw, but the Art Show at Clayton is the biggie.  People wait all year to buy here.  Oh, let us not forget nearby Belville--but that really isn't St. Louis--it is its own force of nature.  You see people with really good shoes wearing expensive belts and carrying very pricey leather bags, and they are clothed very nicely.  Not a lot of tee-shirts like Royal Oak and others.

I have been lucky to get into SL five times now in 20 years, last time was four years ago.  Before the recession, this was a very good five-figure show for me.  Now in 40% off times, I wasn't expecting as much.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I did not do a ton of low end sales, it was more in the $90-$200 range.  People were buying three and four pieces at a time, and they were not trying to get you down on the price.

My neighbor next to me, Harvey Greenwald, does expensive, well crafted, leather bags mostly for women.  His bags start at $400 and up.  He had no trouble selling them.  Interesting thing about Harvey, he had his first show at Woodstock, the music fest in 1969.  I took a pic of him holding a photo of him at Woodstock when he was 23 years old.  He has been doing shows for 41 years.  He is a smooth pro.  He can charm women and get their dinero.  I learned a few new pointers from him.  

Down my row three booths away was fine ceramicist named Jenny Mendes from outside of Cleveland.  She made intricatly,designed vessels with cool edgey subject matters on them. I bought three of her pieces.  One of them I am drinking tequila from while I write this blog.  She had a so-so show, she sells to a very small niche market.  She still made money, just not a lot of it.

While waiting to set up I ran into this cool dude from High Point, NC named Steven Sebastian.  He does etchings of traditional subjects like rural farm and garden variety.  He sells expensive things, most all over $500.  I watched him all show walk back to his nearby parked truck and bring another framed piece back.  He did that at least six times on Saturday alone.

He was telling me he has been in the Plaza Art Fair for more than 25 years in a row.  That is awesome.  He has been in SL more than 10 times--equally awesome.  He expects success and he gets it.  How refreshing.

I walked around both Saturday and Sunday mornings saying hello to friends I know.  They all had great success stories to tell.  Saw Amy Flynn, Alan Teger, his lovely wife Barbara with her own work.  Saw Andy Shea, Matthew Cornell and a host of others.

There were only three Florida photographers in the show, me, Alan Teger and Doug Cavanaugh.  I felt happy to represent the sunshine state.  I beamed the whole show.

If you can ever get into this show, I hope you have equal or better success.  I am going to post photos in a seperate blog.  Right now, I am going to go work on my putting game.  I have this weekend off then it is off to Birmingham, MI, then St. James, then go shooting "Juke Joints" in Mississippi, then Bayou City in Houston.  Then I get to come home to Saugatuck in late October and dig up approximately 2,000 daylillies and get the damn weeds out of them and then replant the whole bed.

Then I go home to Florida and deal with my jungle of a yard in Ybor City which I will not have seen for five-and-one-half months.

PS.  Munks, I got to meet Holly Ollinger but she was not flying on her broom that I gave her at Christmas.

Later gators.

Background

I originally applied to this show at the recommendation of a jeweler I met in Wichita back in the spring.  I am a photographer working in traditional and historic processes with a mid-range price point.  I do offer a limited number of lower cost reproductions and postcards as well.  Castle Rock is located on I-25 just south of Denver, and about 30 minutes north of Colorado Springs.  It's an upper-middle class to high-end area with traditional-leaning tastes.  And while it's a 45 minute drive from my home, I still consider it to be local for me which helped with expenses.  The show is centrally located in downtown Castle Rock with shuttles for both shoppers and artists running regularly from the nearby Douglas County Events Center.  This is a two-day show with 177 artists and no electricity produced by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Layout

This is an art festival first and foremost.  The show is laid out in two parking lots, one behind the library and the other behind the town hall.  The street between the two lots is closed and has may 10 artist booths along it, giving the show a loose "z" configuration.  There was a small food area near the library lot with about 5 or so vendors (no turkey legs!) and an adjacent entertainment stage with a variety of intermittenent acts.  A children's art area was set up at the far end of the town hall lot.  There was a Chobani truck situated at one end of  the cross street giving away free yogurt all weeked.

Set-up

Set-up began at noon on Friday.  Artists picked up their packets and staged at the events center.  Vehicles were allowed to proceed to the festival site as space became available and the wait time seemed fairly short.  Most people were able to drive up to their booth spaces to unload.  The pace was faily relaxed and I had my tent up before my car needed to be moved.  Booth spaces varied depending on location.  I was in a center aisle, so I had another 5 or so feet of storage behind my booth.  Those set-up on the cross street or around the perimeter of the lots had no space behind them.  Set-up was smooth for me, but others had issues - more on that below.

The Show

This is a high-quality show.  The level of the work was very good, with little to no BS.  While there were a few contemporary artists showing, most of the work catered to the more traditional tastes of the local clientele.  I saw few booths that I would have been unhappy to be next to, and I felt comfortable that my work fit in well here.  Sales here were not generally record-breaking.  Saturday morning people were buying from the time the show opened at 9 and the activity didn't drop off until lunch.  It picked up again mid-afternoon and dropped off about 4:30, with the show closing at 6.  Sunday was a bit slower start until the after church crowd arrived and activity stayed strong until about 2:30 or so.  Sales were largely non-exisitent in the last hour of the show from 4-5.

On Sunday morning the judges came around and handed out the awards.  There was one jurors' award in each category, plus best fine art, best fine craft, and best of show.  Only the last 3 had money attached, totalling $700.  I am proud to say that I recieved the jurors' choice award for photography.  Best of fine craft and jurors' choice for ceramics were both given out a few booths away from me.  It was a good corner to be in.

As far as amenities, the show had a hospitatlity tent with light breakfast items, coffee, and snacks throughout the day.  The portapotties were clean and had real handwashing stations next to them.  While a bit inconviently placed, they were located away from the artists booths so that wasn't an issue.  Trash cans were a tad harder to come by, but a local Boy Scout troup made the rounds both days picking up trash and sprucing up the portapotties.

Tear Down

As is the case with many shows, little direction was given about tear down on Sunday.  But this didn't stop it from being an orderly process.  This show is done by a lot of pros, so folks were talking with each other and helping out as usual.  The only hitch was that the artists' shuttle only ran until 6:00, so I could only partially break down before going to get my car.  Fortunately this wasn't a problem space-wise and I was able to pull up in front of my booth with no problems.

Sales

As I said before this was not a record-setter for most people.  Nobody I spoke to zeroed, but the a painter and a sculptor near me only had one sale each.  I did slightly better here that I did at the 6-day odessy in OKC this spring, so it was an OK show in that respect.  A nearby jeweler said that it was a "medium-good" show for them and better than anything they had done in AZ this year.  A couple of old-timers were saying that it wasn't worth doing for them anymore.  No one I spoke to said it was a "great" show, but most of the newbies and short-timers said it would be on their "do again" list.  Because it's local for me with a reasonable booth fee I will definitely try this show again next year.

The Bad Stuff

Every show has its issues, so I left them for last:

1.  When buying your booth space, you were given the option of standard, double, corner, end, or a combination.  For $70 you got maybe 4 extra feet on one side if you bought and end.  If you were on the island end, no biggie.  But these were over sold and created in places other than just the end of a row.  It was 4 feet between booths and if you displayed your work on the outside people looking at your work would block the view of your neighbor's work and vice versa.  There were similar complaints about some corner booths ($90) not really being corners as well.  For the most part the promoter worked these issues out to the artist's satisfaction.

2.  Parking/shuttle issues:  The artists' shuttle didn't run on Saturday morning, reportedly because the driver didn't show up.  Some artists made the substantial trek from the fairground to the festival site across the busy railroad tracks on foot, others were left jogging up the hill from artist parking to customer shuttle to get to a ride.  The artist parking was in lot 1 at the bottom of a hill, but the artist shuttle only picked up at the top of the hill in lot 5 (the customer lot).  They would drop you off at the end of the day in lot 1, but wouldn't pick you up there in the morning.  A minor thing, I know, but confusing for the artists when you're told it will be otherwise.  It would be lovely if this were corrected next year.

3.  I had a little trouble getting the gift certificates cashed in on Saturday, so I had to wait until Sunday afternoon.  Since they were a small denomination it wasn't a huge deal, just an irritation.  Better communication between the promoter and the volunteers would fix this.  Ditto with the sales tax forms at the end of the show as no one knew where these should go.

All in all I have done much worse shows sales-wise and organizationally.  Like I said, this is on my "do it again" list.  If you're already out this way and have high quality traditional work this is a decent show.

Greetings all!  I have been on a hiatus (of doing fairs) since May - mostly due to the scorching heat we get here in MD...  and since this has been a record breaking year in the heat department, I think I made a right choice.  However, was the choice right in doing The Maryland Seafood Festival?

The nuts and bolts... 

Dates:  Sept. 10/11 from 10-9 p.m. 

Location:  Sandy Point Beach Park, right on the Chesapeake Bay (the Bay Bridge is what is in the background of the photo) Annapolis, MD.

Set-up:  I will get back to that one - long answer...

Space fee I paid was $425 for an under the tent 10x20 space.  This included electric and 8 ft. tables.  There were different fees if you wanted to set up a canopy say for a 10x10 space and so on. 

Weather:  Questionable, but mostly nice DURING the event.

Sales:  FOR ME, not bad at all considering...   details to follow too.

My thoughts...  The stage was set for the event a few days prior to the event.  Before Friday we had 5 long days and nights of endless rain with LOTS of flooding in many areas of Maryland.  Got an email at 10:50 Thursday night that set-up won't begin on Friday at 10:00, but 2:00.  I arrived at 2:15 to a muddy mess and the big tens up...  the bad news is it is on top of 2 inches of standing water (and muddy grass).  We were then told no one could go on the grounds until at least 4:00.  Meanwhile food vendors with their big trucks could making it REALLY bad for everyone else.  There is only one way in and out of the grounds (via a one road path)  that too was muddy.  Finally getting my space - as it wasn't and couldn't be marked due to the standing water, I decided to try and get as much as I can on tables and pray some of the water will recede if it doesn't rain over night.  I did get cedar chips and some alpha grass from a pet shop nearby - 5 hardware stores in the area weren't carrying straw yet.  And no the parks and recs as well as event management didn't and wouldn't provide straw.  I did bring carpet (which was later sacrificed to appease any golems) which was put on top of the grass and cedar (at least it smelled somewhat decent in my area) outside of it smelled questionable.  It wasn't until 8:00 p.m. I got out of the park and setting up.  I can say ALL vendors who beyond pissed on how it was all handled - no parking attendances or security to direct who can and cannot get on the land, no volunteers, and we didn't get electric until 12 noon Saturday.  During the whole weekend I was still under 1 inch of rain.  If I didn't bring the grass and cedar and carpet, people would have never been able to see my products nor venture into my space - the farthest point in the tent was my booth, which was at the farthest part of the fair.          

Sorry for harping on how miserable we were, but I spent all Saturday in bare feet standing in that water as my shoes were ruined not to mentioned badly sunburned (the back of my booth is where the sun shone in - which was MY FAULT for not bringing sunblock and the tent was open, no sides).  Saturday wasn't a bust though - sales and people were good!  I must add - for me.  I have had fellow "artists" (I don't think many were true handmade by the artist present - mind you a few of the wood carvings, nautical art, etc. - was beautiful!) periodically come into my booth and ask...  "so how are you doing?"  On a good note I covered all of my expenses Saturday - including paying for some friends for helping me with sales while I did candle making demos and took bathroom breaks.  Sunday didn't make too much, but must be one of the lucky ones as many didn't do well.  And on that note, I think the ones who didn't do well were the ones who couldn't shake off the anger from walking their merchandise into their booth about 1/8 mile away from the parking lot in muddy conditions, not having a nice display - some didn't use table cloths for instance.  There were those who should have done better - selling the right stuff at the right place, but had more lookers than buyers.  So, all in all I call myself lucky.  Very lucky.  If the ground conditions were better or at least did something to make the situation better, it could have been a VERY successful day for all involved. 

I felt bad for the food vendors - they were all in the mud and you had to be in mud to get your food.   While I do feel some of the blame for the way things went down was partially the promoters fault, I lay most of the blame on the park.  This event happens every year, during the middle of hurricane season and they would rather have big mud pits and patrons and exhibitors fall than put down straw, mulch, etc. to make for a better venue.   I am just thankful there were plenty of people who came out for the music, the seafood, the seafood cooking demonstrations, the crab picking contests, etc. or we wouldn't have had many people come - the arts and crafts were something to do.  I did get several people find me saying they saw my website and wanted to buy from me - those were heart warming moments!

I would say about 6,000 or so were there for the weekend - I couldn't really tell only because the art and crafts were soooo far away from all the action.  There is potential for more, but with it also being on Sunday with to big football games and 9/11 - it didn't help.   If the place had better grounds, it would have been a fabulous fair and I am saying that after having sunburns, mosquito bites, VERY sore muscles, etc. yet still walked away with a decent profit.  Note:  I am not mentioning numbers as numbers, to me doesn't mean the same thing from one medium to another, but I can say I did over $1000 and I am just a candle maker who also makes lavender products and my own incense sticks (which ended up being the biggest seller).    I can say I did walk the show a few years ago and it was hopping, and was sunny when I was there, but they still had rain issues then.  I also liked the variety of exhibitors then too, than this year - everyone said too much jewelry (not that it was bad), but you have that - a person selling plants, another selling African carved wood animals, etc.  mixed with some true artisans - it wasn't the best  in variety this year.  - Michelle

P.S.  I did take the photo with my IPhone - didn't want to risk my camera getting dirty and with the back light couldn't get a good shot of the booth...  Sorry!

Well, I just got back from St. Louis, been without computer since last Thursday, I know, how archaic.

But, tonite I got to read Connie's post, Munks and John's.

I am just so happy I was the guy who got the whole thing rolling.

Which brings me to the whole point of this blog.

As you know, I am not a rah, rah ,rah cheerleader kind of blogger.

But, here is the pure joy about this site.

It trumps Sunshine Artist, it trumps Gregg's reviews because it is so immediate.  And, it can effect change.

Notice the inciteful comments from, Parker, Bernstein, Warren, et al, others.  Lots of good imput.  Lots of good comments that will help make a change in that show.  Notice how John, the overall director, was open to comments and criticism.  Where do you see that in our business?  Very little.

So, this is a great site: it encourages interactions, it incurs helpful comments--and , most importantly, it sometimes makes things get better.

 I am proud of Connie for getting this whole thing going--it has great  consequences ahead of it. Be part of it, comment, add, and include insights--they are all important.

Like I said, I was happy to be the guy who got things rolling.

I will have a great review of the St. Louis Art Fair tomorrow.  Tonite, Ellen and I are enjoying the Michigan skies.

 Aloha, Nels.

Since I drive to CA from Spokane for my shows I try to have a show every weekend.

My last show before going back to Spokane just kept going from bad to worse.

I was the first to set up I made sure that the person incharge showed me the spot.

After setting up the tent and table we found out that my number goes from right

but I was told to set up on the left side of my number but that was easy to fix.

we switched numbers no big deal.  Then slowly vendors started to set up.  Making sure

that my tent was set up exactly between the lines.  But the tent two down from me  after he

had his tent set up the person between us did not have a 10X10 space.

I had all my glass up when we found that I would have to move.  I could only

be grateful that I had 3 men helping me move my tent a few feet without

breaking anything.

It seem everything was going wrong and I was feeling that I wanted to just pack up and leave.

With the help of so many wonderful volunteers at the show it made me to go on.

I see how hard the people who make our art show work to make it a success

for us.  Hopefully we do not forget that.