This is the 3rd year that I've done the Arts in the Heart of Augusta show.  It's located in Augusta, Georgia.  In the past this show has been a good show for me, but resulted in average sales.  This year several changes resulted in making this my best show ever both sales wise and every other way I can think of.  Previously this show has been held in both paved and unpaved parking areas, but this year they managed to talk the city of Augusta into holding the event on the main business street of the city (way to go!) and what a difference it made.  It's now located on a wide street with unloading right in front of your booth and parking right behind your booth every day. 

Previously there has been a part of the show that was sectioned off for buy/sell vendors, but this year they limited the vendors to artists and craftsmen and they did a great job in the jury process.  There was a wide range of arts/crafts and it was mostly of very high quality.  The folks that attended responded very positively.  I talked to a couple of vendors that had to call home to have additional things brought in.  I saw one double booth consolidate what they had left down to a single space.  I ran out of boxes at one point, but that didn't seem to matter, folks took things home in a bag happily. Every artist that I talked to was having a great show and that ranged from wooden toy makers to photographers.

I have to point out that the weather was amazing.  The temperatures were perfect and there was no rain and that contributed to bringing the crowds out, but that was just icing on the cake.  This show was  run perfectly.  I'd recommend this one to anyone! 

Suwanee day 2011 ( Suwanee Ga.) was the best year yet. This was my third year, and well worth it.

It a pain to get in & out, because you can not drive to your spot & unload. you have to be loaded onto these trailers being towed by these ATVs, and they take you to our spot. But they have tons of wonderful volunteers that make it go smoothly and quick. after the show you do the same procedure in reverse, except 150 artist are all trying to get out the same time. with a little patience you get out just fine. again they have tons of help. back to the show, it's on this huge park on the corner of two main streets. The festival is super well organized. Nice motor coaches bring customer from 3 off site parking. 

People come to shop, I think everyone around me did well. I have no idea how many people came buy, except it seemed non stop that people were in my booth.

Tonight I was reading a post by Kathleen Clausen on shoplifters.  Shoplifters hit her neighbor's booth and then proceeded to her booth.  The shoplifters were able to get some jewelry from both booths and who knows how many other booths before that.  Luckily, Kathleen and her neighbor were able to recover their artwork. 

Shoplifters don't take vacations or ask for permission before they strike.  It happenes when we least expect it.  Plus, we usually realize it long after the perpetrators are gone. 

So, what do you do to minimize thefts from your booth?  Have you had many thefts?  Have you caught anybody red handed?  Tell us how you combat this problem.  Your experiences may just help another artists to protect themselves and their hard work.  It is always good to be prepared.

Jacki B

Connie and I both received the following from the art director that I have been corresponding with regarding Mistura.  I am continuing to respect the continued request for anonymity but will say that I know that most people on this website would be happy to be accepted at this art festival.  I also feel confident that the information will be passed on to other festival directors.    I am sure that Mistura will continue to be wonderfully successful selling their very cool watches at the appropriate venues.

Would one of you mind posting that the "anonymous" show director has
emailed Juan Barreneche and Daniel Schemel with the allegations
against them - giving them a fair opportunity to explain themselves.
She is specifically asking about 4 people working for them that are
not listed on their application and what their roles are, how they
have time to make 85 hour watches while providing stock to over 15
stores and 3 online sites while attending many art festivals and
specialty shows and asking them to elaborate on how they create their
watchbands, which have been rumored to be purchased not handmade. She
has set a response deadline of tuesday at 5 pm central. If they are
unable to explain themselves sufficiently or fail to respond, she is
removing them from the show. She wants to thank everyone on this blog
for giving her enough clues to be able to approach them.

May 11-13, 2012
Greenville, South Carolina
West End Historic District
120 Artists
Deadline: October 6, 2011 - paper applications
October 20, 2011 - online applications (Zapplication deadline)

Greenville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest corner of South Carolina, halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte. It is one of those lucky U.S. cities impacted positively by high tech development where industries such as BMW, General Electric and Fluor are flourishing.

 What to expect:

• Since 2005 the Purchase Awards Program provided an average of an additional $17,500 in art sales
• An extensive advertising and publicity effort that publicizes the festival throughout the state and the Southeast region in print, radio, and television. The festival will also be marketed through direct mail, social media and advertisements in tourist publications
• $10,000 in prize money
• a well-educated audience who have good jobs
• great time of the year for pleasant Spring days

Now in its eighth year, the top-ranking Artisphere festival is an annual three-day event that gives arts patrons the opportunity to meet exhibiting artists while purchasing original works of art.  Recently ranked in Sunshine Artist Magazine's "200 Best Fine Art Shows" and a top-twenty event in Greg Lawler's Art Fair Sourcebook, Artisphere's mission is to showcase and promote the arts.   

Artisphere is a 501(c)(3) non- profit art organization.  Proceeds are used to produce the annual arts Festival and are also distributed back to local non-profit arts organizations as part of Artisphere's Volunteer Arts Partnership Program.

On the fence about applying? Visit their website for a good overview: www.Artisphere.us 

See artist review here: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/artispherea-little-jewel-of-a

For a prospectus and more info, contact Liz Rundorff Smith, Program Director/Artisphere, 864-271-9355, or liz@greenvillearts.com.    

Download the application:  www.artisphere.us

************************

Putting together your schedule for 2012? Don't miss this daily updated site:  www.CallsforArtists.com

My new Joelle's Dolls website and blog can be found at 

http://www.joellesdolls.com/

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.