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So here I was, the only show I did this year.Bad back and worse attitude have put me to the injured reserve list, but I had to do Crested. Just had to. The is something completely special about a place without a Starbucks or Home Depot.The show was two beautiful days of sunshine and smiling Texans. Most of us seemed to do "OK" for sales, but all of us came away with feeling we had just spent a weekend in a very special place, with some fine and special folks.

Last year I wrote a blog on the show, and the show peeps asked me if they could atttach it to the show promotions (sure) and if accepted would I do it again this year.( No problemo). So I got in (Thanks Jobu) and asked for a guide to help interview. Diana said she had the perfect person to help.

It took me until Sunday to figure out that Leah Williams (guide and interviewer extraordinaire) was the Mayor of Crested Butte.She introduced me to some local folks, and I in turn introduced her to some artists that I knew, or had asked to be part of this adventure. First up was Glo Cunningham. She runs the local museum, and like Radar O'Reilly, is there to help you before you ask. I had the distinct impression, whatever question I asked would be answered honestly, and might contain a strong opinon or two. And I could like it or not. A small town  

needs someone like this, to defend it yet keep it honest.Glo knows how things really work, how all of us need to work together, and one day may need each others help. Might be why this seems to actually work here, that necessity of community that ain't quite so everywhere anymore. Think she and I might get along right fine.

Leah then introduced me to Spencer Hestwood, owner of the Ginger cafe. I blurted "You're just a kid! I have children older than you!" Leah commented he had just cut his hair (Pony tail not too practical in the hot kitchen be my guess). Spencer sat down, and what came out was wise beyond his years. Most of us know the local merchants in the town we set up in would just as soon turn a firehose on us .He understands the real dynamics of business, that his best plate (our best work) defines us every time, and becomes our success or failure. I asked him why Crested.Got that smile, a bit of twinkle in his eye well beyond his 30ish years. He kinda raised his hands, looked around. I understood. To hear the guy actually get it is one thing. To know he understands just how fortunate he is to be here, and what he needs to do to stay here is, well kinda refreshing. Now, just a quick plug. My back was toast, and I was on an overdose of OTC pain relievers.Saturday night we stoppped in.Had a blue ginger margarita.Nice. One more for effect. Nicer. One last to congradulate myself on my wisdom to try something new. Next am. woke up and expected to have to summon a crane to lift me off the bed. I got up, no pain. Ah, the tequila. Wifeypoo said no dumbass. The ginger has anti inflamatory benefits. OK then. I was back for more Sunday night.

From here, I wanted to talk to a few artist particiapants.Some I knew, and a few "volunteered" to be interviewed. I enjoyed this, the performance we learned is so essential for what we are here for, the sale.  

Susan Quin Byrd and her husband Charles Taube were side by side in life and booth placement.Quite the co incidence. Susan, a photograher, was quite expressive in describing the work she did (the Western theme does resonate with both the locals and the tourists. Gotta have on the walls what they wanna see!). She was quite effusive in her praise of the show itself, and had become interested hearing of both the quality of the artists invited, as well as those Texans in the hills (Quick editorial note; I am a natural Texan, and aside from the Bushes, will defend the state and its wonderful people to the end. And I love how they spend money on art!).Think she and Crested gone along damn fine.

Charles, quite the interesting guy. As Leah spoke to him, I found myself looking from his work, to his bio. Have to say I found his story inspiring to say the least.

His work, some of the most elegant wood sculpture I have seen. Almost a still life ballet in wood.  Happy to be here, looked to be doing quite well, and so lucky to be set up next to his wife. So no pic of Charles, had edit a bit. :)

Leah was kind enough to show her town, and the people behind the scenes off a bit, and as we did, several things became apparant. The energy was real, the lack of any tension was a welcome relief to a stressed out Windy City refugee. No one talking on cells or texting (except the artists). Parents let their children run around like, well like children. The store owners lent their curbs, their shade, electricity and thier patience to us, something I have witnessed three years running. So (now fully aware I was in the company of royalty) I asked Leah why she ran for office. She gave a slight smile, looked up to the horizon for a second."I just love this place, and I will do whatever I can to keep it just the way it is". The same sentiment I found in every person I met that worked the show, worked a business, or served me a margarita. In my show persona, I am known by some as "that old car guy". Known by others as....., well. No need to go there. My work is not about old cars, old planes or rust in general. It's about a time when certain things mattered, when honor was of value, when what a man made with his hands was a work of art. Meant to be cherished, not thrown away. A time when people understood community, understood enough to know it wasn't to be taken for granted.Had to be worked on and at, knew when to help another. Crested kinda gets all that I think, a small slice of what used to be America protected by the mountains. And by the people that are willing to work to keep it that way, kind enough to share it with those of us that take over for a Summer weekend. But I wanted to introduce her to someone I know a bit, and to me someone that epitomizes the spirt of the American artist, working off the grid a bit every day of the year. I met Christine Hauber a few years back, initially over the various artists participation sites, and finally

at some show somewhere. To me, art is so many things to so many people it defies any real definition other than whatever selective interpretation the user may require. The term "artist" to me is someone that is willing to adapt their life to their work. The art not just what is on the walls, but in their willingness to do what it takes for the maintain the freedom of the lifestyle, to put their work before the possessions that weigh most of us down. Leah asked where Christine lived. "I live wherever the work or the shows take me". Leah, I think, fully understood. She has to, that spirit pervades the walls of these old buildings that so gracefully invite us to wonder of how things used to be here. I think she enjoyed meeting one of the real souls of the traveling tent shows that take things over for the Summer weekend. Met a whole bunch of decent folks here, Bea and her husband Matthew Hatala. Again the co incedence of a married couple being assigned boths next to each other. And yes, the idiot scrambling to put his dog back in his carrier at the Ginger Cafe was me.

For the majority of artists that make the show, it's a mad dash to get to the destination, a furious effort to set the tent, hang the work. Days on your feet, smiling, hoping the questions turn into cash. Catch a quick meal, a decent sleep, and when the show is over, pack it up to do it again. Crested is different from most places, the event has become a destination . One that people plan their vacations around. The art is upper end, the people come to buy, and the hosts. Well, they are the real winners in all this.They get to stay. For the artists, if not  this time, maybe next time for sure. Stay a few extra days and really get to know the place. It was an honor to see it from another perspective. Oh, and one last shot. The gratuitous chick singer pic. Yep. I'm. I'm coming back here.

Remember when everyone was saying how great the weather was in Florida this past winter?  The weather in the Chicago-Milwaukee area has been the worst this summer.  If it isn't the heat and the humidity, it is rain (sometimes combined with heat and humidity which pretty much equals steam)

Morning Glory is a very nice art festival in downtown Milwaukee surrounding the Marcus Center.  Don't know about any of the artist details like load-in and load out and food, parties or awards (I know they do have awards).  The art festival is on two plazas across a 4 lane street from each other.  Traffic is light enough that crossing is very easy so there isn't necessarily a good and bad side of the show.  

What I do know is that of the ones I saw, the artists were very good.  There were a lot of artists I had never seen before and some  that I have seen but not that often.  The layout is a little confusing on the side of the street where the Marcus Center is but it isn't such a large area that you can't walk over to a booth to see it.  The booths in the back are a little hidden but you can find them.  

I had to pick up a bracelet so we went across the street first to see the jeweler that had it.  After we left her booth, we noticed the big black clouds to the north and west and we decided we would come back after the cloud passed.  (we wanted to be near the center so we could go inside if it got really bad outside.)  As we were walking around, the artists were all quickly getting their booths ready for what may come.  There wasn't a sense of panic but there was a definite sense of urgency.  MG has had its share of bad weather over the years so this was understandable.  It started to really rain but I am happy to say that not a lot of wind accompanied the storms while we were there.  

We left at one after only  seeing one side of the show.  It started to rain a second time and we had other places to be.  I am sure attendance was held down by the weather but I have to say that a lot of people stuck around to wait out the storms.  Being able to wait in an air-conditioned building with really nice bathrooms made it easier.  The gift shop, which is actually an art gallery, was another way to pass the time and several people were buying pieces there.  

Based on what we did see, the quality was impressive, there wasn't any buy/sell and we will definitely return next year, hoping for much better weather.

Hi Everyone,

Anyone have any experience with this show, or any thoughts about it?

Thanks!

Karen

September 24 & 25

Lake St. Louis, Missouri

3rd Annual Art Fair on the Meadows at Lake St. Louis

20 artists

Booth Fee: $150; Application Fee: $10

The Meadows at Lake St. Louis is the St. Charles County's newest upscale shopping & lifestyle center.  The event is held in the lushly landscaped central plaza located in the center of over 30 stores and restaurants.  The architecture and design of the Meadows makes the venue so attractive.  The stores are all laid out in four quadrants around a lushly landscaped central courtyard.

Amenities:

• Postcards will be supplied to artists after acceptance to the show
• Set up on Fri.: 10am-6pm or Sat. morning
• Show hours: Sat.: 10am-6pm; Sun.: noon-4pm

For more info: www.artfaironthemeadows.com/

Application:

www.artfaironthemeadows.com/2011meadowscallforartists.htm  Â  

Please contact Don Crozier for more information:

doncrozier@gmail.com

636-293-6864   

I did the Howard Alan Park City show at Redstone this year (it's in its second year, but this was my first time doing it -- last weekend of July). Set up times varied -- depending on your assigned booth location. I had the bad luck of having early morning Saturday set up, which meant I was up at 3:45 AM. Fortunately, I was able to park really close to my booth, so set up was easy that way. There were only 90 artists, and they were stretched out around the Redstone shopping plaza. The show went Sat/Sun 10am - 5pm. 

I had seen reports (on FNO) that 50,000 people supposedly attended this show last year -- which was similar to the number I saw for the crowd at the Kimball Arts Festival. Sadly, that number was way off. The small crowd trickled through on Saturday and slowed considerably on Sunday -- and stopped altogether when a big storm hit in the afternoon. The people that did come through were the art buying type, so I was hopeful, but in the end I mostly got a lot of "be backs."

I was able to make some smaller sales, enough to cover the hefty booth fee -- $475 -- but that's about it. The other photographers I spoke to were in the same boat. (Sorry, I don't know how well other mediums did besides the jeweler right next to me who barely made his booth fee as well.) Since I am just an hour's drive away, I may give it one more shot next year.

Just got my new images uploaded into my MAC.  Found a few gems on this trip

Got my annual visit from "Munks in a Kilt".  Actually his name is Dwayne and he really loves the Uptown Art Fair.

So on my journey I stopped in Madison and found this great sculpture on the bike trail.. Very intruiging.

Along the way I stopped in small towns.  Found this great bar in one.

Outside the town was a rural classic.  I think they were all giving me the big stink eye.

The highlight of my journey is the following one at the "Cheaters Bar.

When i got ready to take this, this old guy in a pickup truck stopped.  He yelled, "Hey you want me to pose in front of the door, I am a regular."  Does that mean "cheater" or a regular whatever.  I asked him where his other half was and he said,"I will go home and get her."  I just smiled.

Finally on the way home to Michigan, I came across the Mississippi River around 5 am and got this great little image.

These things make my travels worthwhile.  Aloha, Nels.

The Midtown Festival of the Arts in an excellent location in Atlanta premiered last year to rave reviews from the artists. The event, an all volunteer festival, brought together civic leaders in that neighborhood and local sponsors to an already vibrant neighborhood. Inspired by that success the group started reaching out to some arts professionals for ideas on organization and improving the show. All was seemingly going well for 2011 but complications have brought it to a halt for 2011.

This is one of several shows in Mystic, and this one is put on by Denise Morris Curt.  It’s a small show, about 60 artists, and I prefer the intimate atmosphere of a smaller show.  It’s on the village green next to the Old Mystic Village Shops, which provides a lot of foot traffic, and next to a restaurant, which provides the waiting for a table folks around 5 or 6. 

Denise had me set up right next to her, in a great spot where my work hanging on the back wall was clearly visible to crowds in the Village Shops.  Load in was probably one of the easiest we’ve ever done- 11:30 am set up time, pull up to the curb, and fortunately my spot was right on the entrance road into the shops, so we didn’t even have to use our dolly.  The weather gave us a break on Friday-overcast and much cooler than last weekend at Old Saybrook.  I actually made a sale during set up, which filled us with a lot of hope for the show.

Denise has a faithful following among the artists that do her shows, and she does good advertising.  The crowds were slow to start out on both Saturday and Sunday, and didn’t really get too big either day, perhaps because it was pretty warm both days-high 80’s.  The shoes were there, but not by a whole lot.  The whole mess with the vote on the national debt was weighing on people’s minds.  The artist next to me said several people mentioned it and blamed their buying hesitancy on that.   A couple of artists noted that this was the slowest they’ve seen this show, and I’ll take their word, as this is my first time here. Several artists mentioned the Mystic show that takes place August 14 as being the Mystic show to do, right on the Seaport, but I think that’s a one-day show.   Perhaps the footwear is better at that show; there were a lot of looky-loos at this one.

Our one big concern was security.  It seems that theft has increased, at least I’ve heard about more theft in the past couple of months than I ever have before.  Framer Dude always does a few late night walk throughs the show to make sure security is out there, and gets buddy buddy with them, but he didn’t see a single guard on Friday night, and he was there almost an hour wandering through the show.   Saturday night we encountered one guard who was patrolling all of the shoppes in Ye Olde Mistick as well as the show, so I was not thrilled with the quality of security.

This is my first time back home to the Northeast with my artwork, and I am thrilled with the response here to my work.  Living in Florida and doing the Florida circuit, I had begun to accept a 5x booth fee as a good show for me.  I have a subject matter that New England coastal show goers can relate to- stones, shells, and shoreline scenes- and it’s a whole new ballgame for me now.  Too bad the economy is in such shaky shape or I think I would have experienced the five figure show that all the veterans talk about by now.  I’m traveling further north to Maine, where the Canadians are out in full force for their summer vacations, so hopefully I can even out the balance book up there.

After week after week of insanely hot and therefore only moderately profitable shows in MD and NJ,  I was really looking forward to spending three days on the family-friendly Ocean City (NJ) Boardwalk, hoping that the sea breeze would kick in to cool off patrons without putting a damper on sales.  And for the most part, it worked out.

When I began booking my August shows last May, this calendar slot presented a toss-up between two unknowns: OC, or an equally long-running arts and crafts festival in Stone Harbor NJ.  The latter show has a bit higher profile, with an ad most months in Sunshine Artist and a location that pulls patrons from the somewhat tonier shore towns of Stone Harbor and Avalon.  So I did my homework, checking reviews, soliciting opinions for AFI veterans, and (once I got up north in June) asking artists I met on the northeast show circuit.  Although both shows had pluses and minuses, I was somewhat surprised to hear the OC show judged more favorably.  So here I was at 7 AM Friday morning, at the base of the boardwalk on 9th St.: gaze shifting uneasily between my humble hand truck, my overflowing van, and the steep ramp up to a seemingly endless stretch of wooden planks and seaside merchants,  wondering if I'd make enough money in 3 days to pay for the chiropractor.

For the setup is brutal, no two ways about it. It took a dozen (!) trips and more than an hour before booth building could finally begin. Ocean City also allows bikes and runners on the boardwalk every morning, adding an exciting element of danger to the load-in. (There's something about the proximity of the beach that makes people absolutely oblivious to their surroundings.)   At the show's official start time (10 AM), I had only a couple wall pieces hung, but I hadn't poleaxed anyone yet, either, so overall things were going well.  And already, folks were stopping to gaze and ask questions. 

By noon, with the bikers banished, there were already a couple of sales in the till, and the crowd was steady if not spectacular all day.  Most of the booth visitors were year-round or seasonal residents; many told me that they avoid the boardwalk during the weekends.  The early evening, though, was a different story, as weekend visitors poured in to the vicinity.  According to veteran artists of the show, it used to end at 6 PM on Friday and Saturday, but artists continued to stay open to work the early-evening crowds anyway, so the event was extended an extra two hours this year.

It wasn't worth it, at least not for me.  The boardwalk demographic definitely skews younger after 5 PM, and visitors to the booth dropped dramatically. 

Saturday was a good weather day with a moderate sea breeze, and one of the best sales days I've had all summer. Lots of buyers, particularly of my small (8x10 mat) photos, but enough large pieces went out the door to keep me happy.  A line of heavy thunderstorms were predicted for Saturday night, so artists lashed their tents to the boardwalk railing and hoped for the best. 

I had nearly finished my 70-minute drive back to Mt. Laurel when I realized that I hadn't lowered the vent flap on my Trimline.  Without any friends in the area I could call at 11 PM, I called the Ocean City boardwalk police, gave them my tent location, and, as I discovered the next morning, they did just what they said they'd do and lowered them for me.  Luckily, the storm wasn't as bad as predicted. But it ushered in near100% humidity, and apparently, ushered out the buyers, too.  Used to doing two-day shows, I figured anything I got on Day 3 would be gravy.  But I haven't had so little gravy since I was last in line at the Thanksgiving buffet. The few people who stopped in the booth had mild buying interest, at best, and I made one $22 sale all day.

The show closed at 6 PM Sunday, and load-out was a tedious nightmare.  Because of a communication breakdown between show officials and the local police, the parking passes that artists received for loading out weren't worth the paper they were written on because the police said they didn't know about them. My neighbor, who was doing her first art show, parked at the foot of the boardwalk, came back to her booth to begin load-out, and found a cop writing a parking ticket.  When asked about the parking pass in her dashboard, the officer replied that he "hadn't gotten any memo about it", but that he'd "let her off this time."  Imagine her surprise and anguish when she found a ticket on her car after her second trip--this one written by the parking meter police (a separate jurisdictional entity). 

If other artists at other loading areas encountered the same scenario, this was going to be an unpleasant situation. So I fetched the police phone number from my iPhone and dialed them up to explain the snafu.  When the dispatcher wasn't helpful (I'm not sure if the call was dropped, or if he hung up on me), I found one of the bike officers, who promised to call his supervisor, who arrived to talk to me ten minutes later. "Regardless of whether a permit was filed, or if it wasn't, the artists shouldn't be penalized for doing exactly what they were told to do by the show," I explained.    He listened thoughtfully, took a few notes, said he'd look into it, and then report back to me.  And...he did! Not only that, he talked to each of the persons known to have gotten a ticket to make sure they knew who to talk with to get it cancelled.

That crisis resolved, at least for the moment, I was free to resume load-out...this time, through a boardwalk teeming with families, toddlers in tow, and 'tweeners who were texting, heads down, as they walked. Ten trips later, I was done--again, without casualties or other collateral damage.  I noted the time as I drove off: Nine forty-five.  The post-show adrenaline hung on just long enough to get me home by 11. 

Postscript to the parking crisis:  I followed up with the Ocean City Art League, leaving a message that night and the next morning.  They did, in fact, file the necessary permit, and as we spoke Monday had already scheduled a meeting with the police chief to discuss the breakdown.  And there was, they said, at least one person on site Sunday night: They had provided artists with a contact phone number with the information packet they'd supplied, but unfortunately mine had blown away in Saturday's overnight storm so I didn't have it available.  To my suggestion that it would be a good idea to have trained volunteers or show officials at each of the load-out locations, they agreed, but noted "we never have enough volunteers."

I'm not sure what the bottom line for this show is.  Like so many other shows in this down economy, it's struggling to make ends meet.  Show officials are well intentioned but understaffed, and an aging population isn't able to provide the volunteer support they might have 10 or 15 years ago.  Municipalities that host shows don't drop their fees because, after all, their coffers are nearly bare and they need the revenue themselves to pay for police presence, cleanup, and all the nuts and bolts they're responsible for. 

To the OC Art League's credit, they are keeping show fees incredibly low (only $125 for a single booth at a three-day show) to help artists offset the high costs for parking ($16/day in the municipal lot I chose over the "incessantly-feed-the-meter" alternative) and lodging (over $140/night and up). Despite the low fees, they still offer an awards program (I was fortunate enough to win an "Award of Excellence" and a nice check). And from what I saw, there's still a surprising amount of community interest in the show. 

The Ocean City show definitely has some work to do: updating the content and presentation of a '90s-era website and show brochure, and determining whether it is better off as a two-day show, with or without extended hours, just for openers. The post-show survey we artists received suggests that all these options are in play for the future. 

Despite all the hassles, I like this show and the people who host it.  I'm hopeful that they'll come back stronger in 2012. As for me, if I return it'll be with a Caterpillar-sized hand truck and some 20-year-old muscle in tow.

I've spent so much time and space on here asking advise and questions over the past couple of weeks I feel guilty for even being on here.  However, I'm hoping you will indulge one more until at least the middle of August!

I'm doing the Frankfort Fall Festival in Frankfort, IL over Labor Day Weekend.  I'm trying to find one-two other decent shows in the area to tie in with it in order to lower my travel expenses.  Sort of a two-for-one sort of deal.

As my Post Title implies, there are so many shows going on in the Chicago area, it's difficult to choose - especially when one isn't terribly familiar with them.  I've briefly looked at 3-4 and if anyone has any experience, insight, suggestions on one or all of the following, it would be very helpful and most appeciated.

One is the Cedarhurst Craft Fair in Mt. Vernon, Sept. 10-11; second is The Festival of the Vine in Geneva on the same date;  third is the Glen Ellyn Arts Festival the weekend before Labor Day.  I've also considered the Amdur show in Downers Grove but, though not expensive compared to most, its a bit more pricey than the others and I'm wondering if it would be considered to be that much better than the others.

FYI, my medium is Wood with price points from $38.00 to $195.00 and I think it would fall more in the Fine Crafts Category.  Some of the shows place me in Functional Art.  So, if all you good people will help guide me through this maze, I promise I won't bother you again before the date mentioned above.  And, thank you for your help.

You know it’s going to be a bad show when...

...you arrive at the show at 6:30 am and there are homeless people sleeping in the park.

...you leave your plastic coffee mug at your booth to visually mark your spot and it becomes a projectile in a fight between a local shop owner and a juvenile delinquent methhead,  where shortly thereafter, the police arrive.

...you are the only booth that is not an EZ up.

...you drop to your knees upon achieving booth fee.

...there are aliens present at the show (more on that).

...you realize there’s no second day to make up for the crappy first one, because it’s a one-day show.

WHAT was I thinking, fer cryin out loud? 

Yeah, these were my warning signs at the Providence City Artsfest.  I don’t like to speak negatively about shows, especially since this one was a filler, in between Mystic and Bar Harbor, but I hoped that Providence, being a coastal city and home to RISD, would have pulled a hat trick for me. 

I have to, first off,  give kudos and kisses to Framer Dude for pulling off our first major downtown city driving in the Artship Enterprise.  One way streets, cobblestones, acute angle streets, and random homeless people popping out like the ghosts in Pac-Man from every bus station, he did wonders navigating the streets in our forty foot sub-tender on wheels.  Once again, we arrived early, and we parked in the city bus loop and did our thing in about half an hour, so that was relatively painless and anxiety free, once the police arrested and whisked away the enthusiastic coffee mug hurler. Dolly down a sidewalk to the skatepark, and that was it.  So load in and out was great, considering we were in a downtown metropolitan area.  Plus, he found a parking spot at an Irish pub, so he was happy.

But oh those spaces.

I must be spoiled by some generous shows.  When they said the booths were 10 feet, they meant 10 feet, and not one inch more.  I was glad I’d lost 10 lbs just so I could oil myself up and squeeze behind the booth.  I set the booth away from the park walls about 18 inches, just so I could put some boxes behind and have some inventory, not that I needed it, as I found out.

And the aliens.  I don’t mean the wackadoos whose raison d’etre seems to be asking the kinds of questions that have been enumerated upon in another thread here.  I’m talking 6, 7 foot rubber masked alien creations of a costume company that roamed in a troupe, much to the amusement of the kiddies but completely drawing attention away from artists trying to make a connection in their booths.  At one point, I actually had a respectable qualified couple interested in my work, when suddenly three or five of these circus escapees came bumbling around the corner, and one of them literally hung over my shoulder making kissy noises (I think?) in my ear and conducted a Charlie Chaplin pantomime next to me.  I was never so tempted to wage a single-handed intergalactic battle in my life.  I could envision that giant rubber schnozz squishing under my fist as the couple giggled and walked away, my artwork forgotten.  But, what does one do in a situation like that?   I think it was the painkiller I took that kept me from actual violence...

This was touted as a fine art show, but as I said before, I was the only non- EZ-up.   Yes, I had an EZ up too in the beginning.  But what Framer Dude saw confirmed my suspicions about the quality hinted at by the EZs at this show.  And yes, once again, I got the dubious honor of having the most expensive art at the show.  But even if I sold only my 25 and 60 dollar prints I would have probably been mid to high end.  I was up against dog collar vendors, hand-painted ball caps, the requisite BS that seems to be de rigueur lately...

I suppose a downtown location in a major city has its drawbacks.  Locals mentioned to Framer Dude about the homeless shelter down the block, and indeed they were out and about, probably disgruntled that a hundred slightly less homeless artists had usurped their territory for the day.  Parking was horrific and expensive, though thousands were gearing up for Waterfire and multiple bands that night, alas too late to really help the show.  And there was a marathon the next day whose route passed along Biltmore park, and apparently that was why this show could not extend to two days.

So what did I learn to avoid next year?  One-day shows that have minimal track records.  Ones that heavily rely on social media to promote the show.  To check the show site vicinity beforehand for nearby drug rehabilitation/ social welfare centers.  I’m not an elitist or discriminatory.  I’m a realist.  Clients who have and appreciate nice things are NOT going to want to park their Benz or Jag, dress nicely as they are wont to, carry cash and credit cards, and maybe carry back expensive art through a suspect part of town.  Even I felt a bit nervous going to 7-11 for a pack of cigarettes and was approached for a couple as I left with them. (Honestly, I used to rollerblade fearlessly at midnight down 12^th avenue in Manhattan and dodge the hookers and the dealers.) 

I’m still looking for a truly high quality fine art/fine craft show in New England.  No more close encounters of the third kind.  Puh-leeez, a respite from the BS.  Any weekend now...maybe Bar Harbor next weekend?  

This is a fun show to participate in and works nicely into our summer road trip.  We've participated in this show 3 times in the last 5 years including last year and we're wondering if this is a show we need to skip every year or two.  If we had $1 for every time we had someone walk into our booth and comment on how they love our work and bought XYZ last year or at one of our Spokane,WA shows, we would have made a lot more money.  Spokane WA and Coeur d'Alene are only about a 30 minute drive apart, neither are really large communities so we need to think about that in the future.

Overall the show is relatively easy to do.  Load in starts at 3 on Thursday, continues Friday morning, show starts at noon on Friday so load in is staggered, you can drive to your booth on the Old Fort Sherman grounds, most of us were able to leave our vehicle parked in front or behind the booth for the entire set up.  Load out is a little more chaotic and depending on where your booth is located, can be a bit more challenging to get your vehicle in.  Some of the artists brought their vehicles in immediately after the show was done and blocked access for others for most of the load out time period.  We were in one of the more congested areas and ended up having to manuever quite a bit to get the truck in and then had a little more challenge trying to leave after we were packed.  They do allow RV parking on the North Idaho college campus within  very easy walking distance of the show.  Booth sitters were available, volunteers were very visible and helpful, they do have coffee and muffins each morning for the artists.  One artist we know inujured her eye Sunday morning and the show staff / volunteers took extra care to make sure she was okay and had the help she needed.

There were around 150 booths or so and attendance seemed lower than it had been in previous years and nowhere close to the 50,000 the arts council states. 3 shows occur this weekend, Art on the Green, Taste of CDA and the Street Fair.  I heard from others that all the shows seemed to add additional booths this year so the buying dollars were spread a little thinner.  We also noticed a remarkable lack of tourists on Friday which is unusual as this is usuually a show that attracts the tourists who are visiting for their summer vacations.  Temperatures were reasonable, in the 80's each day.  All of the booths get at least a portion of the day in the direct sun and then shade for part of the day.  There are a few booths that get the afternoon sun hitting them directly for about 3 hours making the booths unbearably warm, with very slow sales for that period of time.

Friday sales were very slow, barely made booth.  On Saturday the tourists showed up and we had a good day, Sunday was a little slower, but overall ended up with an average show.  We compared our numbers / sales from previous years and while we had about the same number of sales, our average $ per sale was lower and we didn't have any sales over $150.   I heard mixed reports from most of the artists, a few had a great show, a few had a lousy show but overall most said they were doing okay, average, mediocre, etc.  We also had quite a few people say they would see us in Sand Point ID this weekend for our next show including one customer who has indicated a strong interest in one our most expensive sets, so we're hoping for nice ending to the Idaho portion of our road trip.

This is a show we'll probably do again, just need to consider if we should take a year off and alter next summer's road trip.

September 24 & 25
Bloomsbury, New Jersey
on the historic Main Street
60+ Exhibitors
Deadline:  August 26  

This is a community run festival and all proceeds go directly to the local elementary school,  a very small school (pre-K thru 8th grade, one class for each grade) and a correspondingly very small budget...the festival provides for cultural and/or educational assemblies that the children would otherwise go without.  It supports local artists for an Artist's Day, authors doing readings & workshops, dance/music assemblies and many more activities.

The festival was started more than 10 years ago by a former art teacher at the school, and when she moved from the area community members took over the running of it.  It's an enormous undertaking & many many people are involved & committed to its success.

Bloomsbury Fine Art/Fine Craft Festival is in Hunterdon County, NJ, a rural yet affluent area of the state.  The Festival is  easy to reach by car - it is immediately adjacent to a major interstate highway, I-78.  We enjoy a high percentage of repeat artists who, among other benefits, simply enjoy the beautiful setting that the Festival provides.   

It is held in the Bloomsbury's historic district, on Main Street, which is lined with ancient maples and quaint Victorian-era homes.  It's a very charming location to pitch one's tent!  Past participants have also consistently commented on the warmth and helpfulness demonstrated by the Festival volunteers as well as the town residents.

Local non-profit organizations (churches, PTO and the FD Ladies Auxiliary) provide food booths, all featuring delicious homemade treats.  The festival also boasts a stage with a variety of local musical acts featured throughout the weekend.  In addition, each year there is a children's area with activities (face painting, etc.)
 

I have a suggestion to those of you talkative artists and crafters out there. A good way to make money and do some good for future buyers is as follows:

I gave my children each the gift of buying one favorite work of art a year-or two if i felt we could afford it and by the time they had their own homes they had a fabulous collections.

I tell parents when they enter my booth with children usually 10 and up, that have some interest in my work, about how as a past art teacher (i only lasted one year with middle school art classes-aargh) I found that when a child grows their taste and understanding of art changes.

To further this quality a yearly purchase will open up new thought patterns such as about texture and color and dimension. Art pokes holes in the brain to let in air--it helps them do better in other subjects and life (as we all know). If they realize you are an artist and what that entails, and the materials you use and are invited to touch respectfully, they are likiely to want to buy your work as their first purchse.

I have this happen ten times a show

I think it is good for all of us to get kids in the early stages and to give their parents a new way to spend money on their kids.

what do you think?

As Casey Kasum, the super rock jock, used to say, "The hits just keep coming."

In my humble opinion the Uptown and related art fairs at Loring Park and Powderhorn are in a serious downward death spiral, just like Ann Arbor, but for different reasons.

To give a little perspective, I have done the Uptown since 1990 and it has always been in my top ten shows for years, with serious sales figures, but about four years ago I noticed a big change in my sales--going down,down down.

I have always loved the journey to do this show.  From Michigan it is about ten hours.  Most years I stop over in Madison and visit my friend Christopher Berg who owns a little empire of restaurants (see my related Tequila Report).

Since this show is always after Ann Arbor, with a whole week off in between, I have always taken advantage of it.  For years, I camped in the UP of Michigan at the Porcipine Mountains, other years I explored and hiked the north shore above Duluth.  Many years I hung out canoeing around Hayward, Wisconsin.  It is always nice when you can do some eventful exploring along with making serious moola at an art show.

But kiddos, I think this was my last year at Uptown.  It just aint worth it.

You have rip-off booth fee (nearly $500), a director who doesn't care much about how the show is run, along with serious declining sales.

I know, I know.  There are going to be some of you out there who did it and are saying, "Is he nuts? I killed 'em there."  But guess what folks, you are a seriously slim number.

Again, when I review a show and talk to as many people as possible, I am looking out for how most of us did.

This year, most of us did badly.

Last year I blamed my paucid sales on the fact that it was ungodly hot, hitting high ninties on Sunday, killing any meaningful sales.

This year, it was warm on Friday and Saturday, high eighties, and downright delightful on Sunday, high seventies.  Yet sales still sucked.

Here is my take on why that was.

1. The economy and the market slide.  People are scared to reach in their pockets and spend, unless you give them a good reason.

2.  The demographics have changed over the years.  Declining crowds and lack of many "Good Shoes" people showing up to make our day.  They are not there anymore.  Might be because of parking hassles, declining quality in many booths, but they do not come out and spend like they used to do.  Many of these patrons have winter homes in Naples, Bonita and Ft.  Myers.  They used to buy my tropical work to decorate these places.  This year, I had nary a one.

Which leads us to ....

3.  You got lots of young kids coming now and they are not buying.  First, a lot of them have no appreciation for art, they are not raised with it or taught about it.  Also most would rather have big flat screen TV on the wall.  Not art.  The kids are infatuated with their digital texting worlds.  Their world now resides on those little screens on the Smart Phones.  They got no time for art.

Sorry, the journey to Minneapolis is not worth it for me any longer.  Not enough return on my money and hours spent.  I am a very pragmatic businessman.  I always make money, but you gotta know when to cut a show off the list and look for greener pastures.

The other day I posted for the very first time.  I asked Connie if she thought this might be a subject to move to a separate blog.  She thought it was a good idea, so here is the initial blog I posted yesterday.

Uptown ended up being a good show for us this last weekend.  It was hot but not miserable like in Ann Arbor this year.  Sunday though the heat broke and was wonderful.

I don't usually add my two cents worth but I though this time I felt compelled.  I have one huge compliment and one small complaint about Uptown.  My wife and I have always taken pride in making our work by hand, and by just the two of us.  A trait that I am sure is felt by most of us trying to sell work that is not only a "product" that we sell to make a modest living, but also something that is meaning because it is made by our own two hands.  Anyway, Sunday I had learned that a wooden watch artist had been kicked out of the show for selling work that was not made by them.  I have seen their work at other fine art festivals, and had a gut feeling that was true.  It is a shame that they got into such a good show, taking away a space that could have been used by an artist who is trying to make a living with his/her own two hands.  Not just buying a bunch of stuff from South America and selling it as their own.  I applaud Uptown for having the guts to take the steps they did.  I went online last night after the show to check out more about them.  They an international website this is a fickin' company not two guys selling their work.  If your interested check it out.    http://www.mistura.com/

While talking to other artists I also heard that they are going to be at other high end shows including Bayou City in Houston in the fall.  One of the directors I talked to from the show said when they were checking out the work the watches even had barcodes on them.  What??????  No kidding.

BRAVO, UPTOWN

There were lots of comments, and maybe some of the bloggers could add what they said to this blog also.