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Just wanted to share this, its from my last showin my home town.

This show was great I got lots of good feed back, a was also interviewed by the local Rosarito channel 69, I was so nervous and have yet to see the video, but just the action that they like what I do and  wanted to interview me <3..... AWESOME!!  
 

 Erika Glaubitz

Took a leap of Faith, and have been applying to shows. I was accepted in to the ARTaffair show in Belleville, Mi. Curious if anyone else will be there?

~Crystal

October 1 & 2
Rhinebeck, New York
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
150 exhibitors
Deadline:  July 15

For nearly 35 years hundreds of creative artisans have traveled across America to participate in the renowned Crafts at Rhinebeck, the finest showcase for American crafts on the East Coast.

This is the fall Crafts at Rhinebeck, held on the fairgrounds outside of picturesque Rhinebeck, NY. The fall show has more of the flavor of a family festival. While many of the same artists participate as in the June show, with a petting zoo, hay rides, and plenty of pumpkins, the fall show is produced with the family in mind. Both shows are juried and attract some of the finest artists from around the world.

Here is your second chance to be part of a fine craft show at this legendary location. Fall brings "leaf peepers" to the region and day trippers heading out from nearby New York City, insuring you a sophisticated audience for your work.

                  For more information and to apply:  www.craftsatrhinebeck.com

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

Looking for more art fairs for your 2011 art fair season?
                   Click here:  www.callsforartists.com

I have only good things to say about this show, easy set up, beautiful sunny weekend, great neighbors, perfect organization, good parking spot, great sales, happy patrons enjoying art, lots of buyers, couple custom orders paid in full and positive energy.

I had great sales both days probably Saturday better than Sunday but lots if people asking questions, asking for custom pieces, giving me their info and asking me to contact them, I had to let a guy go because I was busy ringing up a sale but he left me his card and wrote his e mail address on my client list. I sell original paintings, no reproductions and that kept me busy all day. 

Amy was on top of everything, supervising that everything was great, visiting booths several times a day, asking if everything was all right. Her employees very friendly and helpful, they even helped me to set my booth on Friday night because I had a late start setting up. There was two sep up times, and the first flight didn't move on time so it slowed down the second flight causing a little traffic but nothing bad, it was manageable.

I walked the show really quick Sunday morning. I really loved most of the work. Great amazing talented artists :)

I didn't have time to check it out with more detail, but we didn't have time, everybody was busy :)

Hope everybody had a great show, at least all my neighbors did, and everybody left with a big smile and great vibes. 

Got to go to paint! Very low in inventory, yay!!

PS Great laughs with Geri, such a fun lady with great points of view. She already has her review from the patron side. Damn, she's fast!

This used to be in the top 3 of my personal favorite festivals.  In the last couple of years, it hasn't had the same consistent level of  top-notch artists as in the past.  The artists they do have, for the most part are very good but there aren't that many WOWs anymore.  I did see the same buy/sell guys as last year and there may have been a couple of others.

An interesting thing that they did was have an area that had several booths where the proceeds from the sales went to various charitable organizations.  At first I thought they were buy/sell but they weren't.  With so many organizations needing help, this was a good way to do it.  The items were not so costly as to interfere with the other artist's businesses. 

Patti and Bob Stern can tell you about all the artist stuff and hopefully they had fantastic sales.  

I won't cross this off the list but I hope it starts to trend the other way, these last few years have been disappointing.

You will hear a lot about this festival because there were quite a few afi-ers there and   I got to meet several of them.

This show was laid out on two streets that intersected.  Three out of the 4 blocks  had very good artists and the last one did not have the same overall quality as the others.  One of the artists I spoke with was not completely happy about the quality of the show and I think that is why.  There was a lot of jewelry and a lot of 2d art.  There was a minimal amount of glass and pottery so I was a little disappointed.  

The AFI-ers that I met and/or spoke with  are all amazingly talented.  Their work is wonderful.  I didn't get to talk to everyone because some had booths that were full of buyers (hopefully) when we walked by and I didn't get a chance to do a second circuit of the show.  Hopefully Carla Banks and Anita Peters got a chance to meet as they both live in the same town.  I will soon be wearing a pair of custom made earrings from Diana Ferguson who is going to be combining her wonderful style with my love of blue and green.  (and my cousin can't wait for her fuschia and purple ones.  The same cousin who scooped up a gorgeous pair of earrings from Anita)

I am still trying to understand how a candlemaker got into this festival and there were a couple of other booths with work that wasn't what I would  consider Amdur standards but the art festival world is changing.  Regardless, you still walk away from one of Amy's shows relatively satisfied.

For the last 3 years, I have been averaging 30+ art festivals a year between Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin.  Before that I was averaging about 20 a year.  I do a lot of buying.  I  am fortunate to have a summer home in Illinois and a Winter home in Florida.  I must have art in my homes or they are not homes.  

The two homes are filled pretty close to capacity.  At the same time, the art festivals are starting to look alike or fall down in quality.  To keep the good ones fresher looking in my tiny brain, I have decided to cut out the festivals that I don't think need my attendance.  

Fountain Square Art Festival used to be run by Amy Amdur.  It was a really nice festival.  Evanston is like a mini-Chicago.  This show had price points all over the place but the quality was generally good.  Don't remember exactly when Amy stopped running the show but in the last 4 years, it has gone down in overall quality.  You used to be able to find fun little things at reasonable prices to go along with the good quality artists at higher price points.   Well the fun little things are now gone and so are most of the good artists.  Some of my favorite jewelers were there but that is about it. (and I see them at other shows)

My cousin, who is my partner in "crime"  agrees.  This weekend already has Highland Park Fine Crafts and Amy Amdur's Arlington Heights show so rather than running ourselves ragged, we have decided that Evanston can be scratched off our list. 

Well, I'm packed and ready to head down toward the Windy City way and my first Promenade of Art in Arlington Heights, Illinois. I'm excited, I can tell you.

Altthough this past Tuesday, Mukwonago had such high winds, hail and lighting that it shattered the boys plexiglass basketball hoop(good thing it fell to the right. Dan's antique refurbished 1963 Fury was to the left! Whew.) And it split our largest tree right down the middle......that was the one my oldest tried to saw down when he was a toddler! I thought it had nine lives....guess only two. Willow, my sober Maltese, and I were under the heavy computer desk in the basement. Too many tornadoes that are not in Kansas to suit me!

Anyway, if Connie asks, that's were I will be.

And I'll keep you posted.

Course, I'm no Nels....so don't expect a raconteur.

I'll do my best.

Anyone else going?

Hi Everyone.. This is my first blog... Its nice seeing many of my artist friends here...

Would anyone be interested in renting their pro Panels for the Beaver Creek and Frisco show... in august..I need to fly instead of driving and Pro Panels dont fly too easily....lol..

Safe travels to everyone...=).

I just want to say to Connie and all who particpate on this site that while I have disappeared for a month or two I am in love with this site all over again.  The content is great!  I love seeing booth shots and detailed reviews of art fairs.  The month of May was hectic - shows each weekend and no time to really catch up doing stock.  All the fairs were in Maryland and have to say Maryland is a good state to be in as my sales are better than last years totals.  

The "story" I have to share pertains to my dad.  I was lucky that I didn't have any fairs for June as my dad, who has been in poor health for 9 years took a turn for the worse - the month I didn't have fairs.  That month being June.  He passed away two weeks ago and just have to say that despite it being a hard thing to go through I am relieved he isn't suffering and didn't happen when in the middle of doing an art fair.  I was doing a great show - Wine in the Woods in Columbia, MD when I had the awful thought - what if I get "the call" in the middle of the fair".  I didn't but the thought scared me to death....  My dad was an avid photographer and taught me a lot about taking photographs, framing and appreciate art in general.  He, in return, was one of my biggest fans.  On that note, has anyone here had to deal with running a business on top of dealing with the death of a loved one?  Right now I am playing catch up as I do not have any fairs in July or August (but not ruling out August entirely) meanwhile helping my mom deal with, well paperwork and such.  I am guessing I should go by the old addage - Just do it - get the work done so it is out of the way and move on to more creative fun work.  So, does anyone have any stories or advice for me with regard to this topic?  My next show, the Maryland Seafood Festival,  is in early Sept. and going to be my biggest show ever which I think, providing the weather will be good, could be a great pay day for me.  My focus is taking the time now to get my ducks in a row so I can do a good job at that show.  Just an FYI in case people are wondering.   I hope all are having good shows and continue to have good shows.  I plan on checking in more often now.  :-)  - Michelle

P.S.  I now have a lot of his work, would it be a good idea to do a "private show" exhibiting his work?  Has anyone done anything like that before - like an open house, or showing at a library or something along that line?  I have only sold my items at art fairs, so this also is new territory 

Labor Day Weekend, September 2 - 4

St. Louis, Missouri

35th Annual Fall Art Fair at Queeny Park

sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Art Association

Queeny Park in West St. Louis County

120 artists

Deadline: July 5  

11 Important Facts:

• Our 35th Annual Fall Art fair
• Limited to approximately 120 artists
• This is an AIR-CONDITIONED INDOOR ART FAIR. You don't need to worry about the weather, tents or security.
• Jury/Booth Fees ($25/$200);  FREE ELECTRICITY available for every booth at no additional charge)
• Cash awards totaling $4,500
• Booth sitters, 24-HOUR SECURITY. Rest easy knowing your booth is safely locked up at night.
• Excellent marketing campaign, including newspaper, magazine, television and radio advertising, internet and e-mail promotion
• Promotional postcards, business cards and coupons are provided free to exhibiting artists.
• Live music throughout the art fair
• Wine Tasting Friday and Saturday Evenings
• Interactive art program on Sunday afternoon to encourage families with youngsters to meet the artists

For more than thirty five years the Greater St. Louis Art Association (http://www.gslaa.or) has been providing opportunities for the public to see and purchase original works of fine art and fine craft directly from the artists who create them.

Every year we produce two juried art shows (Spring and Labor Day Weekend).  Artists in all media are encouraged to apply. These shows feature juried local, regional and national artists' original work. From the pool of artists applying, about 120 artists from all over the US and Canada are invited to exhibit. These artists are selected by a professional jury process in eleven distinct media categories.

Both shows are presented in the indoor, air-conditioned setting of the Greensfelder Recreation Complex at Queeny Park in west St. Louis County. Food and refreshments are available on-site, parking for the public and artists is free.  Live music playing during wine tasting and peak attendance.  During Sunday afternoon, an interactive children's art education program encourages families with youngsters to meet and talk with artists and learn about their work.

For detailed information and to apply go to:

http://www.gslaa.org/GSL_festivals.htm 

You may also contact:

Vic Barr, GSLAA President, 314 997-1181 vicbarr@sbcglobal.net 

After all my booth fees I didn't have funds to create a professional website. I asked the web wizards if there was a good free site. Thank you Jim for recommending weebly.com. Looks pretty decent, don't you think??

Excuse my sentences or miss spellings, I have to ask my husband to help me to correct it. English is not my 1st language,just learned it 10 years ago, but you can check it out in the meantime at : www.carlabank.com

hope this helps more artist that need a site, it was so easy to make.

After a number of weeks playing out the string in the Sunshine State with craft fairs (with mostly small to mid-sized, sweltering crowds) and a "play weekend" at my college reunion with fun that would do Nels proud--not that I'm going to blog about any of THAT!-- I've finally arrived in the Northeast for the summer. 

First up: Art's Alive in Ocean City, MD, a show that I visited last year at the end of a "shooting vacation" in the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia peninsula.  It's a modest-sized show--fewer than 100 artists--in a pretty setting, a wide-open, well-maintained city park with wide walkways weaving through athletic fields and a lagoon. But, as several show veterans warned me last year, sales results are heavily influenced by the weather, and that seemed to be the case this year. 

Setup was anytime after noon on Friday, or early morning on Saturday.  And although nearly all artists opted for the day-before option--a logical choice given the show's early 9 a.m. start--in hindsight there were a few that wished they had waited.  The reason?  A series of strong thunderstorms blew in at 9 pm Friday, and a small but violent downburst, with 50 mph gusts followed about three hours later, toppling not only a few E-Z Ups but even a Craft Hut.  Troupers all, the artists affected did what they could to salvage the day on Saturday: Several were selling al fresco from under beach umbrellas in the near-record heat , another--shades of the Sixties!--leaned their work against a chain link fence.  But with rain in the forecast for Sunday, all of them left at the end of Day One, I was told.

Show director John Sullivan said that his security crew immediately responded when the storm hit, gathering work and supplies that had been scattered by the winds.  But none of the artists said they got a phone call, and all were shocked when they arrived and saw the damage. I suspect we haven't heard the last about that. . .

And for the crowds?  If not for the absence of palm trees, I would have thought I was back in Florida.  Perhaps due to the 93-degree heat on Saturday, crowds were sparse all day.  I had a few buyers of my Florida wildlife photography but all cash, and all small.  Sunday featured moderate rain to start the morning, but temps were 15 degrees cooler. By 11 a.m. or so the rains let up, and a few more folks came to visit.  Crowds in the afternoon were up slightly, compared with Saturday.  And for me, anyway, they were buying: in contrast with Day One, NO sales in cash, and all over $150. Go figure. Disappointingly,  both of my neighbors were 'way down from Saturday, and generally other artists I spoke with reported that this was an off year.

In addition to the weather, theories abounded:  This is the time of year when vacation home owners typically come down for long weekends or vacations before the July 4-Labor Day rental season commences.  And yet there are lots of vacation homes down here that are in foreclosure and/or undergoing "short sales" (I stayed for the weekend with a Realtor who specializes in them, so I know this for certain).  Then, too, Saturday is "flip day," when one weekly rental ends and another begins.  First-day arrivees, the theory goes, won't spend Day One at an art festival when it's searingly hot and the beaches beckon.

The quality of work was, in my view, fairly middle-of-the-road.  Lots of beach-themed 2-D, as you might expect, some very nice functional art--glass bowls, pottery, and such--and about 30% jewelry.  The show seemed to have a lot of photography, too, which I'm told is pretty common in Northeast shows. (I'll be up here all summer, so we'll see!)

I can't let this review go without huge kudos for the artist amenities.  Although personally, I never consider them when opting whether or not to apply to a show, the fact remains that you can't do them better than the folks in Ocean City.  The Saturday night artist party was in a large, air-conditioned room--how great is THAT, given the heat?-- and featured catered hors d'oueuvres, veggie trays, wine, beer, and sodas.  Artist awards ($500) were given to the top winners in each category.  Volunteers offered booth-sitting throughout the weekend.  In what had to be an art-show first for me, I returned from a 20-minute lunch break to find that a be-back had actually returned and promised the booth-sitter that they'd return to purchase one of my $350 canvases.  And they did!  (So what's the protocol here?  Does she get a tip?)

Anyway, it was that kind of weekend.  I was happy that Day 2 sales saved my weekend, and I learned that many homeowners here also have homes in Florida (and some of them had seen me before).  So that's good news.  I'll plan on doing this show again next year, based on my personal results, but I'll be hoping for better weather, an improving economy, bigger crowds, and--as they say along the harbor--that a rising tide will float all boats. 

It's been a topsy turvy year, didn't get into 2 out of the 4 shows we normally start the year with, but had terrific sales at the 2 we got into, way above last year so we were doing okay.  May shows had one way up, one way down.  Our first June show was a horrible disappointment and then we went into our show this past weekend absolutely, 100% sure this was the last time we were EVER doing this street fair.  On the drive there to set up, as we were grumbling about being forced to fight heavy traffic on a Friday night to get there for our load in time, we were so happy to think that it was our last time for this event. 

LOL, we had the best show we've had in 5 years of doing that show including selling a couple of very unique "one of a kind" pieces.   2 out of our 3 best sales of the entire weekend came in the last hour of the show, once again proving that it's not over until it's over!!  We laughed about it on the way home, still thinking we are sticking to our resolution to never do this show again but it was nice to end it on a high note!! 

Then we had a friend ask us today, are you sure you're not doing that show again?? Just wondering how many others have had second thoughts after swearing off a particular show or event. 

Allentown Art Festival, Buffalo, NY  June 11 & 12. 450 exhibitors on downtown streets, 54th year.

We set up for the weekend on Friday night. Just the canopy and shelves because we knew we'd be there at 6am Saturday to grab one of the parking spots right behind our booth. It was our first outdoor show of the season and even though we were sure we had everything, we were missing the tie downs for the weights we attach to each leg of the rig. Since we live just blocks away, Russell was going to run home to get them, but our neighbor, a sweet faced man with a shaved head and newly sunburned cheeks offered an extra set he just happened to have. Really nice guy. He told us that he and another guy are partners in their pottery business but he was here alone because the other guy's wife, a paraplegic, was running a high temp and he had to stay behind in Albany to tend to her and their kids.

Next day we were all there early, setting up in the early morning dampness, catching up with friends, hunting down coffee. The usual. People started to make their way down the streets and it seemed like it would be an uneventful, fun day.

Then the committee came around. They come to each booth, check your ID, make sure the person who applied is the person in the booth and they punch a hole in your exhibitor permit to indicate you have passed inspection. They were very nice to me, we joked, I got punched, they left.

A few minutes later, I hear our neighbor talking on his cell phone, telling his partner that his only recourse was to pack it all up and there was nothing else he could do. Uh oh. Was he being tossed? The committee woman agreed to talk to the guy and she paced the street in front of his booth, listening, responding, shaking her head. There was nothing she could do. Rules were there for a reason.

It seems that the show only allows one name per app, even if you create as a team, and it was the absent partner's name that had been submitted. No excuses, no extenuating circumstances. Pack it up.

Since the roads were closed, our neighbor wrapped up the pieces slowly, taking his time, commiserating with his fellow exhibitors, sitting in his truck, wrapping some more. It was a sad and odd dance. I felt really bad for him because I knew what the situation was, and even though I usually applaud the tough rules of this show it felt like a bad decision.

Over the course of the afternoon, others weighed in and, surprisingly, few were sympathetic. That is probably because we are all, for the most part, protective of this rapidly vanishing art show world and have grudging respect for the show "gestapo" that keeps it clean.

I was chided for being naive, that the partner was probably at a show in Chicago or Pittsburgh. And that even if he wasn't, you had to bring the hammer down on this guy because the next guy could be a fraud. I pulled out my app and, sure enough, the first rule, in bold caps, was one person per app, applicant must be present.

Since I am always ready to whine about the quality of some of the work allowed in these fairs, I should be able to see the wisdom and determination behind these rules. It takes a lot to put together a show of good work. The potter wasn't the only one ousted that day. 15 "jewelers" were also kicked to the curb for offenses ranging from selling imports to making work from kits.

We know the reality, how tough it is to get into good shows. We know how many rules we need to follow.

And now I know what happens when you don't.