Blog

FOUR REASONS FOR YOU TO BE THERE:

• Artists love the One of a Kind Show because it is an unparalleled opportunity to sell to thousands of targeted affluent consumers who are ready to shop!     
• They understand the tremendous value in being a part of an established and respected show brand and presenting their work in a high quality, hard wall booth environment.         
• They appreciate the ease of show operations and the professionalism and attentiveness of show staff.         
• And they benefit from substantial show marketing and exceptional artist promotional opportunities.

I did the Best of the NW spring show in Seattle last weekend. It's held in an old air base hangar on Lake Washington, which is a funky and very "Seattle" location. It's put on by the Northwest Arts Alliance, an artists' organization that's been promoting this show for quite a few years. They also put on a large holiday show in November. They are great folks, and they work hard to get the word out. There were plenty of TV and radio spots leading up to the show. Set up was on Friday afternoon/Saturday morning, and load in and out is quite easy, just a short dolly into the building.

The turnout was good - steady to crowded most of both days. I had a steady stream of shoppers both days, with only a few lulls. Seattle art-festival-goers are a wonderful bunch - very curious, relaxed and friendly.  The promoters book great music - everything from jazz to zydeco - which puts everyone in a festive mood. There were just three food vendors, all very good. Overall, this should be the formula for a good show.

However, there was definitely budget-consciousness in the air - I don't think I've ever had so many people pick up a piece and ask questions about it, then walk away without it. I did sell a couple bigger pieces, which helped make it a profitable show for me. A couple booth neighbors did really well, which was encouraging and a pleasure to watch. Some others in my aisle didn't do so great. I imagine my sales were in the middle somewhere. I'm hoping as the year (and my sales technique) warms up, the buyers will relax a bit and sales will be better.

It did feel great to kick off the first show of the year in the Northwest. Overall, the show is worth a try if you are local and need an early Northwest Show to get the juices flowing.

Just wondering, no posts on either show.  I know two artists in mixed media who did Naples and made bipkes.  One totally zeroed.

I know we had members do each show.  How about ponying up with some info.  

 Hi Veryone, I am new to this website and I am new to the art fair world. I see that most of the really nice art festevals require a booth photo. I totally understand why. Since I have not yet set up at an art fair the first thing I was wondering is... would they accept a photo of my booth set up in my yard the way it would be set up at the festival, all art hung, bins, lights and everything?

  Second, can you give me any advice about little issues that they pick out that would destroy my chance at getting in? I have a light dome tent, black mesh walls, professional print bins, to sets of halogen track lighting , indoor/outdoor carpet for floor,banner, and of course the paintings and prints. I will post a photo as soon as I can. I see some people don't like tables and it seems they might be looking for a portable mini gallery look. IS this right? I just would hate to have some little something wrong and not get accepted because of me being uninformed.

                ALSO , All the art festivals I have been checking out say nothing about not showing pieces with nudity in them. I have several pieces that do have women's breast in them that I would love to show. What is the rule of thumb about this?Thx Leslie

Coming to you from the folks at www.ArtFairCalendar.com, www.ArtFairInsiders.com, www.CallsforArtists.com the website you have been asking for:

www.ArtShowReviews.com

a website that reviews art fairs, accessible to all and free!

The new site is a place where you can quickly upload your comments about shows you have participated in in the last two years and where you can read what others have to say. The site has been in construction since last summer and friends of ours have been invited to get it started and through the beta process.
 
Many thanks to those who helped us out placing the initial reviews, including Ginny Herzog, Michael Wommack, R.C. Fulwiler, Nels Johnson, Stephanie Nadolski, Char terBeest Kudla, Oscar Matos Linares, Amy Flynn, Phil Crone, Geoff Coe, Mark Zurek, Patrick Whalen, Stephanie Bailey, Barbara Umbel, Alison Armstrong and many more.
 
What you will like about it: 

• good organization and search capability 
• plus a quick and easy place to leave your comments about your shows
• a timely spot to get info from your fellow artists

This is our first general announcement to the art fair community.  This is a tool for all of us. Even though it has not been formally announced the number of page views is amazing, telling us even more that this is something artists want.    

This site will only be as useful as you make it. Comment now and comment often!

Visit now: www.ArtShowReviews.com
 
P.S. It is not meant to be a replacement for the show reports on ArtFairInsiders.com, but only a place to make a few comments that will be helpful to others, a quick reference site. If you have just a few minutes stop in and share your experiences.

P.P.S. We'll be sending out "Red Dots" to everyone who places a review on ArtShowReviews.com in the month of March. Hurry!

More details: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/afi-presents-the-new-red-dot
 
I'm looking forward to seeing spots as I travel! 
 
Send us your photos with your red dots and we'll upload them to the Red Dot page.
 

"The important fact is that you must act like a winner and look like a winner.  This means no sloppy tee-shirts.  Dress for success, your customers measure your success by how you present yourself."

     Nels Johnson..  photographer

Before you instantly think, "Oh that Nels has had one too many tequilas again, hear me out on this one."

Last time I checked, we had 4710 members on this site.  When I joined I was about number 300, which is maybe how many people I might know out there on the circuit after doing this business for 36 years--making a profit every year, thru three recessions.  So hear me out, especially you newbies--you might learn something.

The biggest difference I still see after all these years is how some artists are so successful, and yet they are not necessarily the best in their medium (of course the real geniuses always succeed, sometimes in spite of themselves.)

Example.  Last week at Englewood, a small show in southwest Florida, I made a good paycheck by working everybody that came into my booth.  Across from me was an artist who sat in their booth, behind a table, rarely greeted anybody who came in, sat with their shoulders down-turned and looked defeated to all who saw them.   That artist barely made their booth fee.  I made a great paycheck out of a very small show.

The point of all this is you have to recognize that your presence as a creator of your work is equally important to the work itself.  Sounds so simple, yet I see so many deserving artists fail all the time because they won't interject themselves into the work.

Years ago, their was an aclaimed black and white photographer, from Florida, who used to win awards, if the right judge showed up.  But, if he did not win, and even if he did win, he used to sit in the back of his booth , with his back to people coming in.  What a turn-off.  Gee, he never lasted very long.

I try to greet most people who come into my booth with a simple greeting that lets them know it is ME who does this work, not some magic elf.

Lots of time I will say, "Welcome to my world of color."( I do tropical and humorous photography,with lots of line and color.).  Othetimes I will say, "Hey how ya doing, this my work, let me know if I can help ya."  Other times  will say, "Yeah, I am the guy, ask away."

If somebody asks, as they mostly do, "How are doing?"  I always reply, " I am having a great day."  Never less than that.  When somebody expresses a real interest in a piece, I try to enfuse a bit of humour.  I might say," Well, when you buy that one, it will help pay off my sushi bill from last night."

When I bring a new piece out for the first time and somebody is really interested, i will say," You know you will be the first one, my mother doesn't even own this one."

These are all easy ways to establish a rapport with your potential buyer.

The important fact is that you must act like a winner and look like a winner.  This means no sloppy tee-shirts.  Dress for success, your customers measure your success by how you present yourself.

When people try to get you down on the price, look them right in the eye and say, "Honey this is one of my best selling pieces, I sell these all day."  A small close goes like this, "Cash talks, plastic walks."

People measure your art by how you present and how you represent it.  So, always put your best foot forward.  You will always come out a winner.

By the way, photography is my third profession that I took up at age 30.  I have always been in sales and always made a buck.

When I was 8 years old I use to take holly wreathes downtown to St. Pete at Christmas and sell them, this was the 50's and I would come home with $25 for the day--that was a lot of bread the.  I had a paper route for three years, after I had polio, and I made $100 just in tips off a 75 customer route--why, because they loved me, I projected a personae.

Just remember, you are as important as your work.  If you project success, you will get success.  Even in these times when we are 40% off our usual sales.

By the way, I am 25% ahead of this time last year, and I didn't get in Winter Park, Coconut Grove or Naples.  

Greetings from Florida and the Englewood Fine Arts Festival. This show is held annually just off the corner of Dearborn and Mango in downtown Englewood, Florida and put on by the local rotary club. The weather was a close to perfect but maybe a little warm for some. The show hours are great – both Saturday and Sunday were from 10-4. Set up was a breeze. One could drive right to their booth and unload and a number of booths, including mine, allowed the artists to park right behind their booth. Ditto for the tear down. Nice.

Saturday was packed, it reminded me of salmon swimming upstream in the pacific northwest. Sunday was lighter but ended up being my better of the two days. All in all I did over 10 times my booth fee so I was happy. I also noticed a number of purchases walking by my location, the potter close to me appeared to do well, and I spoke to one painter friend and she had done well. There was a copper flowery-type booth down from me that had items starting at a buck and running to around a 100 for a wall piece that was about three foot across by a foot tall and folks were hauling stuff out of there by the wheel barrel full.

There were about 100 booths and were lined on both sides down Dearborn street. Most were pretty decent quality with a few suspects booths. But hey, isn't there always anymore. I met Nels Johnson down the way and shared a few showisms, and then back to work.

The rotarians had some free beer and wine along with snacks Saturday after the show. The beer was cold and much appreciated after a warm day. The rotary announced that they had estimated 5,000 in attendance, and this came from their collecting a buck from people walking in. The crowd was string from about 9:30 in the morning until about 3 in the afternoon. Lots of folks looking and taking measurements in my booth, I have larger recycled metal sculpture pieces, and they came back and bought on Sunday.

Yes, I just received a surprising email that said my jury totals weren't high enough for me to be asked to attend a show. It also said: "We had almost 300 applicants this year and the competition was tough. We choose jurors who have expertise in craft and design but as all artists know, you never know what they're going to like from year to year."

I'm not here to whine. That's not me.

Let's find a creative solution for these Jurors.

1) I am sure they want our entrance fees. Do this by dividing "Jewelry" into the categories it deserves.

After all, photography and oil painting both result in images to hang on the wall, albeit by differrent routes.

THEY ARE seperate CATEGORIES!

Why should Metal Clay and Wire Work, although they may both hang around the neck, be lumped into ONE category????

2) Any good executive could find more space to meet the need.

3) Saying that you can only have "x" amount of jewelry artisans in a show is not a natural law of the unniverse. Change.

4) Find Jurors more in tune with the new processes of jewelry.

Any Jurors out there?

Fight my logic....make my day....LOL

I am trying to decide whether or not to apply/or go to it.  We have a place in southern Colorado but our van is getting old.........

Re: Palm Springs show. I also did one of the three "Palm Springs" shows, the one in February which was billed as the "Classic" suggesting that it has been around for a while and is well received and sought after. Not so, Although Amado Pena (a well known artist in the southwest) was at the show as a favor to the show promoter the show did not deliver. First, it was not IN Palm Springs but rather in or on the border with Cathedral City near the corner with the Palm Springs Airport. The "venue" was an old drive-in theatre that had been paved over and was variously used as a flea market at times and before we (the artists) arrived was just being cleaned up from the Circus and camel poop which was supposed to have been gone by Tuesday, this being Thursday, we had to wait for them to haul out the Semi's. The show staff, as previously reported in another Blog post, were very gracious and tried to be helpful for various reasons. Thursday night it rained as well as Friday night so there was some standing water on the festival grounds. Brooms came out and the water was swept from the tents to other regions. (As an aside, one artist with beautiful glass pieces had her plastic covered cardboard pedestals out over night and when they put their work back out the next morning...leaning towers and broken glass, it was heartbreaking for her and to see it as well.) the staff quickly helped out with the cleanup. Second, although the show was well advertised in several venues, we found out later, when someone we had met at our hotel tried to find us he was directed to another show that WAS happening in downtown Palm Springs! Obviously, this other show having been well established for many years by another promoter on the very same Presidents Day Weekend. What were they thinking? Artists do talk and there were various rumors about the clash. The show promoter said that this other show had, at the last minute, rescheduled for the President's weekend. Who to believe? Out of curiosity we went downtown to try to catch this other "rogue" show, it had closed an hour earlier but there were still some artists hanging around that we talked to. The most gracious of the two, a ceramic artist, said that this Downtown show had been around for a long time and that the promoter was very easy to get along with, etc., etc. and that we should look into it. Judging from some other written reviews I've read about it, I'm not so sure...but that is another story. Third, visitation?  The show ran from Friday-Sunday, who does a holiday weekend show and begins it on a Friday when the holiday goes into Monday? The "crowds" did not show up on Friday, okay, that can be written off as a work day...the crowds did not show up en masse on Saturday or Sunday...by the end of it I was ready to have T-shirts made up with "I survived the Palm Springs "Classic"" and sell them to the other artists, I could've cleaned up, or at least made more than the sales from art that I was expecting! At least one "artist" (another story) left by the end of Friday, goodby! The rest of us stuck it out till the bitter end as our values suggest "you put your money down, you takes your chances".

The set up for the show really was well considered. As the space was big the tents were in quads so everyone had a corner booth for no extra money! Plenty of nearby parking. For the most part the artists chosen for the show were of really good quality so it wasn't as if there were just "rubber reptiles" there ( my euphemism for a really bad show). Although I could count 35 empty spaces which gave the place a feeling of an art show ghost town. A few were reportedly held hostage by a big snow storm in Tahoe. The rest I suspect had participated in the other two shows and cut their losses. There was plenty of water and snacks all weekend long, for the most part the weather cooperated, they did the right things but might reconsider where and when they have their shows. All in all, an experience I will remember but unfortunately not for the best of reasons, except for maybe the beauty of the snow topping the nearby mountains Saturday morning!

September 2-5
Royal Oak, Michigan
Downtown Streets

175 Artists
Deadline: April 12
 
If you are looking for a festival held in the heart of an affluent neighborhood that is embraced by its residents (attendance 250,000+), that has a #4 rating for fine art sales (AFSB 2010) and excels at hospitality then apply today!                                                                         Happy buyers at Arts, Beats & Eats
 
If you remember the excitement surrounding this event in its early years with its wall-to-wall coverage in the media and the citizens of affluent Oakland County flooding in to enjoy the fine art, the elegant restaurants and both the nationally known and homegrown music on the stages then you will want to be part of this renaissance as Arts, Beats & Eats positions itself as THE cultural destination on Labor Day weekend for metro Detroit. -- Whoops! That is what we said last year!

                                                                 You will not be alone at this show

Guess what? It came true! Metro Detroiters were more than ready to embrace this popular event again in its new location. The Sunday attendance was so overwhelming that we had to close the gates to any newcomers twice!
 
What the artists said:
 
Congratulations! We don't know how to thank you for pulling it all off so perfectly. (Our only complaint is that it's only once a year). It was the best show we've done in the last ten years! You guys ROCK! - Carl Lundgren
 
Michael and I would like to personally THANK YOU for AB$E this year...I purposely put a $ sign in ab&e...because thanks to that show...we ended up with our best year ever financially....our gross was stunning - Sara & Michael Stephens
 
Our promotion is considered among the best of art festivals nationwide. You cannot be in the metropolitan Detroit area on Labor Day weekend without seeing specials about the arts activities on television, hearing artists' interviews on the radio stations and seeing comprehensive feature articles in the press, directed solely to the juried fine arts show.

                                                                                            Our fabulous PR team
Artist Amenities:
    •    On-site and overnight security provided
    •    Vehicle unloading and loading at booth
    •    Individual artist electricity (included in booth fee)
    •    booth sitters & happy volunteers
    •    food tickets
    •    $7500 in artist awards

                                                                                           
Ready to be part of a legend?

Buyers of all ages

Apply today: www.juriedartservices.com
For more info: www.artsbeatseats.com

   Questions? lisa@artsbeatseats.com   or  connie@artfaircalendar.com

Sanibel Island is a beautiful place to visit: semi-secluded, free of big-box retailers, and filled with seasonal residents vacationers who (mostly) have deep pockets. 

The good folks of the SanCap Lions have been putting on this event at the Sanibel Community Center for over two decades, and it's been a staple for artists, crafters  and vendors (yes, vendors) who have built a repeat market for their work.  But as one long-time artist said to me as we unzipped the flaps on Day 2, "The hell of this show is that when the weather's good, the attendance sucks and we're pretty much screwed."  Which turned out to be pretty much true. The weather was a bit toasty for a show but Chamber-of-Commerce brilliant for the beach, with the result that although some exhibitors eked out decent sales, many were shaking their heads at the slim crowds (somewhere in the 2,000 range, we reckoned), hot temperatures, and dusty environs.

This was an unusual Friday-Saturday show, with setup on Thursday between 10 and 8 PM.  You were asked to drive in, unload, park, and then return to set up.  But by the time I arrived around 5 PM, many exhibitors had set up and left, so I could pull right in next to my space and park until I was done.  Easy.  You could also set up between 6 and 8 on Friday morning if you preferred.

The show's a bit unusual in that some indoor exhibitor spaces are available, too.  Although it's a bit cramped, the air conditioning works blissfully well, and you're within a few feet of the, um, facilities.  Though you'd probably want to bring your own lighting.

The show opened at 9 AM each day, which I unfortunately forgot about, so I was a bit unprepared when the gates opened and I had yet to put out my browse bins.  But it didn't matter much:  Friday's crowds were light, and after a bit of buying energy in the morning, the mercury rose, the overcast skies yielded to a bright sun, and crowds quickly disappeared. Saturday was more of the same, though without the early-morning burst of sales.  Most exhibitors I spoke with said they did better on Day 1.  Although my visitor and buying customer counts both dwindled on Day 2, I had several "be backs" and moved enough large pieces to eke out a decent sales total.  Being local (and having had 3/4 of my booth fee comped thanks to last year's award) my expenses were minimal, and that made it an OK show for the bottom line. 

One tip:  Sanibel homeowners and vacationers tend to rent by the month, and this is an end-of-the-month show.  So make sure to have shipping options available.  It'll save you some sales!

The quality of work, and mix of exhibitors, was not first class.  2-D artists were mostly purveyors of "island art": fun, appealing to a vacation/island crowd, and certainly appropriate to the venue.  There was a very high percentage of jewelers, and many were excellent: this is a great market for them.  And there was lots of manufactured buy-sell: personalized ankle bracelets, sloganed t-shrts, and art-on-a-stick. 

There were also awards:  my neighbor Gloria McAndrews, of Tennessee, won Best of Show and a $350 check for her beautiful yarn wall hangings.  Gloria has had pieces accepted by the Smithsonian Museum's Renwick Gallery, and she and her husband Jim are deserving, delightful people and know how to run a business.  Other awardees received no checks, only varying discounts on 2012 booth fees, should they choose to apply. 

The load-out was pretty much an every-artist-for themselves affair, as the Lions quickly scattered not long after the show closed.  Which is too bad:  The 4:30 PM close meant that artists were attempting a left-hand turn into the show site into the teeth of bumper-to-bumper traffic on the two-lane road.  Yes, drivers on the island tend to slow down and give you a break, but there is an endless stream of bikers and pedestrians on the adjacent bike path who aren't paying any attention. It would have been nice had the Lions either manned the entrance or had the Sanibel police do so (as the San-Cap Rotary did at their show last month). I ended up playing traffic cop for 20 minutes after the aforementioned sloganed t-shirt artist cluelessly pulled her van next to her tent and blocked other artists who were trying to leave. 

This is a great show to do if you've already been doing it and you've got a clientele.  It's not a show I'd travel any distance to attend.  Or if I were a fine artist.  Or if I needed back-space for inventory.  Or if I had work that I wasn't willing to spend a day cleaning of sand and dust.  Bottom line, I'd rather have been in Naples.  And God (and the jury--hmm, is there a difference?) willing, that's where I'll be instead next year.

Just wanted to say I had a very interesting experience in Scottsdale, AZ just a week ago.   As I am about to set this up, I want to quick mention that this post is geared for those who sell both at art fairs as well as art galleries - say in the same time too.  But this may be entertaining to all those who don't fit into that category...  Now onto the set up...

It was my first time in AZ, mind you, with my husband.  I went because I wanted to experience the Grand Canyon, see Scottsdale (my mom's favorite place to visit), spend time with an old high school friend, check out the AZ Ren-fest (I have friends who work there and have a podcast hobby where I go to ren-faires and report on the experience I have there for other Rennies), and of course see what the art is like in and around Phoenix.  Mind you I am an East Coast gal from Baltimore.  I must reiterate - it is a pleasure trip, not having a show to do and kick back a few days while I was in the area.    An actual vacation which also happened to be  affordable as I stayed with friends (my friend from high school and his wife) who insisted on driving us everywhere (God bless old friends!!!). 

One of the many memorable places I got to visit while in AZ was Old towne Scottsdale.  Now I missed the Art in the Park Festival (not sure if that is what it was called), but City Fest. was going to happen the next day - if that means anything to anyone.  I have to say I felt like a fish out of water - granted most of the people there were 25+ my age.  I walked around some streets of Old Town with a real hunger to check out the galleries (the food was great too).   I wanted to know what was being displayed.  Was it all Southwest themed with Native American work or broader, tapping into some unique modern/contemporary art forms? The first gallery I entered was where I got my shock.  The gallery owner was a major A__hole.  The gallery, nice with plenty of Native American pottery and paintings.  However, I was followed the whole time by the gallery owner who BOASTED how he was the owner of the gallery for 25 years and NEVER forgets a face as he runs it by himself and never has taken a day off.  My friend from high school, who happens to be wheel chair bound - since childhood - in a motorized scooter, did not have a problem maneuvering around the busy displayed gallery, but the gallery owner was quite the vulture talking to us the whole time, trying to get my friend to use a different exit and tried to move  things around him (like paintings that were on the ground leaning up against a display) when it wasn't necessary.    I didn't know if I should stay in the gallery to piss the guy off or get out of there as quick as possible as I couldn't take the mightier than thou attitude.  My friend shrugs it off as - "that's gallery people for you", I said I have never been in a gallery where it is their point to watch every customer like a hawk, making them think they will damage property at every turn and not for any good reasons such as being anxious to help you at a moments notice with questions.  Where was the customer service there?  And for those who have never been this this huge gallery area, there must be 50 galleries - at least - vying for customers.   A lot of heavy competition in a not-so-bustling economy.  Which makes me think long and hard, why be a jerk and make customers feel like strangers and extremely uncomfortable?   I was glad first impressions didn't ruin the whole gallery walk as another one two doors down happened to be spacious and well organized specializing in Native American work.  The breath of fresh air is that this gallery owner was eager to please having public handicap accessible restrooms, friendly in that the owner mentioned a piece or two but backed off AND had a guest artist that day in the gallery demonstrating!  Night and day difference! Others offered refreshments like lemon water, friendly chit chat, and pieces of history about the area or the gallery OR the artists.

First question....  As artists, when entering a gallery just to look or purchase something, have you had similar weird vibes and said something?  I was tempted being an artist, but really felt it wasn't my place as some I just don't think you can get through to them.

Second question...  For those who sell both at art fairs and galleries - If you happen to do an art fair in or near the same town as a gallery that houses your work, do you make it a point to visit that gallery (as a secret shopper or not) and even promote it when at the show?  Or not?

Third and final question...  Also for those who sell both at art fairs and galleries.  Do you have struggles with gallery owners with their "attitude" in how they do business say over the phone coming across as nice and peachy, yet in person or with customers they are quite different?  When it comes to pricing your work do you have issues with gallery owners especially if you are selling at an art fair in town? 

Sorry for all the questions, but I haven't really seen this discussed much on here - granted it is artfairinsiders.com .  - Michelle, www.bythebaybotanicals.com

We did 2 shows in Palm Springs and Indio Ca. One was just fair, one was awfullllllll.

Stay away from the Palm Springs show that is run by volunteers who are so very nice and very kind but the show has no audiance at all. Held  in Palm Springs which u would think would be great , called The Classic on  1/21 to 1/24. really o business at all, for ANYONE. Producer said he would actually refund our fee, but he now does not answe e-amils.

The one held in Indio Ca called the SouthWest Arts festival should have been amazing. But for some reason it was less than average. Nice promoters, great staff, couldn't ask for more. Held on weekend of the 29th of January at the famed Polo Grounds. But just not a 'sales" event at all. Cannot really tell you why.

On the other hand the the SouthPoint North Caroliona Show held over the 4th of July weekend is a real winner and I would highly recommend it.

We are touring the northeast coast this summer and I need to fill in some open weekends. I have only been declined to two show groups, one being Tempe for the Fall Show( got inot the Spring show) and the other being anything run by Thunderbird Artist group here in the West.. But, as I have been applying to the east coast and getting into almost all of them , I find I am being declined by Paragon to three shows so far. Anybody have any input, because frankly I am a bit surprised. Our booth is really great, no tables, good shot, helped out by Larry Berman, our fused glass is unique and highly regarded, we are in 2 museum shops and we do very very well at the shows, but Paragon seems not to like our jewlery, only our art glass. Anybody have any input???? We had to apply in two catagories and we applied to 7 of their shows!!!! Tried to get in touch with Bill the producer , but cannot get any feedback from him.

Daryl

glassdesign

I just got the 3 1/2* Sheraton for $43/night, starting July 7th.  This is a very nice downtown hotel, but NOT walking distance to the show.  Parking is free and abundant.

I'm not going to name any Festivals by name here.....I could get on someone's "Bad List" but last year we shelled out a large fee to be in a well-known and respected Art Fair that had the word wine not only in it's title but loaded in it's customers....and spilled on my oriental rug, my beaded scarves....well, you hear my point.

They were an alcohol-fueled crowd of happy people who were there to have a good time, NOT buy art. 

Why, I wondered, was I there?

And should I accept their invitation this year?

What's your experience/ advice?

It's like a roller-coaster, up, then down, and betwixt the stomach gets all queasy. It's jury time. The multiple $30-$40 apps and the sound of hard earned money being flushed to the silent abyss for judgment, yea or nay. The nays come without comment or score, just a cold encouragement to try again next year. Like Lucy pulling the ball away at the last moment from Charlie Brown ..Whoosh.. Thump!

Thank God for the few yeses but only after a pile of nos. A local show with 1 out of 2 acceptance ratio rejected me today, but a show with greater than 1-10 ratio said yes. Did I just get lucky for two years in a row?  .... how does this happen? It is illogical ... never mind ... just keep believing.

You know you can sell if you could just get into the show. Patrons love the work, but the show gatekeepers don't;  it is illogical. Last year I was wait listed at a top show and drove 4 1/2 hours on the day of to stand in line with hopes that an artist wouldn't show. I got the nod, a sigh of relief! Once in, I'm judged best in my category with an automatic entry into next year's show.  It's illogical, but it happens, because for every amazing artist that gets into a show, many more don't. The odds are not in your favor. As the jury season marches on, the queasy stomach comes more often. Will I make ends meet this year? The question never goes away. 

Why do we do it?  Because.... to stand toe to toe with someone who loves the work, wants to buy it and can't wait to get it home, to an artist, there's nothing like it. Sometimes patrons send me pictures of my work hanging on their walls. Wow, that is really cool.  For me, it would be empty to just create the work and not see the joy of a buyer.  I recently read a signature quote from another artist, "Art isn't art until it's sold. Until then it's an obsession and a storage problem."  The creative process will remain unfinished until one other person receives it. I've sold works in galleries, it is just not the same. Sure the check is nice but it is empty. There's nothing like an art show for selling art!

The bing of the computer as another email arrives. There goes that queasy stomach again.

Happy Trails,

LC

First off, let me say that I spent over an hour writing this post. Then the browser crashed, and took everything with it. No, I did not save a draft. So it was all gone. So now I'm starting over from scratch. So it may not be as good as the original post. But then, again, maybe it will be better.

Many times, art shows are more fun behind the tent than in front. What the patrons see are our public faces, happy, shining, creative artist faces. At Winter Park, there was much happiness spread around. It doesn't hurt that the weather this year was sunny and warm, with no hint of a thunderstorm anywhere in the forecast. The load-in starts on Thursday, with the artists in Central Park dollying in from wherever they can find a parking place. Some will park in back, along the railroad tracks. Some find spots on busy Park Avenue, which doesn't close for the artists on the street until 5AM on Friday morning. Some drop in by helicopter. (Just kidding about that one -- wouldn't it be great?) The layout is confusing, with spots along concrete paths in the park and a long row of booths down Park Avenue. Some booths have the dreaded wood chips instead of concrete paths -- it can get very dusty. Try to close that sale the first time, because the customer may not be able to find you again without a breadcrumb trail.

The crowds were good, from before the starting bell at 9AM on Friday morning, until well past closing on Sunday evening at 5PM. Lots of love, lots of interest. Even some money changing hands. I set out on Sunday morning to shoot some happy smiling artist face, trying to emulate Travis lovely iPhone shots from Bonita. I failed miserably. If only I had spent less time talking to friends, and more time shooting. A photographer's life is tough. Ya gotta get up early in the morning to get those magic hour photographs! But I did capture some of the happiness being spread around Saturday and Sunday, and had a great time doing it.

Sunday morning, the award ribbons were flying on my aisle. There were four of us all told. Bruce Holwerda, first on the left, won for his imaginative paintings. Down from him, Barbara McLaughlin was a first-time winner for her jewelry. And across from Barbara, Kate Beck also took a prize for her fiber wearables. Congratulations to all the winners!

If there's one thing Winter Park does well, it's definitely the awards. $67,500 in prize money, all told. Friday, three judges visit every booth, and choose one piece for judging if you are lucky. I had two pieces chosen, and then the judges had to duke it out to determine which one better represented my entire body of work. On Saturday morning, those artists with chosen work take the representative piece to an off-site room for final deliberations. Award winners are announced with great fanfare on Saturday afternoon.

The committee comes around with balloons, and a ribbon to post in your booth. Checks are handed out at the lovely artist party on Saturday night. As you can see, I'm a happy artist (I'm the one on the right)!

The artist party is up there, as artist parties go. We were busy in the booth with customers until almost 6:30, so didn't get closed up and to the party until almost 7. There was plenty of food and drink, served buffet style outside the Winter Park Historical Society. The presentation started at 7:30, at which point the 30 Awards of Merit ($500), 20 Awards of Distinction ($1000) and 10 Awards of Excellence ($2000) are handed out. They also show slides of each of the artists work. Very classy and well-done.

Barbara McLaughlin won for her jewelry, and posted about her experiences early in the week. She had come by the booth to introduce herself earlier in the day, and was super excited to meet me, and to win that pretty red ribbon. I guess you can tell from her amped-up grin! 

We saw lots of friends, both artists and old friends from the area. Mark and Laura Pooser dropped by, and we had dinner at the marvelous Winter Park Fish Company. Service is stand-up at the counter; they deliver your food to you at a table of your choice, if you can find one. Lines are usually out the door. Mark and Laura have lived in Orlando for years, and their restaurant choices are usually spot on. Try Fuji Sushi, if you like sushi.

Sharie Rocker (on left) and JD (wisely avoided photo opp) came in on Sunday. Sharie and Karyn (on right) worked together in Michigan, and Shari has recently relocated to Orlando. Shari watched me try to convince patrons to buy more photographs, and I'm sure she had a hoot doing it. JD tried to get Karyn and I to go to the bar to watch Michigan duke it out with Duke in the NCAA March Madness, but common sense prevailed. Damn you, common sense! 

And fellow art show photographer Rob Coomer and his wife Tabby came by to say hello. Rob was in town on a busman's holiday, visiting relatives and shooting some wildlife in the area.

As a photographer, I usually get a lot of wannabees coming in the booth, asking advice, wanting to talk about cameras or how to get into art shows. Rob is the real deal. His passion is spelunking, and he has some great cave pictures. 

Other photographers came and went, and I dispensed advice. I've been thinking about putting a sign in my booth that says," If you want to talk about my work, that's free. If you want to talk about your work, that's $100/hr." Do you think that'd make any difference? Nah...

I did meet two lifelong photographer friends, Sherri and Melanie. They were very nice, and didn't want any advice. They did admire my work, which is of course, de rigeur when you are in my booth (otherwise I may kick you out, but that's another story). I'm sure that they will like this snapshot I made of them. If not, oh well. To paraphrase my Dad, we're not in the art show business, we're in the happiness business. 

And then there are all the customers. Most of the show, we were mobbed. Friday and Saturday, the serious shoppers come early. They also show up later in the day on Sunday to nab bargains, and to pick up some happiness that they earmarked earlier in the show. One of my favorite moments in the show was when Stephanie, a previous customer, came by. She said that she reads all my marketing emails, and that she loves my work. She and her new boyfriend Chris were shopping for artwork for their condo, and they must have spent over an hour looking at every single piece. Gotta love folks like that! They ended up purchasing several images, after much deliberation. And she actually printed out a coupon that I had mailed over a month prior, and brought it to the show. I looked up, and thought I saw a pig go by overhead.

For me, that's what makes the show circuit fun. People who enjoy your work, are respectful of what you do, and support you by actually paying you for their own share of your passion. And we have a lot of laughs. 

Show sales were good for me, this year better than last. Of course, last year we had a cloudburst on Sunday afternoon that closed the show and left three or four inches of standing water in everyone's booth. This year, the weather was perfect, and the crowds kept coming and coming.

This Sunday was a bit more tire-kickers and browsers, but sales were still okay. Not great, like Winter Park great, but okay. The load-out was organized and went smoothly. It always amazes me that artists can get themselves in and out of a tight setup with little or no bickering. Even with my oversize trailer and truck, I was able to get close to our booth on the street, so the dolly out was less painful than dollying in from the parking lot. Some artists can get their rigs down the narrow railroad right of way, but mine's too big for that. Parking is easy, too. They reserve an entire field behind the park for artists' vehicles; you can also park in the Amtrak lot. 

Winter Park wouldn't be Winter Park without the wail of the Amtrak locomotive. A few freight trains rumble through, and everyone stops talking until the train noise subsides. Somehow I missed shooting the lineup of portapotties in the train station -- you can see them on the right. Lots of them, and pretty clean, too. There are bathrooms in the train station for those who hate porta potties, and most of the restaurants along Park Avenue will let the artists use the facilities. Some people I know rate shows on the quality of the bathroom facilities...

I'm sure I've missed some important items. That's what happens when you pour your heart and soul into a piece of fiction and then your computer blows it away. You forget things. Your mind slips. Oh well. Next time. Did I mention YogurtLand?

Bye bye Winter Park. See ya next year.