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Thought I would give a little more info about this show, besides being visited by Webbie on Monday.  To give you a point of reference, his visit was the highlight of my show (see blog about cake at the Grove, just recently posted).

With 300-plus exhibitors showing everything from really good fine art to airplants on molded bowls this show was barely sustainable for most of us.  Yeah, we made a paycheck, but we sure didn't put much into the IRA or Tequila Futures fund.

Granted there were numbers of good successes there, where people did $5K or better.  But there were many more who didn't even break $3K for this three-day show.

Let's do a little economics 101 review here.  You have a booth fee (if you only have one) of almost $500.  Except for local artist who sleep in their own beds, you can add another $180-$200 for lodging, and that is if you are sharing.  Then add a minemum of $150 for fuel, and a lot more if you are coming from say, Chicago.  Oh, then there is that pesky thing called food costs, for me it is only $17.53, but my Tequila costs are $473.15, so it all evens out to at least $150.00 for food.  So most have a minemum of $1000 tied up in this show.  That is a lot of granola.  Like I said, I interviewed more than 50 different artists in different medias over the three days, and, I only heard a small number of real successes.  If you stood at the gate at the end of the show and watched people carting their work out, you didn't see too many smiley faces.

You notice I haven't once referred to my fellow mankind as "vendors."  I really hate that term.   Folks, we create, we don't vend.  Might make a great bumper sticker or a t-shirt.

We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather,balmy breezes, plenty of sun, but not too hot.  No rain.  We did have to put up with pesky dripping water on all surfaces of our tents because of the weather change.

Crowds were adequate, not bursting with mankind.  They charge $10 at the gate, or some people can by an event pass for all days.  To the shows credit, they did put in three free passes in our packets that we could give to patrons to come in on Monday.  Tell you how bad sales were for some, I saw one enterprising artist out front selling his passes for $7.  It was the most money he made that day.  

"Zero."  I heard that reply from more than one painter when I asked how they did at the show.

The show did have the guts to boot one buy/sell exhibitor out.  Good for them, needs to be done more often.

Oh well, I have nothing clever or more to say.  I earned a paycheck and that was about it.  I am grateful, I went home with a lot more money than most.  But for a show, on this date, and the stature that they like to crow about, it left a sour taste in my mouth.  Let's here some replies from others who did the show.  Hopefully, they will be ones of success.  Like I said, Webbie made my show.  My brain is teeming with improvisations for next year's date.

All I can say is I am glad they still have Rooneys Tavern there --it is like an oasis in the desert.

So there I  was sitting quietly at my booth at Artigras  on Monday and who walks up to me--Webbie. You all may remember him before he disappeared into the ether of last November's storms (think puff, puff).

He was wild-eyed and excited, there was icing smeared on part of his aloha shirt, his beard was filled with crumbs.  He goes,"Nelsie oh boy, wait til you hear what I saw at the Grove show." I bit.  I was open to anything but the deaf sounds of no sales at Artigras.  "So Webbie what's shaking?""Nelsie baby, what I am about to tell you takes the cake.  The Grove has stretched the boundaries of modern art to new heights never previously envisioned.  They let a guy into the show who makes cakes.  They put him in the sculpture category.  He even took one of his creations in for judging--I didn't know they had an award for Edible Art?"

I chewed on this info for about a minute, slowly digesting the future possibilities that lie in front of us.  "Webbie, you know what this means?  We can know bring naked women to the show and paint on their bodies, I think I will enter under acrylics."  Webbie went me one better.  "Nelsie I got an even better idea.  I can bring my tattoo gun and work on my body--in drawing--it will take the term "body of work" to new dimensions (Webbie is quite large, especially across)." Then we both smiled and said at the same time, "Jewelry."  We can enter as a team.  Think jelly-bean studded cupcakes attached to an edible string.  The folks will eat this up."

I flagged down a boothsitter and we both took off to Rooneys Tavern by the show for a well-deserved lunch break.  We both are in serious "Tequila-Swilling Training" to upend our nemises the Cubby Margarita Killer from Coldwater.  Also, I just can't wait to be able to apply to the Grove in 2012.  We are going to make a killing there.

An excellent blog from Copyblogger by guest poster, Robert Bruce, of relevance to this audience:

I walked into the small, yellow audition room and stopped twelve feet in front of the cheap plastic fold-out table.

There were three of them sitting in there, bored, distracted, glancing at their watches.

The big heart inside my chest was pounding on the rib cage, hoping this was the one.

“Hi, uh …. Mr. Bruise is it?” No. 1 said.

“Yes, it’s actually Bruce, but thank you, I …”

“All right, what do you have for us today?” No. 3 said.

He was looking down, rustling some outstandingly important paperwork into some sort of crucial order.

“Yes, thank you, I, I’ll be doing a short monologue from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and another from Sean Penn’s turn in Carlito’s Way.”

I heard one of them groan under his breath.

The rest of the article: http://www.copyblogger.com/be-the-hero/

About the Author: Robert Bruce is Copyblogger Media’s resident raconteur and copywriter.

Sanibel Island is a big tourist draw in SW Florida for its beautiful beaches, natural setting, absence of "big box" retailers and grocery chains, superb shell collecting, locally-owned restaurants, and expansive bike paths. It's accessible by land only by a three-mile-long causeway that connects it to  the mainland (you've got to pony up a $6.00 toll when you leave the mainland; the return trip is free).

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary has hosted this show for many years and it's a community favorite; there are only 4 outdoor art festivals on the island all year. Many artists return year after year to do this show.  Of those veterans, most said that crowds and sales, though decent, were down somewhat from last year.  It's not the fault of the Rotarians who run the show, however.  The weather was just beach-perfect, and SW Florida has been cool and cloudy for many days since Christmastime, so folks were eager to hit the sand. Showtime was 10 AM sharp (no early arrivals allowed), so folks stormed the gates early on Saturday morning (they paid $1 each) in a buying mood,dwindled somewhat after about 1 PM in favor of a beach blanket, then returned in the late afternoon. 

The Rotarians did a nice job managing parking, with an assist from the friendly Sanibel police who manned the crosswalk across Periwinkle Drive--the main commerce route on the island--from parking area to show venue.  Because parking is extremely limited on the island, a shuttle service was also provided. (Sanibel's the ultimate bike-and-pedestrian friendly town: signs provide constant reminders to drivers to stop and  allow pedestrians to cross, and bike paths are everywhere).

Sunday crowds were down at least fifty percent, and the crowds were more in "browse mode", but sales were still decent.  At most "shuttle shows" I've noticed that people will shuttle in, and if they find art that they like, they'll return with their vehicles to pick up and pay.  So several of my Day 1 browsers turned into paying customers to give me a decent, if not spectacular, paycheck for the weekend.

Setup/teardown:  You can set up anytime between noon and dark on Friday, or early Saturday morning.  Check-in at the parking venue (across Periwinkle from the show) was easy, and the Rotarians were organized: they'd hold you in queue and communicate by walkie-talkie to determine that you'd have a clear path to your booth on the show site.  When the coast was clear, they'd stop street traffic to let you drive across to the site and unload. 

The show layout takes advantage of every nook and cranny, and for the most part artists had only six inches of extra space...not enough to be useful.  I was able to borrow some space from friendly neighbors who had several extra feet of space they weren't using, or managing back-inventory would have been impossible.  The venue had no pavement and only a little grass. It's mostly very fine sand--the kind of sand that makes for great shelling, but also gets fine dust all over your artwork, and Heaven help you if it gets wet, because the sand locks itself into a proto-cement slurry when exposed to moisture. 

The show ended at 4 PM (not 5) on Sunday to allow everyone to get out before dark (there are no lights at the venue).  The Rotarians did their best to manage the logistics, but I felt that they'd have been better off if they'd simply controlled access to the show site, but not tried to micro-manage where artists parked their vehicles.  I wound up dollying about 30 yards, zig-zagging around a nearby artist who  broke down her tent and put her supplies (and her lawn chair), with the show's blessing, in the path I'd expected to use to shorten my dollying. 

All in all, this is a solid, dependable show, though, somewhat paradoxically,  one that provides better results if the weather doesn't lure so many folks to the beaches.  One last note: I always ask folks where they're from, do they own property here or are they vacationing, etc.  And there were a large percentage of Canadians among the show-goers.  I'll ship anywhere in the U.S. but I don't have a plan for shipping to Canada, and that might have cost me a couple of sales. I'll remedy that, if I can, before I return for the Lions Club show here at the end of March.

September 24 & 25
Peoria, Illinois
49th Annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair

Peoria Riverfront Festival Park
150 Artists
Deadline: March 4

 $10,000 Total Awards:
     Best of show: $2,500
     10 Awards of Excellence of $750
     each




Location: Peoria is half way between Chicago and St. Louis

Friday: Patron Preview Party
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm



Rated #73 in the Top 200 Art Fairs by Sunshine Artist Magazine



Ranked in the top 200 Fairs from 2010 Art Fair Sourcebook
    •    #103 in Fine Art
    •    #131 in Fine Craft

Whether you're a first-timer...

"This is my 1st year and I had a wonderful time. We don't always get treated well (after booth fee is paid). So the Peoria "Pamper the Artist" program is very much appreciated. Thanks to all who made it happen." 2010 Fine Art Fair Artist
 
Or back for more...(noted by Sally Bright, returning artist, in the Peoria Journal Star, Sept. 26, 2010)   "I love this show.  It's a whole community thing, not just an elite group of artists.  It's super fun to be around, and we feel appreciated by both the producers and the community at large.  One of the best things about the show is the location, and not just because it's on the beautiful riverfront."   

The Fine Art Fair is known for..

    •    An appreciative buying audience for ALL mediums  
    •     After-fair sales
    •    Easy set-up and teardown/level and accessible
    •    Convenient reserved free parking for artists
    •    Affordable and close accommodations (over 800 hotel rooms within walking distance of the
         venue)
    •    Over 450 energetic community volunteers-willing to please and deliver refreshments
    •    Booth sitters available if you need to grab a snack or take a break
    •    Overnight security Friday & Saturday
    •    Complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner all weekend
    •    Saturday night complimentary artist awards dinner (with entertainment)
    •    Opportunity to mix & mingle and pre-sell at the Friday night preview party
    •    Artist-only break room and information center
    •    Beautiful outdoor Riverfront venue
    •    The company of highly respected, nationally recognized, award winning artists
    •    ATM on site for IMMEDIATE CASH PURCHASES!
    •    Good old-fashioned mid-western hospitality!!

Ask the artists who have exhibited in Peoria.  No one does it better.  We excel in artist amenities from complimentary lunch and breakfast to an Artist Awards dinner that is standing room only.  We work hard to make your experience in the heart of the Midwest one you won't forget.  With 35% of our exhibiting artists new each year, we never tire of hearing, "Wow, I never thought I'd do this well or have this much fun in Peoria, IL!"
 
Visit our Facebook page to become a fan and view photos from the 2010 Fine Art Fair.
 
Application available at: http://www.zapplication.org  
 
For additional information, please call 309-671-1093, visit www.peoriafineartfair.com  

or email: artfair@peoriaartguld.org

What a journey! Personally, I can't believe I stuck with the discipline of doing a full 40 questions. Second, I can't believe the following from all the readers of this website and my blog website, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com . I must say a big THANK YOU to all who have followed me on this journey of advice and tips to help make any craft artist a better business person, salesperson, and a better artist. I thank everyone who emailed me for personal advice, rated the blog posts, took the time to comment, asked questions, shared this with fellow craft artists, and most importantly Connie Mettler for letting me share my wit and wisdom (if you call it that) here on this site as well.  This blog idea wouldn't be a success if it weren't for you! Now, onto the question...

Question #40 What is your craft artist story?

I had a hard time deciding what to do for the last question for this series. I have thought about summarizing or adding some final thoughts on past questions, but then it hit me... Your personal story. I have one and you have one and most are better than fiction or movie from Hollywood, whether you think so or not. The romantic idea of going from rags to riches IS the American Dream and everyone wants a piece of that pie or support others ambition for their American Dream. The story of finding your passion as an artist to how you developed your own personal style of work is all apart of your own unique story. That story will sell yourself to a jury through your artist statement or edu-taining customers via your website or at an art fair. It is powerful and you shouldn't be afraid to share it.

What are the makings for a good craft artist story? It must be factual, personal, genuine and short.

Just the facts. If you were laid off of work, became a cancer survivor, or came from a family of artisans then go with that. At the same time, if you are say you go all over the world to get the best gemstones for your work, you better have pictures or other proof (say jewelry pieces inspired from your travels) to back that up. A good story is based on facts which ends up being the “meat and potatoes” of your story.

Personal. The personal touch includes using your own dialogue and perspective on your story. Most importantly this includes emotion - how you felt when you first touched felt, painted your first stroke, sold your first piece, captured the perfect moment in time after waiting and waiting to take that perfect photograph. The average person thinks being an artist is easy, sometimes glamorous, but it is up to us to show these people that it is hard work and with hard work comes some nice rewards albeit financial freedom, a creative outlet, the joy of knowing you are able to make someone smile or give hope to others.

Genuine. This refers to the reputation of yourself and your work as well as your experience that makes you, well... you. To be genuine means you have a unique style, attitude, ideas, quirk, skill, etc. that you developed and created all your own proving what you create Is one of a kind.

Short. No one wants to hear your life story in a 3 part novel form. Your story needs to be simple and short, say a paragraph or two that has a lot of punch, yet no longer than a page. In other words you should easily recite it to anyone and they will be able to relate to it immediately.

The amazing thing about your story is that it should be changing as you learn more or experience new experiences. Here's my story...

I am Michelle Sholund, the craft artist and owner of By the Bay Botanicals which is run out of my 1930's farmhouse just outside of Baltimore, MD. I was an only child and found myself entertained for hours experimenting with different art forms such as making large pine cone wreaths from an artist in Pennsylvania, to floral arranging, drawing and playing the violin all while in elementary school. I continued in the arts through college having earned a degree in Fine Arts. A few years later I got married then pursued selling my homemade creations at local art and craft fairs.

In 2007, my husband and I moved into our dream home, a farmhouse on 1.2 acres of property – that is when I really found my inspiration and calling. That calling was gardening and working with all natural materials to create aromatic art. I taught myself to dry the flowers from my gardens creating my own style of potpourri and other scented products all inspired by various places in Maryland. The high end palm wax candle line, called Destination Scentations, is a new addition after a local store owner (and friend) nudged me to try making candles. Six months of frustration in teaching myself how to make candles, I started to experiment with waxes, unique jar styles, wicks, as well as creating my own fragrances through blending techniques. I also learned about the benefits of eco-friendly palm wax and why it is important to choose and use renewable resources for the betterment of our environment and our health. The result? Colorful frosted candles that captures the haunting aroma of popular travel destinations all over US and the world. Through handcrafted, aromatic creations, I hope others will learn that investing in Made in America ,eco-friendly products isn't just a great gift, but a step in the right direction to help make the world a better place for future generations.

What do you think, did I follow my own rules? Do you think you can do better? Are you open to want to know more about me or learn more about the items I create (granted I am not doing this to sell you my work, but demonstrate how this can be an effective marketing too)? Will this inspire you or at least find it to be a decent example on how to write your own story? I certainly hope so.

While this is the last question to this blog series, that doesn't mean I won't continue my blog, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com .  I will still post on artfairinsiders.com too.   Another reason stick to following my blog – click on the RRS feed button to get quick updates – is that I intend to start doing audio and video blog posts, and with luck share them on this site - as long as Connie doesn't mind :-) My door is always open if you want to email me or pick my brain...Thanks again for your support in this blog series, until the next blog post.... Wishing you much success with your craft/art business... - Michelle Sholund, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com www.bythebaybotanicalsonline.com

June 11 & 12
Annapolis, Maryland
Navy-Marine Corps Stadium
200 artists
Deadline: March 2

It is with great enthusiasm that we invite you to apply to exhibit at the Second Annual Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival. This premier event showcases the prized works of over 200 artists employing a variety of medium:  painting, sculpture, ceramics, digital art, mixed media, printmaking, jewelry, fiber art, glass, wood, leather, metal and photography.

With a population of over a half-million, the Annapolis area has a median household income 30% higher than the national average.  It is also the destination of more than 4 million visitors each year, accounting for $1.8 billion in revenue.   Maryland is the wealthiest state in the nation and the Annapolis jurisdiction the fourth most affluent in the state. Annapolis is also conveniently located approximately 35 miles from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and its affluent Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs.

Well known for it's maritime culture, colonial heritage and charming downtown shopping district, Annapolis was named one of the nation's Top 25 Arts Destinations in AmericanStyle magazine's 12th Annual Arts Designation Poll. Winning cities were ranked for the high quality of their art galleries, festivals and events and for their warm welcome to art collectors and arts tourists.  

To ensure widespread awareness of the festival, the event is being aggressively marketed throughout the region with a multimedia advertising and publicity campaign via TV, cable, print, radio and online, as well as through posters, postcards and brochures. The Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival is produced by City Dock Productions, an event management company with over 36 years of experience presenting arts and crafts festivals, music festivals, wine festivals and other consumer product shows and public events.  The festival is endorsed by the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County,  Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

The Navy-Marine Corps Stadium is an ideal venue for the Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival:
    •    Easy to reach, just off Rt. 50, and with ample parking for both exhibitors and the public
    •    the site is available for setup on Friday, June 10.  
    •    Artists can drive up and offload right at their booths.  
    •    Plenty of nearby hotel accommodations in every price
         range
    •    continuous shuttle bus service to downtown and all of
         the many shops, restaurants and attractions of historic
         Annapolis are just some of the amenities exhibitors will
         enjoy while participating in the Annapolis Arts and Crafts
         Festival.

The Annapolis Arts and Craft Festival staff takes great pride in our event--and in you and your work. We look forward to having you as part of our second annual event.

Learn more: annapolisartsandcraftsfestival.com, then

Apply today: JuriedArtServices.com

I need mostly women to answer unless the guys have something good to say.  You guys have the strength and I know you set up your shows on your own.

Any woman artist that set up there own booth at art shows?  How do you do it?  This year I am going to be on my own.  If the shows inside no problem that is easy and I do it all the time on my own.  Its the outside when you need to set up the tent.  Have the EZ tent set up.

From Mark Loeb, producer of Integrity Shows:

I am in need of a good, ethical sponsorship/partnerships coordinator.  Someone that loves creating new projects and relationships.  I am attaching the job description.  Please let me know if you have anyone in mind that might be interested in this position.  I would like to have someone in place by the end of January.

My belief is that the selected person will achieve an income of between $25,000 and $40,000 in the first year.  This on a part time basis. There is every potential that  the Partnership Director would be earning over $80,000 by the third year.  

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.   Thank you for your assistance.

Learn more:  Partnerships%201.pdf

June 25
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Veteran's Memorial Park
10am-5pm
75 Artists
Deadline: April 1, 2011
 
Where is Elk Rapids?  Visit this link.
 
Elk Rapids is at the center of some of the most affluent real estate in northern Michigan, on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, near Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.  This area has really blossomed with new homes, golf courses and galleries in the last ten years, making it a desired vacation second home location, for people from Chicago and Detroit.
 
The art fair is held in Veteran's Memorial Park, by Grand Traverse Bay in the heart of this charming harbor town.  Patrons can walk two short blocks where they will find restaurants, antique shops and art galleries.  Elk Rapids already attracts an art-loving clientele the year around.
 
The organizers have planned every detail including a reception (appetizers and wine) the night before for the artists and volunteers.  The next morning volunteers are on hand with golf carts at 5am to unload artists vans and help with setup.  Then the sun comes out and the people show up.  As they know this is a one-day show so it is "now or never."
 
Prize money:
     $1000 Best of show
     $600 Honorable Mention
     $125 Best Display
     $125 People's Choice
 
Space Fees:
     1 space, 1 artist $125
     1 space, 2 artists $175
     2 spaces, 1 artist  $250
 
Testimonials from artists:

--This was a terrific show, well organized, advertised, and well attended.  Glad to be in the show.
 
--My compliments to all involved.  The art presented was upscale.  Very well done.
 
--Thanks for selecting fine art (as opposed to crafts). It's very difficult to find art shows, and if you continue to keep a high standard and accept only fine art, you will get that reputation and buyers coming with the knowledge that it is an art show and they are prepared to spend accordingly.
 
For more information and to download an application visit: www.artrapids.org

Are you free on this date? What a wonderful place to spend a summer weekend, on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, enjoying the hospitality of this artsy community.

**********************
Do you enjoy being kept up to date on the latest art fair happenings? Then subscribe to our news feed at this link: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=373715

                                                            February 19-21
                360 nationally recognized artists along the scenic streets of Coconut Grove
The artists were chosen from over 1200 applicants and come from 35 states. "Our arts festival brings the most talented and creative artists from all over the world," says Monty Trainor, president of the arts festival. "South Floridians have a great appreciation for the arts, and every year we are proud to welcome new artists who exhibit for the first time."

The President's Day Weekend brings many people to south Florida from the Northeast, they throng the streets of The Grove and join the local population to enjoy this multicultural celebration.

2011 Fact Sheet

WHAT:     Celebrating its 48th anniversary in 2011, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival® is one of the nation's premier outdoor fine Arts Festivals. The Festival showcases the works of over 360 of the finest artists and craftsmen in the world. A signature event of the South Florida cultural calendar, the Arts Festival offers visitors the opportunity to meet with exhibiting artists, sample fine cuisine, enjoy live entertainment and take a walk through history
 
WHERE:   Coconut Grove, Florida. The Arts Festival's colorful mile-long path begins on McFarlane Road and runs down South Bayshore Drive offering picturesque views of Biscayne Bay.

HOURS:   10 a.m. - 6 p.m. all three days
     
ATTENDANCE:            
          Approximately 150,000 people are expected to attend
 
ADMISSION:           
          $10 per person per day.  Children 12 and under, Metrorail Golden Passport and Patriot Passport
          holders are free.
 
DISCOUNT TICKETS:            
           Residents of Coconut Grove in the 33133 zip code can enjoy the Festival for only $5 with a
           33133 pass (proof of residency required).
 
HISTORY:   The Coconut Grove Arts Festival originally started as a "clothes-line" art show featuring a dozen local artists.  Today, the festival is one the nation's most prestigious and annually attracts more than 150,000 attendees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:   www.coconutgroveartsfest.com

*******************
In South Florida and need another art fair February 19-21? Right around the corner from Coconut Grove you can find the St. Stephen's Art Show, and in Jupiter you'll enjoy the Arti Gras Fine Art Festival. Grab a friend and see it all. What a treat!

Strong words of wisdom from one of my favorite marketing gurus, Andy Sernovitz:

1.  If it isn't remarkable, it isn't worth it. If you're making something, make sure it's wonderful, outrageous, purple, strange, smelly, delicious, or meaningful. Don't stop until it's different.
.................

Fans of Jeppson's Malort, a Swedish-style schnapps brewed in Chicago, know they're a rare bunch. As Jeppson proudly proclaims: "Our liquor is rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) to the palate. During the lifetime of our founder, Carl Jeppson was apt to say, 'My Malort is produced for that unique group of drinkers who disdain light flavor or neutral spirits.'" They don't just acknowledge the strong taste of their liquor, they're proud of it -- they even have Flickr groups and online videos dedicated to the unique face first-timers make when sampling the stuff. Most people don't like it, but those who do are intensely loyal and share their love for it with friends.

The lesson: Don't try to make something for everyone, make something for someone.

Here's a video that tells the story even better: http://vimeo.com/14169103

2.  Most restaurant menus have at least a dozen more items listed than they should. At celebrity chef Charlie Palmer's new DG Burger, there's just one burger on the menu: his Black Angus burger topped with cabbage, tomato, red onion, and a secret sauce. It's probably tempting to add other burgers -- ones with different sauces, buns, and toppings -- but Charlie knows this is his masterpiece, and he doesn't want to distract customers with burgers that aren't as good.

The lesson: Great focus makes a great brand. Selling things that you can't make amazing only get in the way of the stuff you're truly great at.

Learn more: Nation's Restaurant News

These inspirational ideas are from Andy's Word of Mouth Marketing Blog. Subscribe here.

As I loaded up to the van for the arduous 12-mile trek down US 41 from my home to the 5th Annual Coconut Point Art Festival, I had a little bit of anxiety.  Howard Alan's last three February Coconut Point shows had treated me well, but I'd had a brutal time at the "Fall" show in November, so I couldn't help but wonder: Was that swan dive the result of snowbirds heading north for Thanksgiving?  Or was it a sign that even winter visitors couldn't breathe life into the local SW Fla. economy? 

Well, not to fan the flames of the recent economic rebound buzz too much, but it sure looked like good times this weekend.  Despite cool breezy weather that had even the upper Midwesterners wearing sweaters and winter jackets, the crowds came early on Saturday and brought their wallets.  And although the buying energy seemed to fizzle a bit Sunday, the crowds were still strong into mid-afternoon.  All the artists I spoke with seemed downright happy, or at least satisfied, with their sales. 

Setup was all day on Friday, or starting at 6 AM on Saturday. ( Is it just me, or is Alan going out of his way to provide more Friday setups for his artists? The Hobe Sound show last week had one, too).  Anyway, it made for an easy time of it; I arrived at 1 PM Friday and was heading home to finish matting my show inventory by 2:30.  Saturday brought a steady stream of buyers and, happily, a number of repeat customers who came to take advantage of the email coupon I'd sent out on Thursday. 

Sunday brought more of the same.  I got off to a quick start when a Saturday buyer of a large canvas called to double down on his order, and another patron came in to order a wall-full of 16x20s.  But I jinxed myself, perhaps, by mentioning to Darrin Alan around 1:00 PM how well the show was going.  Although there was still plenty of traffic in the booth after that, most of them were browsing the 8x10 bins, looking for a nature photo with an not-occurring-in-nature color "to match the paint in the bathroom," or just whiling away the time before they headed to Target.  Still, the weekend's take was more than respectable, and I picked up a wholesale account at a high-end furniture chain to boot.

Load-out featured a controlled procedure designed to keep things orderly--one that (as Alan explained in a pre-show email) was made necessary, in part, by the complaints of mall customers at the 2010 show who got caught up in the phalanx of artist vehicles accessing the show area.  Basically, you broke down your tent entirely, then got your Purple Ribbon of Compliance from the show staff which (after you fetched your wheels from the parking lot behind the movie theatre--about a five minute walk, not so bad) would grant you passage from perimeter mall security. Finally, the show staff would direct you past the barricades. 

That had mixed results.  On the plus side: 

* It DID keep artists from queuing up at the barricades;

* Who says you can't get a ribbon at a Howard Alan show?

On the other hand,  for some of us there was a longer wait than seemed necessary between the time our tents were collapsed and the time staff pedaled by to hand us our "hall pass."  One or two more staffers circulating around would have helped...but all in all, it didn't go too badly. 

Overall, I'm tempted to say it was "like the old days."  But then,  I've been on the scene only 4 years, so I can't really say what those looked like.  This sure seemed like a weekend worth waxing nostalgic about someday, though.

Wow, that was bad.  Was it bad scheduling (there was a major country fair type thing going on just down the street)?  Did they advertise in the wrong places to the wrong people?  Is it a bad location?  I can't say but something went seriously wrong.  You know it's been bad when the clay flower guy is packing up early.

I did make one good sale to a person that had been redecorating the last time she saw my work and promised to buy in the future.  She called me last week to ask where I would be next and came to the show just to buy.   Other than that, one matted print.  The person next to me had one good sale but everyone else I talked to was talking about numbers less than $100.

Other than trying to choose the right shows we, as artists, don't have a lot of control over things like this but one thing we do have control over is our actions.  Around 3:00 on Sunday artists started disappearing.  One painter actually attempted to pull his vehicle right in front of his booth blocking another artists booth.  Security had to be called.   At least one award winner packed up and left.  I'm not talking surreptitiously taking down sides and putting away work.  This was full scale pack up and leave.   Come on people, what is another 2 hours?  It wasn't like it was pouring rain or a tornado was forecast.  It wasn't like we were looking at a nasty breakdown. The weather was a tad chilly but really pretty nice.  I know some of the Osceola people and they are good people.  They tried their best.  They weren't trying to scam us.  Something just didn't come together.  It happens sometimes.

Setup was a piece of cake, breakdown was a piece of cake.  Food vendors were kind of lacking.  The weather was chilly on Saturday and almost perfect on Sunday.  The layout could have been tweaked some.  There were two sections separated by a large median type sidewalk.  I think, with a little rearrangement, they could have put us all on one side.  Parking was a bit of a walk for the artists but close for patrons.  The award dollars were a lot less than I remember them being in the past.  They had the "nice" bathrooms but unfortunately the "nice" bathrooms were only open during show time so if you arrived early or left after 5 you had to use the yucky porta-potties.

The show is held in a parking lot of a local college.  Spaces are nice and level with lots of storage area.