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Last I week went humming down the coast to bring artwork to 2 galleries that represent me. They have been really hurting this past year due to the economy. The artist that they will hang onto are ones that understand the winter months are slow and differ payment until February, heck it is only 2 months and we don’t show until April anyways. It is a great boost to get supplies.
I walk up to the gallery with one of my fish paintings and WHAM! A lady with a camera scream’s “There she is!” She runs up to me with the gallery owner following her and is absolutely giddy. I proceed to back up slowly and want to run in the opposite direction. She is waiting to see the new artwork and want’s a photo with the artist. Now, my husband has watched the entire situation unfold. He is laughing so hard he can’t breath and the children’s eyes are as big as Oreo's. My son (8yrs) says,” Hey, Dad since mom’s famous can I take her for show & tell next week?”
The gallery owner is waving his hands with a check wanting more artwork. He is
stating that the sales due to the weather warming up have been outstanding. The medium priced work does very well. (Note He is not accepting any artist at this time, his wife paints and has 70% of the gallery, my stuff is in the back. This is ok because the mindset is the expensive work is upfront and the work they can afford is in the back, I love it.) I unload the car with only 8 pieces and watch out of the corner of my eye as a man picks one up being inventoried. My heart is beating outside my chest with adrenaline due to shear shock of such interest. I sit in the car thanking my father up stairs for the gift to paint. I have a check in my hand worth at least 2 shows. That old SUV couldn’t get home fast enough to hit the canvas, the idea’s were running in my mind.
So is the recession over? Or do people have the mind set change of season change of environment. Did they save over the winter to be able to spend or are the tides changing economically? I am not sure but, I will be riding on the high of that experience for years! Again, sorry to post about a gallery vs shows. Thought the positive note may be a glimmer of hope in the art business.
Happy Day!
Heather
is anyone doing the may 7,8,9 fest this year? i am looking for info on the load in, but noone returns my emails from the festival site? thanks for any response, denice
Traverse City, Michigan
Presented by Artcenter Traverse City
120 artists
Deadline: April 7
It is our 50th year and we want you to celebrate with us!
Artcenter Traverse City invites you to apply to its 50th Annual Outdoor Art Fair, to be held on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College in
beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. We offer spacious display areas, with ample parking to provide the perfect Art Fair atmosphere. Our juried fair seeks to maintain the highest standards for both the artists and the viewing public.
This is one of Artcenter's premier events and fundraiser, we are comprised of working artists and members who volunteer time, talent, and experience to ensure a quality show. We offer a cash award and a pre-juried complimentary booth for 2011, and we are continuing our 20% pre-jury invitation to selected artists.
In 2010 TC ODAF falls right in the middle of the Traverse City
Making it easy for you:
- Setup Friday night or Saturday from 6 am to 9 am
- Rooms available on Campus
- Reasonable fees - $25.00 entry fee
- $135.00, 10 x 10 booth fee
We also encourage you to participant in our image competition your artwork featured on marketing materials; print advertisements, post cards, event program, and TV PSA.
Contact us for further information: info@artcentertraversecity.com
Learn more and apply: www.artcentertraversecity.com
OK, so I submit my stuff on Zapp and pay the fees for my wife and I for a supposedly great show on Long Island. We get accepted and they take our booth fees. We arrange for dog sitting and all the misc. stuff to be gone for four or five days, make hotel reservations, and then get told: 'So sorry, we made a mistake and can't get any of our friends to attend because of a religious holiday on that weekend.' They did refund our money, but we lost out on a show we'd done several times before that had been at least productive. Why didn't they look at a calendar before scheduling this thing? Go figure!
Then there was the very big wine festival we did a couple years back when they insisted our 'banners in various stages of disrepair on bamboo poles' would not be allowed - over ten thousand people showed on the first day and they had no trash cans anywhere on the premises! When we came in on Sunday morning, the place looked like a war zone.
I can't begin to relate the number of shows we've been at that were to be "100% hand made by vendor", yet were unbelievably far from it. There was a lady two spaces up from us at one indoor show that had boxes clearly marked "Made In China" full of porcelain piggy banks that she'd use felt tipped pens to mark on and then sell. While she pushed the limit on handmade 'content' we've seen far worse many times.
A favorite gripe of mine is the set-up/break-down instructions that never are enforced, thus many artists (probably those that don't follow application instructions!) block streets with vehicles and trailers while still breaking down or zip in at the last second and are still setting up when the show opens.
Of course there are those that promote their event as being the greatest thing since sliced bread for the artist community! They've thousands and thousands of buying attendees! They've all sorts of wonderful attractions and rides for the kids! They've super security and music and whatever you can think of! What they don't tell you is that when you show up you find all the artist/crafter spaces are way out of the pedestrian traffic flow and you're lucky to see ten percent of all those attendees!
I could probably come up with a few more (like the being accepted and then being told we were on a wait list), but these are our personal top five. Anyone got some more?I can't begin to relate the number of shows we've been at that were to be "100% hand made by vendor", yet were unbelievably far from it. There was a lady two spaces up from us at one indoor show that had boxes clearly marked "Made In China" full of porcelain piggy banks that she'd use felt tipped pens to mark on and then sell. While she pushed the limit on handmade 'content' we've seen far worse many times.
A favorite gripe of mine is the set-up/break-down instructions that never are enforced, thus many artists (probably those that don't follow application instructions!) block streets with vehicles and trailers while still breaking down or zip in at the last second and are still setting up when the show opens.
Of course there are those that promote their event as being the greatest thing since sliced bread for the artist community! They've thousands and thousands of buying attendees! They've all sorts of wonderful attractions and rides for the kids! They've super security and music and whatever you can think of! What they don't tell you is that when you show up you find all the artist/crafter spaces are way out of the pedestrian traffic flow and you're lucky to see ten percent of all those attendees!
This show is very well run with everyone including the director asking if everything is okay. You couldn't ask for a nicer staff and numerous volunteers running around with water and snacks. This was good, 'cause the food court got very crowded, and we had no time to wait in line...
because we were too busy in our booths!
Friday was a little light on the attendance, but that's to be expected, nevertheless there were buyers scouring the show. Saturday and Sunday, perfect if breezy weather not getting in the way, were very busy and crowded. Patrons are bussed to the gate from remote lots, but this seemed to deter no one. My booth was close to the gate, and I saw more art work being carried out of the show than I have seen anywhere in the last 3 years.. There was a sense of real buying energy, which for me reached a peak on Sunday, typically a bad day for me.
My shows in Texas have been among my best, Fort Worth being my best ever. This is my second year here in Memorial Park, and I doubled what I thought was a decent show last year. My neighbors also had good shows, and I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Just seeing if anyone else was considering this show, I have really cheap lodging there; but still have reservations. This is a brand new show that they are starting. Please offer some input. Thanks in Advance!!
Ben
I'm heading to Los Angeles for a week and will be checking in here only sporadically. It is time for some sunshine and to check in with family and meet with my mentor to keep "all things online" going well. Be prepared for changes upon my return.
In the meantime, I have been receiving messages from various members of the site who are not pleased with the somewhat adversarial conversations taking place in the discussion area. People are telling me they are not coming back because they feel attacked. I'm sure there are others who aren't telling me, but have crossed ArtFairInsiders.com off their list of places to spend time.
I need your help and input. Please tell me:
- How do you think this should be handled?
- Do you think we should have volunteer moderators who could monitor the conversations and keep them civilized? A moderator could be someone who keeps the discussion in the parameters of the subject.
- Should we put together a group to create a policy that will allow everyone to put forth their point of view within guidelines?
- Should discussions be closed out at two weeks?
- Any suggestions?
- Be nice
- Be generous
- Be ethical
Got a call this morning from Nels. "Why don't you write up the show, I left early Sunday morning".
I remember hearing that at the show Sunday morning, and saying to my wife, "There's a smart man!" The weather report was as bleak as it could be. We would be hit by rain around 1 PM and it would last all afternoon.
Tarpon Springs is a small town with a lot of character. The tourist draws are the sponge docks and the Greek food. I've done the art festival off and on for 2 decades and have been in most locations throughout the park. Some locations are better than others. I have gravitated to the hardest location to set up, but where the sales, for me, are consistently good.
The Park is hastily fenced around its perimeter on Friday so an entry fee can be charged. The artists can load in on Friday too, but the degree of difficulty is in direct proportion to your assigned spot. Mine is a cart-in from 50 yards away, if I can get one of 2 parking spots. Tear-down is worse, sometimes 100 yards and then carrying everything up a grassy hill to the curb. I couldn't have left Sunday morning even if I had wanted to. Nels is always in a different area and this year he had a perfect load-in/load-out spot, but he said it lacked steady traffic and therefore, sales.
He shared his number with me and, really, I only made a few hundred more on Saturday. Oh, by the way, Saturday was a perfect day! Great crowds and lots of people carrying bags.
The show hours were 9 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sunday. We arrived at 9:30 Sunday morning and found the parking difficult and the crowd huge. They were letting people in early due to the threat of rain. By the time I got back from parking many blocks away, Kim had the booth open and was putting up as many awnings as we had. I mention this because a year earlier, we couldn't do this even though we had the same booth number in the show.
Let me digress to editorialize to promoters everywhere:
When an artist requests the same booth number they had last year, they don't really mean the same number, we mean the same real estate! Last year when we arrived for set-up Friday afternoon, we found another booth set up in the spot we had had for several years in a row. We had to set-up in the grove of trees where a booth had never been set up before. It seems a volunteer didn't realize a booth should not be placed there, but there I was, same number, but one space away from "my" spot. Same thing happened to me in Naperville last year. "Spot" means location not number!
So, last year when the rains came we could not put any awnings out. This year, when the rain came, there was no reason to. The crowd evaporated so fast we just dropped our sides. Up to that point, sales were fantastic and we did as well in a few hours as we did all day, Saturday. The show was officially closed and artists were given permission to tear down in the poring rain.
Several artist joined us in drinking beer (the beer booth stayed open) and we sat in the booth plugging leaks and telling stories for a couple of hours until one of my loading spots opened up and then we proceeded to pack-out in a steady drizzle.
That makes two weeks in a row of short Sunday afternoons and a lousy pack-up. Between the cold and the rain this year, Florida has been pretty miserable.
As a result, there are few big outdoor shows on the island, The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club holds one at the same location--the Sanibel Community Center in mid-island--in early February. But I was booked elsewhere, so I jumped at the chance to be in this well-established show sponsored by the San-Cap Lions Club As a bird/wildlife photographer, I thought that this location (only a block away from the road that takes visitors to the famed Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge) would be perfect for me.
Setup was on Thursday afternoon and evening, and according to my niece Audrey (who set up my tent for me while I was in Orlando giving talks at Photoshop World), things were hassle-free. Space is at a premium on the island, so the layout is a bit convoluted, but manages to take advantage of every available square foot of real estate.
In addition, some of the artists are set up indoors, in the community center building. Artists could request first, second, and third location choices when they applied...an interesting concept. It's possible that that's what contributed to a bit of a ragtag layout: Photographers were next to and across from photographers; jewelers the same (and, as several customers mentioned to me, there was LOTS of jewelry.) And it seemed to me that most of the traditional 2-D artists were clustered inside, or next to, the building.
Toss in a bit of buy/sell, a group of friendly volunteers from the Lions Club, add a few food vendors and a mobile brass band, and the net effect was a small, informal show with a community feel. Just what the Lions, no doubt, were after.
The bad news: Outdoor spaces feature sand, sand, sand...the fine grained "sugar sand" that, when wet, locks itself tenaciously into proto-cement and, with evil intention, wedges into your shoes, artwork, tent, and poles. And unfortunately, Friday morning dawned wet and soggy. By the opening of the show at 9 AM, I'd already pulled up my half-buried outdoor carpet and stashed it in the van. (I'd have simply put it behind the booth, but there wasn't any storage space to be had for rug or extra inventory.)
The sun finally broke through around 11 AM Friday, but it was already clear that the few show-goers who paid the $4 entry fee (all proceeds went to Lions charities) were largely retirees and vacationers who were there to browse, not to buy. However, artists with unique work, and those with a committed local following, still did quite well. An artist from New York who demonstrated how he made beautiful 3-D creations from wire mesh had a fairly steady crowd and many buyers. A local favorite who made colorful, whimsical metallic garden sculptures was busy, too. But I had only a few hundred dollars in the till at day's end. Only my second-place ribbon in the 2-D category (and 75% of the show fee for next year's event) and a couple of wonderful neighbors (fine art jeweler/metalsmith Christina Paluszek and glass designer Beth Collette) made it a happy drive home
We were all looking forward to Saturday, when the year-round and seasonal residents would descend en masse ...or so we thought. But it never really happened. The weather was so beach-perfect that the sun-starved snowbirds headed there instead to get their tans on before flying north. As the day grew longer and hotter, I mentioned to neighbor Christina that I'd need a "4:30 miracle" to save the show. Which I got, when a customer came by after I'd already packed up the price tags and bought a show wall's worth of canvases.
So...it all worked out the end...for me, at least. And I'll be back-- it's a local show, and I've got money in hand for next year, thanks to the ribbon. But I'll also be hoping to jury in to the Rotary show next February in the same space. It should be an interesting comparison.
I think I beat the topic of product development to the death. So lets moveonto a topic that is more lively: customer service. I don't thinkthere is a time we don't talk about customer service – good or bad.However, have you ever really thought about what customer serviceis all about and how it impacts craft artists who sell at shows?Well, now is the time.
Question #13 What is Customer Service?
How would you define “customer service”? Think about all of yourretail and restaurant experiences. A simple definition might be theattention and activity that is intended to ensure thatcustomers receive the goods and services they desire to satisfy theirneeds or wants in the most effective and efficient manner possible . However is it really that cut and dry? When you see a sales personcommunicate with a customer there is one thing that is clear –customer service is all about language, both body language as well asverbal communication. The way you stand, the tone of your voice,your facial expressions and energy level all plays into itty bittycues that signal to customers what a pleasant place to shop and wantto come back again. Don't forget that customers judge you and yourbusiness based on how you carry yourself when interacting withcustomers, its just human nature.
Although most people think of customer service as what happens during a sale,but really customer service occurs before and after the sale too.From the greeting, to interacting with the customer in identifyingtheir needs, to packaging their purchase and asking if they wouldlike to be on your mailing list before they leave is all apart ofcustomer service. It is essential to recognize that withoutcustomers we have no business. The sooner craft artists realizethis, the easier it is to transition oneself from being an artist whocreates great work to a sales person who can also sell your own worktoo. It is also important to ask yourself if you think you wouldmake a great sales person. Sales people should be bubbly, open,outgoing, helpful, insightful, and enthusiastic. If you don't seeyourself as a sales person, then you will need to hire someone orrecruit friends or family members who exhibit these qualities.
The topic of customer service is a big one, and since this is a “quickcraft artist tips” blog, I intend to devote a great deal of timeto the topic with this blog series. I'll be answering questionssuch as what do customers want, how have Gen X and Y'ers affected theway people shop, why do some customers buy while others don't, doeswhat customer say mean more than one thing, what are some tips ondelivering good customer service, and much more. If you have everwondered why sales are lacking, you can't afford to miss the nextseveral posts as it will shed light on how to improve your customerrelations skills to increase profits. Michelle,www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
Bartlett, Illinois
Outdoors in Downtown Bartlett
Presented by the Arts Council
60 Artists
Deadline: April 1
For the 8th year, Arts in Bartlett, the local arts council in this thriving Illinois community 35 miles northwest of Chicago, presents a quality, yet affordable juried fine arts and fine crafts in a highly anticipated annual event. Held from 10 am to 5 pm, it is free to the public and held outdoors in quaint downtown Bartlett on a grassy area in the Town Center.
Why you should apply:
· Touted by artists as the best-organized and most hospitable art fair they attend
· Easy setup and teardown with vehicle access within feet of assigned spot
· Early setup available Friday night
· Overnight police security and artist overnight parking within a block
· Famous complimentary artist breakfast both days
· Plenty of free visitor parking within two blocks
· Children's activities and entertainment
· Online application jury fee only $25 and space fees $125 for single artists and $150 for groups
· Program insert in the local newspaper reaching 11,000 homes the week of the arts festival, plus
posters, signs and banners blanketing the area
April 1, 2010 - Final application deadline
April 15, 2010 - Jurying completed and artists notified
May 1, 2010 - Booth fee checks due
May 20, 2010 - Last day for cancellation and receipt of refund
Apply by April 1 online at www.artsinbartlett.org or contact Arts in Bartlett, 630-372-4152, or artsinbartlett@comcast.net
<**************
Looking for more art fairs to fill your 2010 season?
Visit: www.artfairinsiders.com/callforartists
Looking for more art fairs to fill your 2010 season?
Visit: www.artfairinsiders.com/callforartists
In case you have not heard, I wanted to send you the information, below from Andrea, Roy Schallenberg’s wife. Roy passed yesterday morning. He was a friend, artist consultant and mentor to me. Many people do not realize that Roy was instrumental with Hot Works and where we have grown the last few years. We will miss him deeply.
Email from his wife, Andrea:
My husband, Roy Schallenberg, passed away this morning at 8:30am with me by his side. He lived an extremely full and rich life, more than most people would ever believe. He was sad to leave our life but wanted to leave behind the suffering and infirmed state caused by the cancer and tumors. He often said he was "not afraid of dying, just of leaving you!"
He joked with me and others many times that he was enjoying his funeral while alive as his many friends and our family came to visit and share memories with him over the last few months. He was touched, overwhelmed and sometimes surprised by the stories of how he made a difference in someones life or by the generosity and love shown by friends. It was an emotional time and a wonderful time for Roy to receive so many messages, visits and displays of love.
... I don't know how people with out family love and support go through this, but I am eternally grateful I didn't have to find out.
I will be working with our son Mathew in selling Roy's remaining paintings shown on his website, www.schallenbergstudio.com , and we will continue doing Roy's shows as long it makes sense. It saddens me greatly to know that he will never create a new piece of work again and what is remaining is all that is left. We will be creating giclee's of his work so the reproductions can go on always. I will continue to look for a job and go where ever that may lead me. I am open to ideas or connections in the career field if anyone has any. The future is unknown...as it is for all of us.
Anyone wishing to send donations in Roy's name to Health First Hospice the address is: Hospice of Health First 1900 Dairy Rd. Melbourne, FL 32904. I will be having a small celebration of Roy's life for the family and friends who are here in Florida who are able to attend. The important time was being with Roy when he was alive, the celebration is closure for myself and my children.
Our love and thanks to everyone for all you did, all you do and for being apart of our lives.
Much Love Always,
Andrea Tharin
375 Wainai Drive
Merritt Island, FL 32953
Roy was well known in art fair circles, a frequent participant in art fairs throughout the country but particularly well know in both Florida and Michigan. He will be missed by many. He was a mento to many younger artists and touched a lot of hearts.
I'm not being negative, I'm being realistic.
Of all the people that attend art festivals and art fairs - from parking lot shows to the top 10 in the country...
- 69% of the attendees are artists, crafters, wanna-be artists and their spouses and children and friends. The artists are looking at what's being sold, what is relevant, what is new and are looking for ideas for techniques, materials, etc.
- 25% of the attendees are our "accidental" tourists; visiting the area, looking for something to do while on vacation, at a conference, etc. If it is a free event, it's a day out. Sometimes they're just there for the entertainment/music/food and the art festival is the side show.
- 1% are trying to sell the artists something - plexi card holders, advertising, web sites, etc.
- 5% of the attendees are actually looking for art.
- most of them have a small budget and won't actually buy anything or will buy a small print or bowl or ornament
- most of them don't have any room for more art
- many of them will buy jewelry because they don't have any room for more art
- some want to get a deal and want to bargain with you
- and of those left...that actually know about art, want to know where you show your work, want to see your portfolio, discuss your inspiration, etc.
- only a few of them can make a decision [with their spouse] to buy something at that moment
- even fewer have the means to do so.
- most of them have a small budget and won't actually buy anything or will buy a small print or bowl or ornament
- 100% of them are there to sell their work.
Good luck to all of us!
Check out the classifieds at ArtFairInsiders.com for the details.
2. Welcome to our new advertiser, Frame Destinations, fine art picture frames. Special discount for members of Art Fair Insiders. Good for 10% off all products Expires Apr 30th, 2010. Website promo code: AF1729. Click on the ad on the right hand side of this site for more information.
"Congratulation you are accepted to our show".
Did it ever happen to you what have happened to us? Please comment!!!
This is the second time within 6 month that this is happen to us:
We apply to a show for several years, get rejected or to the wait list if we are lucky,
and than finally, get this "Congratulation you are accepted" e-mail or letter
one of them was even with a contract and booth number.
Then when you are all excited and get ready, to finally participate,
maybe cancel another show you got in,
Comes this e-mail, with an apology:
We are so sorry, we made a mistake you are actually on the wait list.
This is not OK!!!!!!
