This year, I am doing more shows than in any year in the past. Some of it is because I have to do more shows just to keep the cash flow going. Mostly, I have gotten into almost everything I applied to this year, which isn't always the case. I'm noticing that it doesn't matter whether the show is in May, June, July, August or September. They all want their money now. Several of these shows have threatened to kick me out of their show if I don't pay up right away. I can see this if the show was in May or June, but, August!! and September!!? I think this puts an undue burden on art fair artists. What do you think?
The shows will give you any number of excuses why they do this. One would think that with so many shows, directors would be doing things to make doing their show very attractive instead of doing another show on the same weekend. That would be known as competing with each other for your booth dollars, which is a healthy thing. Instead, if they demand your money before another show, either on the same weekend or around the same time, you are locked in to a show instead of deciding which event is better for you. People are forced to apply to multiple shows because there is no guarantee that you will get into an event. One show, where their happens to be 3 or 4 other quality shows on the same date, wanted their money 8 days after the acceptances went out. Instead of deciding which show to pick from, a product of having too many shows on the same weekend, I had to make an immediate choice. the byproduct of this is that this quashes competition. So, instead of lowering the show fees or any of the other things shows would have to do, which would benefit the artists, this eliminates the competition and once again puts the burden on artists.
This is just one of the many issues that makes life tougher on us. Unfortunately, there is no group willing to take this on and other important issues that determine our incomes. And, don't bother bringing up existing groups. There isn't an artists group willing to take on the hard issues and make the necessary suggestions that would make our lives easier.
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The idea of wanting all the money now sucks. Especially when a vast majority of exhibitors aren't doing winter shows, so there's no money to send.
I do the CT Flower Show every year and it's in February. A great money maker. Two weeks after this year's show we got the app for the Feb 2015 show with a demand for 50% of the space fees by April 1 of this year. The show isn't for another 10 months and I had to find $385 in March. It was a great show for me so I did what I hate doing, and put it on plastic.
We all talk about greedy promoters. But aren't we just as greedy? We send in multiple apps hoping the event with the biggest profit will accept us. But we need something else in case it doesn't come through. And if it does, we say "too bad, so sad, I'm bailing for a better show than yours." We just wasted somebody's time processing the app.
That's why I'm seeing promoters want a "non refundable deposit" along with the app. Usually $50. because they know what's going on too. And as a recovering promoter, I can't say I blame them. The promoters who are financially secure will want the balance 45 to 60 days prior to the show. If someone bails after that time, they're scratched off the list. But by then everybody knows where they're going.
It's the free market. If we don't like what a promoter does, we toss the app, that's all. And if the promoter doesn't like what we do, they too toss the app.
Oh, and interest on the money? No promoter is going to get rich on 1/2 of 1% yearly interest.
Hi Barry~That so called "promoter" sounds VERY unprofessional & extremely GREEDY! They just want their almighty intrest to grow in their bank, but what they don't think about are all the Artists that communicate with each other & after knowing this will go to another show!
There are a few promoters that I know that you pay 30 or 60 days before the show, which is great, but not many. Thats' nice so you can sign up a list of shows with them, have the security of knowing you're in, & not have to worry until closer to each show, & by that time will have the $ from the other shows~works like a charm~I wish ALL promoters would do that!
Lowering the fees?! You know Barry, unless it is an ARTIST promoting a show, only THEY would think of doing that! I have wished for years that there was an Artist Union that worked, but never in my lifetime. I do a show with Donna Beaubien who REALLY cares about all of her Artists & everything she touches is done in an Artist-Friendly professional manner~she is a Great Lady, & ARTIST!
Steve & I hope to see you down the road!
My post was in response to how I was treated by certain directors when I asked them to not cash my check. Some directors understand and are willing to wait for the booth fee. Others have told me I will be dumped if I didn't pay on time. At this time, I am not going to mention anyone. I saved all the emails, though. For me, it's only a matter of a week or two. I do Oklahoma City and they collect all the money and deposit the cash into ones account, which usually takes 10 days or so, which means May 10th. For me, that means putting out $1500 before in expenses before I see the money. I asked one show director to wait an extra 5 days and she told me she couldn't wait any longer than May 5th. Another told me that there were 100 people waiting to take my space if I didn't have the envelope postmarked April 20th for a show in August. August!!! In 30 years I have not ever been treated like this from a show director.
Whenever I've been short and needed to ask a show for a payment extended deadline, I've gotten it. I've never been turned down. Usually, shows are more than happy to extend the deadline. Karla Prickett at Smoky Hill let me pay the day the show started. She was a dream, really. Too bad the show was so hot we didn't want to do it again. I guess we've been lucky we've asked all the nice show directors out there for an extension.
Have you tried talking with a show director about your needs? You didn't mention having done that. You just mentioned that some are demanding fees OR ELSE. Maybe those are the shows you really should call and ask for an extension?
It is my pet peeve. One of the first deadlines I hit this year was for a show in late August and the DL was in January. I was accepted in the middle of applying to other shows and they were going to cash my check immediately and I pulled out. I've just had it. They have no clue how tough this can be for us before the season starts. All these fees and supplies and no real money coming in until June. Even better are the ones that cash your check before you are accepted. I am very much in love with the shows that accept you and then give you a time when you must submit pmt or, they give you a date when they will cash the check you already sent and it is closer to the actual show date. With shows averaging $300 or more and most of us doing at least 15 a year, I'm surprised I have lunch money in April.