Grand Haven, MI art fair 6/26-27

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Permalink Reply by Linda Anderson on June 24, 2010 at 10:44pm

Ah.... These are tough Sara, but many are like that. Condense is all I can offer. After I did a few I learned I had too much excess in the first place. Eventually I replaced my larger table with the Pro Panel desk - gives you additional hanging area and the shelves underneath hide all the extras you need. As far as extra art... Not sure how you are set up, but often I arrange my walls differently and move one side section at a 45 degree angle, place my bins behind that and cover with a white tablecloth to keep professional looking. I've also learned to carefully choose what art will sell and pear down to minimal extras. Depending on parking, extras can be left in the car and during a break can be retrieved a few at a time. It is quite shocking the first time, but in the long run you'll find a way to have a couple of alternate set ups and utilizing the space more efficiently.

The initial panic is frightening I know. It will be okay. Hope you have a gangbuster of a show!

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Permalink Reply by Larry Berman on June 24, 2010 at 11:42pm

Always plan on staying within your 10x10 space. Any time you have additional space consider it a bonus. I used to set up with a wall six feet back from the front of the booth with an opening on the side. That gave me a 4x10 foot space to sit, store my back up stock and have a place to frame. It only works if you can sell in a 6x10 foot space.

for example:

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

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Permalink Reply by Helayne Stillings on June 25, 2010 at 9:56am

Sara and I had a chat thru this forum and I am sure she will be fine and not panicked. The space size is 11by 10, there is room for storage on the side of her booth. Also parking for artists is fairly close and easily accessible for storage. This weekend, in addition to our extensive advertising schedule is the queen's cup, a wonderful regalia, with hundreds of tall ships and yachts, which brings lots of very well qualified buyers to this show.

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Permalink Reply by Sara Youngman on June 25, 2010 at 6:08pm

Thanks. I don't have propanels, they wouldn't fit in my car. I bought the mesh hanging walls from Fluorish, so short of investing another pile of money into a, I think they call it, French wall, which would leave a little space behind it, I don't have an alternative to how my walls are set up. And I only added a small inside table at the last fair to hold my printmaking photo montage to explain to people how prints were made - good investment. I'm shocked at how many people don't have the vaguest idea what printmaking is all about. So I'll have a little space under that.

To Larry - I must have gotten spoiled - the first 3 fairs I did all had a lot of space behind them so I could not only sit there with a little table, but also stashed all my bins and tent bags, so tear down was a breeze. Didn't realize that they might be the exception rather than the rule. We'll just have to see how this works.

Linda Anderson said:

Ah.... These are tough Sara, but many are like that. Condense is all I can offer. After I did a few I learned I had too much excess in the first place. Eventually I replaced my larger table with the Pro Panel desk - gives you additional hanging area and the shelves underneath hide all the extras you need. As far as extra art... Not sure how you are set up, but often I arrange my walls differently and move one side section at a 45 degree angle, place my bins behind that and cover with a white tablecloth to keep professional looking. I've also learned to carefully choose what art will sell and pear down to minimal extras. Depending on parking, extras can be left in the car and during a break can be retrieved a few at a time. It is quite shocking the first time, but in the long run you'll find a way to have a couple of alternate set ups and utilizing the space more efficiently.

The initial panic is frightening I know. It will be okay. Hope you have a gangbuster of a show!

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Permalink Reply by Sara Youngman on June 27, 2010 at 9:53am

Without melodrama the facts are these.
1. As a first timer I applied to a lot of shows expecting to get into a few - got into 12. Turned 3 down due to time conflicts. Have one every weekend in July.
2. First fair in May injured my arm, but the next 2 fairs, with help from friends/relatives, we managed.
3. This week my PT advised against doing weekend fair due to condition of my arm.
4. Panicked (see above).
5. Friday packed car and set alarm ready for the challenge.
6. 4am alarm Saturday, woke exhausted and in agony, could barely move my arm. Knew I could not set up my tent alone, but there was no one to whom I could call in "sick". I had to be a 'no show' which goes against my work ethic and left me feeling like a real loser.
7. Obviously can't remedy the situation but don't want to get a bad reputation with a fair/fair promoter.
8. Is there anything I can do to make amends?

There's a quote that goes something like "sometimes life gets in the way of life..." I need advice here.

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Permalink Reply by Larry Berman on June 27, 2010 at 11:12am

You could have called or e-mailed the show explaining your situation., though they probably wouldn't see or hear it until Monday. You can still do it now apologizing.

Then follow up with a call on Monday explaining again what happened.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

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Permalink Reply by Connie Mettler on June 27, 2010 at 11:55am

Sara, I believe this is a Howard Alan event. They are very seasoned and know all the ins and outs of the business and the vagaries of artist's lives. Your explanation will, I'm sure, be accepted at face value. Not to worry.

Love to hear some time about your Columbus experience. And I hope at the end of the season you'll do us all a blog "Tales of a Newbie." Barbara Sistak Baur did one after her first year and it was helpful to many.

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Permalink Reply by Sara Youngman on June 27, 2010 at 12:55pm

Thanks Larry and Connie. I will contact Howard Alan to tell them what happened.

As I'm was a writer long before becoming an artist - I will try to sum up the art fair year as briefly as possible - my stories tend to go on and on and on...

I will tell you now though, I have given out this website to at least one artist at each show so far as an incredible place for information, assistance and good advice.

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Permalink Reply by Alison Thomas on June 27, 2010 at 1:01pm

One thing I would add on booth design especially for Howard Alan shows is to have some sort of a back door in your propanels. I started out with the ordinary design of 3 panels on each side and the back. I did a Howard Alan show where there was no space between the booths but plenty of space behind. Problem was I couldn't get to it without walking down a long row of tents. It was a very uncomfortable show to do since there was very little space to sit in front of the tent. It would not have been bad if I had created a way to get behind my booth.

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Permalink Reply by Sara Youngman on June 27, 2010 at 1:12pm

Thanks, but as I've already said, I don't have propanels. I have the trimline hanging mesh system. My usual set up includes a back door and I've always sat behind the tent, so that would not have been a problem.


Alison Thomas said:

One thing I would add on booth design especially for Howard Alan shows is to have some sort of a back door in your propanels. I started out with the ordinary design of 3 panels on each side and the back. I did a Howard Alan show where there was no space between the booths but plenty of space behind. Problem was I couldn't get to it without walking down a long row of tents. It was a very uncomfortable show to do since there was very little space to sit in front of the tent. It would not have been bad if I had created a way to get behind my booth.

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