Renaissance Festivals - need your opinion

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Permalink Reply by Patty on January 11, 2010 at 4:47pm

I have done ren faires for 19 years- in several capacities... I also do art shows with my beads- my suggestion is to work the fairs you might be interested in doing and do research through networking while you do. I make more money per day at art shows as it is only a few days, and less per day at ren fest, generally, but by the end of several weeks, it's a respectable living once you average it out. Early weekends can be very slow and discouraging. Many have temporary guest spots you can try before investing. Owning a booth is a big investment- you should test the waters first if you can. Some shows are more tightly juried than others, others will accept anyone who wants to hand them money. Getting the Maryland show as a temporary guest for a weekend is your only hope there- there aren't many shops for sale, and they don't have tent spots except for the guest tents.

The reason many artists look askance at renfaires is that they aren't always an individual artist venue, per se- there are plenty of shops that are one person's work, but most are not. They are below artist standards because of the need to sell a lot of items of many price levels, and it's beyond the physical ability of one person, even though the work may be very cool and you can't buy it in normal stores and you don't often see it in galleries as "art". There's always exceptions, of course.
Then again, after the last few art shows I've visited, I can't say the " art" at some art shows is much different. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Sholund on January 11, 2010 at 7:20pm

Thanks Patty!

I am still crossing my fingers. I won't know for another month or two if I am accepted. With MD, for instance, when you apply (to get juried) your just check off what you are interested in doing. While some can't do every weekend there is the option of being a guest artist with a temp. booth. I am lucky that I am available to do all 9 weekends and very willing to take on the responsibilities there. I have had 10 years of experience working closely with show management (who is still there today) giving me an advantage - not because I know them, but because I do know the ropes (taking ownership of a building for instance) and not some newbie. I had some luck talking to several artists this - although I talk to them every year - and this was probably the best year to date - aside from two very rainy weekends they have GREAT crowds with even better sales than past years. I also saw quite a few new artists this year there which gives me hope knowing that are really looking at talent and newer (yet still traditional) art forms and not just seniority.

Patty, can you say which ren-faires you have done or at least the regions you have done? I am only curious. Thanks for the input! Michelle

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Sholund on March 5, 2010 at 7:49am

Bad news. I didn't get into the MD Ren. Festival. However, the soft blow is that no one, who newly applied, got in as they had 100% return on all vendors. Not bad as the reason is a positive one if you look at it. There is a very small chance some of us applicants could be considered if there is an issue with one of the returning artists, however there is no waiting list. This is cool as there are 2 other ren-fests I would like to apply to during the time of the MD one as well as countless other weekend events during Sept. - Oct. I would be happy to get into too. So, don't be sorry - be happy and hope to be even more ready for 2011!

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