Wausau Art Festival

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey on March 14, 2010 at 10:44pm

Yes, I did this show in 09, and it was very good for me. I'm a 2d artist, with a traditional style, and my work seemed to go over very well here. I wish I would have brought more work with me though, I wasn't really expecting much since it was rated a 4 in AFSB.
It was a pleasant surprise, and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
Held in a nice location also.

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Permalink Reply by Nels Johnson on March 15, 2010 at 10:27pm

Nice show, all the women have such great tatoos, low sales, nice artist party, don't travel too far to do this show. I just love the Wisconsin supper clubs==Nels

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Permalink Reply by Linnea Lahlum on March 15, 2010 at 11:01pm

I did great one time, not so great next time. Sunday attendance sales seem to hinge on whether there is a Packer game on, and if they win. IF they do, people come out and buy. But my info is about 4-5 years old, so maybe not as up to date as others'. That part of Wisconsin is extremely beautiful, though, and I enjoyed the drive up and back.

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Permalink Reply by David Hipwell on March 23, 2010 at 7:42pm

I applied for Wausau downtown this year......I debated it a bit because there are two other shows going on in Wausau at the same time. They are at Marathon Park in Wausau......one is an arts and crafts show that I have done several times with my sports art.....the other is a craft, and buy and sell show, with a bit of art run by a promoter who everyone calls Mac......(I dont want to do Mac shows....it is a long story, so Ill spare you here.)

In any case the three shows mean there are a lot of booths......I think over 400....so I was concerned that too many booths might dilute the dollars per booth......I know there is a shuttle between downtown and Marathon Park.....

But I talked around and found out that the art show downtown apparently gets more traffic than the crafty (crafty can be wonderful....) and buy and sell stuff in Marathon Park.....

I also followed Linnea Lahlum's advice and called and found out that they have 2.5 applications for every booth spot available.

It will be interesting to see if I get juried in.

There is also another show in Green Bay that I might prefer to do on an adjoining weekend......I dont want to do both Green Bay and Wausau because of vacation......but the Green Bay has a higher ratio of applications to booth spots ( I have to check the ratio).....it may be 5 to 1......but it is in my home town......it is Artstreet in Green Bay, Wisconsin.....so I applied for sentimental reasons.

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Permalink Reply by kanchana Nerato on June 5, 2010 at 11:59am

Hi David,
I am thinking about doing Mac's show at the park( didn't know that there are many shows in the same weekend ) and been looking for somebody who have done this show but nothing until now.

Would you please save me by telling me a little why you would'n do Mac's show? I do need a big crowd to make it worth the trip up there. I make silver and pearls jewelry with a small ticket price ($45 to $100) it would be hard to compete with $5 buy/sell if that's what' s going on there.

Thanks in advance, David.

David Hipwell said:

I applied for Wausau downtown this year......I debated it a bit because there are two other shows going on in Wausau at the same time. They are at Marathon Park in Wausau......one is an arts and crafts show that I have done several times with my sports art.....the other is a craft, and buy and sell show, with a bit of art run by a promoter who everyone calls Mac......(I dont want to do Mac shows....it is a long story, so Ill spare you here.)

In any case the three shows mean there are a lot of booths......I think over 400....so I was concerned that too many booths might dilute the dollars per booth......I know there is a shuttle between downtown and Marathon Park.....

But I talked around and found out that the art show downtown apparently gets more traffic than the crafty (crafty can be wonderful....) and buy and sell stuff in Marathon Park.....

I also followed Linnea Lahlum's advice and called and found out that they have 2.5 applications for every booth spot available.

It will be interesting to see if I get juried in.

There is also another show in Green Bay that I might prefer to do on an adjoining weekend......I dont want to do both Green Bay and Wausau because of vacation......but the Green Bay has a higher ratio of applications to booth spots ( I have to check the ratio).....it may be 5 to 1......but it is in my home town......it is Artstreet in Green Bay, Wisconsin.....so I applied for sentimental reasons.

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Permalink Reply by David Hipwell on April 3, 2011 at 3:54pm

Gee.....sorry that I did not respond to your question sooner,  Kan......but did not even know you posted it.....the Mac shows just get very mixed reviews when you talk to other vendors.....lots of buy and sell, high fees and low traffic......and at Wausau, there are 3 shows going on at once....lots of booths.......the pool of money is split many ways.....but have never done a Mac show......all the neg talk scared me away.

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Permalink Reply by kanchana Nerato on April 3, 2011 at 4:24pm

Hi David, 

No biggie, it was a lesson that cost me the booth fees to be looking into stuff like this more deeply:)

I actually drove up there, booked the hotel and did not do the show but stayed over night to see the main show in town so I know better next time...

But no, Mac shows are not for what I have to offer, if they got the crows in, they will not buy from me, so I just swallowed the cost and never set up. I usually a better sports about this stuffs but I knew that I better off go home and work in the studio instead of trying to get my booth fee back.

Anyway, thanks for adding me as friends:) Good luck this year:D

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Permalink Reply by Nels Johnson on April 5, 2011 at 1:07pm

I applied again fr the 2011 show--awaiting results, it is a great little show,  very traditional sells best here, the town supports it, I would never waste my time on the other two events going on, unless you are selling art on the stick. Hotels are reasonable and they have great restaurants.  It is not a biggie, but I can make a paycheck there.

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