Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
Would you enter this show?
There is a juried art show that I am considering entering.
So I talked to the promoter and learned the following:
The show has an estimated attendance of 10,000 people. She was very unsure about this figure. There are 200 booths with appproxiamately 200 applications for those booths per year. So basically everyone gets in unless the jury says their work is "inappropriate" ( whatever that means). She estimates that 33 to 40% of the artists in one year's show return for the next year's show. She says she has no idea about what the average sales are....it depends on your medium and how good you are are at your craft. This is a truism of course.
The booth fee is $100. There is no jury fee.
So would you enter this show?
I have made a decision on whether or not I will enter this show. But I am not going to tell you what it is right now. Ill post it later.
So would you enter this show?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Simpson on
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It would maybe depend on what else is going on at the show? Is it an 'Art and .....' fill in the blank festival? 'Art and Jazz', 'Art and Shrimp', 'Art and Petroleum' (I kid you not, I saw one in Louisiana called something similar to that! lol). And something I've started looking at before applying is whether they have prize money. Not because I think I'm a shoe in to win but because I figure if they have prize money (especially large amounts of it) then they also have advertising money, sponsors, and all that good stuff. And maybe I'll win the prize...... LOL. That may be completely faulty reasoning on my part as far as prize money goes, but I do use it as a determining factor. Would it be close by or are you driving 800 miles to get there? It might concern me that they have as many applicants as they do booth spaces, ideally I'd rather do a show that has more applicants than they have spaces because it means it's probably a good show if a lot of other people are trying to get in as well. The % of people who return, well, I think that's misleading. I did a show that said 85% of artists return and did terrible, I did one that 25% return and did good. If there is a large percentage of artists returning, it may just mean that they were all local, not that they did really well. So, just some observations in the short time I've been doing this.... but you've already made your mind up anyway you said lol. These would be my criteria in deciding.
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lol, I read your reply after I posted :)
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Permalink Reply by Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney on -
Completely faulty reasoning. Trust me. I'm a show director, One of the shows I manage has almost no advertising budget, no sponsors or any of that good stuff. We do, however, have prize money and it's a beautiful show where everyone seems to do well.
A LOT depends on the city, the venue, and who's running the show. Beware of any show where you can't call and ask questions BEFORE you apply, or where the person you talk to doesn't have answers to common questions. Poor management (in any endeavor) is really one of the most important factors.
Barbara
Jennifer Simpson said:lol, I read your reply after I posted :)
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Permalink Reply by David Hipwell on -
Art and Petroleum.....lol......for a name of an art fair....just love it Jennifer.
I would have to drive about 300 miles to go to this show.....Jennifer.
Also like your attitude......you plan on winning the prize......lol.....you are either a very very good artist or lucky.....I do know you have a sence of humor.
I also like what Barbara said.....if they cannot answer common questions that is poor management......there is another art fair on a different date that I am considering......I have tried to call the contact person about 10 times......no answer......left message......also emailed.....no response......I think that if a sponsoring organization lists contact information and then you cannot make contact, you have to wonder.....
As far as advertizing, I like it when there is some effort put forward.....especially in the area of "free advertizing".....things like a big banner outside the show site....posters at local businesses.......press releases in the shoppers/coupon newspapers......a promoter has to realize that every person he can get thru the door is a potential buyer.....
And well I am at it.......the number of booths has to be sized to the crowd.....200 booths for 5000 people isnt really good for vendors.....this is so hard for promoters to understand this......one of the toughest things for them......they want the booth fees so bad that they can wreck a show....but I agree this is a real balancing act for them.....
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Permalink Reply by Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney on
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David, I forgot to mention that the fair without much budget DOES advertise, but very selectively, taking advantage of every free opportunity, and by getting air time on local radio and TV shows. The newspaper has a GO section that lists everything, and they have been quite cooperative putting us on the front page of the print edition.
All areas of commerce are now taking advantage of the power of the Internet for advertising, so having a Web site, a facebook page or group, etc., can extend advertising reach without $$$.
My favorite question from a way-too-early call (6:12 am is not nice):
Ring ring
Me: Hello? (half asleep)
Caller: Hi, is this the number for Art on the Lawn?
Me: Yes, how can I help you?
Caller: Well, I'd like to know what you're going to do about the weather on the day of the show.
Me: Oh, um, well....I really think someone a lot higher up on the food chain than me handles that.
Caller: I mean, what will you do if it rains?
Me: I'll probably get wet, but the show goes on rain or shine unless there's a danger to life and limb.
Caller: You don't have a rain date?
Me: No, I'm sorry, we don't.
Caller: What kind of stupid show is this, anyway!?
Me: Goodbye.
Click.
David Hipwell said:Art and Petroleum.....lol......for a name of an art fair....just love it Jennifer.
I would have to drive about 300 miles to go to this show.....Jennifer.
Also like your attitude......you plan on winning the prize......lol.....you are either a very very good artist or lucky.....I do know you have a sence of humor.
I also like what Barbara said.....if they cannot answer common questions that is poor management......there is another art fair on a different date that I am considering......I have tried to call the contact person about 10 times......no answer......left message......also emailed.....no response......I think that if a sponsoring organization lists contact information and then you cannot make contact, you have to wonder.....
As far as advertizing, I like it when there is some effort put forward.....especially in the area of "free advertizing".....things like a big banner outside the show site....posters at local businesses.......press releases in the shoppers/coupon newspapers......a promoter has to realize that every person he can get thru the door is a potential buyer.....
And well I am at it.......the number of booths has to be sized to the crowd.....200 booths for 5000 people isnt really good for vendors.....this is so hard for promoters to understand this......one of the toughest things for them......they want the booth fees so bad that they can wreck a show....but I agree this is a real balancing act for them.....
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Permalink Reply by Connie Mettler on -
Several years ago I was working on an event called "Motown Winter Blast". Well, winter really came in and we had an amazing blizzard, even took the tents down! The phone calls coming in...are you holding the event?? Well, what do you think a winter blast is? We moved the snow rebuilt, people came like crazy. It was lots of fun. Rain--blizzard--snow! Let's go, it's an event, people!
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Permalink Reply by Chris Hoyt on -
And believe it or not, exhibitors will be talking about that show for years! We did a show on Columbus Day weekend in New Hampshire and it snowed on Monday. Not much, about 3 inches of a very wet snow that loaded up the canopies.
We had an absolute blast! No, Monday sales weren't fantastic, but the customers did come. And our group still laughs about that show!
Connie Mettler said:Several years ago I was working on an event called "Motown Winter Blast". Well, winter really came in and we had an amazing blizzard, even took the tents down! The phone calls coming in...are you holding the event?? Well, what do you think a winter blast is? We moved the snow rebuilt, people came like crazy. It was lots of fun. Rain--blizzard--snow! Let's go, it's an event, people!
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Permalink Reply by Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney on
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Two years ago, dangerous winds with severe thunderstorms came through the morning of Art on the Lawn (one-day show), Tents were collapsing on artists, glass was crashing and canvases were flying, booth displays were blown over with everything on them. The storms came up very quickly, abated and then came in another wave. We closed the show and sent everyone home. It took hours to clean up, and the amount of work lost was tremendous. Later in the day the sun came out...along with patrons who were very disappointed to find that the show had been called off. I guess they'll remember that one... but most of our artists returned the next year for what turned out to be our best show yet!
Chris Hoyt said:And believe it or not, exhibitors will be talking about that show for years! We did a show on Columbus Day weekend in New Hampshire and it snowed on Monday. Not much, about 3 inches of a very wet snow that loaded up the canopies.
We had an absolute blast! No, Monday sales weren't fantastic, but the customers did come. And our group still laughs about that show!
Connie Mettler said:Several years ago I was working on an event called "Motown Winter Blast". Well, winter really came in and we had an amazing blizzard, even took the tents down! The phone calls coming in...are you holding the event?? Well, what do you think a winter blast is? We moved the snow rebuilt, people came like crazy. It was lots of fun. Rain--blizzard--snow! Let's go, it's an event, people!
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Permalink Reply by mark Grosser on -
no
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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wissner on -
Not unless it was very close to my home, I didn't have anything else going on that weekend and I was prepared not to make booth fee. Gee, I just talked myself out of it.
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Permalink Reply by Mark MacKinnon on -
I would not enter a show that had low entry fees, and was not sought after, meaning may more apps, than spaces.. it tells me a lot.. and no jury fee.. if you are starting out with your work to see if it has public appeal it may work for you, but I doubt it would work for high end sales, if that's your market.
Mark
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