art fairs and the economy..

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by steven dark on March 31, 2009 at 4:43pm

so far so good.

Permalink Reply by Juliet Smith on May 10, 2009 at 6:42pm

Hi Kim,
I haven't done my first Art Show yet this yr but I was invited to be a "vendor" at a garden club conference and did surprisingly well. I don't yet know if I did so well because I was 1 of 4 vendors at a specialty show but I suspect you may be right in your thinking that people are investing in handmade quality items. I seem to be doing well everywhere I display my work and it is really surprising me in this economy. I went into the end of 08 and beginning of 09 thinking just have fun it is the only thing I can control and I have been pleasently surprised. Hang in there.
Juliet

Permalink Reply by Anje Shein on June 28, 2009 at 2:16pm

Juliet Smith said:

Hi Kim,
I haven't done my first Art Show yet this yr but I was invited to be a "vendor" at a garden club conference and did surprisingly well. I don't yet know if I did so well because I was 1 of 4 vendors at a specialty show but I suspect you may be right in your thinking that people are investing in handmade quality items. I seem to be doing well everywhere I display my work and it is really surprising me in this economy. I went into the end of 08 and beginning of 09 thinking just have fun it is the only thing I can control and I have been pleasently surprised. Hang in there.
Juliet

Permalink Reply by kim on October 2, 2009 at 6:53pm

oh my here it is october 2nd... hope all are doing with all their art fairs... my gallery is still hanging in there and my artist that do artfairs did pretty good... we all want to feel good and art is one way of doing that. now i just need to start sitting back at the wheel and make some of my own work!!! we have gallery stroll in our village that is always a great weekend... and holiday shopping is good because we are a art community.. man can't believe i'm talking about the holidays!!!!
kim

Permalink Reply by Anje Shein on June 28, 2009 at 2:20pm

Dear Julie, I am totally 'new' to these on-line forums, so I hope I am getting through......... As a VERY mature = better word than OLD, person, I am getting back into pottery and bought an electric kiln sitting in my basement. I cannot afford these hefty entrance fees being charged at most events here in the Chicagoland landscape, as the amount of sales to start making a few nickels almost prevents entering anything. I would be better off giving stuff away for free....... Where should I start to enter? I am not working on a wheel, strictly hand building, utilitarian and scuplture and nature-oriented. Any words of advice are welcome, Thanks, Anje

Permalink Reply by Anje Shein on June 28, 2009 at 2:32pm

Dear Kim, ...getting to the bottom line here: when you say your pottery and silversmith friends did well, that must mean they first mde back their expenses. At that point they start from scratch as far as "going home having made an income", so when you say they did well I hope that means they sold over and above making back heir monetary outlay. I have not been in any shows since the 80's, but now in my 'golden yes' I have time and would like to get back into production. Creating things is very rewarding, but beyond personal gifts and consignments, these things have to be sold or the house fills up and becomes a storage bin!!!! Thanks for your thoughts, Anje

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Permalink Reply by STANFORD H BAKER on March 2, 2010 at 9:25pm

I just got done with the Garage sale art fair in Kalamazoo,MI and did great although every thing is being sold for a third of the real price , but for me it was great to get rid of all the stuff i have had around for a few gathering dust ..

Permalink Reply by Michael Terra on March 9, 2010 at 9:32am

we've done a couple of Florida shows and we were bounced by bad weather on both! We did the Rosen Show in Philly and did reasonably well even with the blizzard conditions... who knows what the year will bring- except a lot of hard work, good times, and neat folks!

Permalink Reply by Michael Terra on March 9, 2010 at 9:35am

the best place to start with minimum fees is the local arts council shows... modest fees, enthusiastic volunteers and great local networking...

Anje Shein said:

Dear Julie, I am totally 'new' to these on-line forums, so I hope I am getting through......... As a VERY mature = better word than OLD, person, I am getting back into pottery and bought an electric kiln sitting in my basement. I cannot afford these hefty entrance fees being charged at most events here in the Chicagoland landscape, as the amount of sales to start making a few nickels almost prevents entering anything. I would be better off giving stuff away for free....... Where should I start to enter? I am not working on a wheel, strictly hand building, utilitarian and scuplture and nature-oriented. Any words of advice are welcome, Thanks, Anje

Permalink Reply by Michael Terra on March 9, 2010 at 9:37am

during December, we had a Y-Art Sale! All of the dusty stuff went on a table in the middle of the gallery and people looked at that stuff and snapped it up while also buying the other stuff on the walls... worked for me!

STANFORD H BAKER said:

I just got done with the Garage sale art fair in Kalamazoo,MI and did great although every thing is being sold for a third of the real price , but for me it was great to get rid of all the stuff i have had around for a few gathering dust ..