Art Fair Insiders

Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals

merri pattinian
  • Kissimmee, FL
  • United States
  • collage with metah
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Merri pattinian's Friends

  • Tom Hlas
  • Nels Johnson
  • Connie Mettler

merri pattinian's Discussions

Why some show promoters don't behave as human beings?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Janet Miller Apr 18. 2 Replies

Why is it that some promoters feel it is unnecessary to treat us artists to a bit of compassion? Where and who makes up the rules as to refunds or credits if one can not make it to a…Continue

Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival

Started this discussion. Last reply by merri pattinian Feb 21. 6 Replies

I have never done this show before and am trying to get some info on it. I will be in the VA area doing 2 shows before this and thought I would add it on. I have more contempory/modern work....mixed…Continue

Is God telling me something?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Carla Bank Jun 4, 2011. 17 Replies

After totaling my van(with 260,000 miles) the search for a new(used) one became beat the clock, as we need to leave for 2 Chicago shows mid next week...with a 3 day holiday killing one of those…Continue

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Latest Activity

merri pattinian commented on Nels Johnson's blog post THE END OF THE FLORIDA SPRING SHOW SEASON--NOT A ROSEY PICTURE
"I have been doing shows for 25 years and I started in Houston, Texas in 1984 when oil was at $9 a barrel and in a total depression....This year has been worse then that!!! it is scary to think that after being in  business for 25 years you…"
May 8
merri pattinian commented on Alison Thomas's blog post Arts in the Park - Richmond, VA
"I come from Florida and am doing 3 shows in the Virginia area....Art in the park was our 2nd show. I was shocked at(as mentioned above) the lack of space and the quality or actually lack of quality of this show. Ha d amajor be backer..called to tell…"
May 8
Janet Miller replied to merri pattinian's discussion Why some show promoters don't behave as human beings?
"Merri- I agree with Larry. We should start naming names. This should be another part of our rating them. And it is information that other artists should know."
Apr 18
merri pattinian commented on Michelle Wermuth's blog post Does this offend you?
"I think it is hysterical...especially the part about trying to keep up with the everchanging world and the self doubt.After 25 years in this business,,and especially with this economy.....I am still nervous when doing a show......especially this…"
Apr 18
Larry Berman replied to merri pattinian's discussion Why some show promoters don't behave as human beings?
"You should name shows.The year (2002) I had colon cancer surgery, I had to cancel my last four remaining shows. The only show that didn't refund my booth fee was Bruce Museum. And they have an artist director.Larry…"
Apr 18
merri pattinian replied to S. Michelle Babcock's discussion What have you left behind?
"Yes...we drove 3 hours only to realize we left our tent roof in the garage...we had to turn around and go home to get it. We also left a flasher on the sidewalk as we packed jup and left it behind...."
Apr 18
merri pattinian posted a discussion

Why some show promoters don't behave as human beings?

Why is it that some promoters feel it is unnecessary to treat us artists to a bit of compassion? Where and who makes up the rules as to refunds or credits if one can not make it to a show?...especially when you called in time to cancel and you know they will resell that space. I was in the hospital in intensive care when my husband called to cancel a show..inquiring as to their refund policy with health issues,we were told if we do it for you, we would have to do it for…See More
Apr 18
merri pattinian replied to Connie Mettler's discussion Winter Park Festival artists to discuss fraud
"It is about time this issue is addressed,,,unfortunetly untill the shows themselves start to do something about  this (even when they are told they do nothing) I am not sure what we can do about it."
Apr 9
merri pattinian replied to merri pattinian's discussion Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
"We are doing Art in the Park in Richmond and a Paragon shoe in Fairfax"
Feb 21
pamela bartl replied to merri pattinian's discussion Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
"May i ask what other shows you are doing to understand your client base?    "
Feb 21
merri pattinian replied to merri pattinian's discussion Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
"thanks for the info....it sounds somewhat encouraging...so if you were me,would you spend an extra week on the road to do this show. I am not doing this as a filler show I could either go home or stay the extra week....what do you think? is it worth…"
Feb 21
pamela bartl replied to merri pattinian's discussion Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
"the u of va is in charlottesville, about 15 miles away. it is not a country crowd.... some will coem from richmond..however, i have found the buyers at crozet to be more upscale than the richmond buyers"
Feb 16
merri pattinian replied to merri pattinian's discussion Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
"thanks for the info. I do contemporary/modern work. I am afraid given the rural location of the show that there will be more of a country traditional crowd, what do you think? Do people from Richmond come to this show?"
Feb 16
Alison Thomas replied to merri pattinian's discussion Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
"I did this show last year.  I didn't do well at the show but had one person who bought a print call me after the show and want to exchange it for a framed piece.  She brought a friend when she came to pick it up and the friend bought…"
Feb 16
merri pattinian posted a discussion

Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival

I have never done this show before and am trying to get some info on it. I will be in the VA area doing 2 shows before this and thought I would add it on. I have more contempory/modern work....mixed media collage. If you know anything about this show...best booth location,price points that sell etc.please let me know....thanksSee More
Feb 15
merri pattinian commented on Michelle Wermuth's blog post St James Court Art Show(Inner Court), Louisville KY- The Review
"We paid our booth fee and then opted to not go....we did it in time to get back most(not all) of the money. Our decision was based on the fact that we would be driving from Florida for 1 show and thought it wasn't worth the chance. We were to…"
Oct 5, 2011

Profile Information

Your Medium
collage with metah
Years in the Art Fair Business
25
First show ever
Westheimer Colony Art Fair 25 years ago...which is now Bayou Art fest.
What are the best things about art fairs
Showing your work and getting such good reactions....meeting the public...which lately I can't stand! The money which is also not as exciting as it once was!
Best show ever and why
Winterpark, Fla most amount of money made and the best reaction to my work
Worst show ever and why
Stewart, Fla....people are older than dirt...made $45.oo
Who referred you to ArtFairInsiders.com? Please be specific.
Patty Stern

Merri pattinian's Blog

Finally made it!!!

Posted on July 13, 2011 at 1:48pm 3 Comments

Well after getting the new(used) van up and running and taking it out on the road for 2 shows, I thought we had it made. We got into Park City and now that we only had 35,000 miles vs 260,000 we thought hell yes...we're going. We decided to leave straight from Krazel rather than going back to Florida since it is only 1400 miles from Michigan and 2300 from Florida... all seemed well...Thank God the van seems to be working well...a small 8 vs a large8 , so the pick up is not really there and…

Continue

Did I really make a living selling art?

Posted on December 22, 2010 at 12:56pm 7 Comments

It has been 6 weeks since I had a show....it's been both great and bad. Great in having time off...preparing for a 50 people party for Harry birthday. At 62 he is entitled to early social security and I am turning 65 in Feb, so I get medicare....anyway it was a social security and medicare gala.....a stimulus for the soul and a bailout from the ordinary.... so since I have received my fair share of rejections and waitlists...and the economy doesn't seem to be getting any better..  I  face our… Continue

Fort Worth

Posted on November 17, 2010 at 1:50pm 2 Comments

Take heart..I too have received my rejection from Fort Worth..... When I lived in Houston,that was one of my first shows in the early years, when it sucked.Now that it has turned into a great show I can not get back in.We are so pissed off that my husband has decided(he does all the show apps for me) that they will no longer get any more money from us...along with Cherry Creek and Coconut Grove...sometimes you just have to say enough is enough...and go out to dinner on your entry fees!

Bethesda Row

Posted on October 21, 2010 at 4:17pm 2 Comments

Turned out better than I thought...Saturday was TERRIBLE and I was really concerned that we traveled from Florida for just this one show...but Sunday turned out OK. We had decided to stay in Maryland and do some sightseeing in Washington, DC and that worked out great...considering we urually would have left Sunday night...this way I was able to offer a customer to go to her house on Mon night and she wound up buying a piece from us.......

Comment Wall (1 comment)

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At 5:32pm on October 3, 2010, Connie Mettler said…
Welcome to ArtFairInsiders.com, Merri. I'm pleased to see you here and look forward to having you as part of our community.

When you have a chance, please add a photo to your profile and stop by the "Discussions" area to introduce yourself to the rest of us. We all look forward to your participation here. Also visit the "member map" and add your location. We have a lot to offer one another, experienced and newbie alike. Let's make this a dynamic site!

Best wishes,
Connie Mettler

p.s. The best way to make this system easy to use is to click on the "Follow-Email me" link at the bottom of each Forum discussion that interests you. That way the system will email you automatically whenever anyone responds. It's a great time-saver.
 
 
 

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