2011 we did 12 shows with varying degrees of success and 2012 we did 8 shows that were mostly ho-hum shows and last year we did 4 shows .... Naperville, Ill, Lincoln, Neb., Lee's Summitt, Mo. and Topeka, Ks (Mulvane Mt Art Center) I had a late call for Brookside, but the weather was crap and I didn't accept. The most amazing thing happened ... my home gallery sales increased considerable. Makes sense to me, so this year I am staying close to home, doing some summer recreational travel and waiting to see what happens. I must mention that my sales gallery (run by me) and workshop are in the same building and we are open 5-6 days a week.
I will probably have to do some equally distainful things like trying to sell through a 'etsy' store and hype up my web page, but those things don't require travel time, crummy motels and road food plus time away from my studio. So, I will report back in at the end of the season, which here in the Missouri ozarks is after xmas. Luckily for me I don't owe any money, am in a stable relationship of 46 years, am on Social Security which equals at least on art fair per month and I really like to exercise and go trout fishing.
Good luck to all you out there.
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Good luck Mark!! Please report back in to update us periodically.
Oh my! This year is a different one for me too! I thought I would test the waters away from home, a little, to see if it made a difference. I joined ZAPP and started "re-thinking" my booth and how it looks! But in that process, I've been a little "put off" with the snobbishness of the "jury requirements". I left my full time job, to pursue my dreams and not have a "boss". Seems to me that jurors are just another form of "boss". I diverse.....anyway, I am too devoting a lot of time to my "web presence", because I think it's a strong business move, but still will do shows, local and not too far away, because I love the one on one contact! And I just bought a "French wall" for my flourish mesh walls and want to see how that improves the arrangement and visibility of my photography. Good luck to you, Mark, sounds like a wise and sound decision!
I have been deleting shows from my calendar for a couple of years now,especially the ones with huge booth fees. Artists have been sold on "exposure" at these things for far to long. I keep trying to take that to the bank, but they won't accept it. I am spending more time trying to build my business online through etsy and my own website. I had a very nice Christmas season without shlepping my work all over the place, hoping to make a return on my investment. I would rather the spend hours on social media and online marketing sitting on my sofa under a blanket with my kitties thancontinuing with the crapshoot that is outdoor shows. I will do a couple of local ones just to connect with people, but that's about it. Good Luck to everyone going out there this year. May the road rise to meet you :0)
We all have to take the "avenue" that works best for us...Both Steve & I enjoy doing the shows as we demonstrate at them & that is part of the reason we like doing them. We always have people who LOVE watching us & it's so sad but funny when they say, "you REALLY make these?!!!" Oh, my... I know it's not possible for a lot of Artists to create their work at the shows, but it's great that we are seeing more of it lately. I have done a couple years doing the wholesale market while still traveling to shows, but found it was impossible to do both WELL,(kinda like having a "REAL JOB" at the same time. REAL-as un-educated people like to say...UGH) so I successfully kept doing only shows. More power for those who can do both~it's tough! Now that are two of us, Steve has been curious about the wholesale market as well. We both enjoy the customer contact over etsy. I always felt if you do what is in your heart it will show in your work~even in this economy~we have to follow our dreams!!! Unfortunately most of the stores have the same boring imports, so we like the feel of being unique! See you Artists soon down the road...
Hello Mark. Doesn't it feel great to be at that pace in life that allows you to make that choice. Should I stay or should I go. Like you, I would get by fine without the show "income" and not have to put up with the cheap motels. I keep saying I'm going to cut back on shows too, but my heart keeps me doing them, just a few less this year. I'll probably only do 5 or 6 shows this year (about 10 each year for the past 7 years), and it is because I love doing the shows. There is noting more satisfying than actually meeting the people who purchase your art. Since you have your own gallery, I guess you still get to do that part. Good luck this year.
Sound decision making going on here folks... do report back with updates!
I agree, and I am also not doing shows this year, other than a couple of fun ones I like. Also agree with not paying any jury fees anymore. Going to concentrate this year on online and establishing my own little place for retail. Hope you all have a great year, but I think there are too many shows chasing too little money. :)
Last show did it for me. Very badly managed and it had been a well done show in the past. When I invest the sort of money to be part of a program I expect to have them stop by to see how I and my fellow displayers are doing.When a problem was brought to their attention they did nothing about it. Sandy sold her display rather that take it home after that show...
Your stratagy and mine are the same sir. Art/Craft shows are becoming a thing of the past.Too many shows, economy, promoter mismanagement, and money grab have worn on me. I will not send anymore jury fees forever to an event and never get in. I will not send jury fees to a group and be placed next to a booth that has yard art made a badly glued together glass dishes from Googwill. I don't want to be part of a program that depends on me being foolish for it to succeed.
At this point my ETSY sales are good and I'm ahead from not sending jury fees and getting bad results of one form or the other. I have unsubscribed from ZAPP.
These are tough times in the art fair show after starting doing them in 1974 or so in Houston TX including the old Westheimer. I have been cutting back and after tearing my right rotator cuff last February that eliminated a few more. Then this past Fall my husbands knee replacement surgery ended up with major abdominal surgery complications from coumadin therapy, was in the hospital 15 days. This was followed by another surgery to clean up the resulting abscess in January. I am having to think long and hard about what I am going to apply to this year.
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