This is my second time doing this show, first time blogging on AFI. It was my single best show in a still short art festival career. (I started exhibiting in art fairs in 2014.) Crowds were great with art savvy patrons. The weather cooperated. Alexandria, VA is a vibrant, fun, urban spot on the shores of the Potomac close to DC. 200 artist booths form a line (almost all back to back facing the sidewalk) the length of King Street from Union to Washington Streets in Old Town Alexandria.
Show Hours: Saturday, 10am to 7pm; Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Free and open to the public.
Load In: Saturday morning in the wee hours. Artists can drive to their spots to unload after 3:30am but cannot start setting up until 5:30am when all vehicles have to be moved from the street. Booths should be open for business by 9:30am although the show officially opens at 10am. A new policy -- restricting the booth setup start time to after 5:30am helped in getting an extra, much-needed hour's sleep. (I unloaded at 4:30am and could have done so a little later.)
Load Out: No sales are allowed after 5:30pm. Artists break down their booths and when all tents on the block are down, they are given the okay to drive in to load out. I was staying at the Monaco Hotel ... and parked there so chose to dolly out. Some very quick neighbors were out of there around 6pm, heading home. Most, more like 6:30-7pm.
Amenities: Pastries, bagels, coffee, juice and fresh fruit + waters provided each day. The Monaco Hotel right there on King Street is wonderful. Plenty of great restaurants and shops in the area so lots of options to choose from for lunches, snacks although not too many quick ones. There are no booth sitters. You'll have to rely on your own "help" or your neighbors for a break.
Artist Mix: I never get the opportunity to walk much of the show myself but what I saw looked to be high quality, interesting art in a range of styles, presented well.
Price Point/Sales: As mentioned earlier, this show tops the list in sales for me. Purchases were made at the mid to top of my price range to happy, new (to me) collectors. I saw few people walking around with multiple purchases -- but did see some large work passing by. In the case of my collectors, the painting(s) they bought from me were their sole purchases (that I know of) that weekend. My best day -- by far -- was on Saturday. Two more paintings were purchased on Sunday but there seemed to be less buying energy that day -- in my booth, anyway.
Booth Layout: Booths run down the center of King Street, almost all back-to-back down the center line, opening to the sidewalk. There are some booths that are singles, opening to either side. Spaces are approximately 11 - 12 feet wide, so with some cooperation with your neighbors, there may be a little extra room between you for storage. With this single-street layout, all booths are good ones and the back-to-back arrangement means it is easier for people walking the show to see each one. Booth assignment/numbers are available the Thursday before the show -- but numbers are not posted so it takes some good communication to your potential visitors with the inclusion of cross streets and landmarks to get them to you. (I had at least one visitor mentioning that he wished he'd read the "fine print" on my email.)
Atmosphere: Perfect for producing a crowd concentrating on the art. No music, acts, activities, food booths, face painting, balloons. Any visitors interested in dining, drinks, other shopping had plenty of great options in the establishments there on King Street. Large, steady, art-savvy crowds. Lots of dogs.
Staff: This is a Howard Alan produced event. There aren't any volunteers, but there is a professional, capable staff on hand all weekend. There is no hand-holding involved. No check-in other than to show up at your booth at the appropriate time. Communication is clear and sparse.
Tips If Doing the Show: Because booth numbers are not evident, let potential visitors know your location by using cross street or landmarks near your booth. Parking is tough in Alexandria for show visitors and artists. I have a small vehicle by art show standards and stayed put at the Monaco Hotel.
Other Comments: My success at this show was at least partially influenced by name recognition and reputation in Alexandria. I'm a long-time member and frequent exhibitor at the Art League in the Torpedo Factory and two of my purchasers were already familiar with and drawn to my art. An artist neighbor indicated that very fine painters she knew did not do so well at the show. My immediate neighbors -- a jeweler and wood-turner did have a good weekend.
Yes, I would definitely return!
Comments
Setting up actually begins at 5:30am with only unloading at our spaces permitted before that. It is still dark, though, at 5:30 and the two street lamps closest to my spot were out. Some artists with quick setups do arrive later -- but then need to dolly everything to their space. Saturday is an exhausting day. 200 or so artists handled it though pretty spectacularly.
Yes, Sat. was a long day especially since the show goes until 7pm... No too hard getting up. But walking blocks to the truck, then finding parking for it after the unload was the hard part.
Thanks Jill for the review. I think you covered all the bases. I would not be loving that 3:30 am set up time. How do you even see what you are doing? I think I would be a walking dead person by 12 noon.
Melanie, that lawyer should know if you snooze, you loose! He can't be struggling to make ends meet, I wonder why it took him so long to make up his mind.
Melanie -- your reviews were why I was so thrilled to get into the Alexandria show for these past two years! Thank you for writing them. I'd love to be a "fly on the wall" in your booth to see just how all that magic happens. That was a good turnaround from threatened lawsuit to purchase. I bet he'll be making quicker art purchasing decisions in the future. Congrats on another great show and yes, I wish more shows would go like this, too. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Thanks Jill, I'll try to get out of my booth next year to find you, as well..
Thanks, Christina and Christine. Christine, I hope we both get invited back and next time ... I'll have to make my way to your booth to say hello. Glad you did well!
Thanks for setting the stage Jill. I also was in the Alexandria show. I was up by the courthouse. This was my first time applying and being in this show (always have missed the deadline before). Since this was my first time here I had big hopes of great sales. The crowds were many, my clay sculptures are not a quick pick up, so I was very happy with my sales here. Best show in several years... I'll be back if they accept me again...
Wonderful review, Jill, glad you did well and plan to return next year. We certainly appreciate you taking the time to write up this excellent critique, sounds like they're doing it right...thanks.