1. Kentucky Crafted, The Market, Louisville, KY
2. St. James Court Art Show, Louisville, KY
3. Paradise City Arts Festival, Northampton, MA
4. Scottsdale Art Festival, Scottsdale, AZ
5. Francisco's Farm Arts Festival at Midway College, Midway, KY
6. Kentuck Festival of the Arts, Northport, AL
7. Bayou City Art Festival, Houston, TX
8. The American Craft Council Show, Baltimore, MD
9. League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fair, Newbury, NH
10. Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines, IA
Read the details at this link: www.AmericanStyle.com
Who knew Kentucky had three of the top ten festivals? Who knew that virtually there was no art west of the Mississippi? (well, a little) Who can tell me more about these events?
Comments below, please!
Comments
The day the show started I stumbled into about 100 artists hanging out and I thought it was a meeting or something. Turns out they open a new street to accommodate anyone who shows up with a fist full of cash the morning of the show. So much for the jury. There were 3 sawdust earring "artists".
I go with artist recommendations and The Artfair sourcebook now. I make sure I know what kind of work the artist does and what their expectations are for income. It can be hard to get people to be honest about things like that. we should be better at sharing though. It helps us all.
I would like to add that I still take chances on small local events now and then, but only when expenses are very low or it's an area my family wants to visit anyway.
As far as talking with other artists, what we are doing here seems to be, without question, the best means to talk with other artists. It’s been a little difficult for me to do at shows because people are busy, I’m too new to really “know’ very many people at the events and, as to shows that would be compatible with my product, I haven’t yet found anyone who does anything very closely related to what I do. What I do seems to be sort of at the bottom of the food-chain as far as arts and crafts is concerned.
So, I beg your indulgence to hear me out on all this and offer any advice or comments you might care to offer.
First, I haven’t much considered myself an ‘artist’ in the true sense of the word. I’m a craftsman who puts an artistic flair on most of what I do. I work with wood and build reproduction Shaker boxes, carriers, trays and other small pieces of woodenware. Using the word ‘reproduction’ is perhaps a rather loose description because I change the physical appearance of most of my work to satisfy a more “modern” buyer who intends to use the product more for decoration than utility. I’ve heard someone ask if a craft could possibly be considered as art and the response was that a craft could be elevated to an art-form. I suppose this could be true.
It would be difficult for me to do more than around 8-10 different shows a year because it takes a good bit of time to create what I do. If I attend a show which turns out to be pretty good, it can easily take a month or so to replenish my inventory for the next one.
I would like to do more shows and I would like to not limit myself to staying in Texas for every event. I want to go to some other places to see how my work would stand up in different environments and how it might be received in other geographical areas. After all, Texas is not the best place in the World to be trying to sell Shaker items – seems like trying to sell igloos to someone in the African desert!
I’ve felt as if the ultimate would be to get into one of the “Top Ten” and do well but, after what most of you have said, it doesn’t sound as if I should place so much emphasis on that. However, I have no objection to driving 500 miles or so and even more if I felt more knowledgeable and comfortable with the show. For instance, the Kentuck Show in Alabama has been recommended to me by someone. Another problem has been in laying out the $300-$400 entry fee several months before the event and, thus, receiving no return on my money for months. It's a cash-flow thing.
So, my friends, I need help. From folks who have ‘been there and done that. Any comments, suggestions, advice that any of you would care to offer would be greatly appreciated.
1. One thing you can be certain of is spending a lot of money to be in one, as being on a list does NOT guarantee buying crowds.
2. Talking to other vendors is a better way of finding out what may work for you and what you are trying to sell.
3. Talking to other vendors is also a much better way of finding out what shows are well managed and what ones to avoid.
4. Always, always, ALWAYS consider demographics of the area, size of attendance, how well your products fit (what they are, price points, style, etc.), and how you'll fit in (for us, it's always a bad sign if someone's selling plants).
Bottom line is we only use these things as guidelines. One of our best shows for eight years is a local art & craft, antiques, music and whatever, small town fair. Relatively low booth fee, great attendance, and great management. Even in a down economy, we do well there. It'll never make anyone's top ten list, but so what.
I am not at a stage where I have enough cash to apply to some of the big wig shows. The Paradise City show is a great show as I was there as a buyer not a seller. Really high end artists. I love that area and the only show I have done in that area is in winter and is a small show and even though I love the area it is not my best show but than again it is not Paradise City. What I do know is that it is way out of my league on many levels especially the price for a booth..it is close to a grand! I would have to sell a lot of $39 earrings to even make my booth. Yet I wouldn't discount the show but with the economy who has a grand to spend on one show?
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