Well, it has been a while since I did a show blog. Here goes--about this year's Ann Arbor {AA}.
I am in the Guild show on Main Street, it was my 30th year doing AA shows--it was also my most putrid year for AA.
Each morn before the shows opened, I walked to various other shows there. Trouble was, most booths were not open yet at 9 AM.
I kept track thru social media what was happening overall.
I have reviewed this show for many years and you can check my previous blogs for setup info and other relative factors.
There are four major shows in AA at one time. Over 2000 booths and that does not include the squatters.
You have mucho artists competing for a slim margin of buyers. Some artists make out very well, others get by barely.
I had a horrible show. Cannot blame the weather {it was pretty nice for AA--no 100 degree days for setup or teardown--rain was minimal}
I saw numbers and numbers of disinterested patrons trudging down the street, more interested on checking out stuff on their cellphones than looking in the artist' booths.
When I got a sale, it was usually lowend.
Some people around me prospered, others withered on the vine like me.
I found the crowd quite conservative in what they chose. I am speaking from a 2-D artist's view.
Personally, I think my time is done on Main Street, may have to choose new venue locations.
It is in the works.
Let me now give you my analysis of what is going on here.
If you depend on volume sales here it is not a good bet like it used to be. If you sell high-end you can snare a few that will make your show.
It wasn't just me who suffered.
I talked to Bernie, Robert and Gary, all photographers, in the State Street Show. They basically responded, "WTF is going on here, nobody is buying anything."
A couple of them had a decent show because of one customer who bought a bunch. If that one had not showed up, they would have been up the creek without a paddle.
I just do not see enough people coming to that show anymore to make a serious purchase for putting over the bed or the fireplace. I never heard one conversation about this.
Also, you mainly get one shot at them. There are very few be-backs. The shows are too long, and far apart. It is almost a mile walk from the west end of the shows {Main Street) to the east end {South University). Most people are exhausted.
I think the return on your money invested in this show is too low for the time involved.
You are talking about a four-day show with a day before setup. MOst artists are going to take a half or full day to get there and then go home or on to the next show. You are essentially devoting a week of your time. With very long, boring hours every day.
You are paying nearly $800 for a single booth, parking can run you another $75. You gotta eat at AA restaurant prices and pay for hotels the same way.
For most artists it is going to cost $1500-$2000 to do AA.
Now, look at your return.
In the old days {pre-2006} you did not mind these expenses. Heck, a lot of us would do $5K on opening, and closing day. We would do lower amounts on the other two. In a really off year it would mean a $5K show, in a great year it could be anywhere from $12K on up.
Right now, many artists are lucky if they gross $5K sales. That is not a great return on money invested. This year, I barely made more than expenses--that is deplorable.
I just do not see AA getting any better as time goes on. It is too many booths chasing too few sales.
Interestingly, next year, they are going to start the show on Thursday and end on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if having the extra weekend day increases sales.
Here is another point to ponder.
So many good artists have quit doing AA. Why has not a sharp promoter staged a show on that date to attract all these good artists? No Howard, no Amy, no Patty doing a show on that date. I think they are missing the boat. Any comments?
I do not want to end this blog on a downer side--so here is a little golden find.
If you like sushi and also spicy Korean style food--think lettuce wraps with chicken, pork or beef, then consider Seoule Garden restaurant on Boardwalk Ave. This is just one street east of State Street out by the interstate. Not far from the Red Roof, Hilton and Embassy Suites. This place is uncrowded, very reasonable and fun to eat at.
Later, Gators.
Comments
Cain Park is a great show. The show is set up along one row, so if they park at one end, they have to walk the whole show twice to get back to their car.
The show treats people really well, also. It has been one of our favorite shows.
Barrie, Cain Park was good, a long time ago, the demographics have changed, different people, and they don't buy much, sorry.
Dang, that's what I get for writing this at 2 am.....yes, I was in the Original show, not the Guild. so everything I said pertains to that show. so sorry.....
So sorry I didn't get a photo of you, Marge, and a pleasure to meet you and see your work. I was there for only a few hours as my kids were in from LA for the memorial service and my daughter-in-law is photo sensitive and couldn't be outdoors except briefly. It was my fastest trip through AA in many a year.
I need to correct you up above, you were not in The Guild show on the quad (believe you misspoke), but in the Original, the Street Art Fair. It was a lovely location and I told Mo she needs to get down on her knees with the University folks who very grudgingly seem to give up any part of the campus for the shows to keep it on the Campus.
The show is known for its hot weather and if people know that there is great art under the huge campus trees and not on the asphalt I think it makes more people turn out as it is so much more comfortable.
More on AA later ... Great to meet you and Carrie J. You two need to meet as you'd be good friends and could have a lot of fun together.
As Barrie suggested, we did Cain Park for probably 20 years, until we stopped doing shows. Beautifully run, an educated clientele, a lovely park -- best show in Cleveland, imho.
So Barrie, don't tell me you were there when we were and we narrowly missed meeting one another.
This was my first time at A2. I have gotten in a few previous years to the other shows, but I have always heard the rumors of heat and storms and I have never had the guts. I was in the Guild show on the quad...which many on the quad said was much less trafficked than University where most of the show was laid out. The Quad was because there was construction on the other side, where the show is usually laid out apparently.
I came in from Central Penn which is 4 days from 10 till 8 and then did the four days of AA...I will never do that again-that is like taking a two by four to the head! Plus, I had Vertigo the last two days so bad that I couldn't talk to people. I was that dizzy and nauseous. If you have ever had it, you know... and having it hit me on the two hottest days was brutal. I did great the first day, the second day was good... but the last two days I crashed and burned. If you can't get out there and SELL your work...you might as well pack up and go home.
Regardless, I was around some of the most fun people I have ever done a show with, which was incredible, I haven't laughed that much all year. I can't say one medium more than others did well. Ray, a printmaker next to me started out slow but had a great last day. Michael did really well selling really large paintings and Laia from St Lewis did very well selling some of the most innovative jewelry I have ever seen.
I heard rumblings from other artists, some good, some bad. I was by myself and I wasn't able to get too far away from my booth. I saw Connie too- first time I have gotten to meet her and it was worth the drive. Our fearless leader is an incredible person and even in the midst of everything personal she was going through... she was so gracious and kind.
It's really funny though, when you stop selling... for whatever reason, there are a million things you can blame. But bottom line, it's you that you put out there...your work... and if you can't get it across to the buyers- if you can't make them look up from their phone....it's going to hit you in the pocketbook. This is a hard knock life....sometimes I want to pack it in and sometimes I can't wait to hit the road again.
This year has been erratic as hell...mostly average throughout, just keeping things afloat and last year was banner...I just don't know the answer. I just want to say that I was one of the lucky ones, I kept costs down. I stayed with a host and was able to walk to the show each day.
And the Original was incredibly run...Mo and Niki are so on top of things...I don't think I have ever been under more capable hands at a show and the meal perks were wonderful. One last thing, the judging was beautifully done (no, I didn't win anything), but it was clean and classy and fair. I'll be back, if they let me. God hope without the vertigo.
Cain Park is the week before Ann Arbor, too, Barrie. It's a very pleasant show, but not necessarily a good paycheck. The treatment of the artists is second to none there, but in recent years seems as if the buyers have departed there as well.
As far as I know, there are no big money makers in July, with the possible exception of Krasl and Madison. That leaves three weeks high and dry, and I think that's Nels' point. Without Ann Arbor as an anchor, the month is slim pickin's.
Why not get yourselves involved with George Kozmon's show, Cain Park in Cleveland Heights?
I'm still confused, Nels, about your jab at other venues and promoters. I don't think any business savvy promoter would try to overthrow the Ann Arbor event.
Cain Park may be your best bet. Forget about the Ann Arbor weekend. Do nothing, or hang out in the Cleveland Museum and on your way back to Michigan spend a few days in one of the finest museums in this country, Toledo Museum of Art. Get a wilder hair and swing through Youngstown after departing Cleveland and tour Butler Institute of Art before moving on to Toledo.
Krasl probably hasn't made the push to bring in the folks who liked Ann Arbor. They might not be able to support a significantly bigger patron crowd. I dunno. And maybe they'll need to appeal to a different younger crowd now, anyway since all the folks who used to go to Ann Arbor are getting older and into the downsizing mode.
I suppose the reason there's no other show the same weekend as Ann Arbor is because of Ann Arbor. You photogs have it easy restocking inventory, you know. Not everyone has the opportunity to punch a button and watch their art come out the other end. Not everyone needs a show every weekend.
Barry Bernstein, you busted everyone's chops for continuing to do Ann Arbor and then finished the rant by telling everyone you're accepting the situation as it is these days and're still gonna do it yourself. What's up with that?
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