I thought I would wait a little bit. Sort of bide my time before I put my two cents in. Here it goes.
I have done this show for 25 years.
First the State Street show in the 80's and early 90's.
Then, finally after waiting ten years, on the wait list, the Guild finally called me up. That was norm back then, you could join the Guild, start with a waitlist number that could be in the high six hundreds and then wait for it to slowly come down.
In those times, Ann Abor was the show to do in the summer.
Michigan economy was super. Everybody waited for the A2 shows and then they turned out and bought like crazy. It was win-win proposition.
Then something unique happened. About the time the Michigan economy started going south, the A2 shows raised their booth fees from $450 to where they are now--$750.00.
Ironically, his was when our grosses went down, and the booth fees went up.
This is the White Elephant that sits in the room and nobody wants to talk about it.
Nary a person who has blogged about the A2 shows has mentioned that $750 booth fee.
Well folks, I am discussing it, and I will tell you what. It is a blatant ripoff.
The A2 shows are worth about $450 and should be a three-day show at best.
For ninety percent of the exhibitors who show there, they are making $2.5K-$5K at best. The other ten percent are doing better.
Trouble is, when you add up that booth fee along with auto expenses, along with parking, along with hotel and along with food--you are up to $1.5K-$2K for that show.
Add in the long hours, the always extreme heat and the dwindling number of "good shoes buyers" who attend--you end up with a poor business number for a return on your investment.
Oh, and we did not mention cgs or time invested.
For most, it is a bad gamble, a bad investment. And, it will only get worse.
That is why, for after doing this show for 25 years I am giving it up.
It finally went under a set number, for sales, that is unacceptable for me.
The good customers that attend are very slimmer.
It will only get worse, each successive year, as more of the quality exhibitors drop out.
The shows will gladly take your money and fill the slots.
Trouble is, the majority of newbies who get the spots will not be up to snuff like the ones who left.
Increasingly, more good buyers will come, and the sales will tail towards the low-end.
It is a downward death spiral.
I mentioned this in my 2011 post on the A2 shows.
Did not do A2 last year, because of heart problems.
Came back this year with fresh new work at reasonable price points and saw it be blissfully ignored by most of the crowds.
It was reminiscent of the Arts,Eats and Beats crowd. Most of them were going to the county fair. Very few were looking for art.
Why most of you are willing to accept, and pay, $750 for this show--and then be happy if you pull $2.5K-$4.5K eludes me.
Your time and money is not getting a fair return.
You are better off going to Petoskey, Sheboygan or anywhere else.
I think it would make a great bumper sticker-- ANYWHERE BUT ANN ARBOR.
Oh well, you pays your money and you takes your chances.
But the game is rigged at Ann Arbor.
That is all I am saying. It is a mouthful.
But somebody ought to shoot that White Elephant dead in the room, he is bad for our business.
Comments
Cherry Creek charges $900 for a single. They get that, plus ancillary charges, like electricity and oversize vehicle parking. And the artists make money there. Some of the best artists in the country participate at Cherry Creek.
We don't even attempt to do it. I can't afford the fees and all the other expenses involved. And with sales down all over it hardly makes sense to do shows like this. We try to be selective and hit the smaller shows with good reputations and we do alright. Not as well as when we first started but talking to other artists it seems no one is doing that well any more. But for a show to charge $750 is just asking for their best artists to just stop participating.
I'm feeling sad about Ann Arbor too. At this point, I'm quitting it. This year was so horribly hot and sales were so mediocre I can't even think about doing it again right now.
I decided 3 years ago that giving an A2 show money was supporting their disdain for artists. The show should be Fri-Sun. That change alone would make for better potential sales. The fact they know that (they have had that question on artist surveys for years) and will not make the change tells me the show is about and for the local merchants. Some art patrons do have jobs and allowing them one day (that ends at 5 or 6) to see such a massive number of booths is foolish. If I want to spend my money on something foolish, I am sure I could drink or gamble it away or better yet give it to strippers and have much better memories than the bitter ones I have of being taken advantage of in Ann Arbor.
As far as the B/S at Cherry Creek, the standards committee at the show takes their job very seriously and is on the grounds every day checking for violations. With one art show a year, they are likely to miss things that we see. I am certain they would take action immediately at the show, if it was brought to their attention.
Oh my word $750 and $825 plus extras. I'm stunned! Sounds like a wise decision for you to drop out Nels.
I gave up A2 two years ago and after your post I think it was a wise choice.
ps Hey Richard.. Careful with that CC. If you hear gunfire, the safest bet is still to run in the opposite direction. If you show up on the scene with your gun drawn the cops won't know who to shoot when they get there.
As the better artists drop out the squatters who have been paying a thousand bucks for a spot in front of somebody's store or office will simply move out to the legit spots.
The shows will have to start relaxing the rules on buy sell just to fill the spaces. It will become a big flea market. Who knows, they could have designated blocks for produce, used books, CD's, miracle carpet clearners, etc.
Can't wait.
State Street was $825 and we paid an extra $35 to reserve our space. I was waiting for Nels to write his article before I wrote mine. It's Friday and I am still recovering from the show. I have the local Marquette show this weekend and cannot respond til next week. I have some insider info and observations that I want to talk about. I'll get to it early next week.
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