I know that writing this post will create problems for me but I need express.

I just came back from Arti Gras, (Jupiter, Florida). Last year I did this show follow by South Miami but this year South Miami was canceled. I still decide to make the trip since the cancellation of the show happen after I paid Arti Gras. The trip from Chicago to Florida is long but easy.

I won't talk about the sales because I know year to year the sales changes. Nobody can control sales. This fact is the main reason why I put all my energy in putting my best work, best presentation and hope for the best.

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I follow the rules that I learned from Amdur Productions and Howard Alan that in time I found out is the standard for most artists because they make pure sense. At this point in my business, I had choose not to do shows with them because the market they provide is not good for but they gave the foundation how to behave and work at the show and I can still go back to them if they let me in.

This brings me to what I saw at Arti Gras. Arti Gras is one of founders of Zapp and I expect a lot from them. I expect to follow the rules they tell us. I also expected them to enforce them.

There was a lot buy and sale and artists point them out but the answers they got: they know but if they eliminates them there will not be enough artists for the show because they believe that show has 50% buy and sale. It is more crazy close one this so call buy and sale artist but they allow him back into the show. The reality I see why they do not close those tents and the legal problems that it can create but then it became a flea market not Arti Gras.

It is was very clear to me when two tents next to me a guy sale paint coolers, dog dishes, etc. The photographer in front of me has 17 bins outside of his tent and make better it has 50% discount signs in all his works. This sign no way in hell should be allowed to be displayed. Add more insult the photographer with wins best of photography. One buy and sale wins best of category. 

Here is where I start wondering where greed, ignorance and ego stops. Artist booth fee do not cover the show cost. I know that for each artist that move on you can replace it with your choice of 10. I know you believe that you are doing us a favor but is interesting to me that I did not saw any of top art fair photographers at this show. I also wonder if is the same case in other categories. There still beyond good work at Arti Gras but because it feels like a flea market it may not bring high-end buyers. No high-end buyers good artist will move on to another show and test waters because doing this show can cost the artist easily 1500.00 plus COGS and time. 

I know you have a lot on your plate but think even we are the less profitable part of the show to make sure we have a fighting chance. If you do not have enough artist at your standards cancel the show or let people that meet your standards know and give them the choice of back out with out loosing money. 

When I come back from a show experience like this I mark the event as a filler at best regardless of my sales. I felt RAPE and everything that comes with that action. That is feeling that no artist should ever feel
specially coming from a show like Arti Gras but then again the powerful keeps degrading the little people.

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  • My daughter was accepted into this one and I was thinking about doing it after attending the zapp conference... but after reading this.  I am backing off.

  • No promoters these days seem to have the guts to confront a potential buy/sell con artist and/or tell them to pack their stuff and leave or else....

    It will take exhibitors suing promoters for failure to honor their portions of the contract which prohibit buy/sell before anything changes...  And that will take getting the 'all show committee decisions are final' part of the contract being defeated in court... The contract is supposed to protect both promoters and exhibitors from getting shafted.... but once the promoters have your money and entry fees, they could care less about buy/sell complaints..

    They will then express their hesitation to confront a suspected b/s exhibitor because of 'potential liability', worries about pissing someone off; or making a mistake; or will try to placate you by saying that the offending exhibitor will not be invited back next year.

    This behavior makes it nearly impossible for an all originals fine art or craft exhibitor without a long-term established clientele to make a go of it...

    I'm thinking about buying a kettle corn tow-behind because those guys make money regardless... Have propane, face shield and apron, will travel.....

  • Thank you Oscar. Post's like this are the most valuable.  I do not want my art in a flea market and shows like this have a peripheral impact on other shows. So many shows have deteriorated to garner booth fees and hang the serious artists out to dry.  Getting harder to find quality shows unfortunately and I would guess this downward trend is at least partly due to market saturation. I would love to see smaller shows held indoors where the promoter has a nominal booth fee but gets a commission.  Then they have skin in the game, assume some risk and should select artists whose work will sell.  They also have incentive to bring in a BUYING audience. They might keep some good artists out but if their work does not match the market demographics (genre or price) that makes sense and I would be grateful if rejected. If you know of a show that charges a commission, post it please.

  • Wow. Y'all make me glad I didn't apply to this one. I am so broke most weeks I have to drive straight back the night after the show, no hotel, just a nap in the truck if needed. The thought of buy/sell at a show drives me nuts. Kudos to anyone who calls them out on it.

  • Try Naples National, I turned the Grove Show down to do it. My neighbor did $27000. no buy sell at this show.

  • The traffic for this show was way down from last year and I was told that was down last year from year before. The gate fee is 12.00 and do not know about parking. I really think they need to improve the traffic and eliminate the buy and sale and flea market feel first. After that work in bringing better customers for us. They should make it who is who come to see the show. 

  • Oscar hit the nail on the head...

    "If you do not have enough artist at your standards cancel the show or let people that meet your standards know and give them the choice of back out with out loosing money." 

    I can't stand it when the show organizers so blatantly misrepresent their show and take advantage of the innocence of artists who aren't in the know.  What all of you are describing is the theft of $1200 in costs for every real artist who participated because the show was guilty of false advertising. 

    If ArtiGras wants to be an art show they need to 1) ban all the buy/sell, and 2) get off their asses and solicit new artists to fill in their now empty spaces.  They need to go to other national shows and sell their show to any artist they see who would be a good fit for AG.  Hell, if they know the art world at all they could find contact information for hundreds of artists and promote their show through direct email.

    Any successful organization knows they have to advertise to keep revenues flowing.  An art show needs to advertise to the artists as well as to the general public.  And stop the lying.

  • Barry, we did have fun without it this could crack the three worst show in my history.

  • Oscar, we had so much fun and you can't beat the sun and the warm weather.

  • I guess that I know my reality. I need income during the winter months so I guess next winter I need to apply to H.A.S. and see what happen. Coconut Grove is the only show I had not done well in the that area and is more expensive to do.

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