allowing artists to pull up to their site to load /unload a real deal breaker for me if this is not the case
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allowing artists to pull up to their site to load /unload a real deal breaker for me if this is not the case
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Hi Jacki,
Actually not all of the shows provide that information up front. They (the ones who run the show) don't consider it a problem. So I now call the people of the show I am attending if its new to me and get that information from the show organizer. I did a show in MN where the display area was down a sloping grassy area and quite far away from the road which was a narrow road. This also meant leaving your stuff unattended for quite some time as they only allowed so many vehicles to park for loading. We were given a small amount of time by the way to get this all done to make room the the next batch of artist vehicles. Now I had the option of donating 20.00 to the local scout group for the service of transporting my stuff each way. So this was an additional 40.00 added to my booth fee. So this meant that the artists had to then deposit their stuff on the sidewalk, drive off, then return and make the trek down the slope of wet grass to their booth site. So the reverse was true when packing up. Not a good situtation. Not all shows are like this. This was the ugly exception. So I never bothered to reapply to this show. I agree with the comment that I need to evaluate whether or not it is worth the trouble. Also Having glass I would not let anyone but my self load and unload this heavy breakable stuff.
Art, I was just wondering if very many of the applications mention that the artist will be able to drive up or must dolly in. What has your experience been?
If you're on the grassy strip, there should be about 6-10 feet between the backs of the booths. The booths on my side are at the edge of the pavement, but for the last several years the ones behind me have tended to move back from the pavement edge and they start to crowd in at the back. That's due to the tapering slope on the grassy median there and they want to find more level ground. Bring plenty of shims and you'll be okay. I bring 2 boards that are 2x8x10' and that takes care of finding level spots for the panels, less time spent shimming all the Propanels that way.
The row of tents on the sidewalk across the street all have adequate room behind them. The ones on the sidewalk adjacent to the median have limited space, and you definitely need shims there. You're back against a retaining wall on that one, but you can stack tubs on the wall behind you if there isn't a fence. Some of those locations will have some space beside them that you can use for storage, and a few also have enough room that you hang work on the outside.
BTW, expect variable weather. I've seen the show have frost on the grass up until noontime, it can be sunny and warm or even hot, or it can be drizzly and cold the entire time. Unless it is absolutely nasty, people come out. The show is in the middle of an old neighborhood with a lot of young homeowners in an upper income level. It's a high population area so many patrons just walk from their homes to see the show. It's one of my favorite shows. BTW, arrive early on Saturday and Sunday as parking is tight.
I'll be at booth 604, just below the association tent in the middle. I have to get a bunch of work done by then. I ordered 17 canvas prints and the delays with finishing taxes put me a few days behind and the prints may not arrive in time. There's still time to get some conventional prints done with some new pieces. I'm up at 7:00 in the morning and starting to cut matte boards and do some framing :-)
Looks like you've got a pretty busy spring.
Good luck with the poetry! I certainly couldn't do it!
Hi Britt, here's the show list so far
Cherokee Triangle, Louisville 4/26-27
Gumtree Festival, Tupelo, MS 5/9-11
Francisco's Farm, Midway, KY 5/17-18
Prairie Art Festival, Schaumberg, IL 5/24-25
KIA art fair, Kalamazoo, MI 6/7-8
Talbot Street, Indpls, IN 6/14-15
Crosby Festival of Arts, Toledo 6/28-29
Northbrook Art in the Park, Northbrook, IL 7/12-13
Loring Park, Mpls, MN 8/2-3
There's another half dozen I've applied for with slim chances for some of them. I've been trying to do the poetry thing, and getting feedback on that from a writer/educator. I'm still licking my wounds on the last feedback I received from her ;-) She was a Pulitzer nominee, so there's no dismissing her creds. Trying to tie poetry and images together is way the devil harder than I thought. I have one piece that is a work in progress posted in my photos here.
@ Alison; "On the other hand I have stopped applying to a show if the setup is just too difficult for the money I make."
I wish I had known that one before applying to the Madison, WI Audubon show :-/
I got there early before they opened up, having slept a few hours in the Walmart parking lot. I get there and find out my spot was way the hell and gone at the end of a sidewalk they wouldn't allow vehicles on although the ones that set up on Friday were able to drive back there. I dragged the EZ-Up down to the spot and the estimate was that it was somewhere about 150-200 yards away. My back was hurting like the devil from stenosis. After getting to the spot and seeing that I was third from the end of a very, very long line, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out this was a poor layout and traffic was going to be very poor. The show people did offer to get a large cart for me to dolly in, but finding that cart at tear down seemed like a lousy probability. I did something I had never done in 25 years; I said to hell with it and went home. Turned out to be a good choice ans it stayed misting cold rain the entire weekend, and the show went four paws up that weekend.
When the venue is in a park or field sometimes this is not possible but I definitely take it into account when applying for a show. If I know a show is good for me I will dolly but I try to plan ahead to make it as easy as possible. My first show this year is a show where I will have to dolly but they allow setup from "dawn to dusk". I know where my booth spot is and I will be sitting in my van in the best parking place for my booth spot waiting for sunrise. On the other hand I have stopped applying to a show if the setup is just too difficult for the money I make.