Every show has its challenges and this weekends show was no exception. But there was something a little different ... a little "off", on this show. The paperwork asked for a 6:45 a.m. set up. Which on normal shows, would be fine. But this show did not open until 12-noon on Saturday. I thought it was strange that it has a late opening time. I send an email to the organizers to request a later set up time. They told me I could arrive at 7:30. But couldn't make it any later. It will only take us 2 hours to set up.
When we arrived, it was drizzling a little, but soon stopped. The street was a little tight for tents on either side and cars unloading down the middle. But you make the best of it. We unloaded, got set up. We were all set up and ready by 9:30. So now we sat there, no customers and chatted with other artists for over 2 hours. There seem to be no good reason for us to be there sooooo early. We had traveled 3 hours away. So we had gotten up at 3:00 a.m. to sit there. We could have "slept in" til 5:00. We asked artists if they had done the show before. I did not find one artists that had done the show last --- not a good sign.
The gates opened at 12-noon. But they charged $7 to get into the area. This admission charge also included music at one end of the festival. This has a major affect on the type of person attending the show. These were people that were willing to pay for the (rock) music, but not interested in buying art.
The "services" provided to artists were strange as well. When we checked in, there were no name tags. About 1:00 on Saturday afternoon, they walked around and handed everyone a name tag. The "artists lounge" was open from 2:00-5:00=which was the peek selling time.
The show was to run until 10 p.m. but the artists were able to close earlier, if they wanted to do so. We left on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. out of boredom. Some others did stay open later, but did not sell anything. Sunday night they closed the show a 9:00 p.m. (do you know how dark it is at 9:00 p.m.?) Then an other hour or so to pack up and get out. We left at 7:00.
Total sales were very poor. We covered our expenses, plus $100. Not even closed to what we expected.
This seems to be a music show that added art. They are not really interested in developing the art side of the festival OR don't know how to run an art show. Too bad. It could have been a good show. But we will not be returning next year. Most artists around us did little to no sales. One artist next to us did OK on Saturday, but nothing on Sunday, told us he would not be returning next year.
Comments
At the best fine art shows, it seems like low key music on the stages and a few street performers can work to provide background for the art and art sales.......also seems like any high powered acts are best in the evening only while the art booths are open during the day......I am laughing to myself.......really I am beginning to see the stuff that Nels knows.....the whole business of promoting a sucessful fine art show is not as easy as it would seem to the beginner. Go Packers.....lol
Another problem was there was no limits on media types, and from what I heard , about 1/4 of the show was photographers. You live and learn, and I've learned from this experience to not do shows from this promoter again. I was cautioned about them after I signed up, and the predictions were true. Primarily unorganized chaos. I started tearing down well in advance of the official time, getting tarps off and folded, and doing everything short of taking work down off the walls. That's the first time in 22 years I've jumped the gun like that, and I don't feel guilty about it at all ;-)