Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
Deerfield Beach
It is now held right on the street along the beach running for 3 or 4 blocks. Saturday was a beautiful day and the beach-goers were out in large numbers. Many in swimsuits and flip-flops. Wallets were left behind. I covered expenses but overheard my neighbor (selling lotions) say she had her best Saturday in 5 years.
This show is juried, but it is hard to tell when you walk the show. Almost anything goes. I'm sure there is a lot of buy/sell, but no one seems to care. The show has booths set up along each curb leaving room for one lane down the center. I arrived late on Friday afternoon for set up and found most tents already there. I was able to pull up to my space and unload easily. Load-out was more of a problem and they made us tear down completely before driving in.
Sunday dawned with a solid overcast and a cool wind off the ocean. It stayed that way the whole day and got colder as the day progressed. But, sales improved! No swim ware, no flip-flops and many more serious buyers. I almost doubled Saturday's take. It was a pleasant surprise and logs-in as my best show of the year so far. I will consider it again next year.
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Comment by Michael Lee on February 4, 2010 at 4:31pm
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I did that show as well my second year. I will go back next year the volunteers are really helpful and the crowd is good. Sunday was a much better day for me sales wise. My goal is always to exceed my sales from the previous year at a show and I was able meet this goal. The crowd is a tough crowd most everyone wants a deal sometimes too much of a deal. I stick to my prices and never discount more than what I think is fair.
The buy/sell is a real problem for a show of this quality. Some of the buy/sell vendors have been kicked out of other Fl shows that they use to exhibit in. I think it is about time the promoters of the Deerfield Beach show take a closer look at some of the by/sell vendors and not let them participate in the future. A juried show should be just that not a juried show with flea market items.
We artist have a tough enough time without the buy/sell junk taking away our sales or worse making a juried show look like a flea market. It is hard for the customer to understand or appreciate the quality of the artist when they see the buy/sell junk for $20.00 or less.
If the promoters have a hard time determining what is by/sell then let the judges of the show make the call. When an item being sold is using a trademark name or logo then that vendor is clearly violating the trademark of the product. That alone should be reason enough to disqualify them from the show.
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Comment by Connie Mettler on February 4, 2010 at 6:39pm -
I always like a show near the beach when it is a little chilly and overcast - completely changes the buying habits--can't swim, guess I'll shop!
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