I just found out I was accepted at St James 4th Street Section, Louisville, and it is the same weekend as the Rio Grande Balloon Festival & Art Fair, Albuquerque, to which I am also accepted.
Has anyone out there done these two shows and have some evaluative comments to make concerning the pros & cons of doing one over the other?
I'd love to hear from anyone who can help me with my coin toss.
Comments
Thanks, Dona. Wonderful suggestions. I looked up both of those beading women and wrote to each asking for their feedback. I'll do the same with others that I find when I cull the lists of last year's selectees.
Kathleen,
The Rio Grande Balloon Festival is not on the Balloon Grounds. It is nearby, and on I-25/major thruway, in a large, very visible tent. The hours are 9-5. People come to the show AFTER the balloons launch.
That being said, it is a fine arts and crafts show, of many price points. Some people do very well, and some don't. I have done it many times, and have done well to poor. I think many have done better than I. Your price points might point you to Louisville. I do ship artwork to a lot of customers, but many others are looking for small gifts.
My recommendation is to look at the list of artists for both shows for 2012, and then check out their websites (Google names) for an indication of their price points. Each list will give you an idea of the show in general, and the range of quality. Two artists who do the Rio Grande shows, tho not necessarily the Balloon Fiesta, are leahreadydesigns.com. and Molly Mendenhall, http://etsy.com/shop/Annicajewelry. The Rio Grande show is an indoor show, and also requires that you pay for electricity (must have). The show ends up around $600 fee. Etc., etc. Hope this helps.
Never done either of them, but I can confirm the pre-dawn ballooning. I can also tell you that Louisville has $$ to spend. This is horse country. You could also end up with a wholesale account or two from the big racetracks (Keeneland, Churchill Downs). They just had a 3 day event there (equestrian) and a friend that sells event merchandise, not art, did just over $400K in 3 days. No, I did not mistakenly add a zero. I would do Louisville in a heartbeat. Plus, you can tour several Bourbon distilleries, Woodford Reserve is nearby in Versailles. Fabulous time and samples too!!
We haven't done either show, however, several artists I know from the Western US have sworn off the Balloon festival, people are not generally there to shop.
Kathleen - you might post your question in the Group for Southwest / West Coasts artists on this site, several artists from that group would probably be able to give you more insight into the Balloon festival.
Having been to some balloon festivals as an observer, they do start before sunrise because the balloons launch in the early morning.
Larry, I never have been to a show that let public, or the exhibitors, in before sunrise. Usually the opening hour is 10:00am.
I tried it once in the mid 1980's and the balloons only went up in the morning. I think it's twice a day now. Though the craft show was set up all day. most of the people left within a half hour after the balloons took off. And you need major lighting because the people are there before sunrise.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Connie, I live in Los Angeles. My medium is beaded jewelry and it is expensive; range of $300 - $2500 per piece. My son and granddaughter live in Louisville so I am sorely tempted on that score alone to make the effort. Larry, I heard from a friend that the crowds were huge in Albuquerque for the Balloon Festival, but the sales were small. Out-of-towners there for the balloons rather than for the purposes of buying fancy art and jewelry.
Larry Berman
Http://bermangraphics.com
Where do you live, Kathleen? That would surely make a difference to me. What is your media and what are your price points?