Nashville has traditionally been a great market for me in the 18 months I've been doing shows here at Centennial Park near the Parthenon. It's a local show for me, only 40 minutes from my house so I just commute back and forth over the four day period (set up + 3 day show).
Thursday set up was available from noon - 7 pm. I decided to wait until late in the day to set up and it was a sea of white tents completely closed up so I had no issue just backing up to my booth space and unloading 5 feet from my space. I like that a lot! No issues setting up at all. Even a constant police presence circling while I spent time getting ready for Friday's show.
I left early from the house. 6:45 am on Friday morning hoping to beat the morning rush into Nashville. Yeah....about that. An hour and 35 minutes later I arrived into Centennial Park. Parking wasn't really an issue as they have designated parking on site. Most of the parking is a 5 -10 minute walk to the booths. Tennessee Craft is a stickler on parking. They take down your tag number on check in and make certain that you're in designated parking, not in the public parking areas.
The Friday crowd was very light and the weather was perfect, sunny and in the low 80s. In the past three shows (Spring/Fall) I've done I've seen more folks in previous shows but for me it was a great sales day. I ended up grossing close to $1000. Others around me made right at the booth fee back.
Saturday, I had no issues with traffic but the artist's hospitality had cleared out by 9am with a 10 o'clock show opening. There were a few slices of bread and some coffee left. My son who was helping me suggested we walk to a nearby fast food restaurant to get a breakfast sandwich. We got back to the booth by 9:30 and the crowds started filing into Centennial Park right after rolling up the sides. There was a crush of folks coming on site and the crowds didn't let up until mid-afternoon. I ended up grossing about $2200 and it was a constant stream of buyers in the morning and early afternoon. I treated myself to a nice steak dinner at an upscale restaurant nearby. It was the perfect end to a fantastic day. Being able to enjoy a beautiful Tennessee evening on the patio made it special.
Sunday, an 11:00 opening made it a very casual morning, although I'm glad I got there extra early because buyers were on site by 9:45-10:00. The crowd was close to the Saturday crowd but not as many buyers. My sales were close to Friday's total.. I ended up running out of business cards and tt was the first show that's happened to me. I'll remember to have back ups next time!
Load out is simple here. Breakdown at starts at 5:00 and you can drive right to your booth after 5:30, no waiting on booth passes. We had everything broken down and were completely loaded up by 5:40. I love being able to have dinner at home after a three day show!
Overall this is a fantastic show. A great show, wonderful buyers and an incredible army of volunteers making the constant rounds of water and booth sitters. Kudos to the staff at Tennessee Craft for putting on an incredible show.....again!
Comments
Thanks for that terrific review, Matt. So glad you did well and so nice to read a really positive show reflection, for a change...sounds like a wonderful venue.
I agree...Nashville loves this show. My sales were down from Spring too, but that was because I sold some really large pieces at that show. Almost did it this time... but couldn't close the sale, dang. But I wasn't disappointed, this show is so much fun to do. The people of Nashville are just so sincerely nice.
I did this show as well but my sales were overall not as good as the spring TN Craft (TACA) show nor last fall's show. Friday I had crowds in my tent all day long and wonderful compliments but not many sales. Saturday I believe I had my highest grossing single day sales. Sunday was dismal. Not nearly as many people and not many coming into my booth. Over all I was down about 23% over last fall's TACA show sales.
I am a glass jeweler and unfortunately there are a lot of jewelers at this show. TACA does not limit any of the mediums to a certain number of artists.
Centennial park is very nice and near Vanderbilt University. The show is an easy load in/out as long as they don't close driving on to the park ground due to soggy soil. TACA and it' volunteers come around multiple times a day offering bathroom or food breaks and cold water. I have done the fall show and spring show each two times. The first spring I participated it was beautiful weather setting up Thursday. Friday the weather dipped down into the low 60's (very unusual for the south) and we had 30 mph wind. It was colder than I expected. The park had killed off their grass and re-seeded with a different variety but due to cool spring temps it hadn't germinated yet. Well Friday night the rains came and made a mud pool of the park. Saturday, customers were face planting in the mud right in front of my tent BUT the people of Nashville continued to come dressed in their galoshes, rain coats and umbrellas. I couldn't believe it. No way would I have gone to an art fair in that weather.
They just love this show!
To show in the Spring show you have to be a Tennessee Resident or else a member of a guild that borders Tennessee (like Southern Highlands) It's a good show and is well attended, even when it rains. Also, at each show is a six person standards committee that judges your work and gives you a score from one to seven. If you score above a certain number you are automatically in the next years Spring show...works this way for the Fall show too.
Susan: The Fall Fair is open to everyone. The Spring Fair, held the first weekend of May says it's open to guild members of Tennessee but I've seen artists at that show from surrounding states as well. I'd recommend contacting the director at www.tennesseecraft.org to get further clarification on that.
Does one have to be a Tennessee resident to participate in this show? It seems like one of the TACA shows requires this.
Hey Margaret, I was on the same loop as you, 2nd booth off the dividing road/food trucks on the end nearest the Parthenon. I make the modern and Mid Century wooden birdhomes.
I'll just have to get there earlier for food in the spring! ;)
The show was about the same for me Matt.....but a little down from Spring. I love showing in Nashville..it definitely is booming and supporting the arts. Friday was pretty dead in my area though (on the circle behind the food trucks) but Saturday and Sunday were good. It's such a well run show it is a pleasure to do. Sorry about the lack of breakfast food...there was tons there to begin with...but I think many people doubled up to use for lunch. BTW, What was your media and where were you located?
Thanks Matt. Centennial Park would be a great place to have an art show. Plus, I love Nashville.
It sounds like things went very well for you. It is always nice to hear good news about an art show. Thanks for sharing.