Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
Getting rid of Buy/Sell, one vendor at a time. Your help is needed............
I have been corresponding with a director at a large, well-respected art festival (she would prefer to remain anonymous, noone wants a reputation as being out to "get" artists) regarding Mistura, the watch people. She has received numerous questions about them and their veracity as artists but has been unable to come up with concrete facts.
Their website doesn't give enough info and they claim to be the artists. I know they were at the art festival in Lake Forest, IL today. Were they at your festival? Do you have any information about them proving that this company has a factory where the watches are produced?
This director will notify a lot of other festivals and perhaps this vendor will finally sell at the appropriate venues and a real artist can use their booth space at an art festival.
Thanks for your help.
One small step for artists.............
-
Comment by Carla Bank on September 6, 2011 at 12:01am -
The only thing I know is that their main offices in Miami FL are at the Merchandise Mart. This is where you can find all merchandise coming from over seas, where you can get everything at whole sales prices to re sell it in stores, home shows, etc. When you are in FL Geri, stop by the Merchandise Mart and you will see. Theres rows of stores that sell watches, all type, knock offs, trendy etc.
-
Comment by michelle mardis on September 6, 2011 at 12:08am -
I have seen them at several art shows starting at a Texas show probably 6 years ago. At the time they were right next to me and I guess there were 5/6 good looking 20 something Hispanic group of guys:) they said that they were the designers and creators of the work, which I thought was very nice quality. I even traded with them and own 3 of their watches.. Well as time has gone by I have seen the "company" at many other art shows and have never seen the sane person! I was feeling kind of duped:( like this isn't a few people that came here from another country and created a line of interesting art watches, this is an import thing that is basically posing as hand crafted work! I have the deepest respect fir someone to be able to vome to this country (land of opportunity) but if it's just an import thing as I am sure it is, it's just not fair to the individuals that work/create in this country making hand made goods as an artistry. Not happy with what I have seen with this so called hand made.
-
Comment by michelle mardis on September 6, 2011 at 12:10am
-
Sorry for the typo's
-
Comment by courtney gillen on September 6, 2011 at 12:32am -
I have been seeing the same type of thing here on the east coast with a group selling hats and bags. I have seen the same hats at many different venues, with many different sellers. The hats always have the same prices, $40 and $45. They are made of raffia and alpaca fibers. I dont have enough information to call show directors where I have seen them, they are making a lot more money than we are at the shows.
-
Comment by Gary & Maureen Shull on September 6, 2011 at 7:43am -
About 5 yrs. ago we were doing a show in St. Petersburg, Fl. and a customer really wanted to buy one of our pieces, but she held up her wrist showing me her Mistura watch, and said, "I wish I'd waited, but I"ve already spent all my money." Later, when I walked the show, I saw the really busy Mistura booth. Just like Michelle said, every time I saw them after that, there were different people in the booth. I went to their website and saw that every date on their schedule had 3-4 shows booked. All in different parts of the country! I guess they wised up, because they quickly stopped doing that. I don't know what can be done, but I find it hard to believe they're still around.
-
Comment by Michelle Wermuth on September 6, 2011 at 8:01am -
From looking at the website it is pretty obvious that they are a company. Not individual artists. There is key wording "Mistura designers" "our experienced craftsmen" This is a company not an individual artist. It may have started out as two individuals but has grown beyond that.
-
Comment by Michele LeVett on September 6, 2011 at 8:01am -
They were near me at Winter Park once. Their booth was always busy. This has been going on for too long it seems like there is more and more buy sell at shows. Booth fees are so high that maybe the buy sell folks are the only ones that can afford it. Right now I am having more trouble with someone copying my designs.
-
Comment by Larry Berman on September 6, 2011 at 8:21am -
I said that five or six years ago. Shows have to get used to making less profit, or use sponsorship money to lower booth fees so they can have artists who create original work in their shows.
"Booth fees are so high that maybe the buy sell folks are the only ones that can afford it."
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
-
Comment by Rich Terry on September 6, 2011 at 9:05am -
Many promoters have gotten greedy and do not take due diligence in researching the vendors for their venues. I realize that you must give people the benefit of the doubt, but asking for photos of them working in their studios or a short video of them making one of their items is a easy as making a phone call these days!
-
Comment by Larry Berman on September 6, 2011 at 10:44am
-
Directors and shows can't remain anonymous about it. They need to network with each other when one has real proof.
Larry Berman
Free Email Updates!
Click for Art Fair Insiders Blog updates automatically by EMAIL (free)!
SPECIAL OFFER:
Ready to Make Money at Art Fairs?
Here are answers from Connie Mettler, Publisher of ArtFairInsiders.com: Special Report I:
17 Secrets to Success at Art Fairs and
Special Report II: Getting Into Art Fairs - 20 Questions Answered
Download these ebooks now in a special package deal: Only $24.95!
For more information...
© 2012 Created by Connie Mettler.
You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!
Join Art Fair Insiders