Last April, 2015 when I was accepted for the July Jackson, WY show, I started looking for lodging for July 8-13. In passing, I mentioned to Jean that there was an Airstream available through Airbnb. She thought it would be fun and a diversion from the usual condo routine. There was a favorable review and pictures, so I got it for $672. The Host moved the Airstream from Wilson, WY into Jackson which was even better.
Friday July 3, I get an email from Airbnb that my reservation was canceled by the Host, four days before we were leaving home. Because this was within 7 days of our arrival Airbnb fined the Host $100 and the cancellation would be posted on future listings. They offered me a 12 month coupon for $150 off any future reservation. I couldn’t find anything that Airbnb had in the Jackson area that would meet our needs. An apartment in Driggs, ID was just too far away to commute.
The search for accommodations began with a short fuse and 85% occupancy in Jackson. Plus it was July 4th weekend. I found a condo in Wilson ($1585.75) today (Monday 7/6), but the time spent on this hassle has cut into last minute studio work which is another financial loss.
The moral, and what I will ask myself next time is; “what is plan B if this gets cancelled”. This is something I have never asked myself in doing shows for over 20 years. I have assumed people were as responsible and honest as I am. This isn’t a rant against Airbnb, but rather, another factor to consider in planning for shows.
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The best deal on a room was in downtown Chicago. The promoter had a decent deal at a major hotel overlooking the Chicago River. I recall it was around $95-100/night and this was maybe 15 years ago. We show up and the small interior room we had reserved wasn't available. No problem they said. They gave us a corner suite for the same price. The place had floor to ceiling glass on the outside walls. Calling it posh would't have done it justice ;-)
A note on Promoters getting hotel rates - we did the Herndon Festival in VA, they had a note buried in the details regarding a special rate at the Dulles Marriott Suites. $83.00 per night. Turned out to be a room that you would expect to pay $250 for, gorgeous suite, and 1 mile from the show. They should all be that good!
Unfortunately, the show crashed and burned for me. I sold a whopping three pieces from the flip bin and those were bottom end priced pieces. I've already started on a new body of work, and just hope that I can unload my old work this winter at some of the garage sale shows. My next show in three weeks is a local one-day show, low cost, so it will be a good one to gamble on with radically different work. Now I need Clear Bags to fit those non-moving 20x30 gallery wrap canvases which should make for one heck of a flip bin ;-)
Robert, if you had stayed in the parking lot, they would have found you down river. Yes, the RRI was worse than rough especially since we spent all Saturday in it! I have had my problems with RRI so as soon as I get THE letter, I start looking and usually do pay right away. Hope your Sunday sales help ease the pain a bit.
For Crosby we used airbnb, and landed well. It was a farm 2 miles away in Sylvania with a wonderful couple who made the weekend refreshing. They even fed us well. But the dialog about the stay began a few weeks before in email after we paid for the stay. It is probably luck of the draw, but for me i want to believe that there are good situations out there. I am so sorry to hear about both situations. But excellent advice Robert.
It seems interesting that from show to show the level of involvement, planning and work to help the artists varies dramatically. Sadly don;t you wish there was a standard, so you know that certain things are prepared, like work with local hotels for a special rate. Just saying
Excellent advise and I will keep this in mind for all future shows.
The Crosby Gardens show in Toledo had listed a motel rate of $41.99/day for Red Roof Inn on Reynolds Avenue. When I went to make a reservation, relatively late since I was accepted off the wait list, the clerk told me that no one had contacted the motel and no special rate was set up. WTH? Sort of had me over the proverbial barrel. The rates were almost double which made it expensive for a Red Roof Inn. Okay, let's make the reservation anyway but keep on looking. A little digging and another RRI, maybe even a little closer, had rates more in line with what was expected. Those rates required payment in advance. No problem, did it, and then called the first one back and cancelled. The first one appeared to be taking advantage of what looked like a preferential listing by the show. The second one that I went with had a tired look to it and needs paint and maintenance. Had I known the weather was going to be cool and rainy, I would have slept in the van in the parking lot encampment at the show. It's hard to beat free and they had port-a-johns at the parking lot for the artists. If I do that show again, I may just do that.