The Manayunk Arts Festival takes place along one very long street in Manayunk, a funky, hip village adjoining Philadelphia. I had thought it was a neighborhood IN Philadelphia, but people who live there said otherwise.
I have to say that I had no idea how big this show was until I was leaving. I was near one end, and as I drove out, I could see that the show was at least three times as long as I had imagined or could see. The website says nearly 300 artists, and 300 artists on one street is a lot of artists (and food tents, too).
Set-up is on Saturday morning, starting at 5, one of my least favorite options. But it was handled well, and in my area, was orderly. Parking was in a lot that was free for artists and very close to my booth.
Tents are set up on both sides of the street, though there was a coffee house across from me, with an outdoor patio that precluded tents on that side; there were a few situations like this in my area, and to my mind, they were helpful. People tended to stop or at least slow down. Also, with no one across from me, I had a good chance to get potential patrons' attention.
While the initial check-in was easy, the later check-in, where you got your nametag and packet, involved standing in a line for about 30 minutes. This was after setting the tent up, and it seemed inordinately long. Later in the day, I saw roving volunteers distributing nametags and packets to people who hadn't waited in line. That's something to remember for next year.
There were tons of people at the show, and my sales were fairly good. Not great, but OK. The people were very nice, and seemed to know art. I suspect that repeat artists get more business - this was my first year, and I would try it again.
In the area of the show that I saw, some of the work and some of the displays were surprisingly weak. This show did not seem to have the percentage of very high-end work that many shows I'm in have - but it is possible that those artists were down the road. Jewelry was particularly weak, in my opinion.
The volunteer force was strong and visible. I did not ask for a booth-sitter, and there was no system for getting one, but I believe I could have had one, had I asked. The head volunteer in my area, Ed, was excellent. He was visible and present, he communicated well, and he was supportive.
The first day, we were given tickets for two bottles of water when we checked in. Like many of the artists, I took my bottles right then and there. Later in the day (it was hot and sunny all day), volunteers came by with water. They wanted to charge me $1 because I'd already used my tickets. This really seemed penny-ante. Many shows I've been in hand out water right and left, to keep the artists from keeling over. Sunday, the volunteers distributed water for free.
Take-down was a little more chaotic than set-up, but most people adhered to the take-down-your-tent-first rule, and so it was not a total disaster.
As an aside, the neighborhood where the show takes place has lots of excellent and funky restaurants and shops, and was a pleasant place to spend a couple days, showing and selling paintings.
Comments
And of course, if you water the garden, it will rain.
So if I had packed and loaded, the call certainly would not have come.
Hence the tag-line
That last line was classic Mark.
Unless you are in the top end shows, you have to hope for potential clients who are interested in original work to come prospecting for gold in the copper mine.
But the goal of so many promoters these days is to fill booth spaces and maximize revenue potentials.
And again I think this is part of the reason that there has been a flood of wearable vendors to events which were traditional fine art events over the past 20+ years. Filling booth spaces and maximizing revenues. Same goes for kettle corn, moon bounces and the like. Call me cynical, but don't call me late to the event after wait listing me
You are right about Philly and NJ Mark. I am 2 hours from Philly and don't go there. Same with NJ. I am even closer to some NJ shows. I got fined in NJ years ago for not having my tax number displayed. I was still setting up and the show didn't start yet. I told the woman that and she said she could see people shopping already so in her opinion it started. BAM $350 fine. As far as Manyjunk people go there for a deal. Ask people from Philly who go to it. Years ago I did it and it was a decent show. I am talking 10 years. Then they brought in some young hot shot to make the show better and he brought in junk. A few years ago someone involved with the show asked me to do it. That they were trying to bring the quality back. So I did it. If they are trying they have much more to do.
In Maryland, it's easier. You need a tax account if you generate more than a certain %-age of your annual revenue in Maryland. But if you don't, the show mgmt folks are supposed to provide a list of vendors to the state revenue division and they send you a temporary sales tax license good for 30 days for that show. Of course, you are supposed to also file inc
Wow Mark, things sounded pretty good until all this tax stuff. I would be scared I left something out (and I most likely would).
It does sound like a charming area though. Thanks Carrie for your review.
This show is off my list. Too many freebies, too many kids in strollers with parents looking for freebies. A previously discussed and censored thread described a 'vendor' who took a ribbon at this event who is possibly marketing the work of an entire village and calling it their own.
They were giving away entire cases of yogurt in 2013 which left no arms to carry purchases. When I asked about the high level of freebies amongst the artists, I was told by mgmt that they couldn't afford to do the show without major sponsors like Morningstar Farms veggie burgers, 5 hour Energy Chevrolet, B-101 FM and multiple food trucks all doing their thing......most of which took place within a block of my booth
My painting sales (all originals) at this event were extremely uneven over the years I participated.
And now you owe the City of Philadelphia several Byzantine tax forms.....Yes, you were in Philadelphia county; which means you were in Philadelphia. The tax forms all have associated schedules which may or may not apply, but must be submitted anyway. You were also supposed to have a business privilege license to participate in this event. Your identity was provided to the Philadelphia Department of Revenue. So you owe them a net profits tax form, a business income and receipts tax form and maybe one other form. I highly recommend my accountant who can do them for you for about $200.00. The one time license costs 50$ and if you like, there is a lifetime license which runs about $300 if I remember correctly. To top it off, remember to send everything certified mail b/c they are famous for losing your forms and charging you penalties for the effort it took to lose the forms. I have a notice from the department of revenue that just arrived today indicating I failed to submit Schedule D of my BIRT for 2013. All this stuff went certified to them and thank doG I kept copies.
And they will come looking for you. It may take a few years because they aren't the most efficient folks. After all, the bureaucracy is stuffed full of patronage appointees. Hopefully, you remembered to charge the extra 2% sales tax because you were in Philadelphia County and you have the sales tax account in PA. And you do owe PA a state income tax return come 2015-even, if you didn't make a profit.
So welcome to Philadelphia. The promoters don't tell you all this stuff because they want your booth fee. Same goes for Rittenhouse Square Art Show and all the other events you might sell at in Philly. Nope, all events in Philadelphia County are off my list. Get with your tax accountant and make sure to keeps copies and send everything certified mail. They will eventually find you. Took 2 years the first time round and they did manage to lose (actually it was in a 'pending' folder) a portion of the first two years of returns I submitted. But one hand knows not what the other does there.
Nope the quality of the event has declined and at least a portion of the event is jury by check as noted by other commentators here based on the quality of display and products. Way too many wearable vendors and up cycled vendors. Even saw a vendor making work from disposable plastic eating utensils. I am so done with these folks until they up the show quality and hand out a license and tax packet with each registration.
I am happy someone had a good time at the show.
We came in the night before with our camper and were able to go up and look for our space so we had a leg up on the some of the other vendors. I would have to characterize the organization during setup as poor. people were assigned times for setup (5am, 5:30am or 6am) I assume to keep traffic on the street down and make setup easier. No one checked any of that and just let anyone on the street at any time. You were supposed to pull out of the middle of the road and unload then move your vehicle but as with all shows some people cant follow instructions and there were no volunteers out asking people to follow the rules. At least not in my area. As for the knowledge of the two young ladies who checked people in I would say that it was appalling low. They directed several vendors to the wrong part of the street for there setup causing some of them to have to dolly as they could not backup after they had passed their spaces. When I asked a question about the spacing of the booth I was told in not so many words to just figure it out.
I also had to wait in a long line to check in and get my badge. I haven't ever run into this before but when I got to the front I could see that they were not well prepared. I found out later they had ribbons for new vendors (This was my first year) but obviously no listing of who those people were so they could give them out. I guess you were supposed to be physic and know to ask for one.
During the show there were pretty good crowds but they were not buying. they mostly seemed to be there for the free yogurt and other free give-a-ways. I spoke to quite a few of my neighbors and sales on our end of the street were very poor. I at least covered my booth and the gas to get there. I recognized quite a few of the vendors from some of our other shows and I would have to say there were quite a few quality vendors at the show. But the distraction factor was quite high for an art and craft show.
As with all shows break down was more chaotic. I always say break down often refers the people's courtesy and tempers. So I expect some of that. What I didn't expect was to be given the wrong directions from the young lady who was at the exit of the parking area. So after wending my way through some narrow streets to get to the other end of the show and get to my booth I was informed by the nice police officer that I needed to turn around and go back and enter the street earlier as traffic was only going one way. After which they proceeded to let a couple of people in.
All in all it was a very disappointing show. They seem to be more concerned about the sponsors than the vendors at least in my opinion and if they keep it up this show will go the way of many others.