Old Town: There is a reason it's #1...

This past weekend I was at Old Town, this year's AFI listed #1 show. I was a bit skeptical since I was there last year and just did ok, no great shakes. Not that is was bad, but sometimes when you do a show for the first time the payback isn't as good as your expectations.

That didn't stop me from sending in my money this year when I happily got accepted. The show is well organized and about two weeks before, you get a packet with all that is necessary to be able to understand what you need to do. Chicago is a big place to navigate, especially solo. One problem this year was that there was a huge medical convention and the America's Cup this past weekend and because of that the hotels were outrageous. My hotel last year downtown was $150 a night through Hotels.com...right on the river at the Merchandise Mart this year it was $325 a night. There was nothing available, even Air B&B's were $250 per night. The only hotels around $125 were at O'Hare or farther out, which is a considerable drive from the show.

I was lucky....I was a teacher for a long time and I threw it out to the internet that I needed a couch or bed in Chicago and one of my former student's had an apartment on W.Orleans...which was one of the main streets on the show route. Let me tell you that it was incredibly nice to get up in the morning and walk over to Wisconsin where my booth was. That doesn't happen often. I would hope that Old Town might consider in the future hosting like Winter Park or Ann Arbor. It would be wonderful if they did. They do send you a list of recommend hotels but they were still pretty high. 

One of the hardest things about Old Town is set-up and parking. I was there at 4:30 am Saturday morning. I drove right up to my booth and unloaded on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, a car was parked in my and my neighbor's booth . The car didn't get towed until 8am.(ugh)  By then it was a hot set up and I was drenched. I also had to find a parking spot and it was so far from the show that at night, when I had a delivery,  it took me an hour to find my car again. It's a confusing area if you are not from there...I swear the only way I found it was that I kept clicking on my key light hoping that it would revel itself. Word to the wise-at 6a.m. write better directions for yourself (duh). 

There is also a wonderful breakfast served everyday and a well organized booth sitting volunteer staff. I had a husband and wife team that actually called me on the phone on Saturday because they had sold one of my bigger pieces and then came back later and bought two pieces from me also. What more could you ask for!

The day was truly the hottest show day I have ever been at. I thought Georgia heat was bad at Decatur...this was worse. It got up to 100 degrees and it felt even hotter. Even then... the crowds never stopped coming. For encaustic, it was a bit dicy but as long as nobody touched them everything was good. I am usually telling people to touch my work because it feels so different that a pigment painting but Saturday I was a bear if anyone even tried to get close to them (they get soft in the sun and can dent). But they kept leaving the walls and it ended up being the best one day total I have ever had. Everyone around me had an good day too. It was a "5" level buying crowd.

That night I met two of my former students from Switzerland who now go to SAIC and we went around the corner to Renalli's for dinner. They have great pizza and wings and a helluva Bloody Mary (ah... my drink of choice) If you do this show I suggest you go and try their prosciutto and arugula pizza...primo! 

Sunday, I felt like I had left Haiti and had ended up in Helsinki...the weather was in the 60's with a brisk breeze. I saw many people with down jackets and heavy sweaters. By the afternoon it had warmed up again and people came out in sandals and t-shirt's. Let me rephrase that...Many People came out..Many, Many people came out! It was super crowed and I never left my booth except to run to the porto potty-which by the way was way too far away from my side of the show. (please Old Town redistribute them next year) I realize this is too much information... but honestly, it's important.

Well, anyway....Sunday was my next highest selling day ever. Guy's, not trying to act big or anything here, I have done many years of so-so and less than so-so shows...as I said before, I am no great shakes...but I had the magic ticket at Chicago this year. Some of you have been talking on this blog about a recession and an election year downturn. Well, I am here to say that Chicago hasn't heard about that... It was more than good for everyone around me. I didn't hear of Anyone complaining....and you all know that you usually hear a few.

Load out was fairly easy for me. With a short wait and and a curb side load up. With as tight as the streets are and without any formal instructions and attendants...it went a lot smother that most. 

And finally, this show is the BOMB...plain and simple. There is a reason it's #1 and should be. They run a tight ship with numerous volunteers and support staff that makes it smooth going. There is always someone near who can help you with whatever you need. I also love when the director's of the show come and talk to the artists and thank us for being there. With all they do, it's the least of their worries but at Old Town they make you feel extremely welcome. Kuddos Old Town......it was a real pleasure....Hope to see you next year...

 

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  • I know, there seems to be a delay in getting it to start. Working with the tech folks now. Please try again at this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2016/06/22/selling-art-face-t...

    BUT - even easier, it is on the Home page of this site, upper left hand corner, working perfectly. Thanks for asking.

  • @Connie Mettler - I was unable to tune into the blogtalkradio program mentioned above. Is it possible to still hear it after the fact? I clicked on the link and it looks like you have to sign up but that appears to be for the one creating the podcast and not the listener. I am able to see a slide show but there is no sound and the video doesn't play.

  • OOOH --- you just said the magic words, Margaret -- "getting better at selling and closing the deal."

    I hope everyone who is reading this will tune in tomorrow to our podcast with Mckenna Hallett where she shares her method and ideas from 25 years in the business selling her work. I'm ready to learn some new tricks. Bet just about everyone could use a little inspiration, especially right now before the BIG summer shows ...

    click here to listen at 5 pm, 6/22: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2016/06/22/selling-art-face-t...

    fwiw, Marc, I know you are no beginner, but finding the marketplace where your work sells surely helps. We could hardly sell a thing in SW Florida where everyone else seems to be jumping up and down about the sales, yet Chicago was always a good marketplace for us ... OT especially so and we had one of those hot spots on Menominee with no shade.

  • I think it was a wide range.....my work is very contemporary and I sold work that was from 35. to 3000. I feel kind of bad writing a great review based on my experience and hearing about so many that were unhappy about the show. I sure don't know what the magic bullet is. I also have had plenty of shows where everyone did well and I didn't. It sucks. I do know that. Chicago just clicked for me. Honestly, I think the turn around for me this spring is that I am getting better at selling and closing the deal....something that has taken a long time for me (6 years).

  • I don't track more than what happens around me and we were all wall hangings. Nobody did particularly well. It seems we all did about 25% of what we normally do. The big thing here was the effort and frustration verses sales. Way out of proportion here.

  • Quite a range!

    Maybe the crowd prefers conservative vs avant garde or vice versa?

    I've been to shows where my neighbors do great and i do poor and I've seen it's often because they know what to sell. One not too long ago had a lot of traffic but was a meh show, but the potter near me had been there and she knew to have plenty of her 15 or 20 dollar items and she did stellar. Different show she has a different offering.

    What did people at this show like?

  • Hi all. In many ways, it was the worst show I've ever done. Like you, I couldn't start set up till 8 because of a parked car. Expectations were high because I grew up in Chicago (I live in MPLS now) and so many people said my work would be a good match. The heat killed me because there were NO trees in my area. The heat was brutal but, of course, the show can't control that. The next day was comfortable in the upper 60's. I sold NOTHING until 1 hour before closing I sold a modest piece. Not selling is far more work than selling because there's an end point with a customer who buys. If they don't buy you work with them till they leave. Then, a young couple walked up and after a few words said those blessed words, "I'll take it." So, it wasn't a total waste of time but close. Everyone around me did better than this but nobody had a good day. I said I'd never do this show again but a year may change my mind.

  • Thanks Mike -it was a pleasure being across from you....hope we meet up soon again.

  • You told it perfectly, Margaret - it's exactly as I remember it across the street from you under the dark tree! A great show for me as well, and enjoyed being a neighbor..
  • I'm with you Al on the highs and lows....this one was really good for me- no rhyme or reason. I was on Wisconsin and those around me seemed to do really well from what they said. I wonder what makes it good for some and not so for others? Everyone there had the highest quality work I have seen at a show. I didn't have reproductions,I don't bring any anyway.... but I knew about the restrictions. They need to police better if that is the case and not just when the judges are around....as you said, on tho the next one.

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