Posted by Paul willsea on September 23, 2013 at 11:43am
This show turned out in my top five for this year and a real pleasure to do. Thought I would share some info. The setting is in an upscale retail district near some very wealthy residential neighborhoods. Set up is staggered with specific arrival times. You have 45 minutes to unload. This works because you can pull right up to your space and unload to the sidewalk. Be prompt. There were friendly young volunteers in abundance if you need a hand. Take down was left to the artists and worked fine in my area.Spaces are about 12' wide and a little deeper and back to back down the middle of the street. I split the storage space with my neighbor left and right which gave me enough room for a set of storage shelves. Electric is included and the box could be up to 50 ft from your space. Dont forget your own cord and lights are essential. Show opens at 5 on fri and goes to 10 fri and sat. There are several music stages with full production values and it was loud. I was able to talk with my customers and it was festive at night.It was a great crowd with lots of people but never became a shuffling herd. Oh yeah, the weather was ideal. A little warm in the afternoon but high barometric pressure after a storm came through on thurs. night.The food was excellent and fairly priced. The vendors were mostly local quality restaurants and they build serious structures for themselves.I decided to stay in Overland Park about 10 miles south after finding a suite for $50 a night. This was a win because driving was easy on broad roads with plenty of restaurants, etc. parking was only a couple blocks away and free.Sales wise fri and sat were ok. Sunday was big with people coming back who had been looking. I really love the midwest. People take time and they are gracious. The quality of the work was excellent. This is a show you go to no matter where your schedule takes you. I might consider staying in one of the hotels listed with the show. They are close and it is a really nice area.
I went on Sunday but it was so crowded I had to park several blocks away. Since I live in the Kansas City area it is the one show I definitely will submit an application for.
Thanks for this review, Paul. It is always a show that people want to do. One of the things I always liked about it is that there is a lot of 2D, so people are used to looking for that and seemed to like to have "bragging rights" about their work. My niece lives there and she and her husband whose law firm is in the Plaza neighborhood host a big party and everyone shows each other what they have purchased. Way cool. Nothing like peer pressure.
Here are some stories about the show for anyone who wants to know more:
Staying nearby is great fun, Paul, because then you can hang out in this really nice urban area. We stayed a couple of times at a Bed and Breakfast where we could walk to the show, The Southmoreland. Nice.
I always kind of wish I could do that show. My sister in law lives there, although it would be very far for me to travel. I have never applied for it for that reason. Glad to know it is a good show.
Comments
Here are the 2013 prizewinners at the Plaza:
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Invitation
Thanks for this review, Paul. It is always a show that people want to do. One of the things I always liked about it is that there is a lot of 2D, so people are used to looking for that and seemed to like to have "bragging rights" about their work. My niece lives there and she and her husband whose law firm is in the Plaza neighborhood host a big party and everyone shows each other what they have purchased. Way cool. Nothing like peer pressure.
Here are some stories about the show for anyone who wants to know more:
this one has a video: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/entertainment/events/plaza-art-fair-brings-...
and this one has good photos AND some "interesting" comments: http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2013/09/no-flash-mobs-kansas-city-pl...
not sure about this one: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/entertainment/events/plaza-art-fair-welcome...
Staying nearby is great fun, Paul, because then you can hang out in this really nice urban area. We stayed a couple of times at a Bed and Breakfast where we could walk to the show, The Southmoreland. Nice.
Have you done this show before?
Good synopsis, Paul. It was a good show for us as well.
I always kind of wish I could do that show. My sister in law lives there, although it would be very far for me to travel. I have never applied for it for that reason. Glad to know it is a good show.