I just completed the Wayzata Art Experience and want to share while it is all still fresh.
First, this show is on no one's radar. At all. There are no reviews anywhere, so I emailed a few folks who participated previously. They said it wasn't great and that I should proceed with caution. Wayzata (Why-zet-uh) is about 40 minutes from my home north of Mpls. It sits due west of Mpls, and for a $190 booth fee, I thought, "I'll roll the dice." The show is right on Lake Minnetonka on the main drag of Wayzata. Cool breezes off that big lake kept things pleasant even when it hit 90F.
Turned out to be really well run. Good communication, easy, close parking for artists, load in and out at your booth with staggered times; TONS of volunteers checking in on you during the show, giving out free water all day, offering to booth-sit, and free snacks as well. The citizens of Wayzata, MN love their town on Lake Minnetonka and it shows.
This is a small show with fewer than 100 artists, and under 10,000 visitors, but the demographic base is ideal. Somewhat older crowd, multimillion dollar homes...people with money who aren't afraid to spend it!
Saturday was hot and humid with storms on tap for late afternoon. I made a few sales early Saturday and then it all cooled off with weather coming in. The shut down early at 4 p.m. and we all stowed the breakables. Sunday had to be better, for sure. The weather would cool way down and be clear and sunny. Perfect!
Sunday was beautiful and the crowds were better, and sales all around me were happening later in the day, but not so much earlier. I got skunked on Sunday and I'm still trying to figure out why. But I made my expenses so all was not lost. There are some pretty high-end artists there who say it's a good show and they make money. There were also good craftspeople participating, a replacement window outfit, canoe builder, gardening exhibit, lawn ornaments, henna, etc. A really wide mix made up the show, and now that I've seen it, I'd call it a community festival, not an Art Fair. but I'm not sure I care if the audience buys. They didn't buy much from me, but I know others did ok.
Anyway, if you are local to Minneapolis, this one might be worth a shot. Pretty place, well run show, but keep your expectations down.
Comments
Thanks for posting this review Lawrence- I was thinking of posting one myself so glad you got to it first. I actually decide to do this show after someone asked it about it on AFI. Its close for me (25 min from home in NE Mpls.) and the low booth fee and small number of booths was appealing.
I totally agree with you about the staff and the setting- really wonderful! I had a similar experience with sales on Saturday (did about $400) The wind was very stressful and the crowds were slim. Sunday started out slow and I thought I would be writing this one off but at about 1:00 things went crazy and I did about $1500 in the last 3 hours of the show. I got a couple lucky larger sales ($375 each) and then several other decent sales. I could tell I was selling to a clientele with expendable incomes that appreciated art. But I agree there really could have been more of those type of people- to spread the love to ALL the artists!
I WAS really happy to have a decent show close to home because in recent years I have been pretty disappointed by the Twin Cities festivals I've done. Edina was really not worth it's $550 booth fee this year. I will see how Loring Park works out later this month.
BTW- I have done St. Anthony Park and it's a sweet little show. If you are local I would totally do it. At this point definitely over Edina. Stockholm is one of my favorite shows ever- done it many times over the past 20 years though I've been in CO the last three years. Very well run and great crowds out to spend!
Something to say for shows close to home. Thanks Larry for the great review.
Beth Marcus, no I have not.
You know, I'd say yes. I'll probably give it one more shot, if not next year then the year after. I'm trying to find the right mix of shows. This one is close, easy, and pleasant, and the audience really seems to be just about perfect...except for sheer (lack of) numbers. You sort of feel like, if there were simply more of these people, my sales would be fine, but as is, the crowds are so relatively light, that I can't see how this show could pan out to be good or great for a majority of artists there, all at the same time.
Some will do well, for sure.
The patrons and show staff are really lovely people. (the artist guy two booths over who refused to move his trailer, ehhh, not so much. But he was the proverbial bad apple.) I can see how one might build up an audience of customers who would look for you each year, because anyone who lives on Lake Minnetonka has money, period. And the lake is really a community, though a big one. It's kind of a unique setting, and there is so much that's good about this one that yeah, I think it's worth trying again.
Enjoyed your recap, Larry...yes, do you think you'll go back next year?
Great review ... tells the story well. Thank you, Larry. I wouldn't mind spending the weekend on Lake Minnetonka -- but it always helps to make some money also. If you have an open weekend on this date next year, do you think you'd give it another try with the experience you now have about it?