Setup on Wednesday was the easiest I have ever had. Organization was excellent and a beautiful venue. This was a 4 day show that should be a 2 or 3 day show. Somewhere around 150 artists. Traffic on Thursday was fair but only artists that were making sales were for items under $100 with a few larger items. Friday, made the first sale. Traffic fairly good but sales were slow from what I saw and my first sale was 1 hr prior to close. Saturday traffic was very busy and some artists with large art work made sales, most with desert scenes. No sales for me until near close, finally made a sale. Sunday slow until noon then traffic picked up but no buying energy.
This is a very nice show, great promoters, volunteers, nice amenities (daily coffee, snacks, fruit, donuts, raisins, dates, water. Volunteers delivering water and cookies all day. Organizers were the best, venue was the best I have ever been at. Quality of artists was very high, the number was around 150 which is about the perfect size IMO. Promoter is the chamber and did heavy advertising on TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, billboards over a fairly long period of time. Ads were in some markets in drivable communities like San Diego, Los Angeles and also as far as Phoenix . The booth fee and commission rate of 15% is very fair based on the quality of this art festival.
Comments
I did not do Carefree last month and have not talked to anyone who was there. I have never been at a festival were I heard about any thefts, keeping my fingers crossed. I will be doing Carefree in March, the Thunderbird Win & Fine Art Festival. Have done it the past 2 years and have done okay and worth doing again. It was promoted in the past by Vermilion Productions but starting this year it is being promoted by Thunderbird Artists and think it will be even better.
Sorry you did not do that well, i have heard that this show in past has not been good for a lot of artist. I did apply once awhile back and it took them several months to return my ck. Now i stay away from calif all together did you do carefree last month i think you said you were doing it. someone said there was some thievery at that show.