Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
What to do when eveyone says "DON'T DO IT!"
For the first time in 7 years, I blew off a show. I had good reason to do it...weather was a factor, along with booth placement, but mainly because many of my artist friends who were familiar with this particular show said not to bother with it. Let me go back a few months. I applied to 2 shows on the same weekend, and you all know why, no reason to explain. I was waitlisted for one, and knew the other would be posting the acceptance/rejection letter on Juriedartservices a week later. I was called off the waitlist that week, accepted the booth, and waited for the other show. I told my hubby 'watch, I'll get in the other show now'. Sure enough, I checked JAS and received the acceptance alert from the other show. Here's the kicker, I didn't get to it for 2 days after the date of reveal had past, along with the acceptance came another pop-up that said:
'As you know the booth fee of $400 is non-refundable and has been processed upon receipt of this e-mail. No portion of this fee is refundable. All booths are randomly assigned.'
Now, I don't remember ever reading that the booth fee (which you had to mail the booth fee check prior to being juried) was nonrefundable, and of course, there's no way to bring up the 'rules' on the JAS page b/c the acceptance window for applications is closed. So, being backed in a corner with this show, I now had to cancel the waitlisted acceptance, and move forward with the other show. Move ahead a couple weeks, I did a show in NY and talked to several of my friends about my situation. I heard across the board that I made a big mistake in my decision. Everyone told me to eat the $400, and try to get back into the other show b/c it is the better show to do. I was also told that the no refund show has a major problem with booth assignment. They have 2 distinct areas for booths, one place is a beautiful tree-lined street, the other is called 'the island'. It's literally an island that is a blacktop parking lot. So, you have a 50/50 chance of getting in the nice spot, or the deadzone. Apparently the island has a very bad reputation with artists and patrons, it just gets too hot when it's sunny out, so artist melt and patrons don't bother walking out to the island, and if they do, they do it very quickly. So, I waited patiently for my booth space, thinking if I get the trees, I'll do the show, if I get the island, I'm staying home. 2 weeks before the show, I get the email for my booth placement. I'm on the island, smack dab in the middle. I kept an eye on the weather, hoping for a cool weekend, but to no avail, forcasts were all sun and all heat. We stayed home. I didn't call or email about my no show, I figured it's my booth to do what I want with it since I had no choice, and I wasn't about to let them call someone off their waitlist and get another $400. Here's another tasty treat, I found out from a few artistis that they WERE able to get a refund b/c they called the same day the acceptance post came out, that the no refund pop-up was added later b/c so many artists were calling and canceling. I also found out that the 'randomly assigned booths' did not pertain to everyone. You just gotta love show politics. Yes, a show can place anyone anywhere, they have that right, but don't advertise how you do things if your not doing it for everyone.
The show has come and gone, and I've been waiting for someone to write something about how things went. Nothing has come up, so I called some artists whose booths were close to where I was supposed to be. They said it was hot, and crowds were dismal. Sales were okay for some, zero for others. Booths all around them didn't do well. Everyone I spoke with said they would not do the show again. I asked if there were other empty spaces on the island, they said yes, there were several, and it was noticable. They also commented that the tree lined section definitely had the advantage. The no refund angered many artists, especially after being placed on the island.
So, in this instance, I am so glad I listened to my friends. I weighed my options, thought long and hard about my decision, even felt a little guilty about it at first. I feel bad for those who felt like they had no choice but to do the show, and hope they at least made their costs, but from what I heard, it's unlikely.
I am adding this part now because everyone wants to know the name of the show, even though I chose not to do the show, and cannot give a complete report on the event. It was the Westport, CT show.
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Comment by Marti McGinnis on July 22, 2011 at 12:55pm -
Thank you for this post Katie. As so much of what we do is a gamble and a challange it is dismaying when show promoters seem to go out of their way to increase the difficulties. I believe that each show has an overarching defining personality. If I wouldn't be friends with a show as a person, no way am I going to do business with it. This policy limits my choices no doubt and it may not even make the most business-sense, but it does help me stay in tune with my own ethics and overall more content with my decisions. Rather like you demonstrate here. :)
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Comment by steve appel on July 22, 2011 at 1:03pm -
i would be curious to know where the show was. Also i am getting the impression from being on this site for almost a year VERY FEW artist say anything about shows. That is the big disappointment with this page. i have asked repeatedly about certain areas and get a few responses but not many. I live in the southwest and after a show i usually review it but i think i am a rare breed.
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Comment by merri pattinian on July 22, 2011 at 1:05pm -
What show is this...so I make sure NOT to apply....
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Comment by lori kay on July 22, 2011 at 1:19pm
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I'd like to offer a different perspective on this. It is your right to not attend the show but by not allowing the promoter to double dip and fill your space the only people that suffer are the other artists in the dead zone. If people see an out of the way section with holes and not a lot of tents they definately won't go out of the way to go to it. If you're really looking to shed a bad light on this show let us know the name and location of it. I'm not chastising your decision but all actions have perhaps unanticipated reactions.
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Comment by Paul willsea on July 22, 2011 at 1:25pm -
What show?
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Comment by V Shane Colclough on July 22, 2011 at 1:51pm -
wow. that sounds rough. You would think if its a standard show that they have every year (obviously it has a reputation) they could easily get a one of those giant canopys to cover the smaller canopys. And if its a long walk, you can string a series of 5-7 canopys to create a shaded walk to that area/island. hate to see show holders not thinking farther than their pocket book at the expense of everyones experience including the customer visiting.
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Comment by katie balas on July 22, 2011 at 2:24pm -
I understand the different perspective given for choosing not to allow the promoter to double dip, but the problems with the dead zone was a problem long before I made the decision not to go. The patrons choose not to go out to this section of the show because of the heat on the blacktop, not because of the empty spaces, at least that's what I've been told. You are correct in saying it probably doesn't help the matter, but that's not really my problem. The promoters are well aware of the issue, but still they choose to place booths on the island, where no artist wants to be and this has been documented in the past. I am not naming the show because of the fact that I did not do it, and cannot give a complete report on it. If anyone knows the show I am speaking of and can do a complete report on it, by all means, name the show and add to this blog.
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Comment by Jacquelyn Morgan on July 22, 2011 at 2:24pm -
It would be helpful to know what show you are talking about. If you never plan to do the show again, why not let us know?
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Comment by Larry Berman on July 22, 2011 at 4:16pm -
Actually, why post it in the show review section if you're not identifying the show? It sounds more like it belongs in one of the show information forums.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
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Comment by Gary Haynes on July 22, 2011 at 5:32pm
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Let's have a contest of "Name that Show". My guess Balboa Park and Alcatraz in San Fran :)
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