I had a good chuckle this week as my inbox contained an invitation to apply to the 2010 Edina MN Art Fair. Those who do not know about my experiences last year may want to read the series of discussions we've shared on this forum EDINA It's quite lengthy but is a great example of how to communicate with a promotor. A good promotor would have made some changes to make the show better for the artists and patrons. Clearly, in my opinion, this event is not run by those who care about the artists.
The actual email sent to me is below. It does mention they somewhat altered the US Bank area "due to flooding issues". After looking at their 2010 application & map map I did note the change, however shuffling the booth down a few hundred yards does not eliminate the dead zone. That entire area should have been eliminated or at minimum offered at a reduced rate since there is MINIMAL TRAFFIC at best to that area. My suggestion that this area should not pay the same $400 booth fee as in the general flow area was evidentally not a consideration. My suggestion that artists be informed that they would be placed in this area and be able to receive a refund if placed there and wanted to withdraw was not a consideration.
So, we've come full circle on this show. My impression is the show promoters are not interested in improving their event. The only interest is the money they receive from unaware artists who apply to the show and are placed in that totally dead zone. Below is their correspondence I recently received:
Linda Anderson:
Dear Artists,
I am pleased to invite you to apply to the 2010 Edina Art Fair. To register please go to www.zapplication.org. As you know the Edina Art Fair is the largest and most prized event we do every year. The city, business owners, residents, and association take great pride in creating a great show every year. The show is managed by 2 staff, 3 part-time interns, and many volunteers from the neighborhood. We do our best every year to create a great show for both artists and visitors.
Below are a few changes for this year’s art fair:
1. France Avenue will be closed again this year to street traffic. Thanks to Hennepin County, the City of Edina, the City of Minneapolis and Fulton Neighborhood Association.
2. We have relocated the booths in the US Bank lot towards the front of the lot to address some flooding issues we have had to deal with in the past. With the corporation of US Bank and Zel Skin Clinic, who have graciously agreed to give us their parking spaces to accommodate this change. Please visit our website to view the 2010 map layout at www.edinaartfair.com.
3. The new insurance requirement will be an expectation that all artists carry their own insurance. It will also be expected that each artist will "sign off” that they do carry their own liability insurance when apply. This means you no longer have to fax in your certificate of liability and do not have to list the 50th & France Business Association as additional insured.
4. As additional advertisement this year we will have the official art fair brochure distributed in the Star Tribune 2 weeks before the event. This means the deadline for booth purchase will be April 12, 2010. If you are invited to the show you do not want to miss this opportunity!
Thank you in advance for applying to the Edina Art Fair. I am very excited about all these positive new changes that benefit artists and visitors. I look forward to another great year. The deadline for applying this year is February 19, 2010. Thanks!
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I've "enjoyed" following your war of the words with Edina. I've heard nothing good about the show, except for the few artists who have done it long enough to have good locations - and one of those got stuck in a really bad spot two years ago and won't return.
Do you have the application info/address for the St. Paul show? Thanks!
That's great input Jan about Grand Old Day. My nephew and family live in St. Paul. He is an art teacher at there and we have always been very close. Last year for the Edina show, he and his artist friends were interested in my dilema at Edina and periodically throughout those three days, they attended both events - going back & forth - monitoring and evaluating - quality of art displayed, what was selling, purchases (bags) in attendees hands, crowd size etc. (Gotta love my nephew's devotion to his old auntie). All found it a great exercise in research for next year's show choice. I believe many of the friends were analyzing for their own participation in 2010. Bottom line from all was the attendance and purchases were far higher at Grand Old Day. Quality of artwork was similar at both. They did mention that this was more of a festival atmosphere, but the artists were in a different area. I believe the overall at Edina was reported to be 80,000 and in the main area, I saw it elbow to elbow most times. My nephew and his friends (late 30' early 40's) reported attendance at Grand Old Days at around 200,000 and elbow to elbow as well. That I did not view myself however. They did not mention the drunken party atmosphere, but then, since they were not personally involved with an artist booth, they likely would not have thought to asses that. Good to know - thanks.
Jan Raven said:
When it comes to any decisions made in life, more information is always better, and so I truly appreciate all input, both good and bad. So in that spirit, I'd like to offer my experience with the Edina Art Fair.
I began doing shows in 2006 and I have done Edina three times: 2007, 2008, 2009. It is not true that new artists are necessarily relegated to the bank parking lot. All three years I have been at or near the intersection of 50th and France (the east side). In 2008 they even put me right at the corner, even though I did not specifically request it. Location does indeed matter, though! I have had a great show all three years (even this year with the cold rain) and I am sure that a large reason is my location. Every year I look at the map and cannot for the life of me figure out why the show is that big or why anyone thinks the back lot is a good idea.
I can attest to the fact that their internal communication and application of rules sucks. Set up and break down this year were disorganized and volunteers had no idea how to direct artists to their spots. Nevertheless, I intend to apply again, because it has been a good show for me. I live just over a mile from Grand Ave. (Grand Old Days) and my view of the whole event is of one big drunken street party with overly loud music. Did I miss something?
When it comes to any decisions made in life, more information is always better, and so I truly appreciate all input, both good and bad. So in that spirit, I'd like to offer my experience with the Edina Art Fair.
I began doing shows in 2006 and I have done Edina three times: 2007, 2008, 2009. It is not true that new artists are necessarily relegated to the bank parking lot. All three years I have been at or near the intersection of 50th and France (the east side). In 2008 they even put me right at the corner, even though I did not specifically request it. Location does indeed matter, though! I have had a great show all three years (even this year with the cold rain) and I am sure that a large reason is my location. Every year I look at the map and cannot for the life of me figure out why the show is that big or why anyone thinks the back lot is a good idea.
I can attest to the fact that their internal communication and application of rules sucks. Set up and break down this year were disorganized and volunteers had no idea how to direct artists to their spots. Nevertheless, I intend to apply again, because it has been a good show for me. I live just over a mile from Grand Ave. (Grand Old Days) and my view of the whole event is of one big drunken street party with overly loud music. Did I miss something?
Thanks Paula for clarifying so well my reason for posting and sharing this info.
:-)
Purse Stuff - Paula said:
Linda's experience, as she has documented here at Art Fair Insiders, provides her perspective as a new exhibitor at Edina Art Fair, Edina, MN. New exhibitors can review her info, analyze it for themselves, and decide if the Edina Art Fair is something they want to do.
Many will opt to apply for the show. Some may opt not to apply for the show. Either way, they will appreciate the fact that she shared her experience here. We are all seeking as much info as possible about events we are interested in attending.
Thank you, Linda, for sharing your experience with others.
Hi Linda - I also participated in the Edina Art fair a few years ago, and was of course put in the Bank lot, and of course it was dead most of the weekend. I also have never and will never go back, I do have to say that I really feel sorry for new artists who apply at this show and end up losing money - the problem is that the artists that have done the show for a while always get the good locations, so those artists have a good show - new artists that talk to those artists get the impression that it is a good show to do, and the cycle continues. It is truly unethical, and although I would like to say that as the new artists refuse to do the show this would somehow have an effect on the number of applications that the show recieves, the truth is, that those artists that do well, will continue to keep this show alive - and I can't blame them, if I always got a spot on France Ave and always had a great show, I certainly wouldn't stop applying either. bottom line is that sometimes show promoters can be unethical, and there will never be any consequences for them. I have also moved on, but it feels good to get on my soap box once in a while.
Chris, yes, I have moved on....let it go.... as I summized last year if you read my report. This was a template, so to speak, for many of us here on how to approach promoters with this type of problem. Many on this forum have been following this and had interest in the outcome, which included what/if any changes would be applied to the following years' show. Just finishing my report for those who had expressed this interest.
Chris Hoyt said:
We all have bad shows. Every one of us. But we just cross that show off our list and toss the app in the circular file, that's all.
That show is over. It's done. It was last year.
I can assure you they will not miss you and someone else will be in your spot. Just as no promoter misses me when I don't return.
Offering bad spaces at a reduced rate is the kiss of death for anyone frugal enough to fall for that. If spaces need to be sold at a discount, they should not be offered, except maybe to sponsors or local businesses. Actually it's a good location for food also.
There are ways to save money and ways not to save money in the art show business. Location is everything at a show.
You are sooooo good Paula!
I think I may throw my support to the lesser known, but highly attended "Grand Old Day" in St. Paul that weekend. Reports I received last year mentioned the attendance was over 200,000 and sales were hot. Methinks the only way the Edina show will come to it's senses is if they don't receive artist applications. Perhaps then they will begin to care about the importance each artist has to have a successful show.
By the way.... after this years profits - I guess the only real estate I can actually afford is a 10x10 area.
Best to you during the holidays!
Replies
I've "enjoyed" following your war of the words with Edina. I've heard nothing good about the show, except for the few artists who have done it long enough to have good locations - and one of those got stuck in a really bad spot two years ago and won't return.
Do you have the application info/address for the St. Paul show? Thanks!
Jan Raven said:
I began doing shows in 2006 and I have done Edina three times: 2007, 2008, 2009. It is not true that new artists are necessarily relegated to the bank parking lot. All three years I have been at or near the intersection of 50th and France (the east side). In 2008 they even put me right at the corner, even though I did not specifically request it. Location does indeed matter, though! I have had a great show all three years (even this year with the cold rain) and I am sure that a large reason is my location. Every year I look at the map and cannot for the life of me figure out why the show is that big or why anyone thinks the back lot is a good idea.
I can attest to the fact that their internal communication and application of rules sucks. Set up and break down this year were disorganized and volunteers had no idea how to direct artists to their spots. Nevertheless, I intend to apply again, because it has been a good show for me. I live just over a mile from Grand Ave. (Grand Old Days) and my view of the whole event is of one big drunken street party with overly loud music. Did I miss something?
:-)
Purse Stuff - Paula said:
Chris Hoyt said:
That show is over. It's done. It was last year.
I can assure you they will not miss you and someone else will be in your spot. Just as no promoter misses me when I don't return.
Isn't it time you let it go? And moved on?
There are ways to save money and ways not to save money in the art show business. Location is everything at a show.
Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
Test Your Jury Images and Presentation
http://JuryImages.com
412-401-8100
I think I may throw my support to the lesser known, but highly attended "Grand Old Day" in St. Paul that weekend. Reports I received last year mentioned the attendance was over 200,000 and sales were hot. Methinks the only way the Edina show will come to it's senses is if they don't receive artist applications. Perhaps then they will begin to care about the importance each artist has to have a successful show.
By the way.... after this years profits - I guess the only real estate I can actually afford is a 10x10 area.
Best to you during the holidays!