My wife Kim and I have done this show for many years and usually do well. We were taken a-back by the email offering a refund due to over-booking.
We have always had trouble getting a decent booth assignment in this show even though we are nearly always accepted. Our usual space has a hedge behind the booth and no room for storage. The last 3 years we got a booth space we liked; it only had a hedge half-way behind the booth and we set up appropriately. This year the Museum said to pay your booth fee right away to get your requested space. We did this and asked for our same space along with 2 optional choices.
When we got the booth assignment it did not come with a map. We referred to last year's map and found they had put us in a completely different area, but one we felt okay with. When we showed up early Saturday morning we couldn't find our space number. At the check-in desk they pointed out the area where we were to set up in.
If you haven't done the show it would be helpful to describe the layout: It is around a wide park-like boulevard, maybe 40 yards wide with fountains, gazebos and benches. It runs two long blocks and has a semi-circle of grass in front of an amphitheater added to one end. Picture a cathedral shaped window on its side. There is a cross street (40 yards long) separating the 2 blocks from the semi-circle. Anywhere along the 2 blocks and on the semi-circle is in the show because people walk that way. We were assigned the middle of 3 spaces on this cross-street.
Each of our neighbors bought double spaces but there wasn't enough room so the jeweler settled for a single so we could fit in. This area would never be on our list of places to be because the traffic pattern has people walking the 2 blocks and continuing around the semi-circle. Almost no one walked in front of our booth all weekend and those that did stayed below the ultra-high red curb that was located 12' in front of us! On top of that, the artist opposite us set up his chair with large shade-umbrella at the curb in front of our booth. I doubt I had 50 people enter my booth on Saturday and our sales amounted to $139. We wished we had taken the refund offer!
Sunday was more of the same, but remarkably among the few people to wander into my booth were 4 or 5 that were really taken with my work and bought big and bought multiples. We ended the show at about $1600. A far cry from last year's $4K +.
From behind our booth we could see the back of the artist who had set the show up last year. His booth was where a booth shouldn't have been, but when he saw his assignment he put himself there even though he had to set up cock-eyed over a curb. He hadn't been asked to help this year and still had the map from last year in his truck! They had no copy and had re-numbered and set the show up as they pleased.... This explained why we couldn't find our number anywhere near where we thought we would be.
It is hard to believe the level to which this show has fallen. There was a true lack of advertising as the crowds we knew from the past never materialized. My other neighbor had come from Tennessee as a "first-timer" and paid nearly $1000 for his space. His total sales were just over $300. The jeweler did alright, but then don't they always? He wasn't even going to ask for his extra booth fee back for fear of ruffling some feathers!
We really don't know what to do about next year. I certainly wouldn't want to repeat this year's experience!
Replies
Courtney, I asked it as a question. You supplied the answer. Thank you.
Chris, he asked on Saturday morning if it was alright to sit 10' to the right of my booth. That wasn't a problem. On Sunday he put it right in front. Hey, he's a friend of mine, what was I going to say? And don't forget, he was 12' in front of me. At some some shows artists sit in the middle of the street (in front of another artists booth) for the whole show and the street is less than 24' wide.
Jim. I remember when you were there, only a few booths away. Would you have given up on it if you did $3 to $4 K each year? And you could stay at your mother-in-law's house? We miss you....
Rich, for me the decline was pretty obvious. Precipitous even. And the crowds got older and fewer. If I do 3-4K at a show, I will generally go back. Absolutely. Add a free place to stay...
My question is, why did you allow the exhibitor to sit in front of your booth?
" the jeweler did alright, but then dont they always?" No actually they dont always, I have had shows where I lost money and shows where people never noticed me. Shows where there were so many jewelers that none of us could make money.
I have often seen painters and other mediums make a lot more money than me selling prints of their work, when I have made every piece of inventory in my booth. Please stop thinking the grass is greener in the jewelers booths, every medium has its issues. Often what seems like a lot of business in the jewelers booths is the reality that we are like the crash on the side of the road, all the women have to look, it doesnt mean they are buying.
Sorry about the Boca show that is sad to hear about a once good show.