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Craft Boston Spring Show

Posted by Virginia Testa-Jeffery on November 29, 2011 at 6:22am in Art Show Information and Discussions

Hi folks,

I am trying to figure out why I can not find any reviews on Craft Boston Spring. I just got pulled from the wait list...but have heard only one bad review...and this person does not do clothing  which is what I do.  Funny there are no comments on this show.

This would be my first very expensive show...and I am a tad nervous about the cost. Anyone ever done this show ? And how did the feel about the show overall?

Thank you so much...you folk's are always so helpful. I appreciate it.

Virginia

 

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  • Nolly Gelsinger September 16, 2013 at 5:35pm

    Virginia,

    I'm wondering how you liked Craft Boston.  I noticed that they've extended their deadlines for both Spring and Holiday 2014 and wonder what that means.  Fewer artists traveling because of lower returns?  A poorly managed show?  Bad luck?

    I have given up the bead show circuit and am focusing more on inside craft shows.  I don't know if my work is CraftBoston quality yet, but I'm working on it.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Nolly

  • Martha Giberson November 30, 2011 at 2:09pm

    Finally a thread I can comment on with great authority.  I have done this show 3 times when I was still doing shows.  In full disclosure mode I was also the artist advisor on the committee for the inaugural show.  The show is sponsored by the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston.  The Society is the oldest not-for-profit craft organization in the country.  The vision from the beginning for CraftBoston was a show of the best of the best craftspeople on a par with Smithsonian, Philadelphia Craft Show, Evanston, etc.  The Society of Arts and Crafts mounts 5 gallery shows in their gallery every year in addition to their artist award winner show every other year.  This experience has proven that there is a market for a premier craft show in Boston.  There is an amazing group of volunteers who make this show happen who also spend a good deal of money buying at the show.  They have an innovative fundraiser on opening night that forces patrons into booths to look at work in order to participate and they DO NOT do an auction of any kind.  The Society does not believe in auctions, silent or otherwise, as a way to raise money  - they do not feel it is fair to artists to sell their work at below retail prices.

     

    All three times I participated I did very well.  Are there people who are unhappy, sure at every show, they didn't make their number.  I met a jeweler who did over $8,000 and she felt she had a lousy show because to her it wasn't "enough" to travel east of the Mississippi.  I know another person that felt it was her BEST SHOW EVER and she had been showing for 25 years and alas did not get in the next year.  The farther you travel the more you have to make to make the show worthwhile.

     

    The show is carpeted, you are provided with pipe and drape (black), you can drive into the facility to unload and load, there is still ample cheap parking lots nearby, outdoor where you can park an oversize van or trailer.  The seaport area where the show is held is slowly being developed.  The Institute of Contemporary Art opened a beautiful new building next door a few years ago.  An upscale clothing retailer moved down their 18 months ago and Legal Seafoods just opened their premier restaurant a few months two blocks down. Within a few more years some of those parking lots are going to disappear as ground in broken for a huge new residential, business and retail development.  Public Transportation has a stop around the corner from the show.

     

    The Society also works on a hosting program for artists to stay with people.  I will probably participate this year since I'll be in town for the show unlike last year when I totally blew it and was in Seattle.  These are great people who work very hard to make this show a great success.  They work hard at publicising the show, get media partners and try for good underwriting.  It is not just about high end merchandise, they have the signs for everyone's booth who has items under $100.00 - just so the public doesn't get the idea there is nothing for sale that they can buy.

     

    If you're still on the fence look at last year's exhibitor list and contact some of them and ask them about it.

     

    martha

    • Ann Marie Crosmun > Martha Giberson December 1, 2011 at 9:34am

      Thank you Martha for telling us more about this show. Now I feel confident about applying-but, like any good artist, will plan to walk the show first to see if I really fit in (wasn't sure when I was asked, if it was a 'kindness,' a compliment, or a sincere request).

      • dale rogers > Ann Marie Crosmun December 1, 2011 at 10:17am

        Thanks, nice to have some feedback.  Is there any information on the demographics of the crowds ?  Are they apartment/city dwellers or from suburbs.  My clients typically have large outdoor settings.  I just did a show in NY city where the majority live in the city...and it just wasn't the right market for me.  I would like to avoid repeating that situation if possible

         

        • Martha Giberson > dale rogers December 1, 2011 at 2:38pm

          Dale - I don't think you have anything to lose by doing this show since it's a hometown show for you even if you sold zero.  It would certainly put you and your work in front of a lot local eyeballs and would probably result in after show commissions.  Plus you'd be sleeping in your own bed and not have whooping travel expenses.

           

          martha

        • Martha Giberson > dale rogers December 1, 2011 at 2:34pm

          You can't compare NYC and Boston.  Boston proper is actually a small compact city, 500,000+ but the metro area is quite few million.  Affluent towns are close in 8-15 miles.  One of the Red Sox owners lives a few miles from downtown on a multi-acre estate if that gives you any idea of the geography.

          Friday is usally the day that "the ladies who shop" show up.  These are affluent suburban women who show up at opening and usually are gone by 2PM or a little earlier if they have school age children but generally by 3PM to miss the rush hour traffic but boy do they spend - mostly on clothing and jewelry. 

          But there are people who do show up after work in the evening and come back over the weekend with their families.

           

          martha

    • Connie Mettler > Martha Giberson November 30, 2011 at 2:33pm

      Yeah, Martha! I was hoping you would weigh in on this one, but didn't want to call you out and put you on the spot. Many thanks!!

    • Virginia Testa-Jeffery > Martha Giberson November 30, 2011 at 2:26pm

      Hi Martha,

      Thank you very much for the lengthy explanation. I greatly appreciate you replying in great length  I decided yesterday that I was going to do the show. I almost can not believe that I am even in the show. I think it would be very good for me to participate.

      My I email you directly? Only because I have questions on the set up procedure that I do not quite understand and don't want to take up this discussion with those mundane questions.

      Again,

      Thanks a million.

      Virginia

  • Connie Mettler November 29, 2011 at 2:45pm

    I've never done the show or attended, but its reputation is good. Whether you should do it or not, I have no idea-- why you didn't find reviews is another question. Partly this is an old line show with good quality and many artists who have been in the business a long time are protecting their territory and do not want to share information. Sad, but true, and I'm sure many of us understand this.

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