Has any photographer done the festivals of masters at disney is it a show worth doing it. It seems like it Could be a good show but with probably more a tourist crowd then an art crowd I am wondering if they buy or just free entertainment.Thanks for any input
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Having been in the show for many years i would say that for a number of reasons it has fallen on hard times. Our sales last year, with a good space, were dismal. The tourists and the loyal locals gave it a pass . I didn't apply this year because i think i can do another show thats two days ,smaller booth fee and make way more money. I always liked disney but they decided to downsize everything about it including advertising. Last year it was just people wandering around mostly because going there is free. Very low end crowd. As always a few did well but everyone around me just hoped to break even.
I remember Clyde Butcher did this show till he stopped doing shows-ever hear of his photos?? Many other photographers do this show for years- for a reason (and they are not there to sell $25 copies either); I have seen my photo neighbors sell serious work; not whimsical fla.scenes. First things first- you have to be an award winner to even apply- with verification- major prize money in all categories- plus Disney goes shopping with purchase awards 20,30 grand- they are always building worldwide and there are lots of walls and sculpture spaces. It is an honor to be included in Disney's Permanent Collection, hundreds are; over the 30t years of this show. $$$$ You bet tourists; I am happy to walk my glass pieces to cars from Penn. , Ohio, N.j. N.y.--and the locals wait and know about this show. For $400 they keep the # of artists at about175 (i am not positive on the exact #)--you get 4-day tickets ($360), 4-disney quest tickets($180)-3 days of lunch for 2-and a killer breakfast,awards ceremony. and we stay at a sheraton for $45 a night(3 min away).
We have participated for 25t years at this show; as with any show some good; some bad; some incredible years: WHO EVER KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN-- AND WHAT HAPPENS FOR OTHERS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR OWN RESULTS: who knows how you deal with making a sale,or inticing a customer to buy; what you are selling;or any of the things that make up the end result $$$$$. And Chris -Don't ever judge a book(or customer) by it's cover; I have tons of those stories.
Instead of dishing this show you should have the guts to be there and do it; and find out for yourself. Especially being able to sleep in your own bed. Where else are you to be that weekend; home???? If it doesn't work out--well
the Pro packs up and moves on to the next juried venue- I don't know about the others; they fade away to crafty shows or whatever.
No fantasy here-just hard work that results in sales for US. Fair Winds
Have done the show a few times. The booth fee is low, the perks are high. The crowds are mainly looking for a diversion, and tend to buy smaller items. That said, some higher end work does sell here. But typically photography is a hard sell, unless you have a certain humor factor. Cute animals, florida whimsy, the sorts of things that appeal to a tourist crowd will do better than "artsy" photography here.
The show has its good spots and and its bad spots too. One year, they had a few artists out on the lawn near the House of Blues. These artists, myself included, were off the beaten track, and didn't do as well. The spots near Lake Buena Vista that are off the sidewalk likewise suffer from under-exposure. Another year, I was tucked back in a corner by Cirque d'Soleil. Again, traffic was weak, and so were my sales.
It's a great paid vacation -- Disney gives you two park tickets, worth about $75 each, free lunches, a great VIP party, assistance dollying your stuff in (everybody dollies), lots of free parking, and a great friendly ambience. They also usually have a pretty decent deal at a park hotel if you get in on it early enough. You can do better with Priceline or Hotwire, though.
The booth fee used to be $250, but I don't know if it's gone up now. The perks almost equalled the booth fee. The awards are handed out by Mickey in a ceremony with great pomp and circumstance. The purchase awards can be worth the money for a photographer. But all in all, it's mostly fun in the sun. As a local, your expenses wouldn't be too high. For me, coming from Michigan, it was hard to make a profit.
Thanks Jim for the info the booth fee is now 400 plus 40 jury I live locally so lodging don't apply but since photography isn't jewelry no disrespect to the Jewelry artist ,Photos a tough sell .Lower priced local shows with an art crowd available .Well maybe next year when more disposable income may become available, as Chris stated perks don't pay rent thanks for the input its what my gut was telling me just wanted to verify what I thought
That's pretty harsh, Chris. There are local patrons who come to this show, and do buy large expensive pieces there. They may be few and far between, but like most local shows, there are a few qualified buyers. It may be worth it for Florida folks who don't need to travel far, or as a filler show to back up Gainesville and Pensacola when they are not on the same weekend. For photographers with serious work, however, it is not a moneymaker.
Disney treats you fabulously but most people around me did not sell all that well.
Brian Horan > Alison ThomasJuly 13, 2011 at 10:45am
Thanks so much Alison for the info, with the economy as it is I really try to avoid high space fee shows even though I am close enough and have found when majority are tourists the sales tend to be inconsistent compared to an art loving crowd .As for Disney I expected the treatment and advertising would be great.
Replies
I remember Clyde Butcher did this show till he stopped doing shows-ever hear of his photos?? Many other photographers do this show for years- for a reason (and they are not there to sell $25 copies either); I have seen my photo neighbors sell serious work; not whimsical fla.scenes. First things first- you have to be an award winner to even apply- with verification- major prize money in all categories- plus Disney goes shopping with purchase awards 20,30 grand- they are always building worldwide and there are lots of walls and sculpture spaces. It is an honor to be included in Disney's Permanent Collection, hundreds are; over the 30t years of this show. $$$$ You bet tourists; I am happy to walk my glass pieces to cars from Penn. , Ohio, N.j. N.y.--and the locals wait and know about this show. For $400 they keep the # of artists at about175 (i am not positive on the exact #)--you get 4-day tickets ($360), 4-disney quest tickets($180)-3 days of lunch for 2-and a killer breakfast,awards ceremony. and we stay at a sheraton for $45 a night(3 min away).
We have participated for 25t years at this show; as with any show some good; some bad; some incredible years: WHO EVER KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN-- AND WHAT HAPPENS FOR OTHERS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR OWN RESULTS: who knows how you deal with making a sale,or inticing a customer to buy; what you are selling;or any of the things that make up the end result $$$$$. And Chris -Don't ever judge a book(or customer) by it's cover; I have tons of those stories.
Instead of dishing this show you should have the guts to be there and do it; and find out for yourself. Especially being able to sleep in your own bed. Where else are you to be that weekend; home???? If it doesn't work out--well
the Pro packs up and moves on to the next juried venue- I don't know about the others; they fade away to crafty shows or whatever.
No fantasy here-just hard work that results in sales for US. Fair Winds
Have done the show a few times. The booth fee is low, the perks are high. The crowds are mainly looking for a diversion, and tend to buy smaller items. That said, some higher end work does sell here. But typically photography is a hard sell, unless you have a certain humor factor. Cute animals, florida whimsy, the sorts of things that appeal to a tourist crowd will do better than "artsy" photography here.
The show has its good spots and and its bad spots too. One year, they had a few artists out on the lawn near the House of Blues. These artists, myself included, were off the beaten track, and didn't do as well. The spots near Lake Buena Vista that are off the sidewalk likewise suffer from under-exposure. Another year, I was tucked back in a corner by Cirque d'Soleil. Again, traffic was weak, and so were my sales.
It's a great paid vacation -- Disney gives you two park tickets, worth about $75 each, free lunches, a great VIP party, assistance dollying your stuff in (everybody dollies), lots of free parking, and a great friendly ambience. They also usually have a pretty decent deal at a park hotel if you get in on it early enough. You can do better with Priceline or Hotwire, though.
The booth fee used to be $250, but I don't know if it's gone up now. The perks almost equalled the booth fee. The awards are handed out by Mickey in a ceremony with great pomp and circumstance. The purchase awards can be worth the money for a photographer. But all in all, it's mostly fun in the sun. As a local, your expenses wouldn't be too high. For me, coming from Michigan, it was hard to make a profit.
:)