Hi,
I am feeling a bit beat up right now due to my overall lack of success in getting into most of the Florida shows. I just got my "you suck" emails from both Naples and Bonita Springs in February, as well as some others, so all I have is Artigras on the schedule now. It is a 24hr drive one way from my home to the show, and I know it is an expensive place to stay as well. I had intended to do at least two shows in a row in Florida in February to spread the cost and time investment in travel around a bit, but that didn't work out. So, is Artigras worth the drive? I sell glass jewelry and meditation spheres and my price point is $40 to $500. I usually sell well at most shows if there is a decent crowd, but dang that is a long drive.
I am doing two shows in January in Florida, but will need to return home after they are done, and I can't let my van sit down there that long if I fly.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Eric
Replies
Hi Eric,
I can't tell from what you've written above exactly what dates are possibilities for you, but here's a few that no one mentioned, and feedback on one that you have:
Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Show is on Feb 18-19. It's a small show but Sanibel draws a moneyed crowd and it's not terribly expensive so it might be worth a shot.
Howard Alan also has a craft show group called American Craft Endeavors, available from his artfestival.com website. The booth fees are around $220-230. Some jewelers do them if they don't get into the main HAE shows...some folks do pretty well at these in season. Might be worth enquiring about, anyway.
Sullivan's North Port show: I visited on Sunday afternoon last year, around 2 PM, and it was lightly trafficked. A few artists did really well earlier in the weekend, though. Sullivan doesn't draw big crowds, but he does attract a moneyed following if you have the right items. Jewelers in general seem to do well at his shows. His show quality is quite high.
Thanks, Geoff. Read your post a bit late but it was very informative. Have any tips on good Nov-Dec shows?
Last year at Osceola the clay flower guy broke down early in disgust.
I drove three hours to do it and it was barely worth it. I did manage to get a good Priceline hotel though, $50 / night for a Marriot Residence Inn. But I'm not a jeweler and you might do better. Weather really affects the crowds. It was unseasonably cold the year I did it and the crowds were way down.
I see that the following show is still open for apps, but I can't find any info on it in any of the guides. Anybody out there no anything about Osceola Art Festival 45th Annual - Kissimmee, Florida?
Don't think that Osceola is worth your while... North Port might be better. Both are small.
Generally I'd say don't do it, but if you can line up another show to help defray the expenses maybe ... did you check Howard Alan's festival lineup to see if he had a show that was open either the weekend before or after? We live in Michigan and were always sorry when we made a trip to Florida for just one show so we would usually do a HAE to make expenses and make it worth the trip, plus then you get that added bonus of some lovely days between the shows to get away from the cold.
Unfortunately, all of the HAE shows were filled in the jewelry catagory months before the deadline. I called them up a while back and was told that you need to apply as soon as the application comes out or you won't get in for the jewelry catagory.
I see that Richard Sullivan has an event the following weekend in North Port, FL. That may be worth taking a look: http://boulderbrook.net/north-port-masters-art-festival-artist.html
I haven't been able to find anything out about this show. It isn't in any of my guides. (AFSB, Sunshine Artist, etc.) However, I do a couple shows myself that aren't in any of the guides where I do decent, so I don't discount a show right off if it isn't in the guides.
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