Shaw St Louis vs St James Court Louisville

Choosing between Shaw St. Louis and St. James Court Louisville

This is a long post: sorry! I was accepted to only one Louisville KY St. James Court show, the 1300 Third Street show. I have already sent in the booth fee, which was due around 2 months ago. (FWIW: I have done most of them and am familiar with the layouts and relative traffic of all of them.) This section is on 3 or so blocks of Third Street north of Magnolia, with a small portion on the north side of Magnolia proper.

AFTER I applied to Shaw, they postponed the deadline and notification dates radically (like 2 months). I knew I would hear way late, but it was done already. I also have not been accepted at Shaw for maybe 4 years, so wasn’t expecting anything this time. But, surprise, surprise: I was accepted to it. I’ve done Shaw 3 times, having better sales in general than at Louisville: but that was before the major part of the economic downturn. So my sales in 2007 aren’t terribly relevant, as I see it.

Before I sent in the booth fee to 1300 South Third, they told me my booth space would be WAY up north at the far end of the show, like 3 booths from the end. (This show is strung out over several blocks north from Magnolia and Third Street). When I did this show before in 2009, sales were okay (not great). I was called off the wait list that year and was fairly close to Magnolia, at the south end of the show, which is a much more high-traffic area. I noticed at that time that foot traffic left the main shows and moved north through my show, so my booth would be very much an afterthought, if anyone even stopped in. The “I’m done” departing customer phenomenon was already a factor even with my better location at that show in 2009. I called to see if I could be located further south, but was told, only if there was a cancellation.

Refund date for 1300 south Third has passed too. So if I go to Shaw, I will be sacrificing the $500 fee I sent them. My poor booth location at St. James Court is making me think I should go ahead and do that anyway.

What do you think? Thanks for your help.

Thanks, guys. I did the original a few times, also Third Street quite a few times. I have not gotten into either since they moved to ZAPP, so that’s a quite a while. Belgravia I have opted not to apply to because the spacing is so tight, and it would be a tough dolly for me. I have applied to the main show, Third, and Fourth, for a couple of years running, and didn’t get into any of them. My medium is so competitive, that it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never done Fourth but have heard it’s not chock full of country craft the way it used to be.

If I had a better spot at 1300 Third, I’d stay with it. Especially since it’s paid for. When I saw my assignment, I pretty much threw up my hands. I’m so far north I might as well not be in the show, but rent a space in someone’s yard. (Which is, actually, pretty much the case: I am in someone’s yard! )

Replies

Jim Parker August 30, 2011 at 4:44pm

I haven't done Shaw. Have heard good things. Pluses: it's smaller, more neighborhood oriented, more targeted audience for art. Smaller show = more pie.

Your location in 1300 is marginal, at best. My sales had been dropping year by year at Louisville. Many more browsers, fewer buyers. My booth was on Fourth, rught near Belgravia, in the thick of things I decided to sit it out this year.

I'd bite the bullet and go to Shaw.
- Nels Johnson > Jim Parker August 30, 2011 at 7:56pm
  
  Nothing against you, Jim, but Fourth is the worst of all the shows to do at Louisville--too much B/S. Shaw is nice and small, but one has to pay their dues and build up a following to make money. I would do the original, Belgravia or Third Street before doing Shaw. Just my humble opinion, Nels.
  - Jim Parker > Nels Johnson August 30, 2011 at 8:31pm
    
    The upper third street section gets so much less traffic however. And being at the end of the street can't be good. Elaine has done a pretty good job of pruning the show, to the point that many of the Belgravia artists have come over. But It's gotten to the point that patrons can't walk through it easily, nor can they get into the artists booths. I think that the quality has definitely improved at Fourth. And Linnea is not in Third St., but in the north end of 1300 Section of Third, which is pretty removed from the main body of the show.
    But there is still a mixed bag on Fourth. It's better, but yes there's some junk. I do think that the whole show has grown too large, just like Ann Arbor. And people are burning out on it.
    - Linnea Lahlum > Jim Parker August 30, 2011 at 9:52pm
      
      Thanks, guys. I did the original a few times, also Third Street quite a few times. I have not gotten into either since they moved to ZAPP, so that’s a quite a while. Belgravia I have opted not to apply to because the spacing is so tight, and it would be a tough dolly for me. I have applied to the main show, Third, and Fourth, for a couple of years running, and didn’t get into any of them. My medium is so competitive, that it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never done Fourth but have heard it’s not chock full of country craft the way it used to be.
      
      If I had a better spot at 1300 Third, I’d stay with it. Especially since it’s paid for. When I saw my assignment, I pretty much threw up my hands. I’m so far north I might as well not be in the show, but rent a space in someone’s yard. (Which is, actually, pretty much the case: I am in someone’s yard! )
      - Jim Parker > Linnea Lahlum August 31, 2011 at 4:24am
        
        Sorry about the choppy edits on that last post. That was from my iPad, which doesn't let you scroll in the text edit box when editing. Very hard to go back and change things.
        
        What did you decide, Linnea? Are you going to bag 1300 and try for Shaw?
Linnea Lahlum August 30, 2011 at 3:29pm

Anyone? No one out there has done both shows?

Getting down to the wire now, to send in the booth fee for Shaw, if that's the route I take: any more feedback?

This reply was deleted.