Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals

Connie Mettler Female Michigan United States publisher of ArtFairCalendar.com…: Like

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Midwest Art Fair Business

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Connie Mettler's Discussions

Pledge Drive Big Prize Grab 2018

Started this discussion. Last reply by Wendy Merkle Jun 4. 10 Replies 0 Likes

We are keeping on, thanks to you

Started this discussion. Last reply by Connie Mettler May 31. 6 Replies 0 Likes

For Sale: Tools & Machines for Sale

Started this discussion. Last reply by Larry Sohn May 21. 4 Replies 1 Like

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Art Fair Insider Blog

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Connie Mettler's Page

Latest Activity

Connie Mettler replied to Howard Lien's discussion My First Booth at Art Fair On The Square (Madison)

"Love it! It really tells the whole story. I'm predicting a stellar art fair career for you. Thanks."

8 hours ago

Connie Mettler replied to Howard Lien's discussion My First Booth at Art Fair On The Square (Madison)

"Hello Howard -- it is easy to add your photos to your post and makes it more attractive to readers here. All I did was click on the "attachment" you had listed above, saved it to my desktop, then clicked on the little "image"…"

10 hours ago

Connie Mettler posted a blog post

Prizewinners at Madison and Cherry Creek 2018

July brings the BIG shows and if you're not doing an art fair this month (especially if you live in the heart of the country) you probably aren't too serious about this business. (Just my opinion).Photo by Miles Glynn, Best of Show at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival…See More

14 hours ago

0 Comments 0 Likes

Valerie VanOrden left a comment for Connie Mettler

"dear Connie: could i get a few less Art Fair insider posts to my twitter account which is connected here somehow? thank you very much. "

Monday

Ann Robertson left a comment for Connie Mettler

"Hello Connie. Thanks for the friend request. I am excited to be a part of this community."

Jul 10

Barry Bernstein commented on Connie Mettler's blog post How You Get to be Chosen to be in the Cherry Creek Arts Festival

"The article was just the usual hype to get people to come to the show. By letting people know that 1 out of every 8 that applied, got in, they are telling people that it is a highly selective show. It worked for me. It's just like any show. The…"

Jul 10

Mary Ann Maguire left a comment for Connie Mettler

"Hi Connie, I'm new on AFI. I'm trying to sell a Trimline canopy and lighting."

Jul 10

Barrie Lynn Bryant commented on Connie Mettler's blog post How You Get to be Chosen to be in the Cherry Creek Arts Festival

"Yeah, not really investigative journalism going on with this article. Maybe talk to a juror? An artist? Quote somebody saying something? So, Connie, why did you describe it as a great article?"

Jul 9

Profile Information

Your Medium: publisher of ArtFairCalendar.com & ArtFairInsiders.com; art fair organizer and consultant

Years in the Art Fair Business: 30

First show ever: Royal Oak, MI, and the following weekend the State Street Show in Ann Arbor. Baptism by fire!

What is your website?: http://artfaircalendar.com

What are the best things about art fairs: When you go home with fat pockets.

Best show ever and why: Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair 2001 - best sales ever at an art show, lots of money flowing in the streets of Ann Arbor. We went home and paid all our bills!

Worst show ever and why: As beginners, grasping at anything, got talked into an "art show" at Boysville, a fundraiser at a rural boy's reformatory. The first day we pocketed $5 in sales. Instead of spending the night we cancelled our hotel reservation and went home.

Who referred you to ArtFairInsiders.com? Please be specific.: I started ArtFairInsiders.com to build an online community around the nation's art fair business so artists and others could connect with one another for mutual support and fellowship.

Here is a recent interview "about me" http://boomerwizdom.com/2012/07/connie-mettler/

Another one on Barney Davey's Art Business Blog: Art Fair Insiders - Connie Mettler - the Real Deal: http://www.artprintissues.com/2012/08/art-fair-insiders-connie-mett...

Learn more "about us" at this link: http://www.blubrry.com/kjmastaw/745687/connie-mettler-art-fair-cale...

Here is my story in the ZAPP News, 8/1/13:
Industry Spotlight: Connie Mettler, Creator of ArtFairInsiders and ArtFairCalendar
https://www.zapplication.org/news_post.phtml?post_id=507

Interested in learning more "about us"? Click on the blue player below to listen to our live online broadcast about ArtFairCalendar.com and ArtFairInsiders.com.

Connie Mettler's Photos

Connie Mettler's Blog

Prizewinners at Madison and Cherry Creek 2018

Posted on July 19, 2018 at 4:08pm 0 Comments 0 Likes

July brings the BIG shows and if you're not doing an art fair this month (especially if you live in the heart of the country) you probably aren't too serious about this business. (Just my opinion).

Photo by Miles Glynn, Best of Show at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival…

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How You Get to be Chosen to be in the Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Posted on July 3, 2018 at 4:34pm 5 Comments 0 Likes

What a great article this is from 9News.com in Denver.

Did you know only 260 of the 2,138 artists who applied to the 2018 Cherry Creek Arts Festival were chosen to be a part of one of the most competitive juried art shows in the US? Did you think they were just picking on you! Or maybe you are one of "the chosen".

Read the article: …

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Do you have some good images we can use?

Posted on June 25, 2018 at 3:30pm 1 Comment 0 Likes

Looking for Images for our Websites

We are finally rebuilding our websites:…

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Call for Artists: 5th Beaches Art Festival

Posted on June 22, 2018 at 8:57am 0 Comments 0 Likes

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Safety and Security at Art Fairs

Posted on June 19, 2018 at 4:30pm 5 Comments 1 Like

This past weekend Trenton, New Jersey, hosted "Art All Night", intended to bring the community together. In the midst of it a gunfire broke out.

Organizers canceled the remainder of the event, billed as "24 hours of community, creativity and inspiration."

The festival typically draws more than 30,000 visitors to view work from more than 1,500 artists as well as exhibitions of glass blowing and woodwork, The Trentonian reported on its website. About 50 bands also play on three…

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Comment Wall (1,325 comments)

At 2:01am on June 17, 2008, Connie Mettler said…: Isn't this cool? Time for the art fair artists community to REALLY enter cyberspace. Social networks aren't just for those kids anymore!

At 7:53pm on September 24, 2008, C. L. Cunningham said…: Hi Connie -- It's the number one entry if you google my name (C. L. Cunningham) and links dirrectly to the website. No biggie, but please make sure it is available on this site and linked as you think best so it won't be confusing to others. Thanks and good luck with this exciting new venture!

At 8:14pm on October 2, 2008, carlye crisler said…: when things change significantly. But I miss the contact with other artists doing shows and this will be a good replacement for the short term.

At 12:11pm on October 31, 2008, Kayte Strong said…: Dear Connie
Yes, we are all aware of each other and most of us started during the 90's as I did. There's probably 30 of us still rotating through the circuit, reeling from the double whammy of a slow economy and music industry CD sale declines--however there are still some of us who just love doing what we do and are dedicated to toughing it out. The most well-known singers on this circuit include Pacific Coast's Jean Sidwell and Pat Surface--and I see both of them each winter in Florida. I personally sing and keyboards are my first instrument, but I also contribute guitar to my albums.

Thank you for respecting music as a part of the Art Show Community!! It is an honor to start this group and to gather information about the state of music retail at the shows--- we can help each other find and choose good venues, and how to support the artist community at large.

Thank you Connie!

I used to do 47 shows per year (no kidding) but I cut back this year and "only" am doing my best 30. I did Grand Haven/Muskegon/Orchard Lake as my Michigan tour and really enjoyed all of them. I have spent the extra time at home working for the mainstream Country Music Publishing industry here in Nashville and working on new music.

Things are looking better here in Tennessee as we have at least one city with gas prices at $1.95/gal!

At 5:47pm on October 31, 2008, Connie Mettler said…: I run Arts, Beats & Eats in Pontiac and Russell has been there just about every year. The Sidwell's were there for the first time this year and I didn't get a chance to visit, but stopped by their booth several times to listen. Very nice.

I believe the musicians add an ambiance to the festivals that is refreshing, sort of a like a medieval street fair, especially at evening events when the music swells up out of the night.

Any chance you have these other's email addresses? It would be great to add them to this community.

Since you live in Nashville, any chance you know my good friend, Jack Stoddart?

At 3:28am on November 1, 2008, Sherri Westfall said…: Thanks for the heads up on my video I was in youtube pulling videos a few nights ago.I may have accidently put that one private I'll try and fix it tomorrow. I'll let you know when I do.
You must be a night owl too:)
Looking foward to meeting everyone, and learning what I can about art fairs!

At 1:11pm on November 10, 2008, Christine Kloostra said…: Funny how quickly things get around... I had a handful of artists at the Washington Craft Show also mention it to me on Friday. For the most part, it seems to have been widely appreciated.

At 3:29pm on November 10, 2008, laurie m said…: Hi Connie--I am an EarthAngelsToys.com artist but of course have a lot of other friends in the folk art (or whatever you want to call it) world--and also a lot in the altered art world. I'll be sure to blog about this site and I'll bet we can get others interested... thanks!