I am a new Arts Fair producer and am wanting to learn form those of you who go to art fairs for a living (we do the craziest things for the love of art, don't we?). I would love some insight as to what you think fair managers can or should do to make your fair experience better for the artist? Is it the perks you are offered? The art that is juried in? The kind of entertainment at the event?
Obviously there are some things out of our control, but give me your description of a perfectly managed Fair experience... or one of two of your favorite or LEAST favorite things...
Happy art Fair-ing!
Comments
What a great story! I love that personal approach! I truly enjoyed the time that I had to get to know some of the artists I met at my first fair (as incoming director), but I did not make it everywhere to visit. I did get into almost all the booths during the three days, but there were 150 of them. Having Board members or trained volunteers assigned to a small group of artists is a fabulous idea! Thanks!
You realize that you've already made the first important step of being a director. You asked what the artists wanted! Wish we had more show directors like that, although in my area most are pretty open.
I want to relay a story that was brought up at the Chesapeake Bay Art Assoc. meeting last night. About 20 years ago our Ocean View Show director was talking to an artist from out of state during the break down. She said it was hot all weekend and she didn't sell anything. Then she asked for the same space next year! Our director asked her why she was coming back if she hadn't sold anything. She said it was because our organization made her feel special! She didn't know anyone else there, but our committee came up to her when she was unloading and greeted her by name (from a space listing) and made sure she had whatever help she needed during the weekend.
I'm sure that artist also told other artists from her area about the show. If the internet had been around then, she probably would have said something on AFI! We still have the same show director, although this will be her last year (the show's 50th). The members, especially those not showing, are assigned 7-8 spaces to oversee. they greet the artists, hand out their packets, and make sure they have food, water, and breaks. To the artists, they are the face of our committee.
Set up the day before the show is huge for me. I hate setting up at 4:00 am and starting a show hot and sweaty. And AMEN! to everything that has already been said.
Thanks for the info. I got online and joined NAIA this morning and look forward to learning all I can from other Directors and shows. I have already been on a number of other Art Fair sites to see what I can learn. I wish I could go to Chicago to the Zapp conference this year, but in my other life, I am a Director for a local Theatre Company and I had already committed to directing King and I during the same time period. I will look forward to the next one! I appreciate all that you have shared! Have a great week!
I want to reinforce Sharon's comment above. Visit other art fairs, see what you like, what you don't like, take their director out to lunch, learn the best practices. Network with other shows. Join the NAIA where show directors get to know each other. Find a list of the top shows and visit at least one of them each year.
Do's:
-have well organized load in and load out, don't let it be a free for all.
-have a phone number people can call or text to request a booth sitter
-have a professional looking name tag for the artists, not a zeroxed piece of paper that they write their own name on.
-provide water to artists
-enforce your own rules
Dont's
-loud music or loud commercial booths near artists booths
-take up all the trash receptacles the minute the fair ends. We usually have lots of garbage left over after we pack things back up
-make up lots of rules for artists to follow and then don't enforce them (loading/unloading, tents, display area, artwork)
Leo made a comment about dead sales hours from 7-10pm. That is not always true. St. Louis is open till 10 on friday and saturday and night time tends to be one of the the busiest times. It is cooler outside and it is neat to see all the tents lit up in the dark. Each show really has its own personality, it's just a matter of figuring it out. When I did Uptown it stayed open till 8pm, but was pretty dead after 6.
In my opinion, create relationships with other shows that are well run. My personal favorite is Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. They are amazing, and I would be stunned if they weren't helpful. I also recommend joining NAIA. Bottom line, treat people with respect and dignity.
Debbie, Most of our shows close at 5 or 6 PM on Sundays. We have to get home on Sunday evening because my husband still needs to keep his day job :-). I love that you are so open to feedback from artists. Wish we were closer to Salt Lake City. Sounds like your show would be a pleasure to apply to and to do.
In regards to art show promotion, I have been hired to help promote the Dillon art show . . . twice, so they must see some benefit. I made the front page of the paper the first time, haven't heard about this season. Here is the link that describes what I did: http://stiltwalker.com/arts/promoting-the-dillon-arts-festival/ The promoter printed up raffle tickets, and my job was to distribute the free raffle tickets to as many folks as possible. The bearer of the raffle ticket had to be present on the last day to win. The winner won a "$1000 shopping spree" at the arts festival. People got real excited about the chance to win some art. This event had free admission, so the more the merrier for the promoter, the city and presumably for the artists as well. see http://www.coloradoartisttour.biz/dillonartfestival.html and http://www.summitcountyartfestival.com/
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