Artfest Fort Myers - A Great Show!

After freezing our tootsies at Images in New Smyrna Beach, Marcia and I headed for Fort Myers for our 2nd show of the winter. The weather forecast was for sun and temperatures in the 80s. YES!

We were one of about 50 booths that would be open on Friday evening so we got there early on Friday for our scheduled setup. We were escorted into the art fair in order of our booth numbers. Although we had to park on the street about 50 feet from our booth, load in was pretty easy. Just a short dolly to the space. We had a corner booth in a space that was already 12 feet wide, so we positioned the booth so that we had two side walls... lots of exhibit space. We had a leisurely setup and were allowed to move our van right opposite our booth and leave it there for the entire setup (I like that).

Our booth was in a great location. We were in the middle of the show, on the bridge going over a waterway with fountains. We set up on the sidewalk, which was very level with room plenty of room behind our booth for storage and in front of the booth for customers.

The forecast was accurate. Great weather. Friday night was busy but mostly with lookers and party goers. We took in just under $600, so, with the added exposure, I thought it was worth it. It seems that it takes people a while to decide on buying my work, so I look for the be-backs. Lots of the Friday night people would be back Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday brought lots of people. The crowds were consistent and sales went well all day, bringing in around $2200. Sunday was better with sales over $3000. We wound up with a gross of just under $6K, better than our average show for last year, but a bit below our gross from the Fort Myers show last year.

This is a well run show. One of the better ones in Florida. Big crowds. Descent sales.

Our next show in Florida will be Arti-Gras on February 18-19. When Marcia and I put together the schedule we debated on whether to spend the two weeks between shows in Florida, or go home to Michigan. We did the math and found that we could fly back home for 10 days for a lot less money than staying in Florida. We booked a room at a Comfort Inn near the airport and arranged to leave our van there for the duration. A free shuttle took us to the airport on Monday morning and we were home that afternoon.

Here's another brilliant arrangement that Marcia thought up. We have a Michigan friend who scheduled a vacation to Arizona, flying out of the Grand Rapids airport on the same day we were arriving from Fort Myers. We both live about 40 miles from the airport. Our friend left her car with the "valet" service at the airport when she arrived. We picked up her car and drove home. Our friend also scheduled her flight back from Arizona on the same day we were flying back to Fort Myers. So, we drop her car off with the valet, and our friend gets her car back when she lands. HA! Great arrangement.

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  • I've been doing this for 35 years and this is the first time I may have to get a job! Thank you John. I am rethinking everything. Appreciate your input.

  • Hi Mary: I am a digital artist. I sell limited edition prints of surrealistic images with themes of environmental problems and their solutions. The images have touches of fantasy and humor. Price points are low, for the most part, starting at $28 for the smallest prints up to $695 for larger canvas prints. It is a tough economy right now for fine artists who sell original paintings. I feel for you and hope that prospects improve.

  • I'd like to know what you were selling as up at the end near the harbor was where I was set up, as a realism oil landscape painter was bad. People walked by in hoards but hardly any buying.

  • Yes, Jacki... She is definitely my best resource! But she draws the line at lugging around the tent weights. HA!

  • John, thanks for the good review.  That was a great idea Marcia had about the valet service.  You need to keep her around.  She sounds pretty smart.

  • John,

    We were there as well and agree with everything you said.  It was our second best show in our short career.  We were across from the yacht basin.  I passed your booth on the way to the bathrooms several times and wanted to stop by to introduce myself but you were always busy talking to customers.  

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