Posted by Nels Johnson on September 23, 2015 at 10:30pm
Used to be known as the Shain Park show.People would go one day here and the next day to Arts n Apples.Then they renovated the park and moved the show out to Old Woodward Avene,The Ann arbor Guild took it over.Never been the same show,In stead of having space in a park with storage behind. You are crammed together down the middle of Old Woodward with two feet of shared space behind--gee a little bit better than HA gives ya.Well, we set up. On Friday with the threat of rain, which never materialized that night,and hoped for a good Satirday.We were doomed from the start that morn.Shitty weather, shitty crowds. That was what it would be all day.Ones that showed up with their yuppie dogs did not buy much.I saw maybe three adequately large 2-D pieces go by me the whole day.When I talked to fellow artists, this was a 150 exhibitor show, most were lucky if they made $500 for the day, I made $425.It was a cold rainy day with few people out.There were two local college football games on too.We sucked it in and hoped for a great one day show on Sunday.Wilbat and I ate great Chinese-Sushi at Mon Jin Lou, east of Maple by the Stephensen a Highway, MooShu pork is fabulous there. It assuaged our losses for the day. Maybe a few cups of saki helped too.Sunday weather was glorious.We got there early, position-A, we hit Starbucks, got the NY Times, a three hour read-time-killer, and went on to Leo's Coney Island for breakfast.yumm!The day was sweet. People were out, with their expensive dogs and classy clothes.Now this is where I will digress.As you all know, I tell it like it is. As I see it.The Birmingham people don't need us.They already have all the art they need.They are mostly out for a stroll with their dogse and talking nice to their friends--we are just background noise.On Sunday, a glorious day, I saw less than three big 2-D pieces go by me.Now I was at the extreme end of the show--south. So who knows how much art was sold above me and never made it my way. They put in the cars and moved on.Some neighbors around me did very well.Ceramist beside me overcame a $400 Saturday and killed them Sunday. She did very tried and true vessels that have been done many times before.Woman behind me with little clay figures with feathers on them killed all day-her average price was under $50,Here is my bottom line assessment for this show.If you live close by here it is worth a try.If you do shows to add extra income, but not necessarily to make living, then give this show a try.If you do this show for a living--here are my caveats--you better have clicheTraddinial work,or chochy lowend art or you will die here.The Guild charges $350 booth fee. Most artists are not making $3k here.This is not a great return on your money.Be adequately warned. This show is not for the faint of HeartBTW:this was my first blog using my new I-Pad.I like it, it is very useful. I got to do this blog out on my porch in Michigan sipping a great bottle of red wine and letting my juices flow--and,the did.
This show, and every other show in this part of Michigan, has no excitement value. At one time, you didn't have to go anywhere else in the summer. Now, you have to go everywhere else. It isn't about the economy. There are very wealthy people in that area. I can take you on a tour of million dollar homes that goes on for 10 miles, west and north. There is hardly any attempt by any of the shows to promote the artists. Arts, Beats, and Eats does a decent job, but, that art part is overshadowed by the music. Ann Arbor rests on its reputation from 20 years ago.
I was at the other end which is usually better than the end you were at. I didn't even make my booth fee and I won the First Place award which, by the way, paid 0, zip, nada. At our end, the only thing that sold was jewelry. There are problems with this show, and the spring show. First of all, I don't think the city of Birmingham wants the art fairs. They do nothing to promote this show. Birmingham is a lot like Clayton economically. It could be a phenomenal show, but it needs the support of the city and a better group running the show. The guild has nice enough people running it and they know how to manage a show, in terms of the mechanics of setup, take down, etc. They get an E- in getting customers to come and purchase from the exhibitors. I've lived the potential. Consequently, I will be not doing any art fairs in Michigan anymore unless I get into the original Ann Arbor show and right now that is only a 50/50 possibility.
Nice job, Nels. Liking the iPad. Glad that is working for you.
We used to take big bucks out of Birmingham twice a year, not good to hear this from you.
The two shows held there used to also be run by non-profits, The Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Assn. and the fall one Common Ground. Both organizations ran out of steam, especially after the economic meltdown, just like so many non-profits. Finding the volunteers to keep their doors open had to become their primary survival technique. So they partnered with the Michigan Guild. Why isn't it like it used to be? Oh no ... that old refrain.
Used to be you could attend these shows in the Spring and Fall and know all the latest fashions for upcoming seasons so you could "dress like the customers" -- another old sales technique that helps people with a certain kind of work connect wit the buyers. Sounds like you can still do that, the fashion show continues.
Great neighborhood. As you show us in your eating out experiences, which as usual make me want to get back on the road again.
Making the sales happen again, a marketing thing. The shows are right place, right time, what else do we need to make it pop? The question all over this business for shows that need to do something new.
Still waiting for your review of the Lake Forest, Il show. When I walked past your booth on my way out, your booth was packed with people. Hope it translated into sales.
My fingers are not working that great tonite, might be the IPad--or gee, might be the red wine. Life is tough being an artist and trying to be literate after 9 PM at nite. Aloha, Nels.
Comments
This show, and every other show in this part of Michigan, has no excitement value. At one time, you didn't have to go anywhere else in the summer. Now, you have to go everywhere else. It isn't about the economy. There are very wealthy people in that area. I can take you on a tour of million dollar homes that goes on for 10 miles, west and north. There is hardly any attempt by any of the shows to promote the artists. Arts, Beats, and Eats does a decent job, but, that art part is overshadowed by the music. Ann Arbor rests on its reputation from 20 years ago.
I was at the other end which is usually better than the end you were at. I didn't even make my booth fee and I won the First Place award which, by the way, paid 0, zip, nada. At our end, the only thing that sold was jewelry. There are problems with this show, and the spring show. First of all, I don't think the city of Birmingham wants the art fairs. They do nothing to promote this show. Birmingham is a lot like Clayton economically. It could be a phenomenal show, but it needs the support of the city and a better group running the show. The guild has nice enough people running it and they know how to manage a show, in terms of the mechanics of setup, take down, etc. They get an E- in getting customers to come and purchase from the exhibitors. I've lived the potential. Consequently, I will be not doing any art fairs in Michigan anymore unless I get into the original Ann Arbor show and right now that is only a 50/50 possibility.
Nice job, Nels. Liking the iPad. Glad that is working for you.
We used to take big bucks out of Birmingham twice a year, not good to hear this from you.
The two shows held there used to also be run by non-profits, The Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Assn. and the fall one Common Ground. Both organizations ran out of steam, especially after the economic meltdown, just like so many non-profits. Finding the volunteers to keep their doors open had to become their primary survival technique. So they partnered with the Michigan Guild. Why isn't it like it used to be? Oh no ... that old refrain.
Used to be you could attend these shows in the Spring and Fall and know all the latest fashions for upcoming seasons so you could "dress like the customers" -- another old sales technique that helps people with a certain kind of work connect wit the buyers. Sounds like you can still do that, the fashion show continues.
Great neighborhood. As you show us in your eating out experiences, which as usual make me want to get back on the road again.
Making the sales happen again, a marketing thing. The shows are right place, right time, what else do we need to make it pop? The question all over this business for shows that need to do something new.
Sorry this show wasn't any better.
Still waiting for your review of the Lake Forest, Il show. When I walked past your booth on my way out, your booth was packed with people. Hope it translated into sales.