Load in and out was generally good. The meandering road did at times have some jams in it, but all in all very short waits to get to load and unload right at your booth. The promoters were great! They brought water and snacks around regularly. Booth sitters were available and prompt when called. The onsite food vendors were excellent.
I really did enjoy both the work of and the artists that attended. The work was excellent and, with the exception of jewelry, varied. There was a really nice mix of painters, basket weavers, potters, photographers, glass workers and in a separate area, some activities for kids and food. It was really nicely thought out.
Sales were poor on the first day and picked up enough on the second to make it an average show for us. I'm not sure how others did, but I got the impression that it varied pretty widely from vendor to vendor. This has the makings of a good show. It has a "quality first" feel to it and the promoters are artists themselves and treated us really great. Advertising was good, but it was a first year show and time will improve the numbers.
Comments
I may give Buckhead a shot ... Any Hotel recommendations? I don't need anuything fancy -- Just clean. Micro-tels, La Quintas, Best Westerns, Days inn types or other are fine with me. Please post whatever specific hotel you like best and why (in the show are or vicinity).
Thank you
A few people mentioned the Decatur show for next year, they thought I'd do well there. Do you have any insight about that?
Buckhead was my first out of state show so I just got my feet wet. If I hadn't had to spring for a hotel I would have been satisfied with my success. It was a good experience and I met great people and got some valuable advice from seasoned veterans of the show circuit.
I have lived in Atlanta since 1996 and have a personal theory about why shows don't seem to work here. They used to in the old Piedmont Park show days, times have changed as you know. Also I am a southern girl and have an innate understanding about the south and its puzzling charm...
A large percentage of Atlanta money is new money and is spent on multiple houses, cars, jewelry, clothing, entertainment and personal services like weekly spa treatments, plastic surgery, hair extensions, etc. Boudoir photography is huge here -- need I say more? Its more about being able to show off what you have in public. The interior space of this public life is a second priority. I've been in some of those 10 million dollar homes and their walls are mostly bare or the art is rented (or there is a boudoir photo or two in the bedroom).
The flip side is the old money. They are the gentile south with nothing to prove to the new money and have for generations flown under the radar about everything. They do like to do is to impress each other. They have inherited breathtakingly, and when they do want to buy something, they prefer to do so in bigger markets like New York or abroad because its just how things are done (every generation as far back as they can remember did it that way and they are not about to break that tradition). The importance of post trip cocktail chit chat regarding such trips and acquisitions cannot be understated. Please note that these get togethers rarely take place in public -- they hang out with their own kind and that is not in public parks. You would probably never see a single ranking member of the old guard in public if you were to stay in Atlanta a year. The odds of selling them anything at an outdoor festival is like winning the lotto.
Of course there are exceptions, but they are also rare, and that is why I don't show here. I do sell in Atlanta as long as I do not do so publicly -- that's Atlanta.
Oh, and forget the galleries for now -- the majority of the few noteworthy galleries are closed, struggling or are being sued for grand theft and fraud (Lowe Gallery -- had it coming for years).
So bottom line -- It can be the best run show in the world but if its in Atlanta, you need to sell work that will adorn or entertain an Atlantan personally in order for the trip here to be worthwhile. Flashy is best. Spruce up your appearance and prepare to shamelessly flatter. Bring your best manners, and don't plan on making any deliveries to West Paces Ferry -- rejoice if you make one to Country Club Of The South.
See you on the road headed all directions out of Atlanta. Best Wishes!
It was a beautiful place for a show, however if they had chosen an area closer to the road they could have attracted some drive by buyers.
Nice people.
The local artists put it on, headed by painter, Patrick Dennis, who does a lot of shows in the area. They also had a big add in "Where the Shows Are".
Was this a first time event? How did you know about this show? Who were the show organizers? What medium do you work in?
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