This was my first summer show.

I am writing two blogs about it.

This one will be about my insights and observations.

My second will be about the nuts and bolts of the show.

covering layouts,booths,storage,etc.

This will be valuable info for those of you considering doing the show.

So, on with the show.

This was held on the last weekend of June.

Because of COVID it was cancelled in 2020. Accepted artists were auto in for 2021.  There was no jury for this year.

This was my fourth time doing it. They have always been killer shows for me, and this year was the best.

By killer I mean in excess of $8K.

And this happened despite being rained on six times in five hours on Saturday.

This is a major show for artists in the Midwest.  I put it right up there with Saint Louis and Kansas City Plaza or Old Town.

It is hard to get into. You are up against great talent in every media and it is a small show—under 200 artists.

Steven King is the director and he is very savvy and fair with artists.  He listens. And you can actually call the man when you have an issue.

Good luck doing that with most other show directors at the biggy shows.

At first he was not sure it could happen in June because of COVID.

But he pulled it off.

He has a monster volunteer force who helps in every way.

It is a three day show with a Thursday setup. Long hours, too long.

Friday and Saturday the show closes at 10pm, opens at 11am.

This sucks for two reasons.

One, most sales stop after 8pm. Then we just twiddle our thumbs while the crowds drink beer and socializes.

Second.  All the restaurants close their kitchens at 10. So artists have no food options except to bring your own or eat show food. Jamaican chicken curry rice gets old after two days in a row.

Honestly, Steven, that is my only criticism of this show. Otherwise it rolls on perfectly.

Pretty much every artist makes mucho dinero.

This year there was no option to stay as a guest in a patron’s home because of Covid.

I booked a hotel five blocks from the show and got in on Wednesday nite.

I was the first in line for checkin on Thursday morn.

I was setup by noon and retired to the hotel where I took a three hour nap. I was exhausted. Do not get old and do shows,they will kill you.

Since this was going to be the only nite I could eat dinner out (except after teardown Sunday) I Googled restaurants and found a great fresh seafood restaurant right by my hotel called Splash.

It has been there 22 years.  It is owned by a DesMoines resident who lives in Key West part of the year.  He has fresh seafood flown in from Hawaii and Key West daily. This includes shrimp and oysters.

Everything was delish.  It was not super expensive but well worth it.

Friday: First day of show

Beautiful day got muggier in the afternoon.

People were out in force.  Lots of “Good Shoes” people wearing great outfits.

I sold a $400 framed photograph a half hour before show opening.

It went like that the rest of the day. Sold a mix of metal photos in the $500 range along with four $175 framed photos. Sold lots out of the browse bin.

It is a savvy buying crowd. They respect new, different work— in all media.

All day I saw large framed pieces go by me along with pricey sculptures and glass.

The Des Moines crowd is very respectful of the artists. And they love it when I tell them what a unique show it is.

Twice that day I had people buy a piece for $40 then give me $50 and tell me to keep the change.  That does not often happen.

They came around with water and snacks all day.  And, they had ample booth sitters.

A lot of artists told me it was their first show Post-Covid.

There were lots of smiling faces as they watched Art go trucking out of their booths.

Spacing at the show was ample. All booths had five foot between each other.

I had a corner that was wide enough for two vans to go head in.

Everyone had ample storage space behind.

The only negative about the booths was the fact we were setup on a crowned paved road.  So when it rained we had a three inch river flowing thru.  You had to keep stuff off the ground near the curb.

Luckily, we had no problems with that.  Saturday was another story.

By 8pm the crowd dwindled and it was very few sales happening.

People were happy to be out, without masks, and vibing with their friends while drinking.

BTW, I am still talking about Friday.

At 10pm, I was long gone.  My favorite motto in the art show biz is “Take the money and run.”

I had a modest double Manhatten at the hotel, Knob Creek 100 proof bourbon stirred, not shaken.

I slept like a rock.

Saturday—Very,very wet day, still made money.

We all knew the forecast was for heavy rain.

We just did not expect to get six bands in five hours.

You know the routine.  Over the boxes behind.

Drop the side tarps and sometimes the front too.

Set your back awning at an angle to avoid excess water buildup.

Put on your rubber duckies while the river runs thru.

Then roll all the tarps back up.

Dry off the rain on the art.

Shed the rain gear because it gets humid real fast.

Take a brief breath, make a few sales, then Wham, repeat the whole routine five more times.

Ah yes, don’t we artists live the glamorous life.

By six the rain was finally past, but so were sales.

Lots of young people walking, no art in hands, just drinks.

I made mostly Lowend sales out of browsebins in the $30-60 range.

My neighbor, a respected glass artist, made some Lowend sales.

Saturday ended up being the poorest day for sales.

But we had nice weather ahead for Sunday.

Sunday, Sunday—What a fun day

I finally awoke that morn to glorious bright blue sky with almost chilling breezes.  No predicted rain.

The show put on a delicious breakfest along with awards.  Made everybody forget about Saturday.

I, and others, were looking for a big finish.

Here are some demographics to consider about Des Moines.

It is the Capitol city of Iowa.

It is a college town, lots of young people.

It is a strong city for corporations in the medical,insurance and food industries.

People tend to be pretty conservative in art tastes, yet I saw a lot of new, inventive art go by my booth.

They dress smartly and are very polite.

Most do not try to lowball you.

Thank God, they do not constantly use their cellphones to take pictures of your work without first asking permission.

They love their show and come out in numbers.

So Sunday sales started out just like Friday.

Sold a big piece right at the getgo and continued that way the whole day.

Weather stayed perfect and I ended up with my biggest total sales that day.

Teardown was easy-pezie, was out in 90 minutes.

The return home on Monday was a nightmare, but that is a tale for another day.

So that is my story.  I will write another blog about the nuts and bolts of the show.

Stay tuned.

Later, Gators.

Aloha, Nels (did my very first show in Hawaii by a waterfall in 1974, never have lost the Aloha Spirit).

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Comments

  • Des Moines is the best run show in the country. Stephen King does a great job of managing this event. I've done it a number of times in recent years. In 2020 I had a rare rejection, so, I didn't get to do the show this year. I last did it in 2019 when the weather was unbearably hot. I mention this because I noticed the temperature was in the 70's this year. I think that had a lot to do with the great sales. I, on the other hand, did the Oklahoma City show, where the temps were in the mid 90's and the humidity hovered around 90%. Sales were still good, but, the show was 6 days instead of 3. I'm exhausted and now I have just a week to get ready for KRASL and Ann Arbor. Will someone please come and glaze and fire my pots while I sleep all week.

    A few years ago, I was tasked with making suggestions based on my observations. At least one jeweler had security concerns with selling after dark and wished the show ended earlier than 10 PM. That was the only complaint I heard. I wish I was there. I certainly intend to be there next year if I get in.

This reply was deleted.