Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
Comment
Nels... I always love hearing your comments about a show. You are a refreashing army of one. A man willing to call a turd a turd. I too have way to much experience in thinking a show that has started to suck will stop sucking. It seems that bad only gets worse.
and speaking of that show, I just got this notice of another show held last weekend in Sebring with the list of prizewinners: http://www.highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/arts-and-crafts-festiva...
Is that a possibility for a place to make money. Where is Sebring? Near Ocala?
Now I know this was a bad show. When you, Nels, can't even say, "I paid some bills and now I'll play golf," you know it isn't working. Hope this is the low point of your winter season.Thanks for the dismal news.
Ouch. Way too similar to a recent show I did in south Florida. Sorry to hear you did poorly -- I'll add that one to my list of ones to avoid. Anything with art on a stick that calls itself a juried show is a long way from being one.
Thanks for the review, I did Art Harvest and saw what you did. Since my wife and I are new to the art show experience, I am never sure if I am seeing what the experienced sellers are seeing. As for the discussion on where to sell art other than art shows I have been asking the same question.
I agree with Nels review and comments. Judith Jones, your comments were spot on IMO. I was there and won't be back, even though I live only 10 miles south. Driving there & back, I saw only one elec. sign on Michigan Blvd. & Alt 19. Didn't see signs in downtown Dunedin, or any others along Alt 19 either. Maybe they were posted on the east side of the show? I remember the days when shows actually gave you a list of where their advertising budget was spent. Haven't seen that info from shows in yrs.
Thank you for your comments about this show, Nels. Your comments are right on target with what is happening around the country as far as Fine Craft Shows. I've heard these comments said time and time again from artists. I've even said it myself way too many times about shows I have been in. In my opinion, these shows that used to serve us well for sales are a dying breed and our buyers know it! They too are a dying breed. Shows are no longer the place where buyers go to buy art. Showing up at an art show is just as risky for buyers in terms of what they will find there as it is for artists selling their work. It's a complex issue.
I believe that fine craft shows are no longer a viable way to sell work. That way of selling has become a dinosaur. The innocence of the shows from the 70's, 80's, and early 90's when buyers loved meeting the artists and finding out about their work is gone. While the economy is beginning to do a turn around, our buyers have looked elsewhere to satisfy that need for art/fine craft. This is one of the reasons why I am backing off from doing shows. We as an artistic community must find better and more current ways to get our fine craft work out to the public again. We also need to educate youth about the quality, uniqueness, and sustainability of what we do so they will cherish the specialness of a piece made by and purchased from an artist. I'm still tying to figure out what the "new" way is - especially when the new way may involve technology I am not comfortable or expert in using! I'm looking for the alternative! Any suggestions or thoughts anyone?
Thank you Nels, I hope to see you next Feb. I start to see that doing shows between Oct and Early November is not worth it.
I did this show back in 2011. It is too big and the layout is confusing. I paid extra for a corner and ended up a couple feet from the pond and if I had leaned back too far in my chair I would have gotten wet. My first though upon seeing my space was - I paid extra for this? I've tried the two other shows that are this weekend besides Pensacola, Lake Mary and Halifax. I agree with Nels, Pensacola is the only decent show this weekend.
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