This is the second year for The Spring Festival on Ponce. It kicks off the spring art show season in Atlanta. I wrote a long review last year, set up and tear down all the same. Friday set up, some need to dolly, we are all set up along a walking path through a beautiful park. If you want more info on the location just read last years review. http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/festival-on-ponce-atlanta-and-security-scans-at-art-shows-first
Weather for set up was great, not too hot. What a treat for an Atlanta show. Saturday the weather was perfect (except for the chartreus colored pollen that comes in cloud form this time of year, dusting required all day) The press for this show was crazy. Every local TV channel, news and morning shows, talked about this show, interviewed people involved with the show, Facebook was blowing up, online info, everywhere you could think of finding info about events Festival on Ponce was mentioned. Saturday we had a great crowd in my area. At a few points it was a bit over crowded but nothing too crazy. Nice steady crowd all day. The patrons that come are mainly 30s with young kids. Most of them have a new home and some money. Great for 2D artists IMO, plus most of them have big SUVs or Mini Vans so they can fit your work into their car, no deliveries J!!! Since this is the first show of 3 in Atlanta in the month of April people are out looking but they are also thinking about Dogwood next weekend. It is hard for them to pull the trigger. So if you are doing both Ponce and Dogwood and you don’t close the sale, make sure to get their info and get them to come see you again at Dogwood.
Atlanta show Saturdays for me (2D artist with price points at $550 $1600) are usually not my sale days. People need to think, measure, take things home on loan. Sundays are my days for real sales. Like I said the weather was as perfect as it could be and I had a lot of interested and a lot of be backs. Sunday I arrived to the show with talk of rain, ouch. I set up early and then went to walk the show and catch up with other artists I hadn’t had a chance to see yet. Most 2D folks had a similar experience on Saturday, interest but be backs. When I got back to my booth I checked my phone and I had a message from one of the be backs. She was coming to pick up the piece before the show opened, great news. 30 minutes later another couple walked into the booth, didn’t even say boo to me and handed me a credit card. As they were walking away another be back showed up and wanted the same piece. Snooze you lose. All this was before the show even opened officially. Now I was praying they didn’t call the show because I could tell this was going to be a strong Sunday. The rain did come, but there was still a decent amount of people, and as you know if people come in the rain they are there to buy, at least in Atlanta. Sales were great, be backs came back and if I didn’t have what they wanted they ordered commission pieces. Sadly around 3:30pm the show was called because of too much rain. At this point there really wasn’t any patrons left. The rain was just going to get worse. So we all tried to pack up a wet booth in the rain (no wind so no problem) and get home safely. I want to send a special thank you to Albert for helping me get out. It was a special treat to have some help.
Next we have Dogwood then Inman Park. Two of the biggest crowd shows of the year in Atlanta. There is only two days, today and tomorrow, before Dogwood set up. I am short on inventory already, and don’t know when I will have time to make good on custom work but these are good problems to have.
Comments
Melanie , I would suggest to anyone looking to get into the Atlanta market to try this group. They do run a good show.
Melanie, I also have a price point that they have to think about it.I did ok Saturday.I wish it didn't rain Sunday. I didn't get out of there Saturday till after 7.Sunday was bad for me.I do have to say that this group of promoters is great.They keep the costs to the artists as low as possible and bring people. I did one show with them last year and was going to do Chastain Park in the fall.Due to Sandy I had the possibility of getting my daughter out of NY City. I cancled the show on Wed the week of the show.A couple weeks later I got a check for my both fee.What show would do that? Patrick, Randal , Lisa and Cameron.And many more. Thank you. If your looking to go to Atlanta take a chance on this group of good people.
Congratulations Melanie - you're right a good problem to have (being short of inventory for the next couple of shows!) May we all have a show or two like this every year :)
Congratulations Melanie! I always enjoy your contributions. Sounds like a great show!