Went to this festival knowing full well that it was not the place to look for high quality art or crafts. Every once in a while you need to go to a festival like this. Not only do you appreciate what you see at other festivals but it was very educational. While I know there is a lot of grumbling about booth shots, go to a show where most of the artists have no idea how to display their work. It was amazing how many booths just had tables with the work scattered all over.
There were only three jewelry artists worth looking at and I bought things from two of them. There were a couple of other booths that had decent work but that was about it. There were fewer booths than I remember, the music was unobtrusive and I don't really remember any food booths other than popcorn and wine.
This show is brought to you by the rightly maligned Chicago Special Events. As mentioned, the quality was all over the place. The crowd wasn't rowdy like it was at Wells Street when I was there so that was a good thing.
So in addition to the great jewelry I got, I also got to eat at a new restaurant that had the best chicken/avocado sandwich I have ever had. (priorities you know)
I can't recommend that anyone do this show but if you want to see the difference between a good show and a bad show, check this one out for the latter.
Comments
Thank you everyone for this valuable comments!! I will definitely follow up and yes, it is great to have a good show in the neighborhood. Evanston is very nice and vibrant suburb of Chicago and has a potential for a great show. Why not have it, for us all!
And yes, Deb Netter ( I did once that Cuneo show, not good!! But it is not good place for show like Evanston is) and will do Lakeview East this September with Erin Melloy. As all of you pointed out, everything is better than Special Events. I will do my best, with a pleasure!!
I would not recommend Deb Netter. I have never found her advertising to be effective, probably cuz I have never seen any. She used to run a show at Cuneo that never had a lot of customers and I have heard more artists complain about that than anything else at her Deerfield show.
I am sorry to say that but it is how I feel. Ok, there is another show that I would not go to.
Not only Deb Netter, who really knows this business, but also Erin Melloy of EM Events, Ana. Erin and Deb work with Chambers of Commerce to put on shows and know the Chicago waters.
Good for you for talking to this man and sharing information. I'm sure he has no clue. It would be so great for you to have a show in your backyard, wouldn't it? Are you going to follow up? The NAIA has advocated artist advisory groups for shows to help them tap our knowledge of other shows. Hope you can make this happen for you and the show.
I hate to say this but there are so many shows in the area that one less wouldn't even be missed. The Chamber of Commerce should send out a survey to this year's artists and see what they have to say.
I would go to any show but one run by Chicago Special Events.
I am writing bit late about this show because I was too busy with 4 shows in 4 weeks. One of them is Fountain Square. I came to this country 20 years ago and 19 years ago I had my first show; Fountain Square, in Evanston. I live in Lincolnwood which is neighboring village.
Oh, I made $1500.00 and I felt rich!!! I was so pleased, happy and that show was always one of the best for me....for some time.. I was always successful on that show even when Amy Amdur took it over. At that time I was making close to $4000.00. And than it went down.. I did Highland Park show several times, but that was always bad for me, I would hardly make around $ 2000.00. So I stopped exhibiting in Evanston. Few years back, I thought "what a heck, life is getting more and more complicated, I will be happy even with 2000.00" and I join this show again ( to point out again, it is 3 miles from where I live!!). So, 2009 I did it again. I made as on my first year, 1994). Sad!!! But I did it next year, 4500.00, next year the same, this year 2500.00.
Show is really awful, lot of junk, a lot. While sitting in our boots and talking to each other, we, artists, were visited by president of Chamber of Commerce of City of Evanston. He was so cheerful, happy to greet us and have us in that show that I felt sorry when we started the barrage of complaints about organizer, show, public ( luck of public since it was 4th of July weekend on contrary to last weekend in June as this show always happened). This poor man was so surprised!! He had no clue! He thought that this is successful show, he said that so many people came, 4000!!! Wow!! We tolled him that that is not enough to have successful show. We explained to him what is wrong with this show, exchanged business cards and will keep in touch to try to make this show better. I will personally go to the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and talk to them.
Now, who would you recommend as a good promoter to take over this show. And, would you come if that change happens.
Cheers!
I did this show the last two years but skipped this year. Sales were ok, definitely profitable but the mix of work was not great which led to a lot of strange customer comments (people assuming I was an importer and things like that). They charge admission but there are dozens of ways to avoid the payment booths if you know the area (like walking through a parking garage) so most of the potential customers are locals who are just out for a stroll.
They changed the date this year, and I decided to skip it because this is an annoying show in the somewhat cooler June weather and moving it to July was a final straw.
Geri,
I did that show several years ago (the year half of it blew away - 2008 maybe?) My neighbors at the show also lived within walking distance. They reported seeing no advertising other than two banners hanging over the street. I've ignored SEM ever since. They should NOT be in the art fair business. You are ever so correct - bad show.