Our last show of 2013 was last weekend in Ferndale. The Funky Ferndale show seems to always be playing with start times on Friday. This year it started at: I don't know because really you set your booth up and people come all day. We zipped up at 8, we have a corner & our booth had electricity. This year, as the last 3 years we pull our travel trailer & stay at the show. I don't know about the parking for this show, because a few years ago I saw that it was going to be tough to park my trailer as the show does not offer overnight parking for your travel trailer or RV. No easy campgrounds so I would like to suggest to everyone who pulls a trailer & stays in it or a RV or van, to use your Google maps and zone in on businesses that close for the weekend. This technique for staying in cities near my show that does not offer parking has worked nearly every time. In Ann Arbor, parking is very tough, so I researched spots & found a church to park our trailer in. I called, asked, and I offered to donate a piece of art (they did not ask for it) and they let us stay 2 miles from the show from Tuesday till Sunday Morning. Churches are great places to ask. Look & think about businesses close and who have a large parking lot... it depends on the parking lot. Back to Ferndale. I use this technique there and we have a great place to sleep & stay all weekend.
Sales for us on Friday were brisk. Last year we had a $700 piece stolen - and the more "finer" the art, the more we took it home. So this year we brought smaller & just a vast assortment of our art, many new pieces - with nothing over $350. We use this show as a good place to wheel & deel with older art... kinda fun! The show runs with the DIY across Woodward - and that brings in a urban crowd. Young, hip, vegan, coffee loving, inspiring LGBT men & women - just a COOL group of people! If you have funky art, which we do, we so very much enjoy this show. Our spot is really great & others did not have that experience. My friend was in no mans land and she had a terrible show with her bags, unfortunately not many ventured to her booth. The row she set up in was confusing. I heard it was that way because the fire marshall. The shops downtown ferndale are EDGY and awe-tastic! I heavily contemplated a tattoo while eating a rosemary shortbread cookie & drinking that coffee... Set up & take down are easy because we have learned the proper times to arrive & take down from doing the show before. The Rust Belt art market is a hub of talent - to many restaurants to eat at, but the Thai, I dream about that Shrimp Pad Thai.
Saturday & Sunday were busy and fast. I like Detroit. We have such fun doing these shows all summer around the area - suburbs and downtown. Its a place of inspiration - as well as many places around Michigan. We are lucky to live here. Nothing stolen this year. In fact, I had such a vibrant crowd - Young old, all ethnic backgrounds - so many religions - Art is a soup. I take more away from being in the creative soup that us humans all mix together - I go back to my studio and make new things. These crowds inspire me to be authentic - and that gives me permission to be authentic in my work.
Comments
This was my first time participating in Funky and I loved the show. It was a great match for my one-of-a-kind wire jewelry. Friday was a little slow, but Saturday and Sunday were great. I usually do more sales on Saturday, but Sunday sales were just about even (despite the rain). I was interviewed on ABC news on Sunday morning and had about 35+ people stop in my booth and say they saw me on TV.
. I have attached the interview if you'd like to see it.
Subject: My ABC TV interview
Last day of Funky Ferndale Art Fair
Detroit has such varied neighborhoods and events that appeal to different groups. You can be in tony downtown Birmingham, Dally in the Alley in downtown Detroit, or hang out with the hipsters in Ferndale -- find your audience, or exhibit what you think that demographic will be interested in, a great way to make your way in this business. The marketing requires as much creativity as the creating of the art.
Great tips on parking, Tracy ... always a problem for people with over size vehicles and/or trailers.
Nice review. Though I'm close, I have never been to that show. I really enjoyed reading about your positive experiences. Sounds like a real nice vibe going on for an art show. I like the diversity and interesting people who get what you do. I think I might apply or at least attend next year. You have inspired me! Thank-you.