It was cold and windy at Gasparilla this year, but it didn't stop the people from coming out to support this long running show in the park next to the Tampa Art Museum.
This was my first time exhibiting at Gasparilla, and, having a new (used) Trimline that we only set up once before, we arrived for early set-up on Thursday afternoon. The committee was (mostly) well organized with timed entries into the art fair with caravans of vehicles following volunteers on Segways into the park. We arrived well ahead of our 1pm set-up time but we spent a good 30-40 minutes driving around looking for the artist sign in area. A few large and well placed signs directing artists to the artist parking lot would have helped. Later, we saw one small sign near the entry to the parking lot, but it was facing the wrong way and we didn't see it. Even with directions given to us by volunteers, we had a very hard time finding the sign-in tent. It was in a parking lot next to the Howard Johnson Hotel, but that hotel didn't have any signage on it from the streets we were driving on. We heard the same complaints from many other artists who were also first-timers at Gasparilla.
Although there was plenty of space for setting up and there didn't seem to be any big rush on Thursday, we were given two hours to unload and get our vehicle out of the park. We could have used more time.
Other than these minor irritants, the show was well organized and well attended. Some perks that we really appreciated were free parking for the week-end, breakfast and a hot lunch both days and really friendly and (mostly) helpful volunteers.
Saturday temps were in the mid 50s with wind gusts. Sunday was cooler and a bit windier. Our sales were poor on Saturday, grossing only $500 but we made up for it on Sunday winding up with around $3100 for the week-end. Our biggest sale came from a lawyer who bought a large canvas print for $800 after the show closed on Sunday afternoon (love those last minute sales).
Packing up and getting out of there proved to be a bit of a challenge, but the committee was well organized and helpful. Our biggest problem was trying to find the circuitous route we were supposed to take to get our car and trailer back into the park. Again, some big signs and arrows would have helped us find the correct path into the park. But, then again, I've always been a bit directionally challenged. My most common method for finding my way is to wander aimlessly until I'm there.
I didn't get into the Vero Beach show next week-end and Howard Alan never got back to me about Jupiter (something about my booth shot being unrepresentative of my set-up???), so we will be hanging out on the beach and visiting friends in Naples until Winter Park, the following week-end. This will be my third Winter Park show (who didn't have any problem with my booth shot), a show I really look forward to. I think its the best show in Florida.
After Winter Park we'll be parking our car and trailer in a friends boatyard in Tampa. We'll fly back to Michigan for a month, then fly back for Mainsail in St. Pete in mid April (another show that didn't have a problem with my booth shot).
Only three Florida shows for me this year, and none of them in South Florida. I did seven Florida shows last year with dismal sales in all the South Florida shows. I feel like Gasparilla has been a good start for this season. Hopefully sales will continue an upward trend.
Comments
Thank you Annette and Jacki. Looking forward to Winter Park. Weather forecast couldn't be better.
Glad you had a good show John in Florida.
Thanks for the review John and pleased that you made decent sales. I often do last minute sales too - there's often a silver lining to slowly packing up!
This was my first year doing Gasparilla. The load in and load out went smoothly for me, but I unloaded on Thursday and had an 8 pm load out slot on Sunday. Everything about this show was great, except for the sales. I barely sold $1600. Also, the judge didn't come into my booth until my wife browbeat him into it. I feel strongly that if they are going to have awards the judge should come into each booth and look closely, not just glance in from the aisle. Especially when so much money is at stake. I probably won't try this one again.
Thank you, Shannon. Hope to see you there next year!
John, I just realized that you were almost right behind my booth! I love your work, especially the boys in the dusters. They make me think of Orwell and Huxley...good stuff! I'm so glad you had a good show!
I believe that. I was giving it a lot of thought and really my sales were close to what I did last year. But last year I had the Emerging prize (giving me a good outlook!). I thought that my pretty new tent might help my sales, but it didn't. I followed the advice of many artists and hung my work a certain way - didn't help. I think I have to find my own way and just figure things out.
For some, it takes a couple years to figure out this art fair thing, and how to actually make a decent profit. Every year is a new learning experience for me and every year I reassess the shows I was in and want to be in the next year. And every year the economy and the weather throw in variables that confuse the issue even more. I did seven Florida shows last year and only did well at one of them. This year I dropped the six shows that didn't produce for me last year. And most of those shows were high quality shows where most artists did well. Its a strange business.
Connie, thank you! That does make me feel a bit better. I might gamble on it one more time.
If it is any consolation to you Shannon, we did Gasparilla several times in the "good old days" and never grossed more than $1400. To my mind, this is a real hit and miss show in terms of sales.
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