I tried a new show this past weekend as I didn't get in to either Vero or Winter Park this year,so I did Hyde Park in Tampa. It is a Howard Allen venue so set up was early on Saturday morning.We had good weather and good sales on Saturday but I was very worried about Sunday. Fortunately the front moved off to the north and we just had a tiny sprinkle or two. The buying energy and crowds were lighter on Sunday but I had two be-backs come back and buy a big piece. I'm happy to say that the show turned out to be very good for me.
Something I'm noticing is that I tend to do well in shows that are in neighborhoods with lots of old craftsman-style houses. Also, I seem to need educated Floridians. Hyde Park had both of these for me.
Will I do it again? I did almost as well as Vero there, but Winter Park is still tops for me! We'll see what shows will roll my way next year.
Leslie Peebles
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Hi all, That did not get into Vero Beach Show, I did and It was not good. All I saw going by were matted prints and not many of them to boot. A local next to me was not happy with lovely watercolors, a fellow Pastelist was called from wait list as they had 17 cancellations and did not sell much. I do believe that most were disappointed. I realized that the problem with this show is that it is so top heavy with 2-d art. I would say that 80% of the booths are wall art so the competition is stiff. Over the top with Florida theme genre. If you are under the oaks it is so very dirty, that artist brought swiffer dusters with them.
I had a better show last year in the rain. I will not go back as It is a long ride from Atlanta for me and 5 days in a hotel. SOOO let your heart not be troubled as you all didn't miss anything.
I am off to Queeny Park Show next weekend outside of St. Louis and am thinking positively. This is actually a shorter trip then shelping to Florida.
I was also shut out of Vero and went to Hyde Park, a happy coincidence for me. Also on the circle, and did very well, selling both high and low end price points. The painter around the corner did phenomonally, I watched large pieces walk out all Would def go back.
This show was very disappointing for me too. I cannot compete with artists selling $20.00 items. I was on the circle and found the traffic very light. Comments from some people were they going to stop in Williams Sonoma and didn't realize there were more artists around the back of the circle. I had a helper so I did have time to walk the show. There were quite a few people people there on Saturday. I saw a lot of 2D wrapped in large bags under people's arms so that was a good sign. I am doing the show this fall which was good for me last year so I will see how it goes then to determine if I will apply again.
My photographer friends were pretty unhappy with Hyde Park and I didn't get out and talk to too many folks. I have sworn off the southwest coast of Florida because my work does not resonate with the Canadiens and mid-westerners there, but one photographer friend did really well there but not in Tampa. I noticed I sold a lot of my least expensive pieces ($20-75), a couple big ones and only a few in the mid range.
This show was awful for me. Out of five shows I have done this year this was the first that I lost money. Sales for other photographers I talked to did not seem to be great either. Mostly low end print sales. A painter next to me sold nothing. A wood worker that was on the other side of me selling unique looking chairs did do well. He sold over $5,000...but with a price tag of $975 for a chair that took him 12 days to make I think he was grossly under priced. In fact, that seemed to be the overall vibe of this show. Those that had pieces that were under priced for what they were did well. This is definitely not a very high end show and I will never do it again.
This was my first time exhibiting in Tampa so at a minimum I hope that I got in front of a few people that may see me at Mainsail next month and buy then.