First off. This is a lovely show held in a wonderful Atlantic coast community. It is run by a very capable committee and it is a breeze to setup and teardown.
But it has a few flaws.
First, a little history.
I lived here in the early eighties. Was going to the Photo Program at Daytona CC just north of here. Those days there were two of us from there doing shows --the others were Jerry and Carole Napoli, superb sculptor and her a painter. Nowadays, over a dozen talented artists live here.
You can still drive an automobile on the beach there.
You can still cruise along the ocean and actually see it at numerous exits without all the condos blocking the view.
You can still go all the way down Highway A1A and find Captain JB's Fish Camp Restaurant near the beginnings of the Cape canaveral Seashore.
The view west from JB's across the lagoon has not changed since the beginnings of times. Pristine wetlands teeming with fish and birds. Nobody will ever be able to build there.
You can eat great crabs, oysters, shrimp and fish all nite long--and at a good price for fresh food.
In the early days this show was held mostly on the park along the water with some booths on the street in front. It was smaller, and everybody made some good money. They always had better than average prize money and it attracted the heavy-hitters.
I could manage to make a paycheck and I lived there.
Nowadays, New Smyrna has bloomed like downtown Saint Petersburg, or even Naples on a smaller scale.
There are trendy restaurants everywhere on the mainland, mostly along Canal Street. On beachside, Flagler Avenue has many venues let alone along A1A going down to JBs.
There are quaint beach cottages and there are major McMansions. Lots of condos. Lots of new money moving in from everywhere. Lots of Europeans living there. There's money there.
They mostly like their art done in very traditional ways, almost to the point of trite cliches.
Bird shots and sea oat sunsets images sell all day here. Original, out of the box, art has a much harder time.
They have developed a very healthy patrons purchase program here. Many artists clean up on it.
My friend Steve Vaughn usually has a Pirate's Booty of ribbons on his booth every year. Too bad Melbourne won't let him enjoy the same.
It is a laid back setup. You can come in early at 6 AM up to 12:30 PM on Friday to setup. No hassles, usually plenty of room for inventory storage. Booths are on concrete, you need weights. Wind can be big factor here, after all, it is January and you are right by the Atlantic.
Teardown is easy-peasey. No hysterics like you see down in Boca Raton.
People actually make money here.
Well, some. Not all. And not as many as who need to.
HERE IS THE RUB, OR AS I CALL IT, THE FLAW TO THIS SHOW.
For years it has been a two day show. Then the committee got visions of sugarplums in their heads. They wanted to be a big-boy show like the others--a three-day show.
Guess what New Smyrna I got news for you since you haven't figured this one out yet.
FRIDAY IS A TOTALLY WASTED DAY.
Most artists there, and when I say most, I mean the majority of the show are lucky to make $150-$400 on Friday. Plus, you gotta come in a day early, another hotel nite. Or get up at God-for-saken 3 AM to drive there early for setup.
Guess What New Smyrna?
Most of the people who buy art there work on Fridays. They have real jobs and cannot come out and walk the dogs and jibber-jabber like most of the people we usually see on Friday.
You know the drill. Just like Naples.
Nicely dressed senior citizens, lots of them walking the pooch. Some will actually look at the art, most just walk with friends down the street without looking.
When you engage one of them and try a soft close like, "Well you said you love my piece, do you have any room for it?" They reply,"Oh goodness, no. Are walls are filled."
That is your Friday audience New Smyrna--and it sucks. It is a total waste of time.
We should be able to set up our booths and enjoy the fruits of New Smyrna on Friday.
THE SECOND FLAW OF THIS SHOW.
It is too big.
They added an additional 30-plus booths this year, got up tp 260 exhibitors.
The town is not big enough to attract enough sales for that number.
!80 booths would be fine, 260 is a no-go.
So, I am mainly putting this info out to you newbies who are thinking about a show like this. Exhibitor, beware.
Other than that, it is a great show.
Comments
Connie, The booth fees and concessions are where most shows make their money over and above whatever they are charging their Corporate sponsors. When we got to New Symrna Beach on Thursday, we went to see if we could drop our trailer in the parking lot. It was before noon and they already had the street blocked off so that the concessioners could set up. The last time we did the show (2012) the concessioners were setting up with the artist but we had most of the day to set up and it was also daylight
I don't think that shows are thinking so much of more income, especially at a show like this where there is no gate (am I right on that?) Shows like this expand their hours because it makes it easier for them to have a long time for set up, getting everything in place, electricity, water, port-jons, stages, command centers, etc. That is a lot of stuff to gather for two days, especially in these days of aging committees, they aren't moving as fast ;)
Or, they are getting feedback from their community about how much they enjoy coming to the show and why don't you make it longer so we can enjoy it even more. Or, it is so crowded (I'm thinking of when Cain Park added a day some years ago now) that they think the attendees will be more comfortable when it isn't so crowded. And there is that old thing about parking -- if they spread out the days patrons won't have to park so far away.
I really don't think they are thinking about the artists. They are thinking about how much more convenient they can make it all around. Granted, I've only been to this show once, but I've seen this happen other places.
Nels, what do you think?
Nels, I have to agree with you about the show. The Friday Morning setup is just not easy to do in the dark. Lu and I were up at 4:00 in the morning to be there by 6:00 to set up. It takes us about 4 1/2 hours to get completely set up. Plus this was our first setup with a brand new tent.
When shows decide to expand they are thinking only of their income and not the artist income. most shows have only a x amount of money that is going to be spent regardless of the number of artist. the more artist, the less that will be available to each artist.
The first I have seen of the awards, it does seem heavy on the jewelry.
Great idea Geoff about hiring some local high schoolers to use their muscle to help with load in and load out.
Thanks for the review on this show. I love how you include a little history and then the pros and cons of the show. Good writing.
You have a point there, Geoff. We were on the far side of 60, but there were two of us. One of Norm's earlier jobs was working in a warehouse, so he really knew how to load that truck and make the inventory light weight enough that I could haul it all and we had a well-honed system for getting it up and ready to show, sometimes even two tents, in a little more than an hour.
Great review, Nels, and the kind of historical context only you can provide.
You are spot-on with your observations about 3-day shows. The only ones I do are up in the Jersey shore area (and Va. Beach): venues where I'm spending close to a full week anyway, so why not?
Connie: I don't know that I agree with you about one-day shows. With a Trimline tent and lots of inventory they are really getting to be a bear. I'm fit, but I'm also on the far side of 60, and despite my pleadings, the show organizers will not recruit young muscle from the local high schools to fund-raise for their programs by helping us tote in and out. The risk management suits always shoot that idea down.
They surely like to give awards to jewelers, though not saying those jewelers aren't mighty good. I'm surprised to see artists from California, NH, Indiana -- I always thought this was kind of a Floridian's show. But the allure of Florida in February cannot be denied. Glad to see my friend Michael Weber got his deserved ribbon.
I'm with you Nels. As I recall this is an easy set up show -- loading in on Friday afternoon would be nice, then two days to show. I like two day shows, really I like one day shows the best. Get those folks in there, give them a short window of opportunity to buy and away you go. The expenses of an extra day in town are usually not worth it.
A larger show? Not such a great idea either. But here's the problem, and it is all your fault, you paint such a beautiful picture of the town, the beach, the food, that if I'm looking to be in Florida about that time, in the run up to the BIG February shows, I'm going to have to apply. Maybe 275 next year?
Thanks Barrie
I love Carole and Jerry, too. Can't wait to see them again in the spring, but I might not since I'm staying Panhandle and in Hilton Head and Chattanooga. Nothing Central F this time for me. First time in a long time it worked out this way. Hope to see you again soon, too, Nels.
We did this show about 10 years ago. Best half-day show I ever had, then it rained. Next day was 45 degrees and no one came or stopped since the breeze was a constant 15mph. Estella Franzbergen's clay sculpture went down and all over the place that day. Jay Canterbury won Best of Show then. Oak & Rope proprietor Victor Edwards turned me onto the fish place and we ate Trigger. Best damn eatin' in a long time, fer sher. Just overrun with people so we called ahead and ordered two hours in advance--they told me when to be there to pick it up, and they weren't lying. Perfect. Now I don't eat fish since I'm totally vegetarian.
Saw these awards online....I know you'll be happy I've posted this massive list on here, Moe Pho. Gotta run now. WOOHOO!
Images chair Laura Beckwith announced the award winners:
BEST OF SHOW ($5,000 award)
Lori Jenkins, Painting, Melbourne, FL, www.loripittenjenkins.com
GEORGE AND JUNE MUSSON AWARD ($2,500)
Ronald and Leigh Linton, Jewelry, Hotsprings, AZ
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE ($1,500)
Fred Tate, Jewelry, Austin, TX, fredandjanistatedesigns.com
AWARDS OF DISTINCTION ($800)
Ping Zhang, Fiber, Bellingham, WA
Michael Weber, Painting, Port St. Lucie, FL, weberwatercolors.net
Lauran Sundin, Jewelry, Concord, NH, lauransundin.com
Jim Norton, Jewelry, Athens, GA, jimnortonjewelry.webs.com
AWARD OF COMMENDATION ($500)
Leigh Griffin, Jewelry, Atlanta, GA, leighgriffinjewelry.com
Patricia Karnes, Jewelry, Winter Park, FL
Charles Hazelaar, Sculpture, Cape Canaveral, FL, charleshazelaarstudio.com
Cindy Capehart, Painting, Gainesville, FL, www.cindycapehart.com
Christian Nevin, Jewelry, Apopka, FL, www.cndesigns.com
Sarah Bean, Mixed Media, Radford, VA, www.artandpoems.com
JUDGES CHOICE ($350)
Vicki Jones, Drawing and Graphics, Belle Isle, FL, VickiMJones.com
Steven Howell, Mixed Media, Gainesville, FL, howellpottery.com
Gary Love, Photography,Riverside, CA, www.garylove.net
Jeff Ripple, Painting, Micanopy, FL, www.jeffrippleart.com
David Figueroa, Sculpture, Sanford, FL, daviddavidsculpture.com
AWARD OF MERIT ($250)
Barbara and Rick Umbel, Jewelry, Indian Harbour Beach, FL,www.barbaraumbel.com
Angela Kullmann, Photography, Tallahassee, FL, RussellGraceCollections.com
Erica Hall, Drawing and Graphics, Oldsmar, FL,www.ericasartanddesign.com
Greg Thomas-Moore, Wood, Deltona, FL, www.tlwbc.com
Gail Markiewicz, Ceramics, Woodbridge, CT, gmceramicart.com
Jay and Janet O’Rourke, Wood, Cocoa, FL,www.janetorourkedesigns.com
Douglas Brandow, Jewelry, Diamond Pt, NY, deeprockmining.com
Danny O’Driscoll, Painting, Batesburg, SC, dannyodriscoll.com
Joyce McAdams, Mixed Media, Edgewater, FL,www.mcadamsdesign.com
Michele Throne, Jewelry, Estes Park, CO, www.sidhedesigns.com
Jim and Shirl Parmentier, Ceramics, Mars Hill, NC, Parmentierpottery.com
Linda Soderquist, Painting, Englewood, FL
AWARD OF HONOR ($200)
Michele LeVett, Jewelry, Durham, NC, www.michelelevettdesigns.com
Jay Canterbury, Photography, Holmes Beach, FL
Lynn Fisher, Ceramics, Bellaire, MI, www.LynnFisherStudios.com
Steven Hardock, Painting, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Paul Jeselskis, Ceramics, Michigan City, IN, Pauljeselskis.com
John Deveer, Wood, Davis, CA, davidlevycreations.com.