We all do this art fair as source of income. After my last experience I should beyond mad about my experience at Lakeview East. What surprise me is how other artist do not think how their actions affect the other artist. This is sad to me because I just starting to understand a comment at Lakefront Arts Festival is about me not you. I try to helpful to people around me during the shows. I make I do not your possible sales more difficult. I keep to my area assign follow the rules but when promoters look what is going and they do not care or do not understand. I got a demo in front if me; it is way street with 2 lanes per side, lest call it 40 feet wide street. You loose 20 feet to tents in each side. You extent your display 6 to 7 feet past your 10 feet. People are looking what you doing and now you people only have 4 feet go between my space and his crowd. He ask how long the demo will his answer all day long, really. I do not understand how that not fire lane violation but who I am. Never to said that I have a bad day and it was the only possible sales because the next day was to follow by rain all day long. I did better sales in rain that I did the sunny day with demo guy. By the time Erin show up it was to late for anything to solve the damage was done. What amaze me is how he does not understand how that affect me. If he did not got space requested he should not done the demo. I already think highly bad about the shows in Chicago and this was the icing in the cake. Doing the shows is not as corp work.
Next time you see just hi and please leave alone because it will a while before I change a view.
From here on is about me. Make money to paid my bills. I need to make an effort to not be homeless. I really I try to help people and talk to people but after this experience I really do not want talk to anyone around me, I learned is about me not you. I really if I am homeless you do not care.
Comments
I've done a few shows where the organizers have put the sponsors in the middle of the show with a buffer zone before the art starts, it works very well. The sponsors that pay the big money get good exposure and the artists don't have to contend with a demonstrator slamming a bowling ball into impact resistant windows (I had a big headache that weekend). With most layouts this is easily achieved.
what I was referring is: in general for all the shows is put the sponsor, demo in middle of the rows that way the are not mix with the artist. That way people still will see them but wont affect the artist. My understanding that they like to between artists because if not people wont talk to them.
I agree with you, Oscar. These other parts of a show need to be away from the flow of traffic to the artists booths. Beginning, end or a cul de sac where other activities are taking place. Are you saying that the promoter put this demonstration in the middle of the show, across from other artists? I had thought that the person just decided on their own to pull out from his/her booth and to demonstrate in the middle of things. If it was the show organizer they really need to redo that layout.
It may not work for the music but I hope you get the idea.
Connie what you think about this:
Promoter need to understand that music, demos, commercial vendor need to be the in center of the show or the ends of the shows. They really should not be between artists booths. I think if they are in middle is a good compromise between everyone and it works for everyone.
Thank you Connie and Nels. I really do not expect anything out of it. I think that only show that I plan to in Chicago area may be Port Clinton and Geneva. Other than that I do not plan to do anything in area. That means more traveling but it will make my life better. I just applying my advice to another artists.
Oscar. ou are precious.
I hang on to every word of your adventures at art shows.
Surely, one thing, they are never dull experiences for you.
I think you live thru these and come out stronger.
Hang in there baby, you are on the right path.
Stay strong, Nels.
I understand your frustration, Oscar. This had to be infuriating. It is not just about the expenses involved in doing the show, it is loss of income that we all count on. Each show is a step on the ladder of income and each show is depended on to produce revenue. Artists cannot afford to have this happen. Harley fest is one thing, but when another artist causes such a disruption to another's ability to display that is really bad.
And here you are close to home, with relatively low expenses. It should have worked for you. So sorry.
This is a sad experience. Find the promoter and ask for your booth fee to be returned or at least half refunded since it seems you were very adversely affected by the demo going on in what was supposed to be shared open space for the public. Please speak up to the show promoter immediately and if the issue is not resolved ask to be moved to another location.