Oh, what can I say? Much was touted and little came through except disappointment. Maybe it was a fluke with the poor sales, but the weather gods smiled, there were crowds at one time, but still at the end was much gnashing of teeth and wailing. More on that later, but let's get the logistics out of the way first.

The Kalamazoo Institute of Art has had this show for many years and it has a high reputagtion for a quality show and for being organized and well run. No complaints on that score as they sent emails several times informing the artists of what was going on, what the booth assignments were, where good deals on lodging were and so on. All the work before the show was impeccable.

Set up was early on Friday morning, with set up time starting at 8:00 AM with a 3:00 PM show start time. We arrived at 7:45 with many artists already there and setting up at a leisurely pace. The show is held in Bronson Park with the artists arranged along the sidewalks, set up on grass and facing sidewalks. If you were on the interior of the park, as most were, you could drive on the sidewalk and unload. Heck of a deal. There was more than adequate space behind the booths, unless you had a flower bed behind you. We had room to set up an awning behind us that used the rear tarp as the awning, so we had a 7 foot awning over us to keep the sun off, and were able to stack tubs and boxes behind that.

It was a nice leisurely set up where we didn't have to fret about being done by the time the customers showed up. People started walking through about 2:00 or a little afterwards. Crowds were reasonably heavy, lots of lookers, but zilch buying energy. Some of the artists around me were getting a bit worried. I figured it was the typical Friday crowd as Fridays usually suck. Nope, I was told by the repeat artists that Fridays here are supposed to be a good day. Yeah, I sold a single $20 piece on Friday. 

The awards dinner was well attended and thank goodness they had alcohol, because it blunted the significance of Friday being off-stride for many of the artists. There was grumbling aplenty, although as usual there were some who were doing well. Unfortunately the impression was that the majority were not happy campers.

Saturday rolled around looking good. The weather was beautiful, and the in case I didn't mention it, the park setting was beautiful. Here's a photo I took that morning with the morning sun streaming through the trees and shining on the rows of white tents.

8869139296?profile=original Unfortunately the crowds were lookers and talkers, more interested in sharing stories of being in the same places I had been or wanting to go there. Hey, you talk to them and hope the connections will spur a sale. It wasn't happening. The best I did on Saturday was two small flip bin pieces at $29 each, unmatted no less.  The woodworker next to me sold three tables that were beautifully done, but with a double booth, that wasn't enough to salvage his show. A jeweler down the sidewalk from reported selling nothing for the final 3 1/2 hours of the show with disappointing results for the entire show. Several other artists said they lost money doing the show. There were other times I felt like I was still in the classroom teaching; talking to people only semi-interested in the work and not making much money.

The rush seemed to be from about 11:00 to 2:00, and the crowds tapered off quickly after that. No one seemed to be interested in spending much. I had a couple nibbles and even with discounting the price, still no takers. The parades, marching bands, the beer garden, and all the other entertainment are neat and fun, but the concern has to be if that is drawing too many people there for entertainment only, and buying the art work is taking the back seat. 

Things started slowing down quickly, and this snap shot is a telling image. It was taken at 3:30 when that's the usual last rush time on the last day for coming back to get what you looked at earlier.

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When the corn dog and elephant ear stand is deserted, you know you're in deep doo-doo. The food concessions out in the street pulled the plug early and started tearing down about 4:30 or a bit earlier. When they opened the street barricades for the food vendors to get their trucks in, the artists joined in with a big rush of vans coming in before the show was over. A good 15 minutes before the show was over, there were vans already parked in front of my space. I commented about this to a couple of artists around me, and the answer was that they had done nothing for the last several hours, and the show was over when the food vendors pack up as those guys stay as long as they're selling.

This was the first time I've seen a quality show like this just fall apart at the end. I started packing up at that point also. There was a pretty disgruntled attitude among many of the artists, and more than a few were rushing to get out of Dodge. I was a bit miffed when someone pulled up directly in front of my booth as I was planning to stack panels against the street light and stack boxes on the sidewalk in order to save time and energy loading up. Another artist from further in the park asked one of the people who parked in front of my booth if she would let her know when they would move so she could park there. My wife who is normally a patient person (hey, she puts up with me), got her dander up and interrupted to let them know we had our van ready to move in there first. It wasn't taken well, but have a little consideration. A little after we got the van in, the person on the other side of us moved, so I was able to turn my van around in the other direction to let that artist get her vehicle in.  

There were several judges who came around inspecting for the art work itself, booth presentation, and some other criteria to determine who is invited back next year. This is supposed to be a hard show to get into, and the quality of the work all around is very high. While the KIA has the process of the show down to a near science delivering strong logistics in a very nice urban park environment with high production values,  they can't guarantee a buying crowd despite excellent weather. Without that buying crowd, it's hard, and damn hard, to justify going back when you had 3 sales totaling $78 before taxes.

I would be very interested in hearing the experience others had this year. One person mentioned in another forum post that they did the show last year, and it was their worst show plus getting bedbugs from their motel. At least I didn't get that bugged over the show.

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  • I'll try to keep a balance of both. The last couple shows I had about 19-20 20X30 canvases hanging, and few 18X24 framed prints. It's also time to evaluate which pieces get little activity.
  • Here's something I'm thinking is going on about sales. Those of us with lower price points are not getting the volume of sales we used to get, so we are not doing well. Those with higher prices are hoping and praying that those with big pocketbooks show up so they can make those high end sales that add up very nicely.

  • I've learned my lessons from Kalamazoo and a couple other shows. The mood is for lower prices, and I'm getting those framed pieces for less than a hundred done again. I've got more time between shows now and should be able to switch gears on this.
  • It was nice meeting you Robert after seeing your so much on here! Connie, he did pretty much have your old spot. Michael moved into the center of the park a few years ago and he loves it. I've stayed on the street for the ease of set-up and take-down. And after the food booths started pulling out, myself and my neighbors did pull our booths in a few minutes early. The show was over, done, put a fork in it. My sales turned out better than I had thought since I was wondering if I even broke $1000 but they were much lower than they had been in recent years. Saturday was very quiet with the crowds being way down. I've talked to those in charge many times but since the KIA needs money, they aren't really interested in changing the things that need changing.

  • @ Joan; your dog poop trumps the 8 inch deep hole in the front of my booth space. Thank goodness the extra Propanel I brought had the adjustable legs so I could set it up in the middle. With the flip-bin in front of that and going out to the sidwalk, that covered up the hole so only two or three people stumbled on the edges. I don't like setting up just before a show starts, so we showed up bright and early.

    I have to say now, after the show and the pain has receded, that I miscalculated by bringing mainly larger canvas prints, mostly 20x30 at a higher price point, when I should have brought 18x24 framed pieces at the $95 range. 

    @ Connie, we were directly across from the church, almost in line with the copper or brass plaque. We were the 5th booth space from the west corner of the park. Didn't see Michael Kiefer, he was over in the I section. I did get to see Bonnie Blandford and had a a nice chat.

    Alternating shows is something I've not given much thought about. KIA in the past has conflicted at times with Talbott Street. Talbott is, I believe, the second weekend in June and KIA has a fixed date (maybe).

    It's back to the grindstone and getting some mattes cut and a few new prints done. I've got an 18 foot space at Talbott and plan to utilize all walls. I've got about a dozen frames on hand and plan to have work in them and hung besides what I have on hand already. I'm done whining and it's time to move ahead :-)

  • Prizewinners and the rest of the story from the Kalamazoo Gazette: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/06/kala...

  • Robert, from that photo from your booth of the food truck, I'd guess you have our old spot at the show. Was Michael Kifer nearby? We usually did fine at the show, but as it was the only show we did where we could sleep in our own bed, it wasn't too hard to beat. Never did $6200, R.C.! What a deal that is.

    It is logistically tricky to get loaded in and out, but Norm always had a plan and we ALWAYS had a good spot for that. 

    Sorry to hear it wasn't better for you, because as you well noted there are so many plusses about the show you'd hope for a better return. 

    Now, Chagrin Falls vs KIA? These events have built in audiences, some loyal people, and not the turnover that you see in tourist areas or even larger cities. What do you think about alternating the shows? Sometimes that works.

  • I did KIA for the first time, and while I did make about 4 x my expenses, I had hoped for better sales, given the reputation of the show. But it was the little irritations that got me down. I couldn't get my vehicle in for load-in so setup took me much longer than usual, so much so that I hardly had any time to wash up and get into clean clothes before the show opened. No, I don't like setting up right before the show! Then there was that big soft pile of dog poop in my booth space. And the scheduled booth sitter who came 2 hours late, and the volunteer who demanded that I pay for the promised free bottle of water. Tear down was nearly as difficult, it's fine to say that vehicles are allowed into the park, but the walks are so narrow that a single car can tie everybody up. I will think twice before applying to KIA again. BTW, my highest single sale was $110, so they weren't buying the big stuff. 

    I guess I was spoiled by East Lansing, where I had the best sales since 2006. I'll be at Talbot Street too next weekend, hoping for a better time!

  • Hey Rich: Didn't know you were there. Guess I didn't walk around much.

  • I've done this show off and on for a long time.  I too, live in Saugatuck this time of year and love doing shows in the neighborhood.  Several years ago, I decided to do Chagrin Falls in Cleveland as KIA had flattened out at a $2500 average show.  Chagrin was great all around except for the 12 hour round trip and all the expenses that entails.  The paycheck was excellent and for the 2 years I averaged $4500 plus an award.

    Then I wanted to stay closer to home and applied for KIA again.  I got rejected!  Then last year I was accepted to both and choose KIA.  I was floored when I did $6200!  The buying energy was phenomenal.  

    This year I knew I could not mach that, but I was really disappointed with the energy this year.  I had just as many compliments, but way fewer people pulled the trigger.  I ended with $1800.  Next year, I will again consider Chagrin Falls.

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