Pledge Drive (18)

Will you do me a favor today?

8869193852?profile=originalOur 10th Annual Birthday Pledge Drive to sustain our websites' mission of supporting artists and art fairs is started on Sunday, May 19 and will end on May 30. 
 
Will you do me a favor and donate $24 to keep 
the art fair news coming into your mailbox and this helpful website alive and well?

Bet 
you will!  
 
6d6067c3-16e7-4fa0-affa-5aea94424d8e.jpg
When we started our 1st art fair website 15 years ago we wouldn't have guessed that they'd expand to five! Or that we'd have nearly 60,000 subscribers and have top Google ratings! You love art fairs, you found your way to one of our sites and we thank you!

Have our sites and newsletters helped you: 
  • find a new art fair in your community?
  • meet an incredible artist?
  • fill your home and office with beautiful and amazing work?
  • earn a living as an artist?
  • shown you a new way to live your life?
  • made you new friends?
If so, will you contribute to our 10th Annual Pledge Drive that supports our mission of bringing fine art to your neighborhood and enabling the creative people you meet there to continue in their livelihoods? If our work has helped you and contributed to your life we'd really appreciate your help.

We're asking for a small pledge starting at $24 (only $2/month)? Plus, pledging makes you eligible to win some great prizesPledge here.

If you are wondering about ArtFairInsiders.com and its contributions to art fair life I think you'll enjoy this read from artist Nels Johnson some years ago: 

HERE IS MY TEQUILA/ELVIS/ WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE AT ART SHOWS,...

Many, many thanks to all of you who have contributed in the past with such graciousness. It has been humbling.

Read more…

Pledge Drive Winners - the Top Ten

8869163664?profile=originalWe are nearing the end of our 6th Annual Pledge Drive. We held the drawing for the top ten winners on Friday, 5/29.

If your name is listed below you'll be hearing from us. Go to the pledge page, look over the options and send me your top two to three choices. We'll fulfill the win in the order your name was drawn.

In the order that their names are listed they can choose a prize from the listing on this page:

http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

  1. 6a00e54fba8a73883301b7c78eb5e5970b-250wi?width=75Bob's Photos
  2. Lakestone Jewelry, Jennifer Nunnelee
  3. JMC Studio, Janet Campbell
  4. Philip Green
  5. Suzanne Krongold
  6. Teresa DeVer1898.jpg?width=100
  7. Ernie Komarek
  8. Carrie Jacobson
  9. John Weller
  10. Stewart Casper
What? you didn't win? Not to worry -- we have about 50 more prizes that we'll be giving away on Tuesday, June 2 at 6 pm. Tune into our podcast then for lots of art fair news and lots of prizes being passed out to you. You have a 1 in 4 chance of snatching one of them. 

6a00e54fba8a73883301543264ac59970c-250wi?width=150
What? Haven't pledged yet? We need your support.

Some of our sponsors:
 
6a00e54fba8a738833017eeaec9e0c970d-200wi
      8869163682?profile=original   8869164057?profile=original 8869163699?profile=original 6a00e54fba8a73883301a3fd05af47970b-200wi
6a00e54fba8a7388330163059c58f0970d-800wi HowardAlanEventsLogo    6a00e54fba8a73883301901be92a72970b-300wi  6a00e54fba8a738833016766ac8686970b-200wi 6a00e54fba8a738833016766a84903970b-200wi 6a00e54fba8a738833017eeaee6261970d-150wi 6a00e54fba8a73883301901c00a9ea970b-150wi 8869164289?profile=original 8869164475?profile=original 8869164066?profile=original8869164075?profile=original6a00e54fba8a738833017eeb04cfaa970d-250wi8869160665?profile=original 7cc8a15c-2215-459f-a711-bb7344eb42fd.jpg 6a00e54fba8a73883301b8d115e5e2970c-250wi?width=125 1d82a2d5-3e7e-4c55-b67d-a6ded0000d6e.png 8d0acfd4-4e2f-48de-8b00-42b4f8175205.png 44e7074e-e752-4ff1-8f67-ddc2259a0bd5.jpg 74d84712-0197-47e0-ab37-b8e1dae58665.jpg b6dd7793-c161-4ece-8b15-1dbfbc06485a.jpg
Read more…

Connie Never Expected This!

No one predicted that Connie Mettler  would end up an
 Internet guru.

6a00e54fba8a7388330133edf51183970b-200piSure, Connie's decades in the art fair business make her an expert in art events, and helped her develop
 friendships with artists nationwide.  But when I told her about this "Internet" thing, she first saw it as  just a
 distraction from the real world art fairs she loves.


Luckily, I kept up the pressure to put my mom's love for the art fair business to use on the World Wide Web.  In 2004 I started ArtFairCalendar.com to collect the nation's art fair event listings all in one place because of her concern about falling attendance at the events.


Then as social media arrived I develooped 
ArtFairInsiders.com to bring the artist community together online. In both cases it is Connie's decades of expertise that provide the inspiration and on-going expertise that have made these sites successful.

This week is Connie's birthday. Surprisingly to both of us, she now has four websites and has been working  full-time as a "web producer" for many years (in addition to her  roles consulting for other art events nationwide).

Perhaps more importantly, it's been three years since we launched 
ArtFairInsiders.com (the "Facebook" for artists) and eight since the launch of ArtFairCalendar.com.

So, Welcome to the official Connie and ArtFairCalendar.com Birthday Party!

 
Will you please help me recognize Connie's years of efforts to support and promote artists and the art fair comScottFox-100.jpgmunity?

I invite you to show your support these art fair websites and the art fair  community with a small PLEDGE
(starting at $12 which also makes you eligible to win some great prizes):

Learn more here  about how you can support ArtFairCalendar.com,
win prizes*, and send Connie a Happy Birthday wish:

 


Thanks for being here!
Scott (Connie's son)

*prizes like free booth spaces at 3 shows, a GPS, Amazon gift card, very cool art, consulting from experts, etc.

Read more…

Are you a fan of this site? An active member of the Art Fair Insiders community?

Do you find valuable info and friendships here that help your business?

Or, maybe you're even addicted to the forum??

If that sounds like you, we'd like your help.

Can you leave below a short "testimonial" quote about why you like AFI and how it's been helpful (and fun) to you?

We're in the midst of the annual AFI Pledge Drive soon and would appreciate your comments to use publicly in the marketing.

You know, short quotes like "I love visiting ArtFairInsiders.com daily because…"

Thanks for your help!

Scott
(Connie's son)

Read more…

Click on the blue player widget below to listen to special LIVE online radio show “Pledge Drive” episodes of Art Fair Radio!8871881667?profile=original

You can hear some great (free) art fair business-building tips from ArtFairInsiders.com publisher, Connie Mettler, and learn more about the annual Birthday Pledge Drive, too.

Listen to the Connie Mettler interview here or download an MP3 here.



 

You can also download an MP3 of the recent "Nels & Munks Interview" here.


Thanks for listening! (and for pledging here, too!)

Read more…

That was a lot of fun, with a wonderful response from artists, art shows, art fair patrons and advertisers across6a00e54fba8a7388330154325770cc970c-100wi?width=125 the country.

Here are the official winners:

  1. Dorraine Watts - Kindle with built in Wi-Fi
  2. Brian Bass - pottery by Sarah Silva
  3. Tahmi DeSchepper - consulting services with Larry Berman
  4. Shirley Baker - canopy weights from James Eaton
  5. Kristen Walsh - Sunshine Artist subscription
  6. Woody Smith - Auntie M's peanut brittle
  7. Steph Mader -Sunshine Artist subscription
  8. Lenore Lampi - free booth at a Howard Alan Event
  9. Barbara Johnson - mobile Polaroid printer
  10. Suzanne Krongold - NAIA membership6a00e54fba8a7388330154325773ae970c-120wi?width=125
  11. Barbara McLaughlin - consultation with Connie Mettler
  12. Susan Miller - consultation with Connie Mettler
  13. Melanie Rolfes - subscription to Sunshine Artist
  14. Leslie Kaplan - Level 2 membership to Festival Network Online
  15. Donald Dixon - CDs from Paul Adams and Dave Hoffman
  16. Barbara Nelson - Expert Website Review from Scott Fox
  17. Michelle Wermuth - pottery from Barry Bernstein
  18. Carolina Niebres - t shirt from the Des Moines Art Festival
  19. Barbara Berney - Frog Bag from Lynda Wallis
  20. Jetze Beers - Sunshine artist subscription
  21. Wendy Edwards - CDs from Paul Adams and Dave Hoffman
  22. Anne Tindell - a year's membership  to ClickMillionaires.com Online Marketing Coaching Community
  23. Jacqueline Gomez - Frog bag from Lynda Wallis
  24. Ginny Herzog - Expert Website Review from Scott Fox6a00e54fba8a7388330154325e90d8970c-200wi?width=125
  25. Julie Crouse - subscription to Sunshine Artist
  26. Wendy Shattil - a year's membership  to ClickMillionaires.com Online Marketing Coaching Community
  27. Br. Xavier Pankovits - candles from Michelle Sholund
  28. Paolo & Patty DeMaria - Frog bag from Lynda Wallis
  29. Peggy Whitson  - t shirt from the St. Louis Art Fair
  30. Linda Shields - decorated cookies from Auntie M's Baked Goods6a00e54fba8a7388330133ed8c58cc970b-800wi?width=125
  31. Don Lake - choice of tshirt
  32. Terri Anderson - oatmeal cookies from Auntie M's
  33. Terry McCray - Silver palm tree from Lynda Keen

A last thank you to the supporters:

Brian Bass, Michael Kuehl, Loree Rinck, Hyacinth Manning, Joan Tweedell, Stacey Miller, Bobby Schochet, Steph Mader, Anne Tindell, Roberta Starbird, Philip Marty, Paula Grill, Dorraine Watts, Sherry Martin, Margaret Hagopian-Slack, Geri Wegner, Charles Bingham,6a00e54fba8a7388330154325781ac970c-50wi Barbara Berney, Ronald Gould, Don Lake, Pat Finney, John Leben, Jerry Maschinot, Jill Richman, Kay Foley at Ampersand Cards, Linnea Swanson, Michelle Wermuth, Emily Pezzulich, Shaari Horowitz, Silent Echoes, Howard Rose, Barbara Nelson, John MacDonald, Luisa Velasquez, Currie Silver, Bruce Eaton, Gary Willcock, Rick Hall & Tina Willis, Barbara McLaughlin, Melanie Rolfes, Wally Parshall, aLightGoesOn, Bo Mackinson, Harrison Otalor, Clair Thompson, Bruce and Christine Green, Ginny Herzog, Teressa Getz, Margie Luttrell, Dave Dinsdale of Pristine Images, Maija Baynes, Nancy Potts,Tahmi de Schepper, LJ Young, Susan Hohman, Lynn & Michael Krause, Nancy Wasserman, Richard Grossman, Shirley Baker, Danglez, Carol Faith, Kay Cummins, Betty Householder, Mary Hermansen, Sherry Curtis, Impact Gallery, Ilze Heider, 6a00e54fba8a73883301543264ac59970c-250wi?width=150Diana Bruni, Beverly Shine, Hannelore Jundt-Pritchard, Susan Russo, Karen Brown, Lenore Lampi, Lynda Chevrier, Crystal, Medusa's Stones, Annette Piper, James Parker, Michael Wommack, Patricia Simmons, Nicole Moore, Woody Smith, Christine Heisler, Susan Miller, Jennifer Thomas, Lisa Scheffer, Melanie Moore, Tara Dalga, Joanne Wendel, Heather Watson, Suzanne Krongold, Vinnie Sutherland, Sharon @1-2-3 It's Me, Xavier Pankovits, Gregg Gustafson, Paul Messink, Artwear Design, Jacqueline Gomez, Annie Omens, John Ziemann, Candy McFall, Scrap Felt, Helen Jarocki, Leslie Kaplan, Circle D Metal Art, April Schwaegerle, Sharon Fink, John Wilson, Creative Bead Connection, Joy Hafford, DeVer Originals, Karen Kress, Kathleen Clausen, Jill White, Kristen Walsh, Judith Weisblatt, our friends at the College Hill Art Festival, Michael & Carol Weber and Deborah Banyas & T.P. Speer, Leo Charette, Peggy Whitson, Jan Richardson, Ann Akland, Lisa Cutler, Denise Bizot, Rusty Leffel, Terry McCray, Mark Brodnan, Barry Bernstein, 6a00e54fba8a7388330134810e1391970c-800wi?width=150 Wendy Shattil, Jan Anderson, John Pulbratek, Richard Freund, Wendy Edwards, Monika Green, Sarah Silva, Douglas Farrar, Donald Dixon, Lynda Wallis, Pamella Harris, Judy Zeddies, Ruth Finkenbiner, Zee Galliano, Marilyn Troutman, Donald Dixon, Marcia Grout, Donald Thompson, Michelle Babcock and old friends Gert & Sheila Olsen!

Patrons:  Beth Sergeant, Eugene Hughes, Debra Ehmann, Howard Rose, Deborah Gall, Caroline Niebres, Barbara McLaughlin, Wally Parshall, Jeanne Steck, Mary Johnston, Paolo DeMaria, Diane Rose Jewelry, Ariela Boronat, Jetze Beers, B. Felt, Judith Walton, James Nelson, Pat Falk, Julie Crouse, Mark Sarlson, Ed & Carole Schmidt

And the "Angels": Linda Billet, Linda Shields, Allison Bernknopf, Melanie Allen & Ross Graham6a00e54fba8a738833014e88791de2970d-150wi?width=125

Everyone send us your mailing address so we can send you your "Red Dot" bumper sticker and award ribbons for the Patron and Angel sponsors.

Deepest apologies if anyone was left off this list -- I truly appreciate this support and look forward to year 3 of ArtFairInsiders.com!

Read more…

Connie Never Expected This!

No one predicted that Connie Mettler would end up an Internet guru.

8871824252?profile=originalSure, Connie's decades in the art fair business made her an expert in art events, and helped her develop friendships with artists like you nationwide. But when I told her about this “Internet” thing, she saw it as just a distraction from the "real world" art fairs she loves.

Luckily, I kept up the pressure to put my mom’s love for the art fair business to use on the World Wide Web. In 2004 I started ArtFairCalendar.com so she could collect the nation’s art fair event listings all in one place because of her concern about falling attendance at the events.

And then, as the social media revolution arrived, I started ArtFairInsiders.com to help her help the artist community come together online. In both cases it is Connie’s decades of expertise that have made these sites successful.

6a00e54fba8a7388330133f51fc7e2970b-pi?width=200This week is Connie’s birthday. Surprisingly to both of us, she has now been working full-time as a “web producer” for several years (in addition to her roles in producing Arts, Beats and Eats, the Great Lakes Art Fair, and consulting for other art events nationwide).

Perhaps more importantly, it’s been over two years since ArtFairInsiders.com took off and seven since the launch of ArtFairCalendar.com.

So welcome to our 2nd Annual Connie and ArtFairInsiders.com Birthday Party!

Will you please help me recognize Connie’s years of efforts to support and promote artists and the art
fair community?
I would like to invite you to show your support for the AFI community with a small PLEDGE.

Learn more here about how you can support ArtFairInsiders.com and send Connie a Happy
Birthday wish, too:
http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

Thanks for being here!
Scott (Connie’s son)

P.S. And, mark your calendar for the next two Thursdays, (May 26 & June 2) at 6 pm ET. At 6a00e54fba8a7388330154325777b6970c-100wi?width=150ArtFairInsiders.com we'll have two online radio "AFI Birthday Party" broadcasts.

1 - This Thursday (5/26) you can listen to popular (and often controversial) ArtFairInsiders.com members Munks and Nels Johnson battle it out on the air and share their insights into the crazy world of the art fair artist.

2 - Then next Thursday (6/2) you can call in LIVE to talk with Connie Mettler for the ArtFairCalendar.com Happy Birthday Show! She'll be taking your art fair business questions and birthday greetings, too.

Read more…

Friday Winners in the Pledge Drive

Many thanks to so many of you who have pledged their support to our art fair websites. Most of our 6a00e54fba8a738833014e88791de2970d-150wi?width=150prizes are gone, but here is what is left:

  1. Hand decorated cookies; oatmeal cookies from Auntie M.'s Baked Goods
  2. 1 subscription to Sunshine Artist
  3. Candles from BytheBayBotanicals.com from member Michelle Sholund
  4. Jewelry from Lynda Keen
  5. 1 Frog bag, "BuyArt", from Lynda Wallis, www.freelanceillustrations.com
  6. note cards from the Anton Art Center and a one-of-a- kind tshirt: http://www.theartcenter.org/
  7. t shirts from art fairs across the nation - view them here: http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html6a00e54fba8a738833014e887eff7d970d-150wi?width=150

And the winners are:

  1. Steph Mader
  2. Br. Xavier Pankovits
  3. Paolo DeMaria
  4. Peggy Whitson
  5. Linda Shields
  6. Don Lake
  7. Danglez
  8. Terry McCray
  9. Roberta Starbird
  10. Nicole Moore

Please contact me: info@artfaircalendar.com to claim your prize. Tell me your three choices and include your mailing address.

Read more…

Who wants to win this awesome t-shirt?

8871880456?profile=originalRick Bryant, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of Arts in State College, PA, just sent me this jpg of his show's 2011 t- shirt. Isn't it amazing? It is by assemblage artist Robert Villamagna of Wheeling, WV (www.robertvillamagna.com). The name of the image is "Surrender Rabbit."

The next person to make a pledge will with this t-shirt!

Read more…
Have you pledged yet? We need your support to keep ArtFairInsiders.com and Art FairCalendar.com going strong...

The ArtFairCalendar.com "Birthday Celebration"
membership pledge drive is on now and ending Thursday!

Won't you please make a small donation to support these sites and the continued growth of the Art Fair community?

dispatcher?pimg=tmp-657971124Everyone who makes a pledge will receive one of these cool "badges" to display on your AFI profile page. There are 3 levels of support. They start at only $1.00/month - less than a magazine subscription!

Will you please consider becoming an ArtFairCalendar.com "ANGEL"?


Pledge now and you will be entered into drawings for great prizes, too!

You could win a new Kindle with built-in Wi-Fi, a free booth space at any Howard Alan show, a Polaroid Mobile Printer, 3 Expert Website Design Reviews, original art from our artist members, private consulting with Connie, memberships in my ClickMillionaires.com online marketing coaching community, digital imaging from Larry Berman, CDs, subscriptions and memberships, cookies and t-shirts from your favorite art fairs, and more!

Visit our website to see the entire list donated by our generous supporters.

We love the Art Fair community of artists, collectors and organizers and believe you do, too. Please take a minute now to send a friendly birthday wish and a small pledge to celebrate this birthday.

Please pledge here now!
http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html


More details:  http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/pledge-drive-prizes

Read more…

It surely has been fun handing out the prizes to all of you who have been such great supporters of our websites. Many thanks to all who have pledged.

6a00e54fba8a7388330133ed8c58cc970b-800wi?width=150

Here are the prizes that are left:

  1. 3 memberships to the online marketing community - if you are trying to market your art online this community is run like AFI, but it is all about BUSINESS and making money online. This is an invaluable opportunity for you to get some great advice.
  2. 2 expert reviews of your website -- great advice on how to make your website work6a00e54fba8a738833014e88bbde0d970d-800wi?width=100 better for you!
  3.  2 - baked goods from Auntie M's  (peanut brittle gone)
  4. 3 subscriptions to Sunshine Artist
  5. candles from Michelle Sholund
  6. jewelry from Lynda Keen
  7. notecards from the Mt. Clemens Art Center
  8. CDs from Paul Adams & David Hoffman
  9. 3 Frog Bags from Lynda Wallis
  10. vintage t shirts from the top art fairs

 

Here is the next group of winners. 6a00e54fba8a73883301538ebf54cb970b-150wi?width=100

1.  Barbara Berney
2. Jetze Beers
3. Gary Willcock
4. Wendy Edwards
5. Anne Tindell
6.  Jacqueline Gomez
7. Ginny Herzog
8. Pamella Harris
9. Julie Crouse
10. Wendy Shattil

 

Please visit the pledge/prize page and make a choice and send it to me.  Please send three choices as someone is sure to take your first choice!

8870879853?profile=original

Everyone who pledged should have this "Art Star" on their own page on this website by now. If you don't let me know so I can add it.

 

8871880477?profile=originaland also, if you don't already have a "Red Dot" please send me your mailing address.


Pledges are still being taken and many thanks to you who are just now getting around to it. Your names have been added to the list for the drawings.

We'll be doing our last drawing on Friday morning, June 10, for the rest of the prizes.

Read more…

Many thanks for recent pledges including: Pamella Harris, Judy Zeddies, Marilyn Troutman, Donald 6a00e54fba8a73883301538eb9eef2970b-800wi?width=100Dixon, Marcia Grout and Michael Ries. Your names are went into the drawing for today's winners.

Monday's drawing:

1.  Suzanne Krongold

2.  Barbara McLaughlin

3.  Susan Miller

4.  Melanie Rolfes

5.  Rush Creek

6.  Donald Dixon6a00e54fba8a7388330154325e90d8970c-200wi?width=100

7.  Barbara Nelson

8.  Michelle Wermuth

9.  Carolina Niebres6a00e54fba8a73883301538e8bb731970b-200wi?width=100

10. Frances Hurst

Please visit the Prize Page to choose your prize. Please email me 6a00e54fba8a738833014e889e6a20970d-150wi?width=100(info@artfaircalendar.com) your first three choices and don't forget to include your mailing address. Do this as soon as possible please.

6a00e54fba8a7388330133ede45f9a970b-pi?width=100

Prizes that have already been awarded from Friday's drawing:

1.  Dorraine Watts - Kindle

2.  Brian Bass - pottery from Sarah Silva6a00e54fba8a7388330133ed8c58cc970b-800wi?width=100

3.  Tahmi DeSchepper - digital services from Larry Berman

4.  Shirley Baker - weights from CanopyWeights.com6a00e54fba8a7388330134810e1391970c-800wi?width=125

5.  Scrap Felt - subscription to Sunshine Artist

6.  Woody Smith - peanut brittle from AuntieM's6a00e54fba8a7388330133edd7a589970b-pi?width=100

7.  Lenore Lampi - free booth space at any Howard Alan Event

8.  Barbara Johnson - polaroid mobile printer

6a00e54fba8a73883301543264ac59970c-250wi?width=100Congratulations to them!

Everyone who pledges receives our AFI insignia bumper sticker, the "Red Dot". Please send me your mailing address so we can get these out to you.

We will be drawing names again on Wednesday morning for the remainder of the prizes. If you'd like to 6a00e54fba8a738833014e88791de2970d-150wi?width=100be included in the drawing - and you think this website is worth supporting - pledge today!

 

Read more…

Prize Winners in the Pledge Drive

This has been a whirlwind week for us with this pledge drive and the two podcasts. Once again many8871880254?profile=original thanks to all who have pledged to keep our websites alive and happy and continuing to make your art fairs more satisfying to you in every way, physically, emotionally and monetarily.

We have a bunch of prizes to award to those who pledged. We have chosen the following names using the www.Random.org site. Instead of directly awarding a specific prize will the following people please contact me and let me know their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices, as I know not everyone wants web consulting or a Kindle or some of the other prizes on the list. You can find the prizes here: http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

The winners are:

  1. Dorraine Watts
  2. Brian Bass
  3. Tahmi DeSchepper
  4. Shirley Baker
  5. Margaret Hagopian-Slack
  6. Scrap Felt
  7. Woody Smith
  8. Steph Mader
  9. Lenore Lampi
  10. Barbara Johnson

Please have your choices to me by midnight June 5.

Everyone who has pledged is receiving:8871237681?profile=original

  • an official Art Star on their profile page on this site (going up soon)
  • a "Red Dot" bumper sticker. Please send me your mailing address so I can get those out to you.

Haven't pledged yet? Get in on the next round of prize drawings. Pledge here now.

Next prize drawing at 9 am on June 6.

Read more…
Here are the winners from the birthday pledge drive, determined by taking the list of contributors and using www.Random.org to choose the numbers. That was fun because otherwise it would be hard not to choose friends...it was sort of like a "blind jury". You folks know about those!

25 Art fair t shirt winners:


1. Kristie Zamora
2. Nels Johnson
3. Toni Mann
4. Dawn Rasmussen
5. Mark MacKinnon
6. Maria Schuette
7. Mama Moose
8. Dodie Eisenhauer
9. Teresa Kogut
10. Sara Youngman
11. Jim Hamlin
12. Terry Pfister
13. Claudia Winter
14. Geraldine Katz
15. Debbie at Artwear Design
16. Carol Napoli
17. Mary Beth Shaw
18. Don Lake
19. William Morris
20. Finney Art Glass
21. Eugene Hegarty
22. Kevin Kaye
23. John Shoemaker
24. Shary Saudi
25. Beth Gumnick

Tshirt winners, please visit this link to see which art fairs are donating the shirts. Then let me hear which show's tshirt you want. Please give me three
choices
, minimum.

Winner of the cat suncatcher donated by Holly Olinger, www.hurricaneartmetal.com
--Don Mabry

2 winners for the 11 x 14 canvas print donated by Ray Mosteller, www.canvasphoto.us
--Michael at Terra Cottage
--Geraldine Katz

Winner of the One year Pro membership at FestivalNetworkOnline.com, an online commun ity where you can find details on over 20,000 events
--Mardi Chapman

Winner of One year membership in the NAIA.
If you are an artist selling your work through the art festival venue, you need to be a member of the NAIA.
--Barbara Sistak Baur

Winner of $100 worth of consulting services from Larry Berman, fine art & jury image photography
--Anna Kubicka

Two winners, one hour of art fair consulting for artists or art fairs from Connie Mettler
--Sandra Rathbun (a neighbor of mine!)
--Megan Martin

3 memberships to Scott Fox's ClickMillionaires.com Online Marketing Coaching Community
This valuable prize is applicable only to artists who are interested in developing their online business. Please contact me directly if you are interested in joining this online community where you'll receive personal coaching for building your business. The first three who contact me will be the winners.

$50 Amazon.com gift certificate
--Scott Haebich

Gold & pearl bracelet by jeweler Tahmi DeSchepper
--Shawn Malone

And the grand prize:

Flip Ultra HD Mini Camcorder
--Karen Steininger


To claim your prize contact me: info@artfaircalendar.com.



Read more…
Well, this was one of my more interesting birthdays. Many thanks for all the good wishes and kind words about ArtFairCalendar.com and ArtFairInsiders.com. I am so pleased these sites are resources that make your art fair life better. Art fairs are my community and I want only the best for you.

All donors will receive a special "Art Star" that will be posted on their page on ArtFairInsiders.com and Patrons & Angels will receive award ribbons to identify themselves as part of this community at their art fairs.

Special thanks to our "Angel" donors:
Mark Rogers of FrameDestination.com, Cristina Stark, Richard Rothbard of American Art Marketing and Anonymous

Many thanks to our "Patron" donors:
Connie Borrie, Michelle Babcock, Teresa Bodoh, Kay Gallagher, Stewart Rein, John Shoemaker, Elizabeth Balazs, Camille Ronay of Events2000.com, Dave Hinde, Heather Jordan, Amy Flynn and William Morris

And where would we be without the "Supporters"?
Andrew Shea, Angela Finney, Ann Bowdish, Anna Kubicka, Anne Tindell, Artwear Design, Barb Sistak Baur, Barbara Meyer, Barry Bernstein, Beth Gumnick, Billie Barthelemy, Bonnie Shopper, Brenda Schlutow, Brian Bass, Bruce Eaton, Carol Napoli, Carolyn Madvig, Cheryl Hoffman, Chris Maher, Cindy Norris and Dennis & Clair Thompson

Claudia Winter, Clyde Smith, David Rosenberg, Dawn Rasmussen, Debbi28@Comcast.net, Debbie Moyer, Demetrios@medusasstones.com, Denice Bizot, Dodie Eisenhauer, Don & Kathy Coons, Don Lake, Don Mabry, Donna Fuchs, Donna Potts, Douglas Farrar, Earring Holder Gallery, Elizabeth Balazs, Eugene Hegarty, Eugene Liedel, Finney Art Glass, Frances Hurst, Geoff Coe, Geraldine Katz, Geri Wegner, Gil Dorer, Ginny Herzog, Helma Mezey, Henry Wood, Holly Olinger, Bert Herrara, Jacqueline Boulden, Jacqueline Gomez, Jaky Felix and Jan Anderson

Jan Raven, Jan Richardson, Jayne Sabo, Jennifer Callans, Jim Hamlin, John Burns, Judy Bogart, Judy Goskey, Judy Zeddies, Kanchana Nerato, Karen Steininger, Kathleen Eaton, Kathy Cuttonaro, Kevin Kaye, Kristie Zamora, Lanora Hartway, Laura Larson, Leo Charette, Lila Skolnick, Lonne Sterling, Mama Moose, Marcia Grout, Marcia Schuette, Mardi Chapman, and Mark Loeb

Mark MacKinnon, Mary Beth Shaw, Mary Smith, Megan Martin, Michael at Terra Cottage, Michael Choi, Michael Gibson, Michael Kuehl, Michael Gibson, Michael Mettler, Michael Skeen, Michael Weiss, Michelle Babcock, Michelle Reynolds, Michelle Robertson, Mike Barnes, Nancy Koehler, Nancy Potts, Nels Johnson, Northgrove Crafts, Olatunde Afolayan, OzarkLake, Pam Powers, Pat Finney, Patricia Plasko, Patricia Venaleck, Paul Messink, Peggy Whitson and Phyllis Minnery

Ray Hartl, Rebecca Loveland, Roberta Starbird, Rosellen McAlear, Roxie & Sonny Dalton, Russell Leffel, Sandra Rathbun, Sara Corkery, Sara Youngman, Scott Haebich, Scott Kapp, Sharon Spry, Shary Saudi, Shawn Malone, Sit.Stay.Smile Photography, Sue Russo, Susan Kovach, Susan Moon, Teresa Bodoh, Teresa Kogut, Terri Drake, Terry Pfister, The Green Fuse, The Mosaic Gardens, Toni Mann, Whitney Peckman, Woody Smith and Peggy Martin.

If I left you out -- deepest apologies. My thanks to all members of these communities. If it wasn't for your enthusiasm and participation these websites and newsletters would not exist.

Many thanks also to my partners who helped make the pledge drive a success:

Jeweler Tahmi DeSchepper, Scott Fox developer of the ClickMillionaires.com community, Larry Berman professional jury image services, the NAIA (National Assn. of Independent Artists) supporting artists in the art fair business, Festival Network Online an online community listing of over 20,000 events throughout the U.S., CanvasPhoto.us putting your photos on canvas, and metal artist Holly Olinger.

Thanks to my friends at these art fairs for donating t-shirts for the drive:

Madison, WI's, Art Fair on the Square, Clayton, MO's, St. Louis Art Fair, Key West, FL's, Key West Craft Show, Norwich, NY's, Colorscape Arts Festival, St. Joseph, MI's, Krasl Art Fair, Royal Oak, MI's, Arts, Beats & Eats, Peoria, IL's, Peoria Fine Art Fair, Upper Arlington, OH's, Upper Arlington Art Fair, Columbus, OH's, Riverfront Art Festival, Columbus, OH's, Columbus Craftacular, Quincy, IL's, Midsummer Arts Faire, State College, PA's, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, San Diego , CA's, Mission Federal ArtWalk, Chicago, IL's and Old Town Art Fair, Omaha, NE's, Summer Arts Festival.

You can listen to the radio show finale to the pledge drive right here:

Listen to Art Fairs on Blog Talk Radio

About this time I'm feeling like Sally Fields when she won her Academy Award...hopefully you will remember her speech, I'm too modest to repeat it here.


Read more…

Connie Never Expected This!

No one predicted that Connie Mettler would end up an Internet guru.

8871824252?profile=originalSure, Connie's decades in the art fair business make her an expert in art events, and helped her develop friendships with artists nationwide. But when I told her about this “Internet” thing, she first saw it as just a distraction from the real world art fairs she loves.

Luckily, I kept up the pressure to put my mom’s love for the art fair business to use on the World Wide Web. Because of Connie's concern about falling attendance at the events, I started ArtFairCalendar.com so she could collect the nation’s art fair event listings all in one place to help boost attendance and keep patrons coming to support her friends, the artists exhibiting at the shows.

And then, as social media arrived, Connie's decades of friendships in the art fair business seemed a
natural fit for an online social network. So I built ArtFairInsiders.com to help her help the artist community come together online. In both cases it is Connie’s decades of expertise that provide the inspiration and on-going expertise that have made these sites successful.

Welcome to the official Connie and ArtFairInsiders.com Birthday Party!

May 23 is Connie’s birthday.
Surprising everyone (including herself!), she has now been working full-time as a “web producer” for several years (in addition to her roles in producing Arts, Beats and Eats, the Great Lakes Art Fair, and
consulting for other art events nationwide).

Perhaps more importantly, it’s been over a year now since we launched ArtFairInsiders.com. And we never had a birthday party!

Will you please help me recognize Connie’s years of efforts to support and promote artists and the art
fair community?
I would like to invite you to show your support for the AFI community with a small PLEDGE.

Learn more here about how you can support ArtFairInsiders.com and send Connie a Happy
Birthday wish, too:
http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

Thanks for being here!
Scott (Connie’s son)

p.s. And, mark your calendar for next Wednesday, May 26 at 400pm ET. We’ll have a live online “Birthday Party” broadcast right here on ArtFairInsiders.com. Listen and call-in to wish Connie a Happy Birthday!

pps. P.S. On Thursday, May 20, at 9 pm EST, Connie is going to be the guest on Kevin Mastow's blogtalk radio show (
www.kevinandthegiantpeach.com ). Kevin's beat is interviewing small business owners and entrepreneurs and they'll be talking about Connie's story of how she has built her
business.


Here is the link for you to join us: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kevin-mastaw/2010/05/21/connie-mettler-art-fair-calendar-queen You can call in with your questions too.


Read more…
Have you pledged yet? We need your support to keep ArtFairInsiders.com going strong...

The ArtFairInsiders.com “ Birthday Celebrationmembership pledge drive is on now and ending TOMORROW!

Won't you please make a small donation to support Connie and the continued growth of the ArtFairInsiders.com community?

Everyone who makes a pledge will receive one of these cool " badges" to display on your AFI profile page. There are 3 levels of support. They start at only $1.00/month - less than a magazine subscription!

Will you please consider becoming an ArtFairInsiders.com " ANGEL"?

Pledge Now and You Could Win!

Pledge now and you will be entered into drawings for great prizes, too!

You could win a new Flip UltraHD Camcorder, consulting with Larry Berman, private consulting with Connie, memberships in my ClickMillionaires.com online marketing coaching community, art, digital printing from CanvasPhoto.us, t-shirts from your favorite art fairs, and more!

We love the ArtFairInsiders.com community and hope you do, too. Please take a minute now to send a friendly birthday wish and a small pledge to support this site on its birthday?


Thanks for your support!

P.S. Don't forget our telethon tomorrow at 4 pm at this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2010/05/26/art-fair-birthday-pledge-drive


Read more…
Has ArtFairInsiders.com helped you with your art fair business? Helped you dodge some bad shows or maybe get into a few new ones? Taught you some new tricks?

Pledge Now!Has being a member of this site helped you learn how to make it better as a working artist, and make a few new friends, too?

I hope so and I’d like to say thank you for your participation in ArtFairInsiders.com. The feedback from artists and art fair organizers has been encouraging.

Join the ArtFairInsiders.com Birthday Pledge Drive!

I’d also like to ask for your support of this community in the form of a “ birthday pledge.”

Your donation will help this web community keep growing, and help Connie continue her mission of improving the life style of her friends in the art fair business.

There are 3 levels of pledge support. And they start at just $1.00/month.

This is just like PBS folks, the good stuff costs money to produce and Connie would like to continue to bring it to you. $1.00/month is not too much to ask for the great info and community you find here, is it?

Please visit this page now to make a donation to thank Connie, wish her a Happy Birthday, and support ArtFairInsiders.com.

Win Prizes by Pledging!
Learn about the great thank you PRIZES we have for you! You could win a new Flip UltraHD Camcorder, jewelry from Tahmi DeSchepper, consulting from Larry Berman, canvas prints from canvas photo.us, memberships, t-shirts from your favorite shows, and more!

Click here to learn more and pledge now: http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html


Thanks for being here!
Scott (Connie’s son)

p.s. Please join us on Wednesday at 4 pm ET. We’ll have a live online “Birthday Party” broadcast right here on ArtFairInsiders.com. Listen live from the ArtFairInsiders.com home page or call-in to 646-378-0822 to wish Connie a Happy Birthday!

Read more…