blogs (20)

Manatee Art Festival--Apollo Beach, Florida

First off. This show is not out in a dung-infested cow pasture--anymore. A few years back it was moved to a scenic county park right on Tampa Bay.You can smell the salt air, feel the cooling bay breezes wafting thru your booth.I have done this show off and on over the 25 years it has been held. It is only a thirty minute drive from my Ybor house.On this date, everybody would love to be at Vero Beach art show. But alas, those old art ladies will not let all of us in, so other venues need to be sampled. There is Howard's Juno Beach, there is scenic Leesburg (good luck), oh there is Brooksville ( I tried to warn John Leben) and there is Apollo Beach.Put on by the local chamber. Nice prize money, a decent patrons program, two free breakfests, a free Sat. Nite dinner, a laid back Friday setup, a low booth fee, only 96 artists, equally mellow load out, a show where you could easily sell $1000-$3000.there is a lot to like about the show.The crowd buys mostly traditional beach imagery. They love metal sculptures especially of fish. There is not an overwhelming number of jewelers there.I had one keen patron drop $900 on me on Sunday, I ended up having my best show there, ever.It is a great filler show.
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This was last weekend. A Paragon show in North Straub Park beside the Museum of Art.This show had lots of visibility. Right on Beach Drive, across from all the happening restaurants. There is a steady vibe here of people enjoying themselves-- and enjoying the art.It was my second time doing this show. Only 126 artists. Easy peaszy setup. On Sunday, tear it all down then get your van. Most people were out in an hour.You can set up a day before, very leisurely. I got to sleep in my own Ybor bed, so did Ellen who was beside me.Booth fee just under $400. Good advertising. Lots of good art and craft at the show, did not see much buy-sell. Plenty of regulars in all mediums who inhabit our circuit nationally.That said, we all made some money, but not enough of it. Saturday was the day of overall sales being real good. Sunday, the high end sellers had a better day then the rest of us.So far this year I get a sense that the general public is very rattled by the political atmosphere. You can see them rising to the surface, almost ready to go home with the work. Then they put it back and walk away. They just cannot pull the trigger.I saw it happen over and over again. So far, my sales are off by about 40 per cent over last year.I am not alone in this respect.I am afraid we have not seen the last of this phenomenon.John Leben you are one lucky man. Hope you can keep it up.This is a sweet little show, I just hope Bill Kinney (Mr. Paragon) does not kill the golden goose.Two weeks from now, he is putting on a seafood-craft festival in the same area. The locals will start thinking, "Oh it just those people in the white tents, ho hum, no reason to buy now, they will be around again." Bill, take a lesson from Naples. Can you smell, or spell, over-proliferation.There was an event held in the week before. They used tons of sand(which Bill had no control over) which ended up covering almost one half of the pedestrian walkway on one of the aisles. People got stuck there, it was not pretty.I would do the show again. It is a great venue for an Art Show.This week I will be at Heathrow next to Lake Mary. Be staying with my good bud Steve Vaughn. Pray for us, sales could be kind of slim.
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I am behind on my blogs, but here goes.The good news is the fricking construction is finally done.The whole area looks beautiful.The bad news is that it still does not attract the base of patrons that attended when it was at the Promenade on Hwy 41.We had great weather and the crowds were there.Sales were spotty.Glass artist across from me had a five figure show, painter two booths away did almost twice what the glass person did.The key to both of them was this: they sold very expensive items.This year, so far, I am seeing high end sales happening regularly at the shows. The low mid-range ($100-$500) is not doing so well.Low end sales abound but there are not enough customers for all the artists there.The sad fact is art shows care more about renting temporary 10x10 spots than they do about the art contained within.I am afraid this is going to be a very difficult year for most of us.Personally I made a small profit for a nearly $500 booth fee.So did many others there.It is a nicely run show, they advertise but the sales are not commiserate with the booth fee charged.Frankly, I do not think it will ever change.People with conservative, traditional Florida art have a better chance here.So be fore-warned if you are thinking of trying this show.
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Images--New Smyrna Beach--another take

John Leben just wrote a beautiful blog about this show, check It out.I am just going to give you a little more perspective, plus, talk about places to eat and drink at there.I lived in NSB for six years in the eighties. I have done it many times, and done well.This year was one of the worst shows there that I have ever done.On Sunday I made a whopping $40 sale at 11am, then did zero the rest of the day.I sell a certain amount of humor in my photos, unfortunately, most patrons had no humor.This is a three day show with Friday being a total waste of time. You have to spend another day in a hotel while you barely make $300-$600 for the day.Saturday brought decent crowds around noon. You sell to a lot of seniors at this show.Not a lot of the younger people have disposable income to buy art.The show is too long to walk, so you do not get a lot of "be-backs".There are 240 artists here. That is too many for the size of this town. The show will never downsize it, they love renting out temporary 10x10 spots.They have an excellent patrons program which has grown better every year. This year I got zero patrons awards, usually I pick up three to four.Face it, I just sucked there. They did like my art. Others did very well like Leben, Vaughn and many others.Traditional, conservative art is king here.Now let us talk about the pluses for this show.One, you can drive your car on the beach here. It is a thrill to do. It is one of the coolest rides to do.Second. NSB is a very mellow, beach town. It has finally come into its own in the last ten years. There are tons of good restaurants, and they all serve great fresh seafood. Try Off the Hook in the Publix shopping center on the beach. On Sunday's you get a dozen raw or steamed oysters for $10. The grouper sandwich is awesome for $14.Third. You can find very reasonable lodging choices there. Just ask John Leben.Fourth. The show committee is very artist friendly. They give out quality lunches, snacks and dinner, they have a great awards program.Fifth. I just love New Smyrna Beach.I just had a sucky show this year, that's my fault.The rest of you should try this show--and, ride on the beach!
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Yep. The belly dancers show up on Sunday and captivate a huge audience with their rhythmic swaying for a solid hour. They are part of the show.


It is held in a beautiful treed park right on the edge of downtown Lexington. All booths are on grass and you can stake down. They are scrimmy about giving you room on your sides (unless you pay for a corner). Most people have room for a rear awning and storage. It is a mellow Friday setup with the show on Sat. And Sunday. Decent hours with show ending at 6pm, Sat.m and 5pm on Sunday.


This year the weekend forecast was horrible with rain and thunderstorms predicted for 80% on Sat and 40% on Sunday. Thankfully, we lucked out. We had a few pissy,short showers early on Sat. And then clouds the rest of the day. It finally poured buckets around closing. So we lucked out. Because of the weather forecast, and the fact that it did rain everywhere except in the park, crowds were not at their fullest. Still, there were plenty of people and a lot of sales, mostly low end, were happening. Sunday morn we had pissy showers until about eleven. Then the sun came out along with a cooling breeze which in turn brought out good crowds.


Lexington is both a university town and a horse-breeding town, So you have lots of young couples and wealthy elders. Not a bad mix. I make more sales to young people here than anywhere else. And, I do 35 shows a year all over the country. And, I have been doing them for 42 years. I usually always make decent profit. In fact I can only recall less than ten shows where I lost money at, out of more than 1400 I have done.


This year was my best ever at Woodlands in the last seven years, It helps that I have a loyal following who seems to keep buying from me even if my work changes. For those of you who may not know, I had open heart surgery (quad bypass, one new valve and a band around another) four years ago. So along with a new body (hell of a way to lose 40 pounds when they rip you open with a saw) came a new body of work--my black and white photos hand colored using acrylic, not watercolor. They are working quite well and I am making a decent living at it in spite of the hard times we are going through. What I am saying is if you want to succeed in our biz you have to create your own niche market so that you stand out from the herd.


At this show there were at least ten photographers with outstanding European images. The trouble is that they all looked fairly alike. And there are only so many buyers for those images, so some prospered while others died or barely made a small profit.


Back to the show. People here, tend to buy traditional and conservative. It is a good market for crafts like metal, clay and leather. Glass, not as great. There are a ton of jewelers from all ends of the spectrum. Again, some do well while others languish. If there is one valid negative about this show it is the fact it is too large for the population it serves. Close to 400 exhibitors. It is run by the local arts association and they depend on it to make money to keep them running. So you can see they are not going to cut back the number of artists.


One other negative here also. The art league puts up pop up canopies for its sponsors who are intermingled with artists booths. Trouble is they do not anchor them. I pointed this out to the show director on Friday, because I had such a tent beside me, unanchored. I told him if a big wind came along the canopy could damage mine and others. He shrugged me off and said he would take care of it. He never did. Those tents were unanchored the entire show. That is just plain dumb. The Lexington Art League barely gets by and they do not need a liability issue like that. Are you listening to me, Mark, the director?


Sunday the crowd started buying by noon. I saw lots of packages in people's arms. Not all exhibitors were happy. But that is show biz. In fact I do not know of any show where 90 per cent of artists are happy. For an August show this is a decent one where you can make a decent paycheck. Hotel rates are very reasonable here. Food is varied and decently priced. You can drink great bourbons everywhere. Had a few great ones but I passed on the 24 year old Papys, I had a great show, but not that great.


Well, there it is kiddos. Hope you gleaned some nuggets of wisdom which will help you make an informed decision about this show. I tell you one thing, this show beats the hell out of the new Cleveland Flats show. But that is topic to be addressed in the future.

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Well, I have to admit I have been derelict in my blogging. Done four shows and I am finally posting. Others coming.Frankly, the lure of the nearby golf course has seduced me more than writing. I will try to correct the errors of my ways.On with the show.Fort Wayne is a cool little town. I had never been there, but when I arrived, I was charmed by its ways.It has a good feeling of energy. New buildings blending with the old. Nicely treed, easy to get around. The people are friendly, most dress very nicely. They support the arts here.It is a small show about 130 exhibitors. Most are on Main Street (closed off from traffic),the rest are in a beautiful tired park around a fountained plaza. Everybody is set up on concrete.Plenty storage behind and on most sides.I was not expecting much, this was a filler show. Did not get in Krasl and was number seven on waitlist at Madison.Only a $200 booth fee. I made more than 10x my booth fee. Many others did not.This is an old show but a new committee is running it and they did a great job. Mellow setup and tear down.People are quite conservative and traditional in their purchases. Lots of Art on the Stick going by. Did not see many big frame pieces go by. Most of my sales were from print bins--$25-$80 range. I am a photographer.I have my own style that sets me apart from the rest of the herd. I don't do lighthouses or lake scenes. I do not do a lot of scenic spots. Been doing this way, successfully, for 42 years.That is probably why I did well there, I was a breath of fresh air.I would recommend this show if you live only 3-5 hour drive away.This is a filler show. My total expenses for the show,including booth, were under $500.FtW has some great restaurants with decent prices for yummy foods.Try Cindy's Diner for great breakfast. It is a five minute walk from the show.Try Main Street Bistro for great dishes ranging from vegetarian to good beef, drinks are cheap, and the place is a class act.That's all folks.Next, I will blog about the Des Moines show, then Columbus and finally, Kalamazoo.
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I have been derelict. I am trying to crawl back into your good graces.The siren of the golf course yearns seductively. I often heed its call. Writing is left behind.Well, enough for noble sentiments. On with the show.There are two shows at Des Moines, last weekend of JuneThis is about the big one downtown.More than 1200 artists vie for about 160 open spots.As the old biblical saying goes, "Many are called, few are chosen."It is a killer show for most artists. It was my best show in the last two years, even eclipsing the Fort Worth show.Note.I have been doing art shows for 32 years now. I am almost 72 years now. If Iam lucky, I get into one to three biggies each year. I do 36 shows a year. It is called making a living, at least for me. Do not feel sorry for me, I play golf three to four days a week, wear shorts year round, take one hour naps after cocktails at lunch either in Saugatuck or Ybor City.Whenever I get into a biggie I always kill them. I have a unique photographic product without a lot of competition.It just ain't easy getting into the biggies. It is even harder now than ten years ago.So when I got the good news I was going to DSM, I celebrated, I gave the nine feral cats in the back yard wet food instead of dry. They looked at me quizzically and meowed, " Oh dumb fuck photographer must have got into a biggie."I promptly called a patron who put us up last time we got in(about five years earlier) and asked Dean if he had room for me again. He said, "Yes" I was in there.Here is some meat about the show for those of you who have not got in yet.It is a three day show on concrete right in the heart of downtown. Hours are long, past 10 pm.Restaurants everywhere. Coffee shops too.It is one of the best run shows anywhere in the country. The director, Stephen King, is a pro. They think of everything.Example. Oh, it has to do with alcohol. "imagine that?"At the artist oasis where they give you breakfast, water and snacks--they also give you freeBloody Mary's. Awesome, dudes!You need strong weights, winds are real strong here. Cheapie EZ Ups are not allowed here.Plenty storage room behind, tight on the sides.Setup day before, very mellow.Tear down. Everything down on the booth, then get a pass. Still pretty mellow.OK that is the meat.What happened this year?I thought you would never askThis year it was blistering hot Sat. And Sun--plus 90 degrees.This affected sales. Crowds were down. But there were still tons of people. Not all of them bought anything.People are very polite and well dressed. This is their one big show and they are proud of it. They are also very proud of you for being here. And some reward you very nicely, monetarily.I sold well at all levels, low end to high end, matted to framed.They are conservative and traditional, but, they are open to real new work. You just gotta try it at least once, to see if it is your market.Damn! A jalapeño just fell out of a Bloody Mary onto my IPad where I am typing this. I am doing lunch at the Wild Dog Tavern in Douglas while typing this blog. I am also watching the British Open. I guess I am really multi-tasking.I had a killer show. So good that I had to cancel Boston Mills the next weekend because I had nothing left to sell. And, I love Boston Mills.All said, if you want to make serious money at a show then you gotta try Des Moines.
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Artigras--not a great one for most, this year

"The kid is doing better than us, and, it is his first show here."
Anita Bauldorf, wife of painter, Steven
"Art shows are a lot like "Hotel California", you can check in, anytime, but you can never leave."
Photographer, Nels Johnson

Well, that probably, and succinctly, describes this year's Artigras held at Abacoa Town Center just south of Jupiter.
At least year's ago we got to ogle Lonnie Anderson on the arms of Burt Reynolds. She is now gone, he is pretty infirm, and the show is death-spiraling into just another fricking art show in Florida.
With the booth fee,gas,hotels,food,etc. most of us have $1K tied up in expenses before you make a dime. If you can't turn better than $3K here, it is not worth coming to.
Oh, I guess for you northern artists, you can write it off as a Florida weekend vacation--beats shoveling snow.
We had great weather til about 1pm on Monday (it is a three day show, same time as the Grove). Monday's at this show, if you make $300 you are doing good. So the rain did not cost us much.
But, Saturday and Sunday,the crowds were moderate, mostly uninterested in art. Some people killed them, but not most.
I know one photographer, who used to do mostly do B/W and now went color on canvas,went home with a nearly empty cAmper, they cleaned him out.
For the most part, sales were sluggishly,slow. No flurries (what's a flurry, anymore). Very few be-backs. Mostly low end numbers were sold.
For photos it was the "P's", palms, piers and Pelicans.
Florals and seascapes prevailed. Ad nauseum,ad nauseam. Forget about art outside the box--it does not reside here.
A lot of us did really good here last year and this year we did half.
So far this year, sales have been pretty static. I have been slugging it out for the last eight years barely keeping my head above water. Getting pretty tired of it. I keep hoping it will turn around.
About the two quotes at the top of the blog.
First, the Bauldorf's son was doing his first Artigras. He has done other shows. He is a young talented painter, just like his dad.
They did not have a kick-ass show, and junior was kicking their ass in sales--but it was still low figures.
As for me, I have always been an Eagles fan.
At my age, he'll, what else am I gonna do? Hustle old farts on the golf course. Not. Be a greeter at Walmart--double not. Do real estate--get real!
I guess you all are stuck with me.

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So far, this year, this has been the only show out of five that had good weather.Images was two weeks ago, I am just now blogging about it. Painting the outside of our 100-year-old Ybor house has cut into my golfing and blogging.New Smryna Beach (NSB) is a lovely beach town just south of Daytona. You can still drive on the beach here.I lived here in the early 80-ies so I have always had a soft spot for this show.Ironically,I had my best NSB show here this year, and I have done this show off and on since 1981.It is now a three day show. Friday is a total waste of time, if you make $300 for the day, you are doing good.Saturday brought better crowds and Sunday was the best.What shows still have not figured out is that on Friday the people who buy art are working for a living. So all we get are the old folks who are no longer spending. We are just cheap entertainment for them.On a plus side, this show has a tremendous Patrons Award program. The show director said they spent more than $200,000 last year--not too shabby for a little beach town.The crowd buys mostly traditional and conservative imagery. Modern art is lost on them.They have a very nice prize money program and I managed to snag some of it.You set up early on Friday and the show runs from 1-5pm.On Saturday it is 10-5pm and mercifully, on Sunday it ends at 4pm. Wish more shows would do that.Plenty of storage space behind booths, and the whole show is on city streets so bring weights.There is a great seafood shack called the Dolphin View right on the water and behind booths at the northeast end of the show. Fresh fish sandwiches, with hush-puppy's and Cole slaw, for under $10. A great deal.Jason's is a great breakfast spot on Canal Street where the show is. The show brings ya lunch every day.Overall, it is a very well run show with a great volunteer staff helping.The show is a little too big for a town of this size, roughly 210-plus exhibitors. But this is not going to change, nor will they drop the Friday. Too bad.I will gladly do it again and I would recommend it to most artists I know.
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This was last weekend in South Straub Park across from the bay. A perfect spot among million dollar condos and trendy restaurants.A little background.I am a photographer with 41 years in our biz--I bring a unique perspective to it. Also, I am born in St. Pete and have watched my town bloom into a fantastic traveler's destination.December is a rough month to make a living selling art in Florida.There are not a lot of good choices for shows.There is Palm Harbor, near Clearwater, forget about it, the committee that runs it is clueless .there is Englewood,below Venice, wrong time of the year, the money is not there yet.Equally said for Anna Maria also. Another clueless director who will listen to no input.Vero Beach, same thing, money people are no there yet.HA craft show on St. Pete Beach, small time sales, you take your chances.People don't buy a lot of art for gifts, and if so, it is usually low end.About four years ago, a gallery owner on Central Avenue, put on a Christmas show in the north Straub Park location,right next to the fine art museum.About 70 artists set up, about 60 of them failed, not enough people showed up.Then two years ago, Bill Kinney (Paragon) showed up. He put the show on in its present location on South Straub Park. He started small and steadily built it up.This year there were 105 artists, a perfect number, where most could make money.I waited til this year to try it. Bill charges $395 for the booth-- a high,dear amount.That amount should return ya $3-4K in sales--I was not sure it could do that.Well, I booked it, and I am glad I did.My previous two shows for the month sucked Royal Canalwater. I did not even clear $1K in sales for Anna Maria and Englewood combined.So I showed up on a windy, cool Friday to set up.There are only limited parking spaces, curbside, at the park. So part of it is luck,some of it timing, to find a spot.I lucked out, I usually do. In 41 years I have rarely been disappointed in finding a spot. I am blessed.Most of us had close neighbors on our sides but we had oodles of room in our rear and savvy artists took advantage of it with the promoter's blessing.It was a good looking show. Not a lot of chotzey looking work. There was a lot of great art and craft there, and a lot of it was in the high end range.I went back to Ybor City across the bay, satisfied with my set up. One of the reasons I took a chance on this show, was knowing if I died at it, at least I was sleeping in my own bed and not paying a hotel. We take our small comforts where-ever we can.Saturday bloomed brilliantly. Clear skies,cool breezes and lots of people walking about, greeted me in the morn. I got there early, walked up Central Avenue five blocks to the Dome Restaurant and had crispy hash with eggs. A short walk back and I was ready.Let me tell you about St. Pete now. Not all of you know a lot about the place.St. Pete (SP) sits on a unique piece of geography on Florida's Gulf coast. It is on a peninsula bordered by Tampa Bay,to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the west.It is equally blessed with sparkling beaches and a park-laden bayside location.When I was a kid in the forties it was known as the green bench city. People who could not afford Miami and Sarasota flocked here because housing was cheap and it was a really nice small town.Johnny Carson mockingly referred to SP as "God's waiting Room" where all the retirees came to die.There were lots of great neighborhoods to the north and south of downtown with wonderful Craftsman homes built in the forties.In the 50's thru the 80's downtown SP was mostly retail with a few good restaurants and theaters. Not a lot of people lived downtown.Then in the late 80's savvy builders saw the real potential of SP."Geez! Why not live right downtown here. You have this gorgeous waterfront abutting downtown, lovely parks to walk in, a cool pier to go out to, yacht basins all over the place."Let's build condo high rises to lure the money people downtown. Next let's build great restaurants and bars for them to hang out at. Then came galleries and museums, coffee shops,ritzy retail shops. And, it was all walkable. In a ten block square area you could do everything.And so it came to pass--SP's potential finally blossomed. This place is a magnet locationfor the monied traveler.I will say that the tried and the true traditional art sells best here. Still a very conservative Protestent edge here.So that gets us back to the present--this show.I sold steadily all day Saturday. My biggest sales was only in the $300 range--but it sure beat the hell out of Englewood and Anna Maria where there was zero interest.I sold to a lot of out of towners. I met people from New England, some from Chicago,many from Columbus,Ohio. A few from Iowa and one from San Francisco.They all had money. Nobody tried to get me down on the price. They were a class act.A fellow photographer near me had a 4K-plus day. Painters beside me sold several 40x60 pieces. Several jeweler sold some really nice pieces. Several artists around me zeroed.I drove home to Ellen in Ybor a happy camper. It was a great night for sushi.Sunday's weather was even better than Saturday's,a little warmer in the seventies.Crowds were bigger than Saturday. A lot more people walking their dogs.My sales were half of Saturday. But it still was a very good show.Several painters who zeroed Saturday had big sales on Sunday.According to Bill, who mines data like a maven, the average artist did a little better than $2.5K. That' s not bad for a December show.I still think the fee is a bit high for the return, but Bill can get it, because where else are you gonna go.Tear down is always a hassle, especially with limited curbside parking. You are supposed to be torn totally down to the ground before loadin out. Well, you know how that goes.Most people were out of therein less than two hours, some in one hour. Most went home happy.For me the show was a lifesaver.I would have had to slit my throat if I had ended with the Anna Maria show where I made $425.00.So I am reinvigorated for 2016--I see a killer year ahead.
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This is a big show, too any exhibitors, and too few buyers from a crowd that numbers 100,000.MD is a lovely town about an hour's drive northwest of Orlando. It is very hilly, so most spots are on a slope, you better have shims.Buyers are mostly conservative and traditional in want they want for art. Hard to sell abstract or cutting edge here.In the good old days this was a $4K-$8K show for many of us.Sadly, it is no more.Weather was a big factor here, again. I have done five shows so far and only one of them had good weather. Fricking El Niño sucks.Saturday, we had steady rain from noon til show end at five.Sunday, no rain, but heavy wind and tremendous cold. I had six layers of clothing on.I was on Alexander Street and it sucks there. Booths are back against the curb and there is about 20 feet between the booth fronts for people to walk. It is like a cattle run. People are crammed and crowded and it is not easy to look at the art. Mainly people are just trying to get thru and go elsewhere. It made for sucky sales.I was called off the waitlist for MD and this street was where I was stuck on. I would never do the show again on this street.Some people had a great show, but by and large, sales were slim here.Not a good way to start off Febuary.
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First, here are some valuable points about the show, then we will get into a typical Nels Blog.Produced by the Naples Art Center, find it on JAS.Booth fee $450.00 (a little too much considering the average return on your investment--but then, they are all now greedy bastards, most art show promoters.Quad style layout--four booths to a quad, everybody gets a corner but little storage room behind the booth,unless you luck out and get a jeweler behind you.(yeah jewelers)Setup is early Sat. Morning after 3:30 am (yuck!)Parking is in another country (At least it feels that way)They do offer parking downtown at two lots for $50.This is a two day show.Over 250 exhibitors--lots of competition.OK there is the nuts and bolts in case that is all you are interested in. For those of you who love the biz we do-- read on while I regale you with tales of astonishment and fantastic feats accomplished against overwhelming odds.Now with the new Star Wars out, we must amp the blogs up a bit, if only I had animation.Nels first blog of the year 2016Once upon a time in a land far south of the Mecca known as New York City two stalwart artists named Nels and Ellen, set off on a daunting voyage to invade the riches of Naples, down in Florida.Between them these two artist-warriors had 80 years experience in their field of expertise--photos and pastel-- had attended more than 2300 art shows, sometimes they prospered very well, other times they ran home in their vans licking their wounds.It was a deadly terrain ruled by autonomous art associations and high and mighty art promoters.Naples was a noble venue known for rich nobles visiting from afar, some who lived further away than Georgia, some came from that distant galaxy known as Europe.On the trip from their nest in Ybor City to Naples, Nels was ambushed by by a distracted driver on the great white venue known as Interstate 75.The driver was alongside Nels in what we quaintly call the slow lane. All of a sudden the driver lunged violently into Nels with his towed vehicle swerving precariously into his path.Nels was beset and pissed off. First off, he could not figure out why the guy moved over on him. Was the guy on the phone with the Donald?Quickly Nels jammed on his brakes hard, yanked his steering column hard left, and mentally,gave the offender the fickle upward single finger.There was a water-filled moat to his very left, there were hissing alligators greedily awaitingi his misfortune. Luckily, the offender came to his senses and swerved back a hard right. Nels missed him by a foot. One more foot to the left and he would have been alligator sushi.Ah! Another tale to tell around the Sushi Dens of Naples.Nels and Ellen barely made it in time to find out where they could sell their wares. The Naples Lordship shut done his services at 4pm. Latecomers would have to wait til morn.They both made it with a minute to spare.Nels regaled his fellow artists in line with the tales of his recent derring do. Some fellow artists like the Jeweler known as Phil from Erin, thought that Nels looked a little pale. Maybe these tales were taking a toll on Nels.Nels thought, "Hell with Phil, a little Jack on the rocks will smooth everything--and, it did."After checking in and registering their validity of their wares, Nels and Ellen sought nourishment, mostly of the alcoholic type. They found it at a happy place known as the Bonefish Grill. And, it happened to be Happy Hour, and they both got very happyon fish and mild grog. They retired to a great place known as the Red Roof Inn. They were excited because they had two free night certificates which lowered their risk of not making an honest wage this very weekend.They slept very contentedly til the evil invention by the Lord Jobs awakened them at the early hours of 4 am in the morning.Nels usually never would awaken this early for any art show. The same with the lovely Ellen. Although she would do it for a prosperous adventure in far off Chicago known as the "Old Town Art Fair.Sadly, they were not posted side by side. They both motored off to find ample advantage in setting up their booths and stocking them with alluring wares.The people of Naples were known for their riches and proclivity for images of Florida dear.Against great odds and aching muscles they engineered a perfect booth for each of them.Charmingly, Nels realized he was setting up in a quad known as the Comedy Corner. How devilish of the Naples director to put two photographers who both did humorous images side by side. What vision. We could only hope his bolster vision would prosper us. In the end, against great odds, we did prosper.The event opened at 10 am under very foggy, humid sky. The natives, and tourists, were a bit reclusive.Before noon a great land rush of swarming peoples descended upon the artisans. Speaking in tongues of Brooklyn, Sweden,German and English, they hungerily sought out and spent their riches upon many of us. All media were seen being carried off, although I think I missed a Helen of Troy, I did witness at least two of Scott of the Mississippi's Causey go by me.They riches stopped flowing by two- and we settled into lethargy and afternoon doldrums.By day's end, Nels and Ellen were very happy. When polling his favored artists most were very happy and we're looking forward to Happy Hour.Most agreed that a minemum of $1.5K was achieved for the day and many more were over $3K for the day. It was a good sign for the beginning of 2016.There was a certain amount of grumbling going on that day.It was announced on Facebook and other social sites that two other rival Art Show Lords had set up equal ventures at nearby venues with the charming names of Coconut Point and Estero. So the rich folk were being lured in many directions.Nels noticed thru the day that he could throw the proverbial "cinder Block" out of his booth and not hit anybody. Not a good sign at noon of an art fair.The folk that he got into his booth spent very well, he just needed more of them.Sunday dawned and damn if we didn't have to put on sweaters.Again, the natives were reclusive, and then before noon riches fell from the sky upon us.We prospered well, until 2pm, and then the dreadful rumored rains showed up, two hours earlier than what the Wizard known as the Weather Channel had predicted.Amazingly, the new show director had a moment of great clarity. He saw there would be a lull in the weather before heavier storms befell us. He issued a directive, those who felt their stock was threatened could pack up early and load out. But, no vans onsite til 5.Many, including me and Ellen did just that.We were on our way back to Ybor before five. We were going home happy and rich. Most of my kinsmen were equally happy.We would all live to sell another day.May the force, and good commerce, be with us all in 2016.Everything I said is true, none of it has been Photoshopped.
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Ah, South Carolina lowcountry. Where the land is very close to the sea, surrounded by marshes,creeks and rivers.When you depart I-95 and head east you smell the mix of the salt air,the decomposing marsh grasses,and the smoke-filled odors of lowcountry cooking.It's shrimp and grits. It's crunchy crab cakes dusted in corn meal. Nobody goes away hungry round here.This is the lower part of Carolina only ten miles from Hilton Head, less than an hour to Savannah.Golf course communities abound here. Lots of them and they all are on breath-taking points of land.The demographics are strong here. This is where those who don't choose Florida want to live. Lots of northeast people retire here along with sprinkig from the Midwest. It is also the playground for wealthy southerners, many have their second homes here.Lots of high end auto dealerships abound here.I have done this show four years now. The amount of new buildings inBluffton astounds me. In one year's time, I saw at least a dozen new buildings going up downtown.Most of the buildings hug the tree lines, this is a post-civil war town.So you can see why this is a great venue for a festival.Right now,I know many of you are clenching your teeth very tightly. "It's a fricking seafood festival with art, Nels. No way."All I can say is that there are food events and then there are classy events which combine food and art. Many fail, but some succeed. Bluffton is one of those.Here are my caveats about his show. They are not to be confused with crevates, which if improperly tied could choke you.They buy very traditional work. They love the chliched scene such as azealeas blooming under moss-filled oaks.They love local coastal work. They love art on the stick. They love cute, cheap aluminum sculptures. They loveblackandwhite swamp images. They love images of water creatures drinking alcohol. Lowend prices do best here. They will try to get you down on the price.Warning shots.Arty out of the box work does not fly here. They do not decorate with it. At least, there are very few who do. Earth tones prevailed over real high color.Maybe it was the year, but I did not see many large 2-D pieces go down the aisle.As you know, I am a photographer and have done the biz for 41 years. I do 36 shows a year, year in and year out--still find plenty of time for golf and gardening.I get in some of the biggies, like Fort Worth, and also do my share of smaller shows.I bring a unique perspective to the biz because Isee the whole spectrum and can survive in it, profitably. Unlike many others.This is a very well run show, sharp director, Dave Dixon, with a sharp crew. They do things right.They get strong crowds for a small show with only about 100 exhibitors--no jewelers, that is the rules.I see two troubling trends coming.Four years ago, the booth fee was $125, next year it will be $250.Now they are blocking off the top of the show to let a local Chevy dealer show new models We know where that is going, the same way as Bayou and others.They rent us temporary land to bring in the crowds so they can sell them mucho food, liquor and consumer products. Whatever the artists make is not a big consideration.My sales are never big here, but I make a small profit and love the Amyability of the region.So, I hope I am wrong about the future trend. but, as you know, I tell it like it is.So, if you think you got the right stuff, try this show.Aloha, Nels.
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At one time this was considered Michigan's top outdoor artshow--those days are gone, I think, forever.

Here is a quick synopsis.

They charge a $400-plus booth fee with nearly 300 artists.

Two many artists for too few big spenders.

So, that is the Cliff-Notes Version.

For an in-depth analysis, read on.

In the glory days of Michigan shows--pre-2001- people went to Birmingham for the Shain Park show one day and then the next day they went to Rochester for Arts 'n' Apples (hereafter AA).

People bought like crazy and many artists had bigger shows at AA then they did at the Ann Arbor show.

That is now a pleasent past memory. Mind you, all the heavy hitters on the circuit were there, unless they were lucky enough to be at Saint Louis.  We are talking about last weekend, in case you are not sure.

Galbo and Luciano were down on the same row dukeing it out.  Photos weren't exactly flying out of either's booth.

Fact was, photos and other 2-D art weren't flying out of many booths, mine included.

Crafters seemed to do better.

Ceramicist beside me with raku sold steadily all thru the show.

Metal sculptor behind me killed them all show long (we will get to that later).

The Paint Creek Center for the Arts runs the show--it is a fund-raiser for them.

Trouble is, they are the only ones making out well.  Their booth fee is way to high for the average sales return.

When you are charged $400 plus for a booth--there are certain expectations.

You should be able to turn at least $3.5 K or higher for that kind of money.  Most exhibitors were lucky if they hit the mid $2.5K range.

It was mostly lowed sales.  Mostly in the  $50 and under range.  Good luck with that.

Setup is pretty mellow.  You can setup Thursday, day before show, or Friday before show opens at 4:30 going to 7:30.

Saturday show ran 9 AM to 7:30 AM. God knows why.

Sunday, show was 9 AM to 4 PM, vans got let in after 5PM.

Teardown can be hectic.  Booths are all on grass with ample storage room behind.  That was the one plus.

Their free food bag was a joke.  You got one over-ripe banana with some fruit bar that glowed in the dark and one other tiny mysterious package.  No water, no coffee. So much for the $400-plus booth fee.

Saturday was chillier than you know what, I had one five layers of clothing trying to stay warm.  It also did a little pissy rain that lasted about three hours and killed sales.  Overall, Saturday sucked.  Why we had to be there on Friday, I have no idea.  We just wasted a bunch of time.  Sunday brought good weather and average crowds, not tons of buyers.  It was Ann Arbor redux again.  Most of them just walked on by without really caring to look.  There were very few packages in anyone's hands.

My  take on it, is this show is not worth the loot charged.  Go to Saint Louis, go to Swampfest, go anywhere but don't go to Rochester.

About my sculptor neighbor.

He has a good gig going, except it drives all his neighbors batty.

Basically, he is selling a metal horn about 5 inches long anchored to a wooden tray that you then put your smartphone on with its new extra cover that has four tiny speakers in it and voila, you have loud music.

Trouble was, he only downloaded a John Phillip Sousa march song to be played on his demo model.  After listening to Sousa's march a million times in one day, I was ready to puke, so were my neighbors.

We told him how we felt about it and he listened well.  We heard no more Sousa the rest of the show.

Sorry, my blog is not more positive, but that's the way it was.  I won't be back, nor a bunch of others.

I did get a great Tequila Report out  of Rochester and that will come next.

Aloha.  Nels.

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Here is a little history of how I came to be in art shows--and it harkens back to where I was in downtown St. Petersburg last weekend.

Ironically, my booth at Artscape in St. Petersburg last weekend was right across from the old Crislip Arcade where they had coffee for the artists.  In 1956, at age 11, I had my first taste of selling retail.  read on.

His name was Col. John Fritz, retired Air Force, and he showed up at our Boy Scout Troop 268 meeting one night.

My pop was our troop leader.  he was a Lutheran but our troop was all Catholic because it was at the St. Joseph Catholic hall in southside St. Petersburg.  Father John Murphy, our parish priest, would always chuckle and say, "Johnny, you are just one of us, your just a little bit to the left." My pop was Nels Johnson Jr. (I am the third) but in his Coast Guard days he was known as "Johnny."  Only my mother called him Nels.  Hence the priest's benediction.

Anyways we were all earnest Boy Scouts going for our million merit badges so we could become a Eagle Scout( I made it there plus three palms, fifty merit badges all total, an over-achiever at an early age--but what the hell, I was the scoutmaster's son, I had to better than the rest or there would be hell to pay.)

Anyways, Col. Fritz shows up at our hall lugging collections of rare coins--he got our attention--we kept hoping he would drop just one fifty-cent piece on the floor.  

He was the guy we would have to beguile if we wanted our Stamp Collecting or Coin Collecting merit badge.  Curiously I noted, he brought plenty of coins but no stamps.  So when the meeting ended I cornered him.  I said," Hey Col. Fritz look at my stamp collection.  Whadda ya think?"

He was impressed. I had stamps from all over the world the.  Borneo, San Marina, exotic small island republics in the Pacific who are long gone now.

You have to understand I had just come off a three year bout with polio--a winner, before the Salk vaccine.  I had lots of time sitting around so stamp collecting took me traveling to far off places.

I think he saw my enthusiasm for stamps  and also saw i was good talker.  So he offered me a deal.

He was opening a new shop in the Crislip Arcade where he was going to sell stamps and coins.  he wanted me to come work for hi, after school weekday afternoons, and then all day Friday.

In return he guaranteed me I would get both badges, which was cool since I did not have a coin collection.  Heck a coin collection to me was what you used to buy packages of Fleer Bubble Gum with baseball cards inside.  Or nickel Hershy bars.  I said, "Sign me up Colonel, I am all yours."

I would ride the bus for a nickel down to Williams Park in St. Pete and then walk a few blocks to the arcade.  My pop picked me up at night and dropped me off on Saturdays.

I remember when you first walked in the arcade there was an old juice bar there and they sold papaya juice along with orange and grapefruit.  Papaya was exotic to me.  My parents never touched the stuff.  Naturally, I wanted it.  It was 15-cents a glass, it was served in little pilsner glass like you would get 25-cent drafts of beer years later.

I imbibed papaya on a regular basis and showed up charged ready to sell stamps to the Rockerfellers.

My crowning achievement came one Saturday.  This guy came in flush with cash.  You could smell it.  And yes, he was wearing "good shoes."  He wanted a ton of stamps, but naturally, he wanted a "best price deal."  He was looking at buying almost $500 worth of stamps, which was the most money I ever saw in my life.  He looked first at the Colonel and flashed his big smile.  "I will give ya $300 for the whole bunch."  

The Colonel looked over at me and told him, "talk to my associate here, young Nels, he handles the stamps."

I took a big gulp.  He was backing me.  I was nervous, but I knew it was my play.  I looked the guy right in the eye and said,"$450 and not a penny less."  The guy smiled and pulled out the cash.  He was impressed at my moxie.  Even then, I had figured out the guy really wanted the stuff, so you gave him a little so he felt he had gotten a deal.  Everybody went home happy that night.  I got both my merit badges and continued to work for Col. Fritz until his untimely demise a year later.

So back to the present.

I walked into the old arcade last Saturday and of course it does not look like it was in 1956--that was 55 years ago.

I walked down to the last suite on the right where Col. Fritz" shop was.  I looked inside and I could remember every shelf with the coins on it and every stamp collection laying on the tables. I could see that young kid,me, grinning and looking forward to talking to people about stamps.  Just like I do now with my art.  It is a long journey, but to me it was just like yesterday.

I had a magic childhood growing up in St. Petersburg in the 1950s.  It has shaped me and made me who I am today--I am truely blessedI hope you liked my Thanksgiving tale.  

God bless you all and aloha, Nels.


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While I am happily typing away this morn I wanted to address one of my pet peeves about street shows right now.

The escalation of booth fees at shows on all levels is really getting out of hand--especially in this economy.

I just did my app for the Milwaukee Lakefront show on Zapp this morn.  They want $500 for the booth fee.  I have done this show many times over the years and it is not the show it used to be for sales.  The economy there is not good and sales are off.  When I last did it three years ago I barely cleared $2K in sales for a show in the old days where I could do $5-8K.  So now they want $500 for a booth which will account for 25%  of my total.  And, this does not include gas, hotel, food and the cost of replenishing goods sold.  Sorry folks this is not a good business plan for any sole proprietor.

I know, show directors are going to say,"Well we gotta pay for security,police, porta-potties so we need that kind of money.  BS.  We are also paying for nice large salaries that these show directors now make.

How do they expect most artists to make a living with these kind of fees and our meager returns on sales.  Most people are off by 50-40% on their grosses over past years because of our economy which is worst we have seen in our lifetimes.

These fees kill the chances of most newcomers to get in our biz.  Too high of cost for too little of return.  Only the well-off and most successful will thrive.  These fees will kill the street shows.

Naples, an already over-saturated market has routine booth fees of nearly $500 and most artists are not gettong a five-fold return on their money.  It is a recipe for failure.

Love to hear some feedback from those 6000 lurkers of you out there.  

I mean doesn't this rankle your feathers a bit.  How can you sit back there blase and think well that is just the way the biz is.  Guess what, we are all on the way to the Poorhouse with no salvation showing on the horizon.  Show fees can not continue to escalate like this in these times.  Nobody wins.

OK now I am off to play golf, with luck I will do better on the links than I did on the streets last weekend.  Come on folks, chime in and stop being lurkers.

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Posts, blogs, and lurkers

I have been noticing lately that there does seem to be many members on the site on a daily basis.  As I look around and read the posts I can see just how many other people have also read the same posts.  We are glad that there are many people reading the posts and blogs.  Do you know what would make this site better?  If you would take a few minutes to leave a comment or a question others will get to know you and what you are all about.  By posting and leaving a comment you will be making friends in the Art Show Business all over the country.   This will be great networking for you, too.   It is very rewarding when you finally get to meet other artists that you have interacted with here at AFI.   Meeting artists at shows allows you to actually put a face to the name that you have been conversing with for months and maybe eventually years. 

As I have been looking around and reading blogs and posts I can actually see that many postings have 100, 200, or more views but maybe only 5 people have left a comment.  I understand that we can't always leave a comment because sometimes we don't have a background on a particular topic.  Sometimes just leaving a simple "this has been great reading" or "I have enjoyed reading all these comments", or even "thanks for starting this topic".  We will all benefit as more and more people take part and get involved.  Reach out, welcome new people, comment, that is the kind of interaction and activity that makes this such a great site.  If you have just been a lurker for a while break out of your shell and get to know us so we can get to know you.  Lurkers, we are calling you to come out and get to know us. 

I think it is safe to say that we would all be disappointed if there weren't blogs and posts to read here.  We would soon become bored and wouldn't be coming back here.  Don't be afraid to leave a comment no matter how small.  It is appreciated.  Start a post or blog.  What is on your mind?  What are you having a problem with?  Take a few minutes and welcome the newbies.  Just make sure you leave a little comment so that we know you are here!  The AFI members are what makes this site great.

Jacki B

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ANOTHER TAKE ON THE LEXINGTON,KENTUCKY SHOW

Both Winthrope and Michelle have contributed various viewpoints about last weekend's show in Lexington,both gave excellent reviews.

So, I aint going there.  This will be a little more cerebral, but informative.  Hopefully you all will mine a few jewels out of my late night digressions.

If you are not feeling cerebral, just quit now.  You wont glean anything.

 

First off, it is one of the most beautiful nights in Saugatuck,Michigan that I have experienced all summer.

We left Lexington at 6:30 AM seeing steely blue skies bright with light.  A storm came last night and blew all the hot weather crap right out  We made it home to Michigan in less  than seven hours.  No big traffic.

My highlight of the whole trip was when I was going around the beltway around Indianapollis. I listen to XM/Sirius while on the road.  They started playing Peter Frampton's "Do you feel like I do".  I was playing the wickedest air-guitar riffs as I blew by twittering motorists at 75 mph. It was ethereal

We made it to lunch at the Red Dock Restaurant in time for lunch and Tequila-infused

 

margaritas made with homemade ginger root beer.  Glenn, our hippy-dippy bartender, was in usual guarrelous form.  

Ellen took a nap. I played golf, shot an 87, not bad for six days off and being stiff for driving 500 miles.

I came home after dinner tonight and looked up at the sky.  Had a little toot and smelled the night.  Hints of burning wood from campfires in the air.  A crispness which I have not felt once this month.  Perfect sky with every star lit up perfect.  I saw so many constellations.

Then I started thinking about Lexington.  Weird. I don't know why the font just changed.  Will just go with the flow.

Met Michelle Wermuth at her booth.  She is a newbie photographer to art shows.  She is not a newbie to photography.  She and her husband have been in the wedding photo biz for years.

Naturally, times are tough, why not branch out.  Ergo Michelle, at outdoor art shows.  Ring a bell?

She is doing exactly what a hundred other plus people are doing right now. Trying to make extra moola.

 

Her booth looked stunning, very professional.  Hell, I never had a booth that looked that good until my fifth year in photography.  I used to use an ORANGE tarp over my handmade pegboard panels.  One day coming back from an art show in Gainesville,FL I noticed all these pegboard panels bouncing and exploding all over I-75.  I said hmmm, "Those sure look like mine."  Cars were dancing and dodging all over avoiding get hit my my dissapearing panels.  I got a new professional booth with canopy after that.

So Michelle is way ahead of the curve compared to where I was in my time.  

She did not have a good show.  Guess what?  There were a 100 others that didn't do well too.

 

As always. there are exceptions like Winthrope.  I know about ten others.  But a lot of people only made a little more than expenses

 

On Saturday, I did $2K for the day which is much better than I did any day at Ann Arbor or Minneapolis.

Weather was better on Sunday, crowds were half, and sales were half.

 

Times are tough.  People are holding back--but, and this is big but, they got plenty of money.  You see it come out when they really want something.

 

In my media photography, I see where almost 60 per cent have gone over to doing canvas-wrapped images with no frame on them.  The public loves them to a certain extent.  Trouble is, they all look alike.  They all got the same shots of places in Italy and France.  They are all interchangeable.  They don't stand out.  It is one giant mess of photos from Europe.  Guess what?

The economy is catching up with them.

This is the time to take chances.  Break out of the pack.  Do something new.  What have you got to lose.

As I made it back to Saugatuck today. Sirius played one of my favorites by Bob Seger, one of Michigan's best rockers--you remember, "The night moves".  It was so apropos.  He sang about love in a truck back behind corn fields.  I thought about love on islands off the Florida Gulf coast.  Times with ladies who shed their bathing suits for greater needs.

 

I never felt so alive as today.  This is my best day in 2011 so far.

 

But guess what?  I know I am going to top it.

Aloha, Nels.


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ARTISPHERE--A LITTLE JEWEL OF A SHOW

8871876078?profile=original8871876461?profile=original8871875494?profile=originalJust got back from Artisphere held in Greenville,SC last weekend.  Only 120 exibitors, almost 400 apply for it, it is gem for most of us.

 

First, a little background.  I used to visit a good friend of min e in Greenville for years.  His name was Loren Marshall, a great glass artist, met him at a Charlotte show back in 1981.

Whenever I would leave Florida for my summer swing of shows, which lasted 5 months, I always first stopped in Greenville to stay with Loren.  We would canoe the Green River by day and try to party at nite downtown.

Back in the 80s and early 90s there was no downtown to go to.  We usually had cheap tacos and margaritas at a mall location there.  That was as good as it was.

Come forward to 2011.

I had tried getting into this show four times with no success.  This year I made it. With nearly 400 applicants, your chances of getting in are slim.

So I returned to Greenville after not being there for nearly 18 years.  Loren had passed away from an unfortunate accident so I had no reason to visit there anymore.

When I first drove down Main Street last Thursday I was startled, in a delightful way ,to see its transformation from a dormant mill town into small, vibrant metropolis.

The street was lined with tall leafed trees on both sides forming a sheltered tunnel.  Restaurants of every food-type you can think of were filled with people,young ones, eating and drinking.  Diverse shops enticed you. Big new office buildings, concert halls, government edifices soared up into the sky.  The place was electric.

Greenville is home to several large automotive manufacturing companies.  it is the main seat of commerce in South Carolina, easily outshining Charlston and the capitol Columbia.  Numbers of Europeans living there, working in commerce.  Lots of young people,well mannered and dressed, all sporting copious disposable income.

It is the gateway to the mountains.  So traditional and conservative are two key words that come to mind when selling here.

I got there on Thursday to drop off a piece for the Gala Auction which I attended later that nite,  That is covered in a seperate blog.

Hats off to Travis.  He blgged and photoed about it last year.  it lived up to its reputation.  One of the best ever with a free open bar--yahoo! Vodka and more vodka, just keep it coming with the crabcakes and the crab legs.

Friday we could set up from 8 am on.  Show started at 4 pm went to 8 pm.  Easy setup.  Van right in front.  Ample canopy room behind for me and my inventory.  Fellow photographer Karen Connelly was setup beside me.  We both pulled our booths back to the outer edges which left room on a common side for art to be hung.  I canopied it and we deemed it the art ally.

Predictions of 60 per cent rain and thunderstorms never happened all weekend, we skated free to our immense relief.

As Michael Stipek pointe out about the Bellville Show, same was true for Artisphere.  They couldn't do enough for us.  We had free lunches and dinner every day.

Crowds were thin Friday nite and so were sales. We were up against the Kenny Chesney concert downtown that nite.  Plus two other restaurants had band stages with music going on.  Lots of competition for the crowd's dollar.  That is the only negative to this show, and it can be a big one.

Volumous crowds both Sat. and Sun. Not many big packages gooing down the street in people's hands.  it did get better on Sunday.

Lots of fellow AFIers at the show.  Matthew Hatala, Amy and Phil Crone, Peggy Fulwin from Wisconsin (I apologise, I know  have misspelled your name) Diane french, Gary Seidel (He had all the German money locked up in his booth again), and many others, oh yeah, Gerry Maschinot, a great Southern photogrpher.

At Saturday end most artist wewre ok with sales.  Many said they were down from last year.  Me, I had my second best Sat. of the year only beaten by Main Street Fort Worth.

Sunday.  Beautiful skies, cool weather, high of 77, and early crowds--"we aint going to no stinking church today, we be buying art and chicken wings."

Oh, before I forget. ON Saturday nite it was prom nite and the kids were dreesed to the nines coming down the sidewalks. This one girl had  vivid orange dress on, so vivid, it reminded me of a Creamsicle on acid.  It was that intense, but she looked great in it.

I mostly sold precious little pieces of paper out of the bins both days, but it all mounted up. Iam heading to Saugatuck, my summer home for the next five months, with a fat bank account and a healthy show line up.  Also that means cooler weather and much better grass to hit golf balls off of.

In summation, this is a hard show to get into, it is worthwile if you have the right stuff, but we artists are not the main reason why they are comming to downtown.  We are being used to attract them, so people can sell all other matter of goods, not only art.  Unfortunately this is getting to be trend throughout the country.  We are seeing most big shows using the spectacle of great art to lure in the crowds.  Meanwhile, the auto people and every other corporate sponsor is looking for ways to piggyback on us and sell their wares,  We sometimes get lost in the tumble of things.

Aloha, Nels.

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8871848886?profile=originalWell it has been a while, so I thought I would leave this little "bon mot" under your electronic Christmas Trees.

Recently, in Tampa, I have discovered this great little diner on Florida Avenue called Nickos.  It is an old railroad car diner run by a Greek family who does everything right.  Generous portions, cheap prices and great service.  It is frequented by undercover cops, working trademan and even an occasional artist or two.  Heck, Elvis Presley ate in this diner in 1956.

How do I know?  Because it is boldly printed on all the menus.  So today, I went in for breakfeast and sat down at the second booth in from the door.  I happened to look over where all the condiments were stored, and lo and behold, there was this little metal plaque attached to the window.  It basically  said that Elvis had sat in this very seat after one of his shows in Tampa in 1956.  It made me think a lot.  About Elvis and the life we live at being artists who sell on the street.

In 1956, Elvis was just getting started, he was a new whirlwind phenom, nobody had ever seen the likes of him before.  Justin Bieber don't have anything on Elvis, hell, he couldn't hold his pancake fork, but anyway, back to Elvis--and us.

I wondered if Elvis was experiencing a real high after his performance.  I wondered if it was anything akin to how I felt back in 1999 when I almost sold everything I had at the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair (don't worry, this blog is not going to be all about me--this just served as an apt metaphor).  I wondered if he ever had to deal with daily rejection like we experience when we get our little electronic blips on the internet which tell us "thumbs up! or thumbs down!."  Back in the days when we all got those SASE letters in the mail, remember that.  Yeah, you could feel for slides in them, right away, you knew you were out.  Except a few shows could still fake you out.  The slides would be in there along with a much coveted letter that began with "Congragulations."

 

One of the coolest ways you knew you were in, was when you got an SASE from Harvey and Audrey.  They were the original founders and promoters for the Cain Park art fair, in Cleveland, back in the 80's and into the early 90's until their passing on.  Anyways, what made their response so cool was how they sent the SASE.  If you were accepted, Harvey would write above your name on the SASE,"Good News for" Nels Johnson, or Munks or whoever it was addressed to.  We don't get those little highs anymore, I kind of miss them.

As I sat eating my plate full of homefries with perfectly cooked onions along with the cuban toast which only costs ten-cents extra, I thought some more about Elvis.  I said to myself,"Heck, he was more famous than I will ever be, but I outlasted him.  I am still trucking along making my art, doing my 35 shows a year, still playing golf and still eating and drinking good."  There is lot to be said for that.  I figure, with luck, I got maybe 15 more years in the biz.  That equates to about 325 more possible shows, give or take a few.  I wonder how many of them could be a Cherry Creek, A Grove, A Kansas City--heck, maybe even a St. Louis or two.  You gotta have hopes and dreams, and baby, always have lots of them.  And I hope you all do to.

So this is my kuleana (that is a  Hawaiian word that means a gift of the spirit) to all of you out there.  HOPES AND DREAMS.  Never give up.  We are all special.  Nobody can fire us, not a lot of people can feel that way.  You are your own boss, nobody gets to tell you what to do.  You are the supreme creators.  You make the art, and in turn it helps make you.  It define who you are, it leads you on a path of good life.I don't think Elvis ever got to know how lucky he was.  We do, and we are on the right side of the growing grass.  Cherish these moments and thoughts.  This is the moments of our lives, embrace them with fury that knows no bounds.

 

Merry Christmas and a happy 2011--things will get better.

PS Haven't written a lot lately, don't know how much I will write in 2011, depends on how much "meat" is thrown out there, or the lack of.  It is good to see new names out there contributing to our lives.  I still think a little bit more info could be included in those reports, but at least people are contributing.

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