Blog

Had my best show here in the last 25 years. This was also my best show anywhere since last July at Madison.

It could not have come at a better time.

Four days after the show I had $2000 worth of booth fees due for shows between now and Labor Day. A daunting prospect after coming off a miserable March where I did not even gross $5000 in sales at three shows. And the one day show at Gainesville was no help either.

Ellen was in the same boat as me. So we were sweating heavy bullets as we left to setup on Friday afternoon, with a forecast for rain (40%) to hit us during setup. Well, we dodged the rain, it went north of us. Plus, this was a rare show where I got to sleep in my own bed (Ybor).

Setup went well, it can be tight with all the vehicles. Luckily I knew most of my neighbors, the benefit of doing shows for 42 years. We shucked and jives and everybody got set. I slept very uneasily that night, not knowing what to expect. Last time I did it, three years ago, they put me out in the dreaded treeless field of the show. I barely made 2K there.

The show started strong, I got a $545 purchase award before the show opened. By noon, I had crossed the $2K mark. I was selling mainly in the $80-$160 price range, quite nicely.

Ellen sold a big cow right before noon and we going at it neck to neck--just like old times. Which I have not experienced in a long while. We went home to Ybor very fulfilled. Booth fees were covered. Tomorrow we would work on real profit. We stopped at a great sushi bar called "Hooks" high north on Fourth Street in St. Petersburg. I hit this place in Feb after doing the Paragon show in St. Pete. This place gives great value for the buck. Order the $14 hot sake, it is the best deal I have seen in any sushi bar anywhere. It is served in a large metal vessel that just seems to never empty. Seriously, Ellen and I poured and poured into those little cups almost infinite times.

BTW if you like hot sake and like a little kick to it, try this trick. I picked it up at a sushi bar owned by a Korean woman married to a US soldier. It was in Kansas City, during Plaza. Anyways, the Koreans do spices and hot. So the bartender said to put a few slivers of jalapeño in the sake and let the oils from the pepper steep into the drink. Bada Bam! It is heavenly heat.

Sunday we arrived early enough to get Position A with our loyal vans. Someday I will do a great blog about Position A, but probably not before I am about to retire. I ain't giving away one of my most precious secrets. The show serves a great Artist Breakfest, eggs, bacon, sausage, the works. Then they give out great prize money.

Well, Sunday soared for me, better than Sat. I sold 45 16x20 mats and frames. Long time since I did that. Had a killer day and got out of there in one hour.

So, let us get real and talk about how most other people did. This blog is not "All about Nels."

A few of us did really good, but for the rest it was a barely average to below show. I do not know why I soared. I grew up in St. Pete in the 40-ie's. A lot of the mover and shakers in town were my contemporaries. I did not see them at this show. When I did the two Bill Kinney shows in Dec. and Feb. (Paragon) I saw them, but not at Mainsail.

Again, St. Pete is a booming city. I am so proud of my city, nestled between two great bodies of water with a tremendous influx of new retail, residential, and food restaurants going up everywhere. There is plenty of disposable income floating around everywhere. Trouble is, most spend it on the cliche, the predictable traditional and stuff that has been down a million times before. I just guess it was my time.

Two more blogs to come from down south, Melbourne and Fernandina. Then it is up to God's country for the summer--Saugatuck, Michigan. 

I have a great schedule: Summer fair, Columbus, Virginia Beach, Des Moines (the orig show), Boston Mills, Fort Wayne, Ann Arbor, Uptown, Suttons Bay, waiting on Lexington, Lake Forest, St. James. I can live with that.

Later Gators.
Aileen, here I come, Vaughn sends his wishes, so does Ben and Patty.