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In another five minutes, I'd have clicked "Send" on my Zapplication for Howard Alan's Stuart (FL) show, when my cell phone rang.  On the other end of the line was Naples National show director Marianne Megela, who informed me that a spot opened up from the waitlist and did I want to be in this year's National? 

I weighed the pros and cons for about a nanosecond. Or would have, had there been any cons to consider. Then I said yes.  And as events proved out, it was the right call.

This show (#8 festival in the nation) met all expectations: Great weather, large and knowledgeable crowds, phenomenal sales, and a friendly, helpful corps of volunteers: from the parking lot attendants at Friday setup to the former furniture mover for Allied who not only took charge of my long, long dolly from site to vehicle, but inspired me with his story of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. 

The show's meticulously organized game plan is detailed on their website, and you're expected to have read it thoroughly before arrival (I did).  Setup is all day Friday, but it's organized by "zone" (which is determined by your booth number and location).  I arrived on time at 11 AM for checkin, got my "zone pass" and packet, and was quickly directed to curbside parking on the west side of Cambier Park, from which it was about a 50-yard dolly along paved pathways to my booth location in the center of the park's tree-lined main walkway.  (The park itself is just a block from Naples' 5th Avenue, which hosts a number of shows during season.)  Bright-vested volunteers, some equipped with headsets, were everywhere to help out.

Show protocol calls for you to fully unload, then drive back to the check-in/Artist Parking area and return by shuttle bus to complete setup, although I was allowed to stay curbside since things weren't yet busy.  The shuttles ran continuously (with pickup every 20 minutes) but I had mixed luck with them: Some of the drivers drove around the park as if they, themselves, had a bus to catch, and didn't look around or slow down unless you were waiting right at the curb to intercept them.  No matter: I was empty-handed, and it was only a 12-minute walk back to the lot.

Both days had near-perfect weather (in contrast to last year's cold rain and wind), and the crowds didn't let up all day Saturday.  Sunday's attendance was a bit lower, by all reports, but still heavy on buyers--my sales were actually higher on Sunday.  I was working solo so didn't have much time to interview other artists, but everyone I did speak to were satisfied..even the painter of spectacular African wildlife near me, who zeroed on Saturday, wasn't daunted: she's done the show for years and has a steady clientele in the area.

I came early on Sunday to grab some hospitality muffins and coffee and then walked as much of the show as I could.  The show's main traffic areas are 6th Ave S, on the east side of the park, and the east-west thorough of the park itself.  Some artists were set up on looping connector walkways, and I overheard a few of them talking about being in "dead zones" with lighter pedestrian traffic. 

On such a sunny, warm day--it was in the low-to-mid 80s--it was a bonus to be in the park, under trees.  The streetside booths were unshaded and artists and customers alike said it was pretty darn hot, despite gentle breezes.  The one downside of the park location: You were set up on sand and grass.  If you were on uneven terrain, the crew brought over mulch to level things out, but there was nothing you could do about the dust and grime.  The tent and rugs are going to need a long hosing this week.

As you'd expect the caliber of work was top-notch.  It was great to see so many bags being carried around, and --I gotta be honest!--especially that a fair share of them came from me.

Volunteers brought around breakdown instructions on mid-day Sunday: Basically a repeat of the Friday performance.  A number of large, generator-powered light poles were brought into to illuminate the grounds during teardown--a nice and no doubt expensive touch.  I was directed to the opposite side of the park, though, which meant a dolly of around 200 yards around curving, dark walkways.  Without the help of my volunteer from Allied, I'd probably still be dollying.  He worked his butt off to help me load, and we got everything to the van in three trips and half an hour.  Definitely worth the $30 I offered him!

The Naples Art Association has another show (Mercato) at the other end of town this coming weekend, and after a day at the beach to rewind I'll start gearing up for that one.  If you are lucky enough to do the National next year, bring plenty of inventory, a helper, cleaning supplies, and an industrial-strength dolly.  And with luck, you'll be needing that dolly to load out your cash drawer. 

All that said: I'm just one artist, and it was a big show.  How did YOU make out??