Did anyone do the new Paragon show in Fort Worth this past weekend? I was just wondering how the show was. I was unable to do it but I am doing the one in Dallas next weekend. I was able to go down on Saturday and walked the show for a little while and it looked sort of scary i.e. no patrons. I would guess there were around 50 artists and I did see some nice work. But, seemed like the buyers were very scarce. I was able to talk with a couple of people and they said they weren't doing much. It did look like the load in/out would have been easy. Trailers were parked very near the tents.
I'm just trying to get a feel for what we might expect in Dallas because those I talked with were planning to do it as well. I hope you did well in Fort Worth and, hopefully, Dallas will be even better. I'd like to see those two shows catch on and grow into something lucrative.
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Liked all the comments, and You are both right, one should not enter the smaller shows or should I say not one of the bigger shows. I again agree that they are tough to get into even though you have really quality work. It is, that for me to drive from Georgia to Dallas It had better be a good show and not just a start up. I do small local shows that work out for me and this is great because my expenses are very little and have the advantage of repeat buyers.
So go for it, I would have to wait for a bit of a track record. Wish everyone good sales in whatever shows they do!!!
I'm not going after the messenger but the message is worrisome. If we steer clear of all but the bigger shows I believe we are limiting our options and helping to set up a "monopoly" system where the larger shows are the only "game in town". There is a great deal of competition to get into the larger shows and even accomplished veteran artists are sometimes "rejected". If those are the only choices in which to show work, I think this will leave many artists, especially new and emerging artists, in dire straits.
I do understand that many of the newer shows may not have the draw in their first years that the established shows have but I think anyone signing up for one of them also knows this and can make their choice to participate or not participate with full knowledge.
The photo below is my booth from the Dallas show. I didn't rake in the big dollars this weekend but I now have a fairly significant commission. Sometimes it only takes one contact. If I had not participated in the new show in town, I would not have that.
Virginia,
A week ago I wouldn't have argued the point one way or the other. This week I have a different opinion. I did the Dallas show and it turned out to be the 2nd best show I've had this year and I was very impressed with the show. It was very small but had top-quality exhibitors and I think it has great potential. For a first-year show, it was very well done and I think Bill Kenney and Paragon did an excellent job. So, the bottom line is that I would hesitate to rule out a promoter show in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. My guess is that the Dallas show, at least, will turn out to be a show worth looking at. Of course it won't be a Main Street Days or a Cottonwood for several years at least but, I think it has a place and I think we'll be hearing more things about it in the future. Thanks for your input.
I would stick with the regular Dallas, Fort Worth area shows a friend of mine who has done shows in the area told me to steer clear of any promoter shows in the area. Just passing on info Please don't shoot the messenger.
Nice to see a little information about last weekends show, I was going to do it, but had a conflict of interest. I too, am going to be in the Dallas show this weekend.
I think it is probably pretty challenging to get a first year show started, especially in this economy. Hopefully the promotion will help. It looks like it will be a little cool, but hopefully there will be sun and little wind. See you there, Don and Vivian.
Don, I'm certain Dallas will be a much better show! One of the nice things about being part of AFI is the reach that our posts have. I can now confirm that, yes, there was pre-show advertising for the Fort Worth show. Bill Kinney was very responsive prior to the show and during the show. He has continued that trend by also following up on my earlier post to confirm the pre-show advertising. So the word was out and as I said earlier, I believe the low turnout was due to the weather. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Dallas show this weekend!
Thank you, Vivian. I appreciate your comments. I know the wind must have been rough. I visited with a gentleman from Arizona and he couldn't believe how hard it was blowing. I told him, that wasn't all that uncommon for Fort Worth. Hopefully the Dallas show will be much better. It will probably be cooler but I can deal with that a lot better than I can the wind. I've heard nothing but nice comments about Bill Kinney and Paragon so, let's keep our fingers crossed that Dallas will be a better show.
The weather was the primary enemy for this one. 40 mph winds on Saturday and threatening thunderstorms for Sunday. I am scheduled for Greater Dallas this weekend. If I was a less optimistic sort, I would be very concerned. The organizer, Bill Kinney, worked hard to see that the artists were taken care of despite the weather. I understand that the location for the upcoming show, The Village at Fairview, is very excited about the event and has been promoting it heavily and that was not the case with the Fort Worth show. Most of the mall tenants, either knew nothing or didn't care to send shoppers outside the mall for the art fair. I hope this helps!