Paradise City Marlborough (Boston).


I did Paradise City Marlborough show for the first time, and it was good. It is expensive show, but it paid off for me. First thing: it is very intelligent show, and I like it. Also it is very comfortable show, and "soft animal of my body" likes this comfort very much. Also I like how it is organized, and quality of craft (it was mostly craft show) is very high: the jury has very good taste and knowledge. Show was in Royal Plaza Trade Center. Space is very good: big, warm, light. Nice gallery-holidaylike atmosphere, good food in cafe, great security. Set-up/tear down was ok, we dollied from/to building (it is 1st floor) to parking lot. All artists were very polite and friendly. Sales were good for me. I sold large framed pieces mostly, and very small amount of unframed small etchings from bin. At other shows it goes in opposite direction usually. Maybe I was just lucky this first time. I want to return to check it out. I know how 3 other artists did. Beautiful and expensive fiber wearable did ok. High end jewelry did expenses + a little bit more. Great photographer was not happy, and does not want to return.
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  • This topic is right on the nose. I always try and buy my family gifts from the art shows I do from fellow exhibitors. I've traded for pottery, jewelery, weaving, wood and sculpture, by the way I am a painter and don't have much extra wall space, but I've even traded with other 2-d artists. I always give a discount to fellow exhibitors when I'm not trading and really appreciate it when others reciprocate. I tend to not go back to exhibitors who don't offer some small discount to fellow artists.
    One of the greatest compliments is when another artist likes your work well enough to purchase it. I've been doing show for over 30 years and have an enormous collection of pottery and art that always bring back the memories of the artists that created it.
  • Although I don't have time now to write a blog about supporting other artists at shows - that will be interesting and I'll recount experiences and also discuss bartering, how to approach artists, how to respond if you're not interested in bartering for their work. But I would be interested to know how some of you feel about discounting your work for other artists, paying cash and being asked for tax as Connie mentioned. My policy is to offer 10-20% to another artist depending on whether I have enough work for my next show. If I have time to restock, it's 20%, if I'm low, it's 10-15% unless they've purchased from me before. It's not only being generous, it's the thrill that another artists likes my work so much as to want to purchase it. Means a lot to me. Connie asked what is my medium: I make gourd masks (ethnic, funky, contemporary) and primitive figures called Pod Heads which sell for much less. They are made with colorful gourd bodies and Badam or Jacaronda pods for heads, thus pod heads.
  • I am so pleased to hear this, Ann. I know this organization really markets their events and it is great to see it if paying off for you. What is your media?

    I love your second thread here- - and am in complete agreement with it. I HATE it when I'm paying cash to an artist and then they ask for tax. What about posting this thoughtful thread separately as a blog entry?
  • I've been doing the Paradise City Arts Marlborough shows for about five years now and they are one of my favorites, comfortable, beautiful work, friendly people, sophisticated and knowledgeable buyers. Have I always done well? No, the economy affected some of the shows (for me) but I always managed to make expenses plus a little. This year was one of the best shows I've had in years. Lots of sales spread over the three days and the more expensive pieces were selling much better. Since I made a good profit I decided to do as much shopping for the holidays as I could here at the show. If we don't support each other when we are able, then why complain about customers not spending. Prices? Most artists generously discount for fellow exhibitors so I'm buying something at the same price as a sale, something handmade that didn't come from China, and helping boost sales for a fellow artist. I pay cash to save their credit card charge and leave the show with much of my shopping done. Of course I can't do this if sales don't justify it, but my last two shows did. It felt like five or six years ago and I hope it lasts. I've done most of my gift shopping.

    I will mention that I usually don't return to the artists who don't discount for fellow exhibitors (even if it's just 5 or 10% although most usually offer more). It's not the discount as much as the appreciation and feeling of "we're all in this together and I understand." I believe it harkens back to an artist I used to buy from at every show (my Mom and sisters-in-law loved his work). It saved me running around "thinking" what to buy them as they were always thrilled to receive one of his pieces. He always charged me full price even when I paid cash as he "sweetly" asked. The last time I was choosing what to buy I heard him offering a customer a healthy discount if she purchased the piece she was looking at. Perhaps I'm being unfair but I consider the fellow artists at the show "as my temporary family." Am I being naive? I've never heard this subject discussed and didn't plan to but was just writing "stream of conciousness and it came up."

    Quick report on a couple of neighbors, one two dimensional artist did not do well, not sure if he sold anything but didn't discuss, a new exhibitor who had a variety of interesting "everything," extremely talented, did okay but will return, he sees the potential. A friend who does ceramics (expensive) did terrific, her shelves seemed to be bare. This is a show where people come to buy and we can just hope what we have appeals to them, sometimes yes, sometimes no. I also believe I have more return buyers here than at any show I've ever done. I think there were probably more thumbs up than down. Just a guess.
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