Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals

Prescott fine art and wine show

Wrote a review of show and thought it was fair under the circumstances. I have never seen so many dogs at a show in the 25 + years of doing shows and I think from observation made this weekend dog walkers don't buy. Not one dog walker came in my booth. I like dogs but the stones around the square are rough. I saw maybe 10 people on the grass. Rained at setup, sat was cold, Sunday was sunny but not real warm. I told myself would not go back when barely made booth fee in 2012 but thought maybe it would be better. Nope it was not. I live in Prescott and this the only show I would do. Not anymore. Buy/sell was there but there was some excellent art. Public does not know difference. Had some women walk in booth and tell me my work was over priced so I told her for you maybe. Tear down was smooth and MAG volunteers did a great job controlling traffic would I return NO if you are coming from a distance. 100+ miles find another show unless you have dog art. I saw more dogs in strollers than I saw kids in strollers Then they had wine for sale and there were more people drinking than walking art show

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Comment by steve appel on May 18, 2015 at 7:03pm: Mara, may want to try flagstaff show as of now rather pricey 325 if before a date and 25 late fee and 45 city lic. so you fig. and yes it can rain in flag. Not sure if any good shows in summer. Unfortunately i think prescott is a popcorn sort of crowd, not big spenders. What about getting in a gallery in prescott. A lot of az go to colorado or even calif. not going to co. till sept. so not much help.

Comment by mara friedland on May 18, 2015 at 6:46pm: hi Jacki, I thought I had a few days ago- is it not there? I filled out the form...going back to check now...

Comment by Jacki Bilsborrow on May 18, 2015 at 6:12pm: Mara, you can leave a review at www.ArtShowReviews.com. We would love it and it would be so helpful to other artists.

Comment by steve appel on May 13, 2015 at 5:32pm: mara, would you mind writing a review of the prescott show. At least give your opinion and where was your booth on sat was seriously thinking of signing up for the aug. show but after sun which was a disaster forget that. i made more money on my ss ck than at their shows and when that happens something is terribly wrong

Comment by mara friedland on May 13, 2015 at 12:21pm: This was my first show...and sadly not even the booth fee recovered. I am a metalsmith and have many one of a kind pieces ( price ranges from $15-450 at the show). I also had a few people balk at the prices/ make some "lovely comments". I did have great neighbors ( seasoned folks) who also stated this was their worst show in 17 years.

I would love suggestions of shows that would be good in our area ( juried/fine arts) Thank you!

Comment by steve appel on May 12, 2015 at 7:52pm: I have never really been to a show where it was so bad than this one. But as said earlier that is it for me with MAG shows and there is a survey in my packet that i will be filling out and handing in when i return from my next trip. Most of the people were nice but every now and then there is that one or two.

Comment by Brian Billings on May 12, 2015 at 7:44pm: You are right on Steve, I think people just go to these shows for entertainment and think they can get cheap stuff since it's tents in a park. My wife is from that area and would walk these shows, the people were pathetic! Always felt bad for the artists there, rarely did I see return artists except for the B/S people.

Comment by steve appel on May 12, 2015 at 2:06pm: Robert, i think that a lot of people think these art show with tents are more like a swap meet and that is their mentality, someone in my booth overheard what she said and said just that we are not walmart. A friend of mine came back once that his prices were not for everyone.

Comment by Robert Wallis on May 12, 2015 at 12:11pm: Don't you just love it when they tell you your prices are too high? Good retort, BTW. I had the same experience a couple of weeks ago. I was on the other side of the panel dividers in my booth when I heard a couple of women say the same thing about my work. I just laughed out loud, and I'm sure they heard me :-) Another good reply is to remind them you are neither Walmart or Big Lots.