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  Joel Lockridge January 23, 2016 at 12:16pm

  This is all good info. Atlanta shows seem to be hit and miss for me, too. Artists seem to be jumping ship from the Public Spaces show, thanks to Randall being such a jerk to everyone.  
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  margaret luttrell January 22, 2016 at 3:37pm

  Thanks Susan....nice to get some good information about shows in Hotlanta.
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  Susan Parry January 22, 2016 at 3:18pm

  Hi Margaret,

  I did Virginia Highlands, once--had decent sales unlike the other artists around me, but probably won't go back. It used to be a great show, but become a beer drinking, stroller walking crowd. Also, most of the newer artists are put in the sunniest--hot blazingest places imaginable. We nearly had heat stroke.

  I did Yellow Daisy for several years and most likely will never go back to it either. (A lot of their long time artists quit going when I quit about 3 years ago). They used to be great, but now they don't care who they let in. I wrote a report about it for AFSB as did another artist. They allow Buy/Sells in--the show people are no-where to be found--and they don't even follow their own rules. The application says that everything must be handmade by the artist and that no CD's are allowed. They even ask for a picture of the artist working and a booth shot, which sounds good until you do the show. It's a bad joke. One lady, who always has two booths in a prime location sells calendars, t-shirts, bags etc. made in China. She's a lovely lady who doesn't hide the fact that they're mass produced overseas and even offered me contact info should I want to have tote bags printed with images of my work. Granted they use her artwork, but she's not making them. Next to us, they put this guy selling CD's of him playing an electric violin. The tunes that we heard over and over again were traditional hymns and not original music to boot. Sometimes, he would whip out his instrument, but most  of the time he used recordings. If he thought he wasn't getting enough attention, he made the music louder. I and the artist on the other side of him couldn't talk to our customers. The other artist complained and the Yellow Daisy Staff just laughed at him-seriously.

  I've seen drink cozies, commercial jewelry, toys clothing (by the way YD has it's own store that people pass in and out of as the come and leave) filled with buy/sell Yellow Daisy merchandise.

  I haven't tried the others, but will look into them--thanks
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  margaret luttrell January 22, 2016 at 2:35pm

  There are some very good Atlanta shows, I can attest to the Dogwood, ACC Atlanta and the Atlanta Arts Festival. I have done these numerous times and have done very well. Of course ACC is much more expensive but well worth the price and the AAF this year was a real surprise (lucrative) and pleasure to do. I think it was because they moved it to October and the weather was wonderful.

  I also hear that Decatur is good and also Virginia Highlands. I haven't done those two, but I am thinking about applying as I have heard good stuff. These other shows seem a bit all over the place. I do know of a couple of people that do well at them-(with big pictures like you said), but I think they might be big names already in Atlanta's art scene and that does help.....

  I did have someone tell me never to do Yellow Daisy(Ha!)...so who knows????? For the most part, Atlanta has been good to me so I have no complaints.

  As for Chastain Park? Yea, it's a social, dog walking show...the year I did it I had never seen so many dogs at one show! 
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  Susan Parry January 22, 2016 at 2:00pm

  I currently make blown, sculptural and fused glass jewelry. What I experienced at Chastain Park, which made me wonder if Sandy Springs might be the same is that the majority of items being sold were extremely large items meant to impress the neighbors. I had sales, but everyone wanted lower priced items from me. To give you an example, one lady had to borrow another person's credit card to buy a $15 pair of earrings after much deliberation. Other jewelers and potters I had talked to seemed to attract the same kind of customer. At the same time, we saw large pieces of furniture and super sized pictures walk by. And speaking of walking by, we saw many, many people walking by with their dogs and kiddie strollers. They even had a booth with dog adoption set up. I will say this--the show's director was very, very kind and thoughtful. Bottom line, the money wasn't there, at least not for me---and I wondered if Sandy Springs would be the same.
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  margaret luttrell January 22, 2016 at 1:58pm

  It sounds like "Festival on Ponce"...which I unfortunately did only once...same set up...catering to kids mostly.....which isn't a bad thing-kids need fun too... but usually bad for our sales.....I think I might have to skip this one.......thanks for the clarification Steve.
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  steve boykin January 22, 2016 at 1:34pm

  I  do 2D art, Sandy Springs crams alot into a w'end. It is real family oriented, which gives you a large head count , but for me, I had so-so sales ,w/ most folks there for the kiddie stuff.
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  margaret luttrell January 22, 2016 at 12:09pm

  Sandy Springs......I have done Chastain Park and don't want to do it again....But is this show put on by the same group? It looked like it was put on by the merchant organization of Sandy Springs.....???
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  Susan Parry January 22, 2016 at 12:01pm

  Are you asking about Chastain Park or Sandy Springs? I only did Chastain Park.
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  margaret luttrell January 22, 2016 at 9:30am

  I would like to know about this show also....Since it's close to where I am. Sounds like it's not worth it but since the post seems hidden...I can't really tell. If you could summarize why... I would love to know the yea's and nay's of this show. Thanks Susan.....