Posted by Nels Johnson on December 2, 2015 at 4:49pm
This show is produced by Richard Sullivan (Boulderbrook Productions) on Sanibel Island, just across the bridge from Ft. Myers,Florida.Setup is on Thanksgiving day and the show runs Friday and Saturday (9am-4pm).No show on Sunday which is a big changeover day on the island with people coming and going.I am a photographer and have done this show at least five times. This year was my best ever--go figure. I did more at this show than three previous this month,combined(Dunedin,Maitland and DeLand).It is a small show,about 65 artists, because of the location. It is located off the main highway, Periwinkel Way, and is easily seen by passer years. There is ample parking for the public and artist parking is a block further.Richard has a goo d volunteer staff that makes things work real smoothly.The island is always packed on this weekend, and seemed even more packed this year.Unfortunately, not all the visitors come to the art show. Ample beaches, golf and fishing, plus just plain relaxing compete with us selling our art.The crowd that comes is savvy. They have ample disposable income and use it. You see very few of them trying to get an artist down on their price.I sold to a young couple, with youngster, from Canada. They had been here a month. That tells ya something, because Sanibel is not cheap.I had customers from South Dakota, Spokane, Des Moines, Chicago, New York and New England.Also there are a lot of Europeans here, especially from Germany.People tend to come and buy early, they want to play later in the day.Sales came in trickles all two days. There would be languid dead times, and then boom, I'd land a whopper.Being a small show, most people will walk it once and make purchases on the second pass.They love their Florida landscapes and wildlife a lot here. Real modern, abstract art does not sell as well here. There are a lot of jeweler so here and most make money.I think it helps if you have mailing list here or have built up a good core of return buyers. For years I have come close to the $2K mark but never exceeded it. This year I blew it away big time--go figure.This is not a cheap show to do. Booth is $395, it is $6 daily for the toll bridge. Food costs here, so does alcohol. Lodging on island is never cheap, Ft. Myers offers greater alternatives.Luckily, Ellen and I stayed with good friends across the bridge and got to Thanksgiving with them.There is one campground on the island, I don' t know how much things cost there, but Richard would know.Overall, I would rather take my chances here rather than slugging it out in Cocoa Beach ( see Lori Kay's blog).The sunsets and sunrises on the island are exquisite and thus help make for a really mellow weekend.Both setup and tear down are very easy here. Some setup on show day rather than Thanksgiving.
Always happy to hear good sales -- then take in the ambiance, Thanksgiving weekend, dinner with friends, great sunsets -- I mean, is there a better life to be had? Congrats, Nels -- kudos, Richard!
I'm glad that this show was good for you. I really like Richard Sullivan's shows. They are small shows in very wealthy areas. There are no distractions. It is about the art and only the art. Some people do really well and some people do just ok. The person next to me at his Boca Grande show did over $15K the year I did it. If I was in Florida, I would have done the Sanibel show. I used to come down for the Disney show and this would have been a good tie in. I don't think they have the Disney show anymore, though.
Richard is a great guy and he does all he can for the artists that do his shows. The Sarasota show is good. The Punta Gorda show is good. I've only done one bad one and that was Pampano Park. He would do well to drop that show.
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Always happy to hear good sales -- then take in the ambiance, Thanksgiving weekend, dinner with friends, great sunsets -- I mean, is there a better life to be had? Congrats, Nels -- kudos, Richard!
I'm glad that this show was good for you. I really like Richard Sullivan's shows. They are small shows in very wealthy areas. There are no distractions. It is about the art and only the art. Some people do really well and some people do just ok. The person next to me at his Boca Grande show did over $15K the year I did it. If I was in Florida, I would have done the Sanibel show. I used to come down for the Disney show and this would have been a good tie in. I don't think they have the Disney show anymore, though.
Richard is a great guy and he does all he can for the artists that do his shows. The Sarasota show is good. The Punta Gorda show is good. I've only done one bad one and that was Pampano Park. He would do well to drop that show.
Thanks Nels for the review. You are always very informative. I'm glad you blew it away. Since I make abstract art jewelry I'll pass on this one.