Seaside Park Selected Arts & Crafts Show Saturday, August 30, 2013
Boro Lawn - 6th & Central Avenue 10:00am – 4:00pm
Seaside Park, NJ 08752
I spoke to the show promoter before registering and asked about space for a cargo trailer to unload. I was assured there would be no issue. Set-up started at 8am - we arrived at 7:45am and did not find any curb space. With that said, the police were lenient about where and how the exhibitors pulled over to unload. Space was very tight and we witnessed a vehicle nip the edge of an exhibitor’s things.
I asked the promoter to give us a space that was close to the unloading area because our things were bulky and very heavy – we were assigned a space in the middle of the exhibiting area. The exhibiting area is a grassy space in front of the municipal building (between the ocean and bay) and offers no shade. The day was hot and humid.
We were told to park our cargo trailer on Bayview Avenue; however, there were no appropriate spots available. After searching for a place to park I finally found a pull through space which was in the middle of the road. Luckily I noticed a sign that indicated those spaces were one hour parking only. I walked six blocks back to the show to learn that the one hour parking would be enforced. It was only then that I was advised to park in the church parking lot only two blocks away. That lot was better, but still somewhat small for a cargo trailer. All in all, it took 60 minutes to find a parking space and get back to my table. That was 60 minutes less I had to help set up.
Exhibitors are provided with a free Italian or turkey sub, chips, and soda for lunch. No food is sold at the show.
The municipal building was nicely air conditioned, had a cooled water fountain, and offered a nice reprieve from the heat and clean restrooms.
A clothing store located across the street from the show was having a 50% off sale. People were lined up around the corner for that sale and came to browse at the arts & crafts show carrying bags of their found bargains.
To register for the show, we had to provide five photos and be juried in. Around 2pm, a t-shirt vendor (didn’t look handmade) told us she was leaving because she wasn’t selling anything. Since she was sharing a booth with another person and didn’t have a tent or tables, she simply packed up her t-shirts and left. Around 3pm another vendor approached us to announce he had t-shirts for sale. When asked if he made the t-shirts he indicated he purchased them from the Internet. When it was pointed out that was not an art or craft, he laughed and indicated that’s what most people there do. I spoke to the promoter who then told the vendor he had to leave. By that time, there was only one hour of the show left.
Before registering the promoter indicated there were 6,000 – 7,000 would be buyers at the 2012 show. I’d estimate there were only about 1,000 – 1,500 would be buyers at the 2013 show. Most people had many nice things to say about our art; however, sales were poor and we did not even make enough money to pay the $100 registration fee. To make ourselves feel better, we looked at the day as another contribution to a Hurricane Sandy ravaged area.
Comments
We have done this show for years and it is always worth the $100 fee. Other comments are correct that it is not a High End show, but feel that the quality of the crafts is adequate. They do separate the 2D art from the crafts. Bruce is correct, the unloading is a bit of a hassle, but definitely easier than Ocean Grove. For the past 2 years, we have had our own gift store in Point Pleasant, so we also use it as an advertising venue as well as for sales. The guy with the T-shirts that said "this is what most folks do here" is out of his mind. We know most of the crafters there and they do MAKE what they sell. He was an anomaly.
Take a look...
www.Etsy.com/shop/OutoftheWoodsUSA
at the moment, recycled jewelry, aluminum cans, typewriter keys, transit tokens, antique buttons, etc.
what do you mean by fine and decorative wood art?
The show was about a few blocks west of where the fire was and about a mile or less south.
In my original post I should have indicated I sell fine and decorative wood art. What you sell at any show makes a difference in how well you do. Some shows are great for wood artists while other shows are not. Laurie, curious to know what kind of things sell well at this show?
just inland, i think by 2 blocks. you probably can google earth it and see.
exactly.
Did this show occur in the area affected by the boardwalk fire earlier this week?
Found this show when i stopped doing ocean grove. much prefer it even if it is further from us. Unloading, is easier than ocean grove, which doesn't say all that much. It is an island in the middle of traffic that has a temporary fence around it. If you are near an opening in the fence then it is easy, if not then you have to dolly a little bit depending on where you park. If you want to hurry up and find a close spot then you might have a walk. If you park around the perimeter and then find a parking spot it is less of a dollying in situation. Your choice.
There are police directing traffic at all times.i have done this show for about 3 or 4 years. First year was really great then not as good the second year but we had the best year yet this year. it is a show where many of the people there have been doing it for 25-30 years. Not really an art show, and probably not the highest crafting level but then what high end jewelers do $100 shows? Only show that i do that they even serve you lunch (two sub sandwiches, water and chips), and considering that most places treat the artisits like hired help, i think that's great). I have always been treated nicely, can't complain for a $100. show (was $70 or $80 when i started). For some reason, we have been having a mostly decent year. Not sure about others, i think there are the people who have money are buying and the rest will buy what they like...
I've done this show for the past three years, and the first two were very good. This past year was a bit off, less traffic, but as you point out, these are folks ravaged by Sandy. The promoter is great, as evidenced by her quick removal of that Tshirt guy. It's certainly not a high-end fine arts show, but it doesn't claim to be, and while there is a lot of "crafty" work, there is also some very good art, and you can make money here when times are good.
I appreciate your honest evaluation of this show. This is how we learn what is good
and what is bad. Thanks!