8869106889?profile=originalWell, I have been patiently waiting.  Waiting for somebody's two cents worth about Bayou City last weekend.

Good thing I didn't hold my breath.

The "Who's-who" of the art circuit was there, many fresh from Winter Park.

Nary a peep.  H-mmmm!

OK, I will give some insights and observations.

First off, it wasn't everybody's big, good show.

Probably about 20 per-cent of the exhibitors did big bucks--more than $5K.

Than there was the rest of us.

For me, it was my best show since my big operation.  Hell, it was my best show in the last 16 months.  I almost forgot what a good show was like.

Luckily, I had a bunch of new images that sold very well.  "See, I jumped off the cliff and the parachute opened."

That said, here are some reasons why it wasn't great for many people.

One, they raised the gate fee to $15.

Two, everybody thought it was going to rain bad on Saturday, and so the crowds were quite thin.

Three, Houston has really low unemployment, so people have money.  Trouble is it gets spent on a lot of blick.  Lots of brown stuff printed on Giclees going my me all day.  They are not the most sophisticated crowd.  "Oh my God!  Burn me at the Rodeo stake."  Oh well, I said it, I will stick by it.  It is just my humble opinion.  There will be several who will disagree with me.  That's OK.

Sunday was by far the best day for sales for many including me. I did more on Sunday than the other two days combined.

BTW.  Reason 4 that the show was not so great for many--too many exhibitors--it slices the pie pretty thin.

Bayou City is worth doing if you can bundle it with another show, or if you don't live too far away.  Otherwise, it can be risky, and expensive to do.

Credits go to the show committee for getting us a great deal at the Sheraton Suites near Westheimer.

Credits go for doing a great job of keeping artists fed, nice daily breakfasts, and lots of water,sodas, cookies being distributed.  Nice volunteer committee.  They were on top of most things.  They advertised well. But the crowds were real thin on both Friday and Saturday.  You could have rolled 300-pound boulders across the walkway without hitting anyone.

I am going to another blog, later on a great idea than came out of this situation.  Wait and read, it is a classic.  We are all going to get incredibly rich off it.  Terry and Deborah, my show neighbors have the exclusive in Ohio to Ann Arbor.  I got mid-Florida covered from Tampa to Orlando, I might share some of it with Steve Vaughn.  Sorry RC and Bill, you will have to stake out your own turfs elsewhere.  Wait til you read this blog--it is a life-changer.

There, did I leave you whetting for more?

That's what an old newsie does well.

Later, Gator.

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Comments

  • Wowsers! - that deserves to be have a photo :)

  • Yes, avery expensive one worth $350.00

  • Congrats on a good show Nels and thanks for the review.  I actually didn't know what the photo referred to - is it really a tequila box!?

  • I will have no problem doing it again (for now), but I just live in Austin.

    If I had to travel 1000 miles? I'd think twice. I've had good and bad shows over the times I've done it so long-distance travel for Bayou has its risks. You could hit or you could miss. I'd at least try to connect it with one or two other shows if possible.

  • This is a show we've had on our list of shows to consider in 2014 as we branch outside of the West Coast.  However, between this review and our friend, David Forster's report from last year, it really makes me wonder if this is one to even consider.  We had dinner with David last year at a show in OR after he returned from TX / AZ and he gave us some insight into this show he had one of those spots that should not exist. http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/anybody-going-to-give...

    For those of you who have done this show more than once and are seeing what seems like a downhill trend (for those of us reading the reports without any actual experience at this show), is it one you'll keep trying if you have to travel very far???

  • CL, meant "well" ,frigging typos.

  • C.L., you are still one of the most beautiful women "artists" on the circuit (next to Ellen) so how could anybody resist your charms.

    I am glad things worked out ell, and I hope health issues increase favorably.  Always look forward to seeing you--your foxy smile always makes my day.  Nels.

    David.  I would not expect anyting less from you.  YOu are the consummate artist.  Bravo!

  • Bayou was a solidly average show for me this time, but I did top Nels' magic 5K threshold.

    Some people raked in the dough like there was no tomorrow and others were hoping for anything at all.

    Crowds were odd and well off in my estimation. Maybe because of weather. Maybe because of the increased gate fee. The fee only went up $3 this year but $15 is one of those mysterious numbers that experienced retailers understand. It seems so much more than $12 just because it's one of "those" numbers. I think they've kind of reached the upper limit (if it hasn't already been exceeded).

    As I understand it, this time out, the show lost its major sponsor of several years so that probably caused the bump up.

    It's still well-run and the volunteers are great.

    I'd definitely go back, but being in Austin, it's a virtually local show for me.

  • I don't know, if you really count up the overhead for this show, plus stock lost, never even mentioning not paying yourself [7.25 / would be nice] .It would have really sucked if it where a thousand miles away.  hear the violins.

  • I'll make a peep... First and foremost, it was extra nice to see you, Nels, restored to excellent health and adding your usual old school charm and warmth to what turned out to be a rather chilly show, in more ways than one!  I could not attend Winter Park the previous weekend due to frustrating heath issues of my own, but could not/would not cancel Bayou -- Tough but turned out to be terrific in all ways, including sales, thankfully.  Sunday was the day, as I usually find, and I agree that the traffic was definitely down, way down, but do not know why.  I'm not crazy about the increase in the gate fee, but do not think it affected my sales, which included both established collectors and one really big new one.  This new customer is an art investment consultant who came to the show just to purchase my work (sure, yeah, right, but happy to be flattered...).  He walked in asked the usual about discounts for multiple purchases, gave him my standard answer, "Only if I like you...", and he pointed out this, this, this, this, and this and suddenly the old truth we all know but fear happened -- the show is never over until the fat lady sings time to leave.  I also got to give my new fun square for the first time and I love it!  The staff of Bayou was the usual brilliant and wonderful group happy to demonstrate the legendary hospitality of Texas.  My neighbors were both old and new friends and they had terrific shows, wrapping, wrapping, wrapping, and making me feel completely useless until the big deal.  I felt like I should get up and help them both sell but offers were graciously refused, and I may have a mental defect in regards to jealousy, but I am always truly excited to see any of us sell in these challenging financial times.  One thing I know for sure, when I start seeing black Am Exs, the economy is back for high end again, and I saw my first again after a couple of years this weekend in Texas.  The tide is again high, let's ride it with our best work!

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