Well. First off this is one of those shows you have to experience before you retire from the circuit.The neighborhood is one that everyone might dream to live in.Turn of the century brown and graystones, the center courtyard,private gardens. A beautiful setting for an urban show (all 6 of them).
The organization is so well done, it almost runs itself.The Southern politeness is wittnessed everywhere.People ask how you are, and patiently wait for a answer. Yes ma'ams and no ma'ams the the order of the day.Load in and load out takes patience, but it just plain works.
I had asked a few vets what to expect. First, they said, you will end up on the inner court.Just the way it is, gotta pay your dues. Don't expect big sales, you will see less than half the traffic the outer parts receive.Well sports fans, the sages were correct on all accounts.
People did flow thru, and sales for Friday were typical for a three day show (Always call it "Booth fee Friday"), but right off the bat it was distressing to see the difference between the crowd inside, and the ones outside. Maybe a grass is always greener thing,but really felt like a gut punch.
Saturday, things were rolling nicely, had $5K in my sites, when the sunny forecast changed to rain. Now, inside is grass on grass, outside is booths on grass with pavement.It turned cold, the rain came around 2 or 3pm and it became a ghost town.Good bye $5K.
Sunday, well hope springs eternal but the cold temps and no sun didn't help things much, and we ended up a bit less than $2500 for a three day show. One meduim sized piece, the rest all small stuff.Damn.This covers show expense, food, the room but no profit. Translates into a lost weeked from a financial perspective. So I began my reflection on what I had experienced.
I was unprepared. My work takes a specific type of buyer. I don't do art that makes you smile, I need you to think a bit.I need a bit more of an urban adventurer, folks here pretty traditional in many respects (and this is just fine by me). For me to find my audience, I need that large cross section of bodies coming thru, inside we just didn't have it, and quite possibly the demographic is all wrong for me.
The show peeps said there was no power, and had I studied the map it would have occured to me that being placed in a North/South orientation with a tree canopy on two sides meant it's gonna be dark baby, and when your work is of the same nature, it's like trying to show bats in a cave setting.My work just didn't pop, so no moths to the flame for me.
Then the epiphany of sorts. No matter where I walked (my son spells me at the booth when I become frustrated, walking burns it off for me) there were no people in booths other than the didgerredoo dudes, or the "funny art" set ups. I am of the opinion the show is so large,that folks have the mindset they are going to see it all and walk and look without stopping. Kinda like shooping for a car by driving down the street and looking at all the dealers stock at 30 MPH. I did my usual unofficial count of 50 people walking by (do this several times every day), counted packages.Less than 10% had stuff, and what they did have was small. Got a bit better by the end of the day Sunday, but not much.
I have to say, before this comes off as overly negative, I loved the town, respect the show promoters and adore the people (just wish they'd open the purse strings up a bit). Had a fine time meeting and talking to folks, Nels set me straight with dinner advice (Irish Rover's hands down the best pub I have been to, and I love pubs).I was set up across from the historical society booth, asked for some gritty points of interest, and at the end of the show the director asked me to do some interpretive photography of the area, guided tour and all. Looking forward to that.
I have to also admit, the end of the court where I was set up felt like the tail of the dog (could use another reference but this is a family show).There was a "beads for Autism" booth. Excellent cause, but art show stuff? The iced tea sponsor right across.The dude was catatonic by Sunday after 3 days of begging people to try the stuff. Next to him, Costco.Then the historical society. Guy selling photographs of KrispyKreme donuts with miniature people climbing them. Hand made kites at the end(at least I think they were hand made). Don't mind paying my dues, but man, I felt like I was at the local farmers market. Started off feeling pretty damn good with folks congradulating us on making the cut. By the end, wishing I had gone to Cottonwood instead.
Comments
Oh thank you for the information. Our tent is tan colored - didn't really want to have to replace it if he gets accepted and if we decide to go. Just put $1,200 into new walls for him to hang his paintings on (although I am really pleased with this purchase).
His prints seem to do well at other shows compared to the other booths, but he is only 11 and sometimes he will make 4 paintings in a month . . . and sometimes it will take three months before he completes 1 painting, lol. So I was concerned if people only purchase originals, he wouldn't do so well. I think right now he probably has about 20 originals. I really don't have any idea how many originals he needs to take with him to a large show.
At a local show, he will usually sell about 2 or 3 originals, and maybe 50 prints. But we live in a fairly small city in southern indiana; there aren't many art collectors in our population. (In fact, I think last year he sold an original to a fella from out of town - who told us about the st james show and suggested that he apply to it).
Thanks again for the info, I am tryign to help him as much as I can, but I really don't know anything about the art world - i just know how to go to the art store, pay for his supplies when he picks them out, and I am learning how to provide the walls and "set up"
My son applied to the show this year (4th street). He does 2D acrylic paintings. I think they notify artists in may whether they have bene accepted. I'm somewhat concerned. He has not done a large show before - just small local ones. does anyone know if they require a white tent? Do prints sell very well?
If there is a point to my rant, it's we listen, learn, and preform the due dilegence required to insure our bets when we apply, and to insist (like Munks so aptly put it), that the show peeps treat us like the business partners we are,not just part of the sideshow.
I have never experienced anything like watching literally hundreds of people march down the middle of the street not even looking side to side at the booths. I thought for a while they were all heading to the food court, but it happened in both directions all day long. It was very strange! Why do they come to an art fair and not even look?
But... all that aside, I was pleased enough with my sales. Next year I'd like to go back and have the same booth because when people were not On The March, I had excellent exposure and visibility. I'll bring lights though. I can't blame the fact that I was on the shady side of the street on anyone! The neighborhood association did a great job and even served us all lunch on Friday and Saturday. And then a neighbor came and offered me electricity for next year. That's great! I'll do some things differently because this year was a learning experience.
But for all of the complainers about sales being off this year, consider this... the World Equestrian Games were going on simultaneously in Lexington. It's the first time they have ever been in the US, and they are only held every 4 years. It is possible that some of the Big Spenders were off in Lexington. They had a crowd of around 30,000. After all, Louisville, KY is the heart of horse country.
Please, keep things in perspective. What on earth is the point of complaining about dirt or rain when it's an outdoor show? You all have been outside before. It gets dirty and rainy! Be prepared.
As for the smaller shows . . . well, to me it's the same. It's a crap shoot, big or small.
Now Munks, the lack of lighting my own fault and I fessed up to that. Won't make that mistake again. I applaud your candor, not sure any of this will make any difference at all but good to hear that I am not alone in my impression of the show.
It does, I think, get much more dusty in the inner court if the weather's dry, and that was my biggest complaint the first year. My stuff and tent were so dirty by the end of the weekend I had to clean everything off when I got home. If I had had fiber, I can imagine that some things would have been ruined. This year, even with the rain and even on the sidewalk, it was pretty dusty.
It is a very expensive show to do. Five nights in a hotel, because of the set-up situation, plus the high booth fee. I am debating about whether or not to do it next year. My sales have gone steadily down each year, with this year being half of what my first year was. But many of my shows have been like that. It's just that, with the high cost of doing this show, it's even more problematic.
I do love the people and the town and I know some artists did very well this year. A jeweler (high end) that I know said it was his best show ever. I think in general, though, sales were down.
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