As a newb here I appreciate the reviews I've been able to read, so I'll add mine for Stone Arch Festival in Mpls. this past weekend. Keep in mind, this was my first-ever art fair, period, so my expectations were very basic.
First, I had read previous reports that this show was not generally one filled with buyers, but you gotta start somewhere and I live just north of Mpls, so it seemed like a decent place to get baptized.
Communication with artists was pretty good, with a number of emails going out about various details in the days before the event. This was all in addition to the Zapp app and their notifications. Check in was Friday; we were given a map which was good, although upside-down. Easy enough to find the check-in table, where we got our packets and basic directions to booth locations. Load times were staggered and I was able to pull up at the curb less than 100 ft from my tent spot. But then I arrived at 09:45 for a 10-2 set-up slot, so it seemed being early was a good thing. It did get crowded later, and parking on-street was tricky. Get there early for your slot.
Artist parking was by permit (free) in a private lot four blocks from the show. They said no trailers, but I saw quite a few in the lot. I don't know what an out-of-towner would do about their trailer otherwise.
You can be on grass, on concrete, or straddling a cobblestone path for this show, depending on your booth area. I broke screw-in stakes just trying to get them into the ground; others did too. Be prepared to bring tent weights for this show. It sits right on the Mississippi river walk very near downtown Mpls.
Set-up went smoothly in great weather on Friday. Saturday was rainy and windy all day. A show in Excelsior MN on Saturday was shut down early due to weather. We got hit all day on and off. Some artists left early Saturday, and some shut down totally and bailed. There was maybe one hour of sunshine all day, but lots of rain and wind. Customers were there but they were few and far between. Still, some folks did make some sales. Some even said it was average. Considering attendance and conditions, that would be a moral victory. I sold nothing Saturday. The crowd was not a buying one and seemed heavy with young couples, some with little kids.
Bear in mind that my work is photography of European scenes, with a unique process and look and color treatment. My lowest priced item is an 11x14 print for $40, and prices range up to $2500 for very large canvases. I have nothing under $40 and just one print bin of $40-$50 prints. Most of my offerings are canvases or framed prints in the $200-$300 range. In this day and age, it seems hard to get people to buy a photograph. I have a friend who owns a successful portrait studio and the idea of buying a print gets to be a harder and harder sell each year for his customers. Some photographers did make sales on Saturday but I'm pretty sure it was mostly matted prints under $30. Near me, there were jewelers making small sales all day long. The crowd that frequents this show seem to plenty comfortable buying low-priced items, but much less so as you approach $100 or more. There is also a prevailing mentality among the general public that with a "good camera" you can do anything. I'm sure that also gets in the way of encouraging folks to spend money on photographic prints.
The Sunday forecast was the same, but it was wrong! Sunday morning saw a little rain, but then the sun came out and it was a beautiful day. The crowds came out and the demographic clearly changed. Older couples, meaning those appearing to be 50-65 years old, made up the bulk. Still lots of families, but folks who seemed like they'd have money were clearly more evident on Sunday.
I did make some sales but it was mostly my lower-priced prints. The artists around me did better by far than they had on Saturday, declaring Sunday to be average for them, but not enough to make up for Saturday.
Tear-down and load-out was smooth, with instructions provided in advance and all parties seemed to cooperate.
Also- free food and drink coupons were provided, and there were lounges just for artists. Booth sitters were said to be available too. I called my section coordinator on Saturday but it rolled to her voice mail, so I was not able to utilize the lounge or booth-sitting services.
Overall I'd say my experience echoes what I had read in advance. This is not a big money show, but you can do ok if you have the right price point. It's in a very pleasant setting; lots of good music from multiple sound stages both days, and lots of good food from food trucks set up, and restaurants across the street from the main festival drag. It's a family-oriented festival as much as an art fair.
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