This years Stone Harbor was not a good show for me at all. Unfortunately, it was my first show ever. After speaking with other artists, many of them were saying sales were very slow this year. I barely paid my booth fee. Did not sell enough to pay for my hotel. The parking for vendors was insufficient. There was nothing done for the artists at all. (i.e. name tags, water bottles...) Don't think much advertising was done for the show because it just wasn't the usual crowd according to return vendors. We had to submit a lot of documentation to the jury to get in, yet there were still buy/sell vendors there. Very frustrating. I wish I had paid closer attention to the previous vendor comments. Seems like things have been declining for several years. The folks putting on the show may say they want to improve it, but they aren't doing enough. The organizers were very hard to contact. I left three messages, never returned a call back. This should have been a sign.
Just curious if anyone on this website has anything else to add.
Comments
Thanks David, I will try to check out the Wheaton Arts Festival. I appreciate your suggestion.
Christina, I think they are just worried about filling their pockets.
Peter, Some other artists were feeling the same way that the gig might just be done!
Jackie - thanks for the suggestion. I will try to post a review there as well.
Michele, I haven't seen your work, and it's obviously too late to apply this year, but you might want to check out the WheatonArts Festival Of Fine Craft in Millville NJ. I do this show yearly and they have upheld high standards each year. It is a small to medium show by national top show standards, but it is well run and a nice setting with good crowds.There is a paid admission fee for visitors. I have reviewed it here http://www.artshowreviews.com/2013/01/wheaton-arts-festival-of-fine... Maybe you could visit the show this year to get a better feel. October 3-4.
It makes you wonder what credentials they look for when hiring, doesn't it?
I can't confirm the source or voracity of this little tidbit of information but I'll present it here anyway,...(and maybe this is already well known and I'm just late to the party): At a recent show someone shared with me the fact that "art fair promoter" was listed in the "top ten" occupations. I have no idea what list this individual was referring to but just the fact that this is out there implies the jig is up and the art fair biz has become a "racket" that draws in the "fast money" crowd. I must confess I haven't really experienced this first hand but I've noticed signs of this while reading AFI and this has taught me to keep an eye out for it.
Hang in there Michelle. You will find a show schedule that works for you. Feel free to check any show out that is listed on our site - www.ArtShowReviews.com
We have had many great artists that have taken the time to review the shows they have done. This show will help you decide if a show will be good for you or not. In fact, if you would like to write a review for this show it will save some other poor unsuspecting artist a lot of trouble.
Beth,
Sorry to hear about your experience. Sounds like it has been pretty unprofessionally run for years!
Michele, I did this show 6 years ago and I share the exact say experience as you and David Woeller. I too paid the extra money for the extra 2 feet of space. I was out on the middle aisle and I was told to take down my umbrella, which BTW was hanging at the top of my tent out of the way of people and it was providing me shade in that field. I told this man I paid extra money for this space so I could put my umbrella, chair and print bin. He told me remove it or else and started cursing at me. I asked for his name and I was going to tell the promoter how he was treating me. He said I am the F*** ing promoter and I said take it down. I told him I didn't like him cursing at me and speaking to me in that tone. I told him I would not come back if he was in charge. He said I can always find more vendors with ease and he didn't need me to come back. I was also placed next to the Blue Bucket lady putting names on the bucket in stencil. this was not the art show as I heard about in the past. it had such a reputation for quality art and unfortunately this is not the case anymore. Keep your head up. There are good quality shows out there with Real Artisans and qualified promoters who care about us.
Thanks for your encouragement Kevan! I definitely learned a lot!
Michele, don't let it discourage you. It's all about living and learning. There's stuff to learn and gain even in a bad show. Good luck to you!
Shoshana-"slim and cheap" great description!
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