Attended Centerfest in Durham in September on the 19th-20th... and it was a scorcher. One of the hottest shows I have ever done and not a great show to have encaustic at. It was so hot that the paramedics had to come and take one exhibitor to the hospital who had heat stroke. The show is laid out in full sun on the downtown streets.

It was early morning set up, some were allowed to set up that night before but most had the early set up at 7am, with the show starting at 10. It was a scramble at best- but coffee was available to make it through.

It was a mixed bag show, some great stuff, some locals. I didn't see any buy and sell to my knowledge, (but they have gotten so sophisticated, who knows anymore). The crowds were fair but I think that the heat just wiped people out and they went to the lakes instead...just my opinion- I sure would have.

It's a educated crowd (the first show that I didn't have to explain what my medium was to everyone walking down the pike), but not a buying crowd. Everyone around me had a rough time. In fact next to me a jeweler with beautiful work, got a goose egg...when that happens something is wrong. Everyone commented- sales were down all around.

I had electricity and it didn't mean a thing.....it was brutally hot- maybe that was the problem but I would have to think long and hard about going back. We got lunches delivered and load out was easy and pleasant, as was parking, but sales , as everyone knows- make a show. and this one was a bit of a dud for me.

The next weekend was Tennessee Craft, on the 25th to the 27th of September. What can I say, a fabulous show put on the way a show should run...seamless, and they bring out the crowds. The weather was beautiful and the sales were great. Everyone I talked to had a good show. Loading in was easy, as was load out. The people are friendly and you are able to build a following, which is rewarding. Teri Alia and Hanna Cofer do a great job of laying out a show where no one is overlooked and everyone gets a fair shake. Plus, you have Nashville- best music around and great eats. The only negative, hotel prices will kill you....and the reasonably priced ones are a long drive from the fair. 

Last but not least...(yea, maybe least), was the first Saturday in October, Bluff Park Art Show in Birmingham. This is a great little show put on by a funny,caring and organized director, so I can't really give it a thumbs down....but it poured RAIN the whole day. On top of that it was unseasonably cold and to add to the problem...Alabama had a home football game ( we are in Alabamaland folks.....so now you understand).

Set up was rough because the terrain was so rocky...people had to step up a rock ledge to get to my booth....my husband and i almost got divorced trying to level out the booth with shims ( maybe you can relate) and the crowds were barely there. Even then, I still paid for expenses and then a bit more.

Alabama takes taxes right when you break down, so there is no thinking you made more than you did until ten days later...ha. We all know that we can't stop the rain and an occasional show will get wiped out,  (it was that pesky hurricane).

All in all,  three in a row was pretty successful. Some I will consider again, if they will have me ....and some I will definitely not make it back to.  Live and learn. At least these were all a little closer to my home base of Knoxville, and that made it worth it for me.

p.s. If you notice that I am missing "o's and p's" in this post...it's because I spilled maple syrup on my computer and it's been sticking ever since ...and I refuse to pay $750 dollars to Apple to look at it.....so just deal. thanks.

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Comments

  • Hi Sandy, So nice to hear from you and lovely to wake up first thing in the morning, turn on my computer and see this...made my day! And coming from someone whose work I truly admire so much...wow, I am honored. I guess that is the wonderful thing about the internet (which we always complain is invading our lives.) We are able to connect and inspire and bring joy to people on a daily basis....and sometime we never know how it will effect someone. Makes me appreciate AFI for making it possible and especially you, Sandy,  for your kindness. 

  • Margaret, I think about you and your beautiful artwork, and have been wondering how you are doing in your show season. I have one of your lovely encaustic collages hanging at my work space in my studio, which I got from you at the Broad Ripple Art Fair a few years ago. It is good to hear your reviews. I take them to heart and will consider these shows (at least the good ones)

  • Thanks for your reviews.  I had to laugh a little over the almost got divorced comment.  Been there ... but didn't get divorced.  But I so know what you mean.

    Always nice to have some close to home shows.  It can be trying to be on the road all the time.

  • Thanks Michael....I will look into a cheaper alternative....Apple is ridiculous. They wouldn't even take a look at it. It works, but I have to press the keys extra hard- ok for this..... but if I wanted to write a novel or something it would suck. Ha! I would definitely go back to Bluff Park- they were great- it was just the weather. Centerfest...nada.

  • Hi Margaret! I really like Bluff Park. It's a pity about the weather. Some of the spots do make you feel like a mountain goat, but my first time there I asked to be moved and they were very nice and found me another spot. As far as your Mac, find a local computer repair place that specializes in Macs. When lighting struck my house, my local shop helped and was very reasonably priced. You can get that fixed for a lot less than $750. I have recently bought a reconditioned one at Mac Of All Trades.com and have been happy with it.

  • SPARKcon is a 4 day creativity...not really conference....event.  It is a downtown celebration for creativity.  Each Spark of creativity has different events going on throughout downtown. There is everything from sidewalk chalk competitions, fine art exhibits, fashion shows, film shows, carnival performances, music performances, and yes, an art fair for "Bizaarspark".  This was the 10th anniversary.  http://www.sparkcon.com/ 

    Bugfest is a big festival at the museum of Natural Science.  It is all about bugs.  My husband's current series is a reinvention of the scientific drawing with a modern twist.  Mechanical bug paintings do very well there!  Not your typically art fair stop, but it is a niche thing.  bugfest.org

    We did well at both events.  Sold some originals at SPARKcon and a ton of prints at BUGfest.  I had wondered how it would have gone if we were at Centerfest instead.  It was just poor planning.  The Durham Art Council folks don't seem to talk to the Raleigh Art Council folks. Then to top it off with a big festival at the museum and a marathon.  Everyone in the area picked that weekend!  

  • whats sparkcon and bugfest? surely not art shows?

  • I can say as a local to the Raleigh Durham area, there were multiple other events that weekend that split the crowd.  There was Bugfest, SPARKcon, and a marathon going on in Raleigh.  If the Raleigh folks don't make over to Durham, it is going to be a bust.  We were doing both SPARKcon and Bugfest.  We were waitlisted on Centerfest.  It was a warm weekend, but it had actually cooled down from the previous few weekends.  

  • Fantastic critiques, Margaret...too bad about the sucky weather but I guess that's just part of the gig.  I'm glad that you and your husband are still together (you are, aren't you?) and that you didn't have heat stroke or fall off a cliff...geez.  I didn't notice any p's or o's missing or even p's and q's...thanks for sharing this with us.

This reply was deleted.