When I started the blog saw the need to divide in four parts. Some people believe I just expressing my opinion and did not ask questions. Other people believe that I not offering anything new and believing that I did not know what other people in the business had done behind the scenes and how some got black listed. Someone told me I was to preachy.
My intent was to write down my perception from the artists and directors or promoters. I understand that to solve a problem we need be unit of one. Is not about us vs. them, It is about us in the industry. That include food vendor, musicians, artists, city and everybody that gets involve in creating the event. You need to be blind and def for not to figure out there is a problem in terms of income.
I never been part of NAIA but older artist had told me stay away because the lost sight of what it really matter. Do you think that is true? Do you think is time to create a second association. If you google NAIA it shows up at the bottom of the page and you really need to look for it. I always wonder why they do not have small chapters in different cities! Do they have different chapter in other cities where artists can meet and discuss issues?
The main thing is how us handle the down spiral that we are facing. I understand, that I should not depend of the promoter or director but is weird to me that paid x amount of dollars for just a 10X10.
I figure out that I need to do 36 shows a year. Starting with a low goal in sales or basically under estimating my potential sales, which is impossible to predict in this days. Then search different sources to verify if a show is worth the risk. I see if my choices will fit in my budget for art fair fees for the year. Take a look what shows my odds of getting in a better and see if just by doing those I can my reach my net income goal because the jury fees are a income killer. I always apply to top historic shows but sometimes they are just big let down. I always wonder if they should consider when they jury the marketability of your work.
I wait for an answer from the show and paid the booth fee if I got in. These booth fees are paid away ahead of time and you only hope for the best. Now that I know what shows I am doing I need to figure out how much advertising need to do (Facebook, Instagram, flyers, email and mailing) and figure the budget for traveling if is need it. I wonder how other artist approach the show scheduling, personal advertising and accounting? Do share images and promotions of other artists in Facebook or any social media? How much stock in put in the promoter bring buyers? Another thing I always wonder if artists consider: when you received your artist package do you hope to get a month ahead with the booth number or confirmation date, parking offer (it should be free not add on cost) and decent hotels rates?
Now show date arrive. I check the weather. When I get to the show, I drop and park. Come back praying nothing got stolen. I set my Trim-line and Pro panels. Secure the tent the best I can. Set up my bins and hang my pictures. I created my own mobile gallery. In these days I add lights because I need people to see my with me not handling. Introduce myself to my fellow artists next to me and after I set up sometimes I need to ask if possible for me sit between our booths. I also check: my ego, do I believe in what are you doing, my education, social awareness, acknowledge and discard respond to my work the from public, where art education stand in these days and more important I know that my art does not make a difference in our society and just something that some people want to have but do not need. I always wonder if other fellow artist do the same. Do bring a salesperson with you? Can you even afford to bring a salesperson? I saw this at the last Coconut Grove and it work great. After all is set up and check in is just a waiting game. I wonder how people deal with the waiting game? More important how do you deal when you are not moving the merchandise but everybody else around you is doing well? How deal with feeling of joy or frustration when you heading back home?
When you get back home or studio do you appreciate the joy gave to some people and I how do you help the economy where the show was located. Yes we help because you fill up the tank of gas, you purchase food, you paid for a hotel (if you travel) and yes you was part of a event that draw people to event. Do you take time to evaluate what the promoter or director did? Do you blame others for the show not going well or you sit and think what was wrong with this event?
I also wonder if You ever take a look to see what when correct or what this make show be so great. I look at that because it may be the formula I need to advance in the shows business.
Do you take time to fill the card for the source book, post a review in the AFI, Facebook AFR, Facebook TCB, or other forums? Do you think that you doing way to much to fail or gain? Do you count how many sales or you only care the $ amount? Are you scare that you did well because two people spend over 1000.00?
Sometimes I think I do everything I can possible do and always looking for ideas to improve because I fail in some aspects I could never be perfect. I still expect to promoter to bring buyers no crowds. I seek for promoters with track record that care about me (the artist). I deeply respect the promoters or show directors because it can not be easy to put a great art fair in these days but is very easy to put a festival which I think is what we see more often now. There are so many questions and things to think! I also know that people do not share ideas and by nature we put people down all the time.
Closer to season start I got more questions. Can we work together? Can we respect each other? What else can we do because this is how we support ourselves and something is wrong? I always want to ask what is bare bone number of artists to put a great art fair? Does promoters think about how many artists can a show support? Do you care about the image that you showcase (promoters and artists)? When I think about Memorial Park show (Bayou) I saw a promoter acting in panic and remind me how I react sometimes. Good or bad we need be understanding and see the BIG PICTURE. Do you wish that shows will a commission and central cashiers so we do not need to paid booth fees in advance? Do you think that the promoters should ask us for mailing and/or email list and send it for you, One of A Kind Chicago sale and show does this for us. Do you need a feed back from the jury entry? You need a feed back from the site jury? Do you want know sales by category? Do you want know total of buyers? I do not care of attendance, I can see 1,000, 000 people walk but if they look cattle going to the ….. how does that help me. I prefer you not give awards and reduce the booth fees. I rather you not give me food because you do not know if I can eat that food. I was at the dinner at Coconut Grove and I can only have beer because I can not shell sea food. Do ever stop and think about others?
Well I guess I just kill myself for nothing and know I not wont change anything but I hope to figure out how to deal with on hands problem.
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Comments
Thanks so much, Pat, for chiming in here. You certainly make some great points.
Pat, Thank you for the input and looking forward to see you in August.
Pat
Thanks for the promoter perspective. You're right - it takes both the artists/exhibitors and the promoters to make a good show.
It's my hope the promoters and exhibitors will work together. Promoters needs to be approachable as you seem to be. Some promoters don't make the effort. I've exhibited at shows that I've never met the promoter.
Come on promoters - talk to us artists/exhibitors, we NEED to work together. We'll be glad we did in the long run.
When I do a show I just want to make enough money to paid my bills, save money and treat myself here and there. I think that goes for any artist I can think off. I does not matter my background or where I am form. It had become harder each year, month , weekend..... I do not plan to become rich but I want to able to earn decent living doing what I like doing. When I think about it very few get the joy of doing that.
Nice piece Laurel.
I have just made the decision to stop participating with a well known and long standing promoter and his organization. After participating in numerous shows, “I give”. I no longer want to have the promoter’s organizer wagging her finger at me, or reprimanding me as if I was an errant child. I think this promoter and his organization do not comprehend that we, the artists and crafters, are his clients...paying good money to participate in the shows. Bare bones care of his clients, with an attitude that we’re all dispensable, has given this organization a poor reputation throughout.
I understand how much work goes into setting up a show from the promoter’s standpoint; but we, the artisans, work just hard. My experience with the newer boutique promoter Paragon Art Festivals was excellent - as has been my experience with Rotary Clubs, towns such as Venice, Cape Coral and Mount Dora,etc.
Having spent most of my life in management in corporate America - had I treated our clients with the distain that is shown from this promoter, I would have been quickly fired. If that was the organization’s culture and modus operandi; it wouldn’t have succeeded.
No longer will I do 5 am setups, not knowing where I have been placed. No longer will I put up with the clear favoritism shown to some but not others. No longer do I want to see that wagging finger and condescending voice.
Life is too short. It’s been an interesting ride with this promoter; but stop the world - I choose to get off. My work will be shown where it is supposed to be - I know that with certainty.
To my fellow artisans, may the show circuit treat you well!
Oscar, from your writing im not sure of your background country, however, Im certain that uncle Louie and grandpa Geno said more than once to you......... Oscar! if you wanna geta rich, put all of your time and effort into real estate.
Maybe the promoters need a generic sign on that doesn't necessarily tie them to a certain show. It would be informative to hear their viewpoint on jurying, buy/sell, advertising - all the critical show points.
I'm not here to gang up on anyone and I would hope exhibitors would be adult enough to be civil. We artists/exhibitors make or break a show, why not listen and respond?
Come on promoters - talk to us. :)
I think that that is what many artists want. Artists do want to know promoters are listening. I don't know what we can do to get them involved more here, however, I think they probably are afraid of being ganged up on if they are from a show that the artists are complaining about. That is understandable. Elle Heilegstein has been gathering info and ideas here recently because she is thinking of starting her own show. However, the bottom line is show promoters are reading these blogs.
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