People believe that what artist do for fun or a hobby. The perception is that all artist sit around all week getting high, drunk or whatever. The perception is the art we create is done in 5 seconds. That anyone can produce art. There designers shows that tell you do not purchase art. There are shows that advice you, art should not cost you more 100 per piece of art. Art in the walls is the last thing you should purchase for your home. Art should match your home decor.
Artists walk the big boxes and see artwork for less than 100. Artist visit schools and find that art education is loosing ground. The education program is head more into technology and white collar jobs. There is no need for art in our society. They close more vocational schools because those jobs will be gone. There is no point to educated people in those fields because there is no demand and people only want to play videos games.
I started doing shows back in 1994. Things are change a lot. You could a show and pick up 5000 to 10000 without a doubt. The economy was rocking and people expend money without thinking and use credit cards like it was nothing. Today people do not want to spend money. The pride is in saving not expending in things that they do not need. In process I saw a lot friend artists get a job in corp. America, loose hope and faith, they lost everything they work so hard. Some us decide to keep doing jobs and keep doing the shows. I think in my case was if I stop doing shows I will never will go back to what I love doing and feed my soul.
Did anyone stop to think what was going on or our greed got the best of us. Did the artist and promoters kill the golden goose? Did the golden goose is dying because times had change?
Even if I believe that artist created the problems and promoters took full advantage of us I refuse to believe that we facing a end of a era. We are not getting to many young artists. People jump into art fairs because lack of jobs. Most of them figure out that we are crazy to do the shows.
We have to many choices weekend in and out. There is an art fair going some place in USA. I set budget for the booth fees, jury fees and marketing. I hope to have enough for travel expenses. That does count the cost of producing work, equipment, car, etc. Jury fees are way to high, the avg is $35.00. Promoters keep extending the deadlines for jury dates and placing the application process way to early. The problem is that the artist see that as pure greed. The cost for the shows are in 300 to 850. The avg lets call it 450.00. Avg show show showcase 300 to 500 artists. Some artists believe that most of the shows are only pulling 5000 buyers. I could be wrong but it will interesting if Greg post that information. Why this matters if you are trying to make a living you need to do 36 shows a year. That is 3 shows per month. Yes 36 because we at the Mercy of mother nature. Why 36 shows because the avg take per show I guessing is between 2000 to 3000. That sound like a lot of money.
Lets start 3000 minus 450.00 north fee. Minus three jury fees for the weekend 105.00. The cost of producing the work sold. Lets said you spending 20%. That is 600.00. Now take out health insurance 100.00 ( divide the amount per show you in a month, if you are lucky). Buss insurance can be another 100 per show. So you are down to 1645. Then comes the Uncle Sam 10% for federal tax. State tax in IL is 6%. Medicare is 1.5%. Social Security is 12%. That only give you a net of 1158.25 per show. Now this only apply if you are local. If you a traveling you can add another 700 in travel expenses. Why are artist complaining to more than ever is because we are not making enough money to support ourselves. If we can not support ourselves how soon before you wrong out of artists promoters. The way that most artists see that is that you make your cut and you do not care about us. That is the reality that most artist are facing. You keep adding fees instead of reducing fees. Things are not like 20 years ago. They will never be like that. Artist talk to each other and they look for promoters that try the best to make us have a success story.
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On the topic of jury fees: Admittedly I'm brand spankin' new at this and have much to learn.
Why shouldn't a jurist be paid to sit down for, presumably, weeks reviewing and re-reviewing submissions? Their time is or should be valuable too. Unless they're getting a payment via the booth fee those dollars have to come from somewhere.
What am I missing?
In 1990 it was you will figure out one way or other. I think that first site for artist information that found was Larry Berman.
Interesting Barry, Your comment about the jury fees. Those are the things that new artist or people that started after 1990 need to know. I wish that people will take the time to educate us about the past and evolution of the art fairs.
Oscar........ Yes there were no jury fees at one time. I started doing shows at a young age in 1970. These were mall shows with Jinx Harris in the northeast. There were not many community art/craft events at tis time. They slowly appeared. Sunshine artists appeared . It time fees appeared. I would only hope that Nels Johnson will write chapter 4 to his wonderful series and it be on the subject of the history of jury fees.
and chapter 5 the evolution of the mall show
It took me a whole year to figure out if you click on a little word "here" in orange type that you could make a review. A big tab saying " make your art show review " would have gotten AFI a dozen reviews from me.
I remember reading about the horrendous experience someone had in finding parking at the Walnut street Shadyside art festival by Howard Allen. I have yet to be able to find that article again on this site.
Making it easier to navigate the site for people with limited computer skills would help in your goals.
Thanks for the plug, John, for ArtShowReviews.com. We built that site because of the call for show reviews that all could see, artists and show promoters. It is helpful to shows that need feedback (and don't we all?) and artists who are looking too. It could definitely use more reviews. It gets about 600 views a day, so artists are definitely "looking" for more info.
If everyone who visits that site/reads this site/reads this thread would add just one show a year, only one, you'd be doing a great favor to all of us.
Ditto to Alison's statement: "I'm no longer sure about that "several new artists chomping at the bit to get the spot" thing." It if is a good show it will continue to get good numbers of applicants, most shows do not have people chomping at the bit. Why do you think all of these outlets have popped up that are doing "calls for artists?" Not only our site, but Art-Linx, then Greg Lawler joined in, Sunshine Artist magazine, Zapp has a new specialized service and I think there are one or two other services that show organizers use to solicit applications.
Blowing my own horn again, but we did a very useful podcast about jurying that is well worth a listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2012/11/21/how-art-fairs-choo...
Barry Shandler, I never recall never see some jury fee. They use to be 10 to 25 while ago. I am hopeful as you that we start make more sales so our profit increase. In the mean while I think that we need to rise concerns and figure what is working so we can prosper. I can tell you I want all us to do well. Two years ago or so I saw an artist pacing back and forward. I could not help to notice that he was worry about money and since he has not sold nothing during the weekend. He was keep talking to his wife. I do not how gonna paid for the bills. It beyond sad but I could not help him because I just made enough to cover my bills for the month. Even if I have a job does not mean I do not need the income from the shows (my last day at my regular job is April 15, 2014).
Regard to the customers, we all joke about the dumbest thing people said at loud in the shows. That is bold group that I refer. Some are more polite but that is the idea that people see. May I see more since I am photographer and I always listing to people in the shows.
This is all observations.
Oscar........I haven't run across any customers that think what you say, Most love and appreciate our work and would like to buy but are having a little bit of a difficult time with money the past few years.
Most exhibitors are not really suckers or greedy. Show fees haven't increased much more than inflation. Jury fees never existed ten years ago and are an insult, however I would think maybe some of that money goes into advertising and gets a few more people out. Maybe.
Yes the old rule of thumb of a net profit of at least ten times the booth fee at a lot of shows has disappeared. This is not a good business financially anymore. Hopefully good times will come again.
I'm no longer sure about that "several new artists chomping at the bit to get the spot" thing. I'm not sure but I don't think Bayou filled all those extra 150 booth spaces despite calling artists who had been rejected. And they pulled in some pretty questionable "art", like the woman with the paper flowers and 3 (or 5) employees. Maybe she did make all the paper flowers she brought to the show herself but it sure sounds like a production studio to me. I think the shows that listen to the artists and try to put on a quality show will continue to get more applications than they need. I think we are already seeing some of these big extravaganza shows with all the distractions start to have more and more crap and buy-sell.
i agree with much of what has been said....just a few additional thoughts.... first about banding together - unfortunately there will never be any pressure for promoters to change much. for every one of us that leaves a show, there are several new artists chomping at the bit to get the spot.
as for the reviews, i believe there is an uneasiness among some of us to post reviews where the promoters can read them and potentially blacklist us from a show. i know an artist who experienced this. made me very leery about posting specific reviews.
as to the jury process, i totally agree that we need some feedback. how am i to know how i can improve my work or my photos or my booth or whatever if they provide absolutely no feedback. really makes me think twice before i reapply to that show.
one last thought - there are far TOO many shows. in my area (and within a 50 mile drive) one promoter holds a show every week with the same artists. and that competes with the other promoters that are also holding shows in the area. even as a consumer, i just begin to tune out with that amount of overload.
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