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  Wendy Rosen December 9, 2014 at 7:53pm

  I love my hometown, but locals have called this show "Eatscape" for decades.  I was very concerned this year about the lack of "selection principles" never mind a jury... 3rd world imports and buy/sell were all too common. That said, I attended "Holiday Heap" in the city this year... also free (I bet the booth fees are half of Eatscape).  the aisles were crowded and the sales were brisk.  The "new next generation" shows have nurtured their exhibitors into real professionals.  I'm excited by the new work, new techniques, equipment and tools they are using...   I want those aprons, non-metal jewelry, ceramic growlers, tea-towels and even real handmade plush Monster toys in MY SHOW! I'm tired of seeing only merchandise for 60 year old women (like myself) at the established shows!
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  Mark V. Turner January 20, 2014 at 5:31pm

  Also, did that include an application fee or was it free to apply?
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  Mark V. Turner January 20, 2014 at 5:25pm

  At least you could bring your own tent....
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  Christine Noah-Cooper January 20, 2014 at 5:06pm

  Country Living Shows have them all beat with $750 for a 10' x 10'.  Yes, there are a few artists there, not just crafters.  And some really good crafters, too, but an abundance of buy-sell.  We did it twice only because we could commute (just barely.)  I was astounded to see hundreds and hundreds of people walk by with so few buying.  Guess they thought we were the entertainment.
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  Sandra J. Atkins-Moran January 19, 2014 at 3:57pm

  From Sandy Atkins-Moran, Sunday

  I agree with what's been said about ridiculous jury and show fees. I've been a traveling artist (by myself) for 42 years and have seen costs go up and up and up. But I keep doing this because I love what I do and believe in it.

  I just read Nels' last post and I'm infuriated that he would denigrate artists who are not making $4k per show.  No, it's not as profitable as we'd like, but we're not all able to get into the 'Grail Shows" and are tap-dancing as fast as we can to make a living.  Being insulted by one of our own for not being good enough to make star caliber money doesn't exactly help our egos.  He's entitled to his opinion.  I'd like to speak up for us "chopped liver" artists who just go and show and work hard.
  
  
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  Mark V. Turner January 17, 2014 at 6:22pm

  I love the HdG Show! I have three blue ribbons in painting from them. I've done that show since ? 2005?or 2006. Last year, i brought my paintings and my wife Carol worked the candle booth next to me. She sold way better than i did, but i took home the Blue Ribbon in painting. The show has a long history. It was huge and prestigious back in the day with often 300 exhibitors. But the show has shrunk over the years to about 100-150. I would have to say they are more craft than art these days, though there are some good artists there. But there is also buy/sell, and a good amount of country craft. Also seeing more specialty food vendors-sauces, pecan tummies, specialty salad dressings to name three who were there last year. If I couldn't have the candle booth there, I don't know how long I could afford to show the art. My total sales for art at this event are usually under 1K, as are the candle sales. This is the same show where the guy selling buy/sell African baskets received a blue ribbon and maybe best in show one year not too long ago. He was there in 2013 despite being pointed out to show management.
  
  But the low booth fee and being able to commute to the event rather than pay for lodging makes it still worth doing. But they do allow one artist's spouse to set up a double booth and rep for her while she stays home or does another show. Really nice guy, and artist's work (i think its all prints) is good. But I don't think that behavior would be allowed in a higher caliber show.
  
  I like the venue and the people are really pretty decent overall. And it's fri nite, sat and sun for a 100$ booth fee. Really reasonable rate. You'd think, being up the hill from the yacht basin and basically on the bay, it would have a great demographic customer profile. But it's a crapshoot on whether they buy art for the boat or home.
  
  They need to advertise in DC and Baltimore, but like so many, they mostly utilize free modes of communication. Show has potential, since the base realignment has brought many more folks to Aberdeen Proving Ground. But it's got to attract art customers rather than jewelry and craft customers for fine art to flourish. You can still get away with non white tents and hand built enclosures. And about every other year, it monsoons overnight and wipes out between 5 & 10 exhibitors who get surprised by the rain and have their tents collapse under the water weight.
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  karen O'Lone-Hahn January 17, 2014 at 5:40pm

  That wasn't you at the Havre de Grace juried show with the candles?

  http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/havre-de-grace-50th-a...
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  Mark V. Turner January 17, 2014 at 4:13pm

  So yes the candles have a following and I'm starting to do wholesale to local shops. Plus customers know I do specials and so call me for a dozen or half dozen at a time. Good price and good quality product. But it's not getting into any fine art shows. It does get into the juried Dover show. But this is the same show that asks for all the documentation like receipts and workshop photos..... The same one where the guy juried with an item, literally bought 10 spots and filled 9 of them with buy/sell and the other with the juried item. Lots of buy/sell there.
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  Mark V. Turner January 17, 2014 at 4:06pm

  I actually do sell soy candles at about 50 craft shows per year. I must go through nearly a ton of wax and several thousand jars. They don't get accepted into any juried fine art shows, though. And doing my end of year tallies showed me that the candles were generating 3x the revenue that the art makes. And, my space fees are very low because most of the events are holiday craft events and straight craft/country craft events. I did over 50 craft events and 10 fine art events. I now make nearly as much gross revenue (before expenses) as a full time fast food worker.
  But yes, my candles have a f
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  karen O'Lone-Hahn January 17, 2014 at 3:53pm

  Mark, Don't you sell soy candles too?