First event of the Fall season and we jumped off the mountain into the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain, GA. I’ve never applied to a show this big before. Yellow Daisy brings in more than 200,000 people. There are about 400 crafters and artists. This is billed as a crafts show so I was not sure how well we would do with our photography. I worried. Was I was ready for an event this big? I just kept seeing big numbers and reading that “you better be sure you have enough inventory!” 250,000 potential purchasers. If even 1% bought one thing…. OK so all summer I worked at building my inventory. Then we had to figure how to get it all into the Tahoe and Blackie (our trailer). We took advantage of the early set-up on Tuesday. Good thing because it took us two days to configure our display area. The show ran from Thursday through Sunday. And the people kept coming. It was a never-ending parade. Even when it rained on Saturday they kept shopping. The bottom line is that I have plenty of inventory to carry me through the rest of the season. And it was our second best show ever when I figured gross profits. Good on both counts. After 44 years the Yellow Daisy Festival team definitely know what they are doing. Everything was well organized. I was amazed how smoothly 400 crafters and artists checked in, pulled their vehicles and trailers along the single lane path winding through the woods. Everyone was courteous, friendly and helpful. I only saw one moment where someone was blocking the path and Yellow Daisy people stepped in and had everyone back on track within minutes. We decided to truck our things down the hill to our vehicle, but after seeing how smoothly everything went we would have done just as well to drive on in. And next year if we are not pushing up daisies we will be there again.
Another first for us this year will be the Oktoberfest on the Savannah Riverfront the first weekend in October. We look forward to sharing our experience with you . Ein Prosit.
Comments
Thanks again for this post.
Yes, I think it maybe could be a good thing. The economy seems to be getting slightly better too, and I think I might have some marketable stuff..... Maybe next year? Booth fee is pretty high though, because it's a 4 day show, not just weekend.
They offered sign up on Sunday for next year's show. When I asked there was no advantage to early application other than it would be one less thing to have to remember when deadline time comes around. I really don't need the application fee tied up this early in the game. Who knows what might happen in a year. So I will apply closer to the deadline for Yellow Daisy 2013.
Maryllis, I was surprised by your last comment, assuming acceptance. We went to Yellow Daisy last year and it was an average two day show with a four day price tag for us. However, they offered early, very, very early sign up for next year at the end of the show last year. We declined and another artist chastised us for not giving it another chance. We have taken the approach of spreading ourselves around unless we have a grand slam, then we go back. It's great that you had a good show, another pal of mine said Saturday was shaping up to be her best day ever before the rain! I love it when artists/crafters have fabulous days!
YDF was strong on the craft side and several folks commented on how there was not much on the art side. At least you won't have so much overhead since you live nearby. Five days in motel and gas does eat into the profits. Plus we paid for the early set up $80. In spite of that we will do it again (assuming acceptance). On the other hand, since there were not so many artists, the competition for sales among those looking for art was in our favor.
I have lived ten minutes from Stone Mountain since I was five, and Yellow Daisy is a pretty big deal :) Now that I am an artist and starting the art fair thing, I will have to decide if I want to go for it one year.... But it's kind of sad that there are very very few fine artists (as in painters...) at this fair anymore, and makes me apprehensive if I will sell much. I'm glad you did well, a lot of people love photography :)
The mud sign was for Henry and Linda's beautiful paintings created entirely with mud. The path is paved and the booths were on a good bed of pine straw so all was good. Not at all the mud it looks like in the photo. Everything was dry by the time we packed up. If it has to rain at least it did not so during load out.
Thanks for the review Maryllis and how nice to hear of a big show where everything goes smoothly. In the top photo the sign "mud" on the tent nearby looks appropriate given the wet dirt!
Chastize her and tell her to stop being a drama queen. She has a penchant for exaggerating (like going through the little Appalachian mountains, it sounded like she was driving over the Himalayas)
Wine em and dine em and make em happy of course!... OH - you mean the vehicles. "giggle"..
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