Blog

September 24 & 25 
Big Bear Lake, California

Presented by: West Coast Artists
70 artists
Deadline: August 1

No application fee/Booth Fee:  $230

West Coast Artist's goal is to bring to appreciative new audiences a wealth of ever-changing art from accomplished artists and craftsmen.  

West Coast Artists' shows are distinguished by the scope of diversity and the wide variety of fine art. Presented are innovative works in differing styles of contemporary, traditional, modern, and southwest art for the discrimination individual or corporate collector.  

Among the objects of art you will find at anyone of the many shows are one-of-a-kind works of sculpture in a variety of media such as bronze, clay, blown glass, paper, metal, stone and wood.  Contemporary craftsmen present their original custom designed and fabricated jewelry, art furniture, stained glass, and weavings. Expect something for every taste and budget, be it a simple gift or the keepsake of a lifetime.

West Coast Artists' shows are truly a unique fusion of art, culture, and living. They are like 100 galleries at the same place and time, in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Marketing: 

We were excited to be called off the wait list for this show.  Since it was going to be a long drive, we decided to pair it with a show over the 4th of July weekend in South Haven, Michigan and spend the time in between in Ann Arbor visiting family and friends mixed with some photo work in Detroit. It was a great plan.  

Everything was going great until we hit the Ohio border. The expressway around Cincinnati and Dayton has been under construction for the 10 years we have lived in Alabama.  Two crashes at rush hour delayed us at least an hour and a half.  When we finally made it to Toledo, the ramp we needed to take was closed for construction.  Our GPS kept trying to re-route us back to the closed road. When we made to the area of our hotel we stopped for dinner as it was 9pm.  We had prepaid for our hotel in April so we were not concerned about having a room.  When we got to the hotel the front desk person said housekeeping had "forgotten" to clean two rooms and since we were last to arrive, she had no place for us. What really happened was she resold the room.  So, at 10pm we were in the parking lot looking for another place to stay and dealing with Hotels.com in some foreign country making sure our "prepaid" funds would be refunded.  Luckily we found a place nearby that worked out fine, although it was more expensive than our original deal. Many lessons to be learned from that experience.

The site for the show is the Toledo Botanical Gardens.  The staff and volunteers were wonderful the entire weekend.  Check in was not scheduled, so when we arrived at 9:30 there was a short line of vehicles.  We drove directly to our spot and stayed parked there for over an hour until someone else needed to get in. There was an artists parking lot nearby with a shuttle that ran frequently. Overall, set up and check in was very easy. There was very little storage area.  The booths in our row were side to side with perhaps 3 feet in the rear between rows.  Luckily the person next to us had to be moved and her space remained empty.  Everyone squatted on some of her space for storage. 

There is a ticketed party for patrons on Friday night.  The artists were required to be open from 6pm to 9pm. There was a good catered dinner for the artists starting at 4:30pm.  Friday night offered the opportunity to walk the show and see the other work.  I was very impressed by the quality of the art and felt really fortunate to be included. Other amenities included an air conditioned lounge, real bathrooms, and the usual coffee and food in the morning.

It seemed like a small crowd for the Friday party. A few people stopped by our booth and positively commented on our work but we did not make any sales.  Saturday was hot and sunny.  Many of the booths had shade, our did not. There was a steady crowd in the morning, tapering off in the afternoon.

Afternoon thunderstorms were predicted on Sunday.  Again the crowd was steady but there was very little buying energy.  Those that had done this show before said weather the past two years impacted sales.  That was not the case this year.  We watched a line of thunderstorms approach the area on radar.  It looked like they would arrive just as we were tearing down.  Luckily the line parted, going north and south of Toledo.  We broke down in dry conditions but it did pour shortly after we left. I am sure some of the artists got caught in the storm. Break down was well organized with numerous staff members assigned to specific areas to hand out passes when artists were completely down and to direct traffic.  

In summary, it is a beautiful venue, the show is well organized, the weather was as you should expect in the Midwest in June, and from our perspective, it was easy to do. Sales were spotty.  Our sales were terrible but I do not think this area is our market.  The crowd seemed to favor traditional work presented in traditional ways. That is not us. A graphic artist next door said his sales were OK and a glass artist down our row was happy with his sales.  Others near us said they were disappointed in their sales.  We really enjoyed the experience of doing this show once we got past our travel woes. We have driven past Toledo many times on our way to Michigan but had never spent any time there until this show. On Saturday night we celebrated Sara's birthday at Rustic, located in downtown, great food and drinks. It was off to Ann Arbor and then to South Haven.  

 

6th Annual Holiday Market includes one-of-a-kind arts, crafts, and seasonal gifts. Sixty vendors will be selling jewelry, fiber, glass, ceramics, paper, painting, mixed-media, home décor, holiday gifts, and gourmet food vendors. Many of the artist's work can be seen in galleries around the U.S. Holiday Market is considered the top Holiday Market in the Chicagoland area.

This one of those shows that used to be a biggie for a lot of us. Now, it can be a decent show for many, or a half decent show. The sales here are not like they used to be. That said, many exhibitors come here and do better than $5K for a three day show with nearly a $600 booth fee. This year we had heavy heat on Saturday, 90 degrees plus, and it affected the crowd and our sales.

First, a little meat:
The whole show is on the streets in downtown Columbus. Booths are on both the bridges that span the Scioto River. Then there are booths on the other side of the river. Also one street goes off the flow of the show, do not go there, you do not see the whole crowd. Being on concrete you will need weights. Ample storage behind most booths unless you are unlucky and get one of the electrical. Storage bins behind you. Side to side is tight unless you have a corner booth.

A staggered setup is on Thursday. Tear it all down on Sunday and then get a pass to come in. Hours are long til at least 10:30 on Friday and Saturday. For most of us this is a waste. They have artist oasis and serve the usual stuff, most of it fattening. There is a good restaurant right in the center of the show. They are pricey, they serve good drinks and the A/C is heavenly on a hot day. In the old days the well heeled people from the suburbs showed up and bought here. Then you would see them in Naples in the winter. We do not see much of them anymore. Lots of tattooed kids with piercings and very little money to spend. High end sales are few and far between. Low end reigns here, especially from print bins and art on the stick.

I have done the show since the eighties so I have a strong following here. One funny thing about this show. They require you to have a fire extinguisher at your booth. I have yet to see a single fire marshal check us out for compliance in four years. Plus, in 42 years I have yet to see a single flame at an art show except when we sat in our vans and smoked good doobies. Those were the days.

One of the show's biggest drawbacks is that it is so long to walk it, and you do not get many be-backs. Although one Colorado photographer I know, said he had a customer walk the show three times trying to find him. When he did, he spent over a grand on a nice piece. Lucky Dick.

As you may have read on other Facebook forums the director of the show caught some bad shit over a show sponsor who was selling cheap pillows at the show. The sponsors pay big bucks to be there. But it is one thing to be there promoting your line, and another, to be there selling. Hell, otherwise we might as well call ourselves being at a trade show where art is irrelevant. I heard the director was let go. Sorry Scott.

I would gladly do the show anytime. I just wish they would end it earlier and not have it so spread out.
Later, gators.

So, I’m sure that’s not what the Choochokam Arts Foundation told the artists, they had varied explanations but it just comes down to the fact that this organization that has long lacked for planning skills, failed once again and this time the failure was big enough to cause a cancellation of an event that’s been running for 39 years, cancelling it when it was too late for artists to apply and make other plans for the weekend, in the midst of the relatively short art show season for the Pacific NW.

In April they let the artists know they were changing dates and location and now it's cancelled.  Announcing the date change in April meant many artists then declined the show, several are still waiting for their booth fees to be returned as they already had other shows they were committed to for the weekend.   This show is now forever off our list, even if they get their act together for 2017, which is too bad, we love Whidbey Island and had thought this would be a once every three years show we'd like to continue, but not a show we wanted to do every year.  

Article from the local paper:

http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/385268301.html

We last participated in 2014 and were taking a “wait and see” attitude to determine if we would participate again.  I wrote a blog post at that time about the demise of a show, from the artist’s perspective.  http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/demise-of-a-favorite-show

It's sad to see a show that had been a solid show, once I would classify as a very good filler show that was pleasant to participate in die.

Just a short review of the last show I did in Naperville, Illinois. It was the only show I had scheduled for this month and since I had done well at Old Town I thought that heading back to the Chicago area would be more of the same. That's the thing about this business.....it takes you high and then it BAM...slaps you right in the face. Ha! 

Naperville Woman's Club Art Fair is located in Naperville Settlement, a re-enactment of a early mid-west village with all the "feels".  Located in a very high end part of Chicago, it is a beautiful town with very expensive homes....and a great downtown with lots of unique restaurants and shops. It is truly a beautiful place to show. It is very well organized, having been around for 37 years and the booths have plenty of room with most having space on either side and lots of back space. You could drive up right behind your booth to unload and load up. It is laid out on the path you take to see the actual settlement, so you can't be missed by buyers. Plus, the weather was beautiful with both days in the 70's and a light breeze. There were about 140 of us showing that weekend.

So what happened? Both days had plenty of buyers walking through. "Walking through" is the optimal word here. Talking to other artist's... I kept noticing that there were a lot of us that were doing the show for the first time...I also noticed that none of us were doing much business. Was it the highest quality show I have ever done?...to be honest, not really, but it was nicely interspersed with those of us that were regulars and also some local artists. Judging was fine and it seemed like a lot of locals got awards...the big award however went to a fabulous photographer ( I am never good with remembering names) and it seemed to be as fair as could be expected. Judging is always somewhat subjective and I try to keep it off my radar. The dinner reception that accompanied it was so good we didn't have to go out to dinner that night.

I luckily sold one big piece that paid for expenses and left me with a little profit on Saturday. Sunday I did a whopping 175 dollars. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one, jewelers, photographers and most everyone I talked to had a rough weekend. If I am wrong, please correct me in the comments because I would love to hear of someone having a great weekend there.

I have to say for two beautiful days sitting in a lovely location listening to a great band was really nice. The ambiance was great, the show was also very well organized with cold water being delivered every couple of hours. I loved doing it- but i have to say I doubt I'll be back. Sometimes I think these older shows just need a new demographic. I felt like the people that came were true supporters of this lovely show and probably had all the art they ever wanted to buy. But honestly, that is not my call to say since I really don't know the in's and out's of what goes into delivering a show. I just know that personally, with a 9 hour drive there and back, it just was not worth it for me. 

There are two summer Art Fair Jackson Hole shows.  One is in July and the other is in August (8/12-14/2016).  Both are produced by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, WY. This review is for the July 8-10, 2016 show, but I would expect similar data for the August show.  This show was established in 1965 and this year was its 50^th anniversary. 

APPLICATION AND SHOW SETTING

     You apply to this event on Zapp.  The jury fee is $35 and a 10X10 booth space is $395.  The show is held in Miller Park, one block off the main street through Jackson.  Set up is Thursday before the show, and overnight security is provided.  There are assigned set up times.  I was originally assigned a 5:00pm set up time but this was changed upon request to 10:00am as it takes us about eight hours to set up.  Parking for set up and take down is around the perimeter of the park.  You dolly to your site on paved walkways or grass.  I dollied about 50’ on grass from the street. During the show, artists are asked to park at least 3 blocks away from the park.  Jean didn’t have any problems finding parking for the Suburban.

     There is a paid gate of $5 for non-association people.  Entrances were at the NE and SW corners of the park.  The association sold beer, soft drinks and water at the entrances.  There was a small food court at the south entrance and picnic areas at the north end.  A youth art zone and entertainment were in the center of the park.  I heard live brass ensembles playing classical to some good jazz.  Booths were laid out so traffic passed all of the booths.  Show hours were 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday.  There were public indoor accessible restrooms at the south end of the park and Porta-Pots and hand washing stations on the street.  Other details for artists can be found at www.jhartfair.org.   

GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHICS

     Jackson is 6,237’ above sea level in Jackson Hole valley. Mountain driving on two lane highways over passes and through canyons is required to reach Jackson.  Flatlanders need to take precautions for altitude sickness.  Jackson is the gateway for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, and the National Elk Refuge.  Plan to spend some time here if you do the show.  As with any mountain location in the west, the weather can vary from hot in the 90s, to cold in the 40’s.  This year, Friday and Saturday were pleasant days, but Sunday started off with a rain shower.  Rain continued off and on all day. Complimentary umbrellas were provided by the art association for patrons.  Fresh snow fell above 9000’ Sunday night, and it was 32 Monday night in Jackson.

The population of Jackson is a little less than 10,000, but during the summer months the place is packed with tourists and summer residents.  Traffic can be a crawl through town.  Many super wealthy have homes in Jackson.  Gas, eating out, groceries and lodging are expensive in this resort area.  Condos generally rent for about $200/night, and motels with microwave and frig are higher.  The key is to make reservations early as “rustic” accommodations and camping can be found.  Bears, moose, and elk are just some of the wild residents to be aware of.  We saw a grizzle bear on the way home on Towgotee Pass.

THE SHOW

     This is a very well planned show by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, and it was managed this year by Erika Bossi.  There were 150 artists, and there was a good mix of mediums.  All of the work I saw was high quality.  Amenities were set up helpers, roaming booth sitters, free continental breakfast all three mornings, and beer and pizza Friday after the show.  Perimeter booths are very tight together because of the paid gate.  Access and storage space behind booths was variable. About 20% of the artists who do the July show, also do the August show.

     Attendance at this year’s show was down but there were still plenty of buyers.  The art association estimates attendance at 5,000 but IMO, 3000 would be a gift this year.  My clients were local Wyoming and Idaho ranch families, horse owners, and upper middle class residents and tourists.  Judging from the dress and jewelry worn by women, the super wealthy of Jackson are not taking in the show as they do in some Colorado resort areas.

Last year’s show is reviewed at: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/review-art-fair-jackson-hole-wyoming-july-10-12-2015

SALES AND ANALYSIS

    My sales for the show were a little less than $5.5K and only $176 less than last year.  Individual sales ranged from a $3 bandana from a set of napkin rings to a $500 pair of chinks (short chaps).  I had a total of 76 sales with an average of $71 which was down from $97 average sale last year.  A little bit of everything sold but belts in the $45-$85 range were the money makers. Other less than $100 sales were napkin ring sets, billfolds, checkbooks, spur straps, reins, slobber straps, holsters, rifle slings, suspenders, flasks, my book, dog collars and leashes.  Sales in the $100-$300 range were for canteens, fancy holsters and belts with silver buckle sets. I have special orders for suspenders, holsters, belts and an interesting horse harness for pulling elk carcasses.  My margin for this show was 57.5%.

THE DOWNSIDE

     The low attendance this year is a concern but I think it can be corrected.  Getting to the back of your booth can be inconvenient depending on your location. There was no sales tax information in the packets this year and management announced the the forms would be mailed out after the show.    

THE FUTURE

     I plan to apply to this show in 2018 because I want to return to Steamboat Springs in 2017. Steamboat has also been a good high-dollar show for me.  Expenses and time out of the studio are less for Steamboat Springs, and I believe it is important to “give an area rest” and not oversell it. 

FUN STUFF

     It is a ten hour drive to Jackson from Franktown, CO and we broke it up into two days. We both attended the University of Wyoming so there were lots of memories.  We passed two of three areas where I mapped and studied jade deposits for my Ph.D. thesis.  Jean’s college roommate was from the Jackson area and she visited the ranch back then. We met a woman from Star Valley who was her roomate’s neighbor as kids.  During the show I bought Jean some jewelry and a pot for myself.  Our hiking plans were rained out Monday morning but we got in an afternoon wildflower walk on Teton Pass. Other adventures during the show were described in:

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/art-fair-jackson-hole-wy-july-8-9-10-2016?xg_source=activity

I am still laughing about the free-spirit gal trying on the chinks. What a hoot.

October 8 & 9
La Jolla, California
Presented by: La Jolla Art and Wine Festival
150 Artists
Deadline: July 15
 
Fees: $25/Booth fee: $450-$1,050
 
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival returns to the scenic seaside village of La Jolla. This two-day juried art show and fundraiser has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the most prestigious art & wine festivals in Southern California. 

A fellow at Jackson gave me a chip card and we found a small piece of the chip had come off. It messed up my reader and I had to reboot it. The card would not swipe because it had a chip. The solution was enter card data manually. I am using Clover Go reader from First Data.   

September 17 & 18 Sandy Springs, Georgia 120 Exhibitors Deadline: July 26 Application fee: $25 Booth fee: $250 double booths available Present your art to an affluent, art savvy clientele Expect extensive Marketing through paid advertising, media sponsorship and editorial publicity Drive up loading and unloading - event is held on the street. The 31sh Annual Sandy Springs Festival returns to the heart of Sandy Springs this September offering two exciting days of fine art, live music, cultural performances, a pet parade, Chalk Walk Art Competition, 10K and 5K race, children's programming, classic rides, gourmet and festival food options and much more.    The Sandy Springs Festival has grown from a small picnic to a major event drawing 30,000 attendees.  As the primary fundraiser for Heritage Sandy Springs, the nonprofit organization that saved the original "sandy springs" and is dedicated to building community through preserving and promoting the historic and cultural identity of Sandy Springs, this celebrated community tradition has something for everyone. Come join us over the weekend at one of the largest community festivals in the area.   Learn more: http://heritagesandysprings.org Apply: www.zapplication.org   This event is hosted by AFFPS and is organized by artists for artists.

Find more art fairs that are looking for your application: www.CallsForArtists.com

Nothing like a little scenery when rolling into town for the show. For you "flat landers" this is the Teton Range in northwestern Wyoming. 

Recently, on a private Facebook artist group, an artist asked for advice on dealing with a challenging customer on a custom order.  (The details aren't important here, and I don't have permission to share them, anyway.) 

I read the comments already posted.  Some were helpful, some (a bit snarky) maybe not so much.  And I was about to weigh in with my own two cents, and then I remembered a quote (from Albert Einstein, I think), along the lines of: "To solve a problem, don't engage in the level of thinking that created the problem in the first place."  

And that got me thinking about a "bigger picture": about our relationship to our customers and them to us...and I remembered a conversation led by a master wedding and portrait photographer in a seminar I attended, one that I first heard many years ago. It had to do with "A", "B" and "C" Customers.

I don't know if the seminar leader invented this set of distinctions.  Maybe Bruce Baker talks about this topic in his sales tape series; I have no idea and if he does, by all means go there and listen!  But  I found it a useful way to look at my customers and my relationship with them, and my perceived value ("what am I worth to my customers?  And what are they worth to me?")  so  I thought it worth sharing in this forum.  

You may or may not agree with the categorizations for each "customer type."  If so, heeding Einstein's maxim, change 'em to suit your business and your values.  

You may think the exercise is deeply flawed, or has no value to you.  That's fine.  If so, heeding Einstein's maxim, say "thank you for sharing" and move on.  Please resist the temptation to nit-pick the details in the comment thread.  

So, with all that said, the conversation went something like this: 

A Customers: 
1.Spend money with you, respect you, have integrity in how they operate (keep their word, keep their deadlines) . 
2, Are "champions" for your work and reputation, and refer you to their friends, who may also buy from you. 
3. You feel like a professional when dealing with them, and that owning your work makes a difference in their lives. 

These are the customers that make your face light up when you see them coming to your booth.  

B Customers:

Spend money with you, but not consistently. Sometimes, but not always, fulfill 1, 2, or 3. (Your "bread and butter" customers.) 

C Customers:

1. Spend money with you, but make you work for it in ways that are occasionally aggravating and/or demeaning. Don't seem to understand or value your work.

2. Complain and criticize; may return items while they're doing it. Ask for excessive discounts or to not pay sales tax.

3. When working with them, you feel unappreciated, or that you're "doing it for the money", and that your work makes little or no difference in their lives. 

4. When they leave your booth, you're exhausted.  And more often then not, you're glad to see 'em go. 


The point isn't that we all should strive to work with only A customers (although that's one option!).  Or that we should never work with C's (although that's another).  The point is: know who you're willing to work with, and know who is standing in front of you. What behaviors or comments would you use to place a customer in one category or another? 

And here's a useful "bonus challenge" worth engaging in: For BONUS POINTS: Assess you and your business in the same manner.  Asked another way: "Who are YOU, for your customers???" 

Criminals have struck again

Last month California jewelry artists lost their inventories in two separate thefts.. Deborah and Kevin Healy of Healy Designs had their jewelry stolen from their van when they stopped at a restaurant after a show. In a separate incident, Laurie Lehman of Floral Jewels lost her jewelry while she packed her car after a show. These are devastating losses, and it will take many months for the artists to create a new inventory base for their shows.

“We, jewelry artists, need to remember that traveling to shows is inherently dangerous. We must be very mindful as we move our work about.” -- Deborah and Kevin Healy

It can be very difficult to know if you have been targeted by criminals and, even if you suspect your business is being cased, professional thieves will strike when and where your artwork is most vulnerable. Your best response to potential theft is to take precautionary measures and to insure against loss in case your precautions fail.

Here are some quick measures to take to protect your artwork:

• When on the road:

  • Never leave your artwork unattended. If your inventory is too large to keep with you at all times, shift coverage with a partner. If you're at an indoor show, use the convention center vault.

  • Be especially cautious during transitions -- arriving at or leaving a hotel, setting up or breaking down your booth, for instance. Call the police if you are being followed or have reason to believe your exhibit or hotel is being “cased.”

  • Keep your vehicle well maintained. Have a full tank of gas on the last day of the show so there will be one less stop as you travel from the show.

• At shows:

  • Design your booth so that you will be able to see all areas of your display at all times. No blind spots.

  • If possible, at the busier shows have an assistant. This is one of the best theft prevention measures

  • Thieves often work in pairs. One distracting the artist/seller as the other takes merchandise. Do your best to be attentive to one customer at a time while being aware of others.

• In your studio:

  • Consider having an alarm system installed in your studio if you don’t already have one. If you do have one, test and maintain the system regularly.

  • If your supplies, materials and artwork are of high value, keep them in a theft-proof safe.

  • Exterior lights and possibly an interior light on a timer are important crime deterrents

• Find more theft protection tips and resources at the CERF+ Studio Protector website, including resources such as:

  • Jewelers’ Security Alliance

  • Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company’s safety and security articles

  • Security and insurance ideas for shows and open studios from Harriete Estel Berman’s Artist Professional Guidelines

This article from CERF's Studio Protector Blog. Learn more about CERF here: http://craftemergency.org

So there is a large group of artists who break down really fast and get the heck out of a show. I am part of this group. I usually post my out time after a show to let people know about the logistics. Off the written record the group of fast break down artists compete with each other:). Just another fun thing we do. Honestly it gets stressful and takes strategical planning. It is awesome to get the heck out and get on the road and/or get back to home or hotel for a cocktail.

This past weekend we tried something new. It was HOT. Saturday hit over 100 on the street. Sunday was not as bad but was forecasted to be bad. We planned on a really slow breakdown. I enjoyed the best break down ever. Didn't get overheated, never fought with my partner and hopefully didn't freak my booth neighbors with swear words.

Our booth neighbors had their amazing son at the show. During the show this awesome kid rigged up a "roller coaster" out of dollies and ratchets. Gave him stuff to make signs, 25 cents for 3 rides BUT if you were an artists you got 4 rides. Once the show closed it was free for artists. We had so much fun riding the "roller coaster" and visiting with the other slow poke artists breaking down. Artists camaraderie is the best. I think I have been missing out high tailing it out of shows. I may be a convert of the slow break down. I think we Maybe got out 45 minutes later than if we would have gone fast and furious.