At the star of this year I was lucky to into Lakefront Arts festival in Milwaukee. I figure that doing the Third Ward by Amy will be a good choice. Start looking for hotels April for both shows but only can get for the lakefront. A couple friends advice to drive back and forward for the Third Ward show since I could not find anything closed to the area. Gurnee was the closed hotel with opening and for that distance it did not make sense to paid for hotel since my home is 35 to 45 minutes from there.
A week before the show things just went _____________. Amy found by the city of Milwaukee that we could not set in Saturday morning as she plan. The parade for Harley Davidson will start at 10am and will running one street east from the show. The parade will block the entrance to main parking lot for the artists. I do not think she pass this info to the artists. Also this also mean that all local people wont be attending the show or just skip town. It also mean that we need to check at 3am and start to set up at 4am. Considering that closet place you can stay was 45 minutes away you can figure the reaction. I send email asking to reconsider the set up time as well some other artist. We got a email back that what the city put us in that schedule. The set up was great set for the cars that need to tow. That did not help me.
The attendance was great but the people was there for the parade not for us. Some people got lucky but most walk out of there super _____________. I think that the show has potential. There are rumors that she may change the date but that will mean we starting again from ground zero.
Because of the lack of sales and reading other forums here some things that start looking at this show with her. I knew that people cancel. That was artist that was showing that should not be there. She has reduce her standards and that is very disappointing. Instead of letting people that may look buy and sale or candle people what about give people more room to display like (12 feet deep and 15 wide). Yes that is a corner display and that will prevent or justify not reducing her booth fee. This what keep people are complaining. I know she does a great job of advertising and she make effort to promote her shows. I do not think is her fault the shows do not get more buyers. She has lost some of best art shows artists and could because what had become her reputation but instead of sending "hate mail" or telling she has lost touch what about we send ideas to improve our living hood, she may try some those ideas. Also take a look how many shows you are doing in the area and how many years showing the same stuff. Do not blame the promoter are all the failure some blame falls on us.
Do not think that if she is not promoter of the show that fee is will go down neither. I saw Fountain Square taken by Chicago Special Events and the fee stay the same and it got worst (Wells Street part 2). Now the Lakeview East fee stay the same but the sale may not break the bank but wow this how all shows should be run.
I will tell you if you trying any of her show try Port Clinton (another rumor is that the sales was not there and artist will be dropping if that is true that will be good for me) and Third Ward. Everything if you are not local stay away until you start getting good reports now the draw back is that she needs x amount of artist must of the new blood can not afford her shows so guess that who take those spots.
Only time we tell and yes I like her and some her staff (Lisa and Omar) but this how a make a living and money talks and how feel about you wont change that.
Bureau
