Blog

Seems like there is always an added investment to make your portable 'gallery" more attractive to those elusive buyers. Its hard to put a number on how this kind of an "upgrade" will help, but Marcia and I decided to move ahead and get new (or used) display panels.

My black fabric Graphic Display Systems Display Panels are showing their age. They have served me well over the years and I've done several upgrades to make them more secure and easier to set up. I originally bought the two part, six foot tall panels thinking that they would be easier to transport from show to show. But I later got tired of putting them together and slipping on the black fabric at every show. I finally wired the two parts together for every panel and sewed the fabric on permanently. I also added a twelve inch extension to each panel and the black fabric to match, and also wired the extension on. Now I have ten seven foot panels that are ready to go at every show... much more convenient and fast for setup and take down. Of course I also have a van now, which I didn't have when I bought these panels. Another upgrade was fabricating aluminum tubes with velcro fasteners that fit into the top of each panel with the velcro attaching securely to the horizontal bar at the top of my Trimline. I have ten 7-foot panels, plus two 18-inch wide panels. The setup is very secure.

Now I'm in the market for light gray seven foot Propanels with all the needed attachments. I need nine of them. I'll probably wind up taking out a second mortgage (HA) and buying them new from Propanels, but if there's anyone within a couple hundred miles of Saugatuck, Michigan with Propanels to sell, let me know this week. I'm gonna take the plunge next week in an effort to get them in before Lake Forest, my next show in early September. I can pick them up in Chicago or Detroit or northern Indiana.

And, if there are some newbies out there that want to get started on a low budget, I've got some serviceable Graphic Display System panels that can be had for a song. And they can be unwired fairly easily if you need them in pieces for ease of transport. They are definitely not "like new" condition, but they work. Email me: jleben@lebenart.com.

This is our first full year doing art fairs. Being new to this, our philosophy has been to take things as they come and try to learn from our experiences.  Ann Arbor was our ninth show of the year.  After the previous eight it was an easy call as to whether or not we wanted to come back.  It was equally apparent what lessons we could take away from those experiences.  Not so with Ann Arbor.  I would like to relate what happened and ask those that have done the Ann Arbor shows if they can offer any insight.  I do not want this to sound like complaining but it probably will anyway.  

We applied to the Guild show and State Street.  We did a Guild show in Birmingham, Mi. over Mother's Day weekend and did reasonably well. Sunday of that show was our second best sales day. The work we displayed in Ann Arbor was substantially the same with some new images added. We were called of the wait list for the Guild Show while waiting to hear from State Street.  We needed to make a decision right away so we accepted the Guild invitation.  As is to be expected, the booth choices available were limited so we took one on S. State Street S. of South University.  A couple of days later we were accepted for the State Street show and declined that invitation.

Sara is a native of Ann Arbor and her parents still live there.  I served on the Ann Arbor Police Dept for nearly 29 years, and in the late 90s was in charge of after hours security.  In those days the students would return during art fair to party, particularly the fraternities. In a kind of full circle moment, our booth was across the sidewalk from one of the frats I had the most trouble with. It looked abandoned now, with a lone beer keg on the balcony above the front porch. We should have snagged that thing and returned it for the deposit. That would have improved our bottom line. Based on our local experience, we knew it was going to be hot, muggy, uncomfortable and probably wet at some point. In other words we had a good idea what we were getting into.

We had an assigned set up time of 5pm on Thursday.  We drove by the check in point at 10:30am where we picked up our information packet but were told we had to abide by the schedule.  We drove by our booth location and saw there was practically no one on the street. We ran a short errand and came back to ask if we could set up if we dollied in.  Knock yourself out we were told.  So, we found a parking spot on the street about a block away from our booth location and set up.  We were done with the tent at about 2pm and decided to come back at our scheduled time to hang our work. During that whole time the street was pretty much empty except for some Sprint contractors setting up a temporary cell tower at the end of our row powered by two diesel generators. We were downwind, and the fumes were overpowering.  When we came back at 5pm the street was jammed with people trying to unload to set up.  Why more people were not scheduled earlier is a mystery.   

We arrived on Thursday with high hopes and great anticipation.  We were two booths in from the boundary of the fair near a shuttle bus stop for remote parking.  This can either be a good or bad thing so we hoped for the best.  Another photographer across from us said he had been in his spot for three years and had his best sales there. But, he said that everyone else every year was new. After a couple of hours it was clear why.  As the shuttle buses unloaded about 2/3 of the crowd walked down the sidewalk and never walked to our row of booths or they looked at the ones closest to the sidewalk. We were on the other side of the street. When we did get traffic, if they liked a piece the usual response was "we just got here, we need to look around". We thought they would have to come back by our booth to catch the bus, so we were not too concerned.  We should have been. There were other points to catch a return ride.  Those folks walking back to the bus stop were hot, tired, and just looking for one thing, air conditioning.  There was a gully washer thunderstorm in the afternoon that cleared a lot of the crowd out early.  A lot of debris from other booths came through our tent on the whitewater.  It was kind of entertaining. Mixed in with the smells of fresh rain was the odor of the diesel generators no more than 50 feet from us.  The painter next to us had to go into the student union for a while as he was about to become ill.

The next day one of the generators was being moved as we arrived.  I do not know if someone complained or if they just needed it elsewhere, but it was leaving.  It was fun to watch someone not very experienced at backing a trailer try to hook onto a generator and maneuver it between some very expensive art.  We tried a new approach with early shoppers.  If someone showed interest in a piece we would offer to store their purchase pointing out that we only had one print of certain images. We had a couple of takers but watched with amusement as several other tried to hide the ones they liked in the back of the bin, not willing to commit so early in their art fair experience. As the day wore on sales were slow so it was not necessary for both of us to be there.  Thinking our sales problem was due to our location I walked the State Street Fair and the Original. I ran into a few folks we had met at other events.  Some reported OK sales, others were in the same boat as us. I tried to determine if there might be a better location for us in the future.  It was apparent to me that there were a lot of booths set up into dead ends that looked like dead zones to me.  Foot traffic at the Original show was sparse and that is being kind.  

Hope sprung anew with Saturday morning.  I checked with everyone in our little half block peninsula cut off from the rest of the fair to see how the location was impacting their sales. A potter and a jeweler both said they had two good, not great days and were happy more or less. The photographer across from us that had been there three years had steady traffic and good sales.  The rest of us had tanked so far.  Again sales did not require my presence so I started walking around on a fact finding mission.  I introduced myself to several of the other artists who did not look too depressed to talk. Most attributed slow sales to the heat.  One person who had done the show for over 30 years said it was the worst heat he could remember. 

It rained Sunday morning but a few people brought their umbrellas to take advantage to the cooler weather.  Sara had enough so she used the shuttle to go to the mall and shop.  Eventually the clouds cleared and the heat returned for breakdown. The process was to get a ticket from a volunteer when you were on the ground and ready to load. The ticket had to be presented at the original check in point about two blocks away to obtain a pass that would let you in to the venue to load. Our jeweler neighbor left to get her pass to load, leaving her friend behind.  About 45 minutes passed and she still had not returned.  We were concerned.  When I arrived at the check in point I saw the problem. Artist traffic was backed up clear down the block, around the corner blocking through traffic on a major street, as well as half way up the block on an a joining street. There was one person handing out the passes after radioing to a person in the vicinity of the booth to see if there was room.  I decided to park on the street and dolly out instead of waiting in line for an hour. That was the last straw for me.  Between the heat, rain and practically no sales I sort of lost it at that point. 

So, the bottom line is we had very high expectations for this show based on what we had done in the Detroit area previously.  In fact we had done shows in Kalamazoo and South Haven and had OK sales there as well. We did not cover expenses despite not having a motel bill and minimal restaurant meals. I am convinced location had a role in this.  But I am also left to wonder if our work did not play well here.  Much of our work is industrial/abandoned mixed in with some more traditional images. Our price point is $50.00 to 950.00. We are still trying to sort out where we ultimately want to focus. The more traditional images of our neighbors sold better than ours. We did have some limited interest in our larger works but in retrospect we did not handle those encounters as well as we could have. We have missed some opportunities there. I walked all of the shows east of Division Street.  I noticed as the weekend wore on some photographers were offering show specials and $5.00 small prints to generate revenue, which leads me to believe sales were slow for them as well. Many of the artists I talked with said we should not give up on the show as it is usually very good for them.  Yet I read posts here that say the shows have been in decline for a while and it is no longer viable to do them.  I am sure we would never return to spot we occupied this year.  But, if we were offered a spot on Main or further in the middle of the fair on State would it be worth trying again? That is the question I am trying to answer and would appreciate any input from those who were on Main or that vicinity.  

By the way, if you have a normal size vehicle and are on the State Street side of the shows it really is not necessary to buy a parking pass for $100.00 as we did. We have a half ton pick up.  You can park in the Forest or Maynard Parking Garage for $15.00 per day.  Meters are not enforced on Sundays so you can park for free hopefully near your booth so you can dolly out if you have to.  We basically paid $100.00 for parking we could have paid $45.00 for had we not bought a permit. 

On the bright side, word got out that we were in the show and many of my old colleagues stopped by to say hello.  Some of our neighbors thought crime was afoot because of all the cops around. Another point which may be due to my faulty memory but I remember a lot of characters at the art fairs in the day. Wild clothes, even wilder hair styles, tattoos before they were so fashionable, protesters, political activists and anyone with a cause real or imagined were everywhere.  This year's crowd looked straight out of suburbia. What ever happened to the "weird" side of Ann Arbor.  I cannot believe I am saying this, but I miss it. 

Sorry this was so long...thanks for reading.

Dear Artists,  

There's just one week left to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Don't miss your chance to get the best rate on your conference registration! Early-bird pricing ends July 31, 2016.

Early Bird Pricing: $150 for a single-day pass or $265 for an all-access pass

This year's conference will feature sessions specifically crafted for artists. With the opportunity to meet with the ZAPP® team one-on-one, and sessions that include topics such as creative new ideas for festivals, the public portfolio critique, and optimizing your success as an artist, we have something to appeal to everyone in the industry!

Come for the conference and stay for the culture! This year's conference will be held in Houston - home of the Bayou City Arts Festival, the Rothko Chapel and much more.

REGISTER NOW

September 24-October 16   
Brooklyn, New York
Presented by: Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC)
500 Artists
Deadline: August 8

Application Fee: Early Bird $45/5, 7/25
Final Deadline $65/5, $5 each additional image

Ours is a truly unique gallery - a massive Civil War-era warehouse on the Red Hook waterfront in Brooklyn, NY. Its enormous space allows us to present the 100+ pieces selected by juror Helga Christoffersen (Assistant Curator at  New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York) as well as the bonus pieces selected by the artists. 

We will be using 8,000 square feet for this show, and look forward to exhibiting artists' work from all over the USA.as well as the bonus pieces selected by the artists. We will be using 8000 square feet for this show and look forward to exhibiting artists' work from all over the USA.

The broad theme encompasses all the possibilities of your imagination-allowing you to think, play and create outside the box with few inhibitions, restrictions, rules, or guidelines.  Just set yourself free to explore the possibilities of creativity and let Ms. Christoffersen put together an exciting show.

Since Art Fair Insiders allows blog posts, I thought I'd clog up the  bandwidth with a few posts.

About me. Ehhhh........ not much actually.

Avid obsessed photographer. I have a day job. I have all the amenities (mortgage, bills, family, dog, ad nausem).

And I've just started into the Art Fair market this year. Have only made a few local artsy-craftsy shows and flea markets (don't ask!) and starting the learning curve......... straight up!

I'll be posting here occasionally when I'm idle and the typing fingers are bored. Hopefully the posts will be of interest to some of you.

Thanks for reading,

Randall_D

November 19 & 20 
Estero, Florida
(between Naples/Fort Myers)
Miromar Design Center
Presented by Hot Works
175 Artists
Deadline: August 5

Application Fee: $30; Booth Fee: $395-$750; Corner and Electric $75

Located outdoors at gorgeous Miramar Design Center, Southwest Florida's premier destination for design professionals and the general public, across the street from original location at Mall.

Noteworthy:

• In Nov. 2015, average sales per artist were $7,075. Source: Sunshine Artist magazine, May 2016
• In Nov. 2015, Hot Works' Estero Fine Art Show was voted top 100 art shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine
• Estero is, by far, one of Florida's most affluent and sophisticated art-buying and art-loving audiences
• No stages or pulsating music! Music is low key so you don't have to shout to sell your high-end art

• She works to keep out the buy/sell-and does the research to keep it out
• She knows how to work the media and brings in patrons with money to purchase high-end art
• Patty's unique brand of marketing via Hot Works has consistent, proven success
• Patty respects and always does her best to do what's right for the artists and for the art fair industry
• Patty has 30+ years' experience as a successful event and media producer and the know-how to connect artists with art-buying audiences
• Each artist's booth sign states emphatically, "All work in this booth is personally handmade by ..."

• High visibility from the main road

• 	Award winner Allen Tuttle, mixed media

  A location where patrons
  come specifically to purchase art
• A grand sculpture, museum-like entrance and well-landscaped grounds with a beautiful setting for a quality art show
• A location with plenty of parking, trees for shade and association with prestigious retail design and furniture stores and designers
• Miromar Design Centerand Miromar Outlet Mall provide additional media and advertising support for the art show
• Overnight RV parking is available

October 15 & 16 
Brookhaven, Georgia
Presented by:  Brookhaven Community Foundation
125+ Artists
Deadline:  August 1

Application Fee: $25; Booth Fee: $195

The Brookhaven Arts Festival is the premier Art Festival in Brookhaven, Georgia.
Brookhaven is the fastest growing city in Georgia, located inside the 285 perimeter beltline of Atlanta and attracting approximately 10-12,000 visitors.  The Festival is held on Apple Valley Road directly behind the MARTA transportation station making it convenient for patrons to travel and/or park to attend this art festival. Brookhaven is one of the hottest markets within the perimeter of Atlanta, and the Brookhaven Arts Festival is always a great event for artists and patrons!

The juried Festival has been an annual event since 2004, after skipping 2014, the Festival is back for it's 12th year in the same location. The festival is produced with the input of local artists and The Brookhaven Community Foundation, a non-profit organization made up of community leaders who live in the City of Brookhaven who are interested in supporting the arts.

Artist amenities:

• Volunteer booth sitters; Vehicle loading/unloading at booth space
• Complimentary coffee and snacks on Sat. morning
• Publicity via print, broadcast and social media
• Free parking Friday night-Sunday

• Best in Show-receives $250, free booth for following year, and the honor to design t-shirt and poster for following year
• 1st place-free booth
• 2nd place-1/2 booth fee
• 3rd place-1/2 booth fee

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.