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I'm having a good year. My best year ever. I've read Nels' last few blog posts about Cincinnati, Columbus and Ann Arbor and I have to report the opposite impression. Not sure why my buddy, Nels had disappointing results at these three shows. His work is great. Its accessible, humorous and creative. I love it.

It seems when a negative review appears on this blog, artists who had similar experiences tend to relate their agreement in the comments. That reinforces the impression that all is gloom and doom in the art fair world. I talked to other artists who had poor sales at all three of these events, but I also talked to artists who had great sales (in spite of the bad weather we've had this summer).

The economy is improving, and that fact is reflected in my sales figures. But there are certainly other factors that contribute to my newfound success. For example, my wife moans every time I change my booth setup or add a new element to the mix. My setup has become more time consuming and complicated as a result (5 hour setup), but I argue that these little additions and improvements continue to make my exhibit more accessible and attractive to the buying public. I guess I will keep tweaking and improving the exhibit because it works and it helps.

Maybe the biggest contributor to my recent success is the work I'm now exhibiting. Over the years I've read Connie's advice to artists, that they should simplify and focus the work they exhibit and not try to show work that will appeal to all. I went for years showing a wide variety of work, hoping to appeal to everyone who enters my booth. I didn't take Connie's advice. I did OK, but not great. 

I'm a digital artist. I paint in my computer. Two years ago I started playing around with a new series that has elements of surrealism, fantasy and humor. I gradually started showing bits of that work a little at a time in the mix of conventional landscapes and marine pictures. Little by little I realized that my new work was selling more than my older, tried and true sellers. This year I made the painful decision to box up all the "Beach Stairs" and marine pictures that had been my biggest sellers over the years, and to focus only on my new "Urban Punk" series. The strategy worked and I'm selling more than ever. Sure, I guess that most of the people walking by my booth won't give it a second glance, but the ones that do, seem to love it. I finally took Connie's advice. 

Another element I should mention is price point. I'm a printmaker (working digitally), and I don't sell any really high priced items. I never did, and I have continued that strategy with a few changes. My lowest priced item is a 5x10-inch limited edition print, unframed for $24. Framed, I sell it for $56. I also show 12x24-inch prints on paper and large canvas prints ranging in size from 18x42 up to 24x54 inches. My highest priced picture is $995. I sell the big ones occasionally, but they really work better to draw people into the booth. Most of the people who love the big canvas prints wind up buying smaller prints. The majority of my sales are for the framed and unframed 5x10-inch prints. I've learned that, for me, volume works. I had my best show ever in Denver last month. I sold over 400 prints. My average sale was around $150. I've learned that people who go to art fairs don't have pockets full of money and are more likely to spend $100 or less.

Anyway, I've only been serious about this art fair business for 10-12 years (although I've done art fairs on and off for the past 40 years). I've depended on Nels vast experience in the art fair world to help me select the best shows to show in. He's been a great resource for me. But, I think he's wrong about the state of the business. Sure, there will always be ups and downs. there are lots of problems with most art fairs. But, for me, and for many of the other artists I've been talking to, things are looking up.

I'd be interested in seeing how many other artists are seeing improved sales this year.     

HDG Seafood Fest is a great show in Maryland, just of I-95 at the mouth of the Susquehanna River where the Chesapeake bay begins.  Good 'shoes', a great mix of customers.  Friday is a "Let's get our costs covered day" at most 3 day shows and this is no exception.  We certainly did that.  Pretty well organized, fairly well juried with less buy/sell than average.  A few things I did notice - 

1.  The omnipresent "Crushable Hats" folks in the A/C portion of the show?  How do these people continue to thrive in our world?  There is a commercial portion in this show, and it's triple the cost.  That's where they belong.  These crappy hats are well sold, cost less than $4.00 landed from China, and they tie a ribbon on them and SELL them for $30 - $35.  Please, promoters, stop insulting your Jury Process by allowing them to compete for Arts and Crafts dollars.  Were it not for the plethora of people selling these things, there would be more quality handmade hats at the shows!

2.  The show starts at 3pm.  You can set up anytime after 10 AM on Thursday.  How do you arrive after 2:30 to set up your booth?  I would like to see the promoter turn severely late arrivals away.  Set up by 1 PM, and plan for traffic, etc.  If you truly have an emergency, the promoter should put 4-5 volunteers on the job to get the vehicle unloaded and the booth set up pronto.  If the 'story' isn't good enough to inconvenience the promoter, it's not good enough to inconvenience everyone else.

3.  Please, fellow artists - use common sense.  there are 2 electrical boxes in our area, 50 or so feet apart.  One box completely full, the other one unused.  Enough said.

4.  Whoever backed into my tent Thursday night and broke a leg, please at the least apologize?  I have already ordered a new one from King Canopy for $20 including shipping, so I don't care about the money.  I just hate that someone would do this and not fess up.  Shame on you.

I will report back on the overall show on Monday, but the weather looks great and I cannot imagine having less than a fabulous weekend!

 
  October 30-November 1

Pojoaque Pueblo

Deadline: August 15

You are invited to apply to our event, whose mission is to present one of the finest Art Festivals in Northern New Mexico, and to provide the artists with a spectacular venue to display and sell their art.
 

Santa Fe is "Among the Top Ten International Cities for Art, HGTV" and is recognized as the Third largest Art Market in the country after New York and Los Angeles.
 

The SW Festival of the Arts and Presenting Sponsor Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino will be showcasing some of the finest artist's from North America featuring 161 exhibitors for the autumn show, located at Pojoaque Peublo, on the northern edge of Santa Fe. Buffalo Thunder has many amenities to offer artists, patrons, and tourists who attend the Festival. 

Exhibit spaces will be located in the Resort's Tewa and Pueblo indoor ballrooms. All booths have pipe & drape, 200 watts electricity, and the ballrooms are fully carpeted.

Marketing Plan:

TV, Radio, Print, Direct Mail, and Internet Advertising will be done by the Festival and Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino. Buffalo Thunder has over 90,000 contacts in their electronic database.
 

Apply: www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=4153 

Email:  swfestivalofthearts@gmail.com

Questions? call:  Ron Behrmann

Phone:  (505)821-8537

Website:  www.swfestivalofthearts.com 

AUGUST 6 - 4 PM ET

When a city's largest employers pull out and the population begins to decline what do you do? Find new corporations, preserve the downtown, improve the quality of life by improving the schools, rebuild neighborhoods and focus on becoming one of the "Top 100 Arts Small Towns in the United States." 

Enter Artisphere, now in its 12th year and awarded Top 20 event out of the "100 Best" Art Shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine, a Top 10 Fine Arts and Fine Craft festival by the Art Fair Sourcebook, and #3 out of 20 finalists in USA Today's 10 Best Reader's Choice Award for Best Art Festival as well as one of ArtFairCalendar.com's Best Art Fairs in 2014.

Kerry Murphy, Executive Director of Artisphere and Liz Smith, Program Director,  join us to share their experiences.

1. We'll talk about how a city in the rural South, half way between Atlanta and Charlotte, attracts the nation's top artists and why those artists apply again and again to be part of the event. 
2. How a fine art event is "sold" to the town and how they attract buyers.
3. The organizational structure of the event, recruiting working board members who expand the reach of the festival.

How you can participate:

1. Listen by clicking the Art Fair Radio logo. 
2. Post questions for the guests in the comments below
3. Call in to the show: (805) 243-1338

One of Amdur Productions best shows (in fact, Amy Amdur's initial foray into the art fair business so many years ago) is moving. The popular Port Clinton Art Festival in downtown (and fancy) Highland Park, outside of Chicago, has not been that good for the local retailers. Carolyn Hersch, business development coordinator for the City of Highland Park, said that in past years, artists booths backed up against the curb and blocked a clear view of the retail establishments ... so changes are on the way. Booths back to back down the middle of the street closer to retail and restaurants. 

What do you think? A good idea? 

Learn more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/highland-park/news/ct-hpn-festival-revamp-tl-0806-20150803-story.html

It started last year. An orthodox Greek convent contacted me about renting my Pro Panels for an event where they were auctioning religious icons that they paint. The event was to be held on a Sunday evening at an orthodox Greek Church in Pittsburgh. We made arrangements and I delivered and set up the panels a few days before the event. Then on Sunday morning I met the sisters and hung all the artwork for them. The artwork was very delicate. Hand painted icons using real gold.

At the end of the event, I arrived early and helped pack up the icons for the winners of the auction. I've always loved the physical aspect of doing art shows and this was no different, except the pressure to sell wasn't there because it wasn't my art. I actually found it to be fun.

Here's a picture of the display from last years event.

This year they contacted me for my display again. In addition, they had me photograph the icons because the photographer who had done the photography in the past was having problems with hot spots in the gold.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

I have been wanting to have event promoters discuss this topic for quite some time, but never got around to posting it: Why do juried events accept STAGED (FAKE) BOOTH IMAGES for evaluation purposes and then weight them so highly?

Truth is, most on site booth set-ups do not resemble the submitted jury images. They do NOT usually show browse bins, density of merchandise marketed for sale, signage in use at the show, and that often many exhibitors move their displays outside the boundaries of their booths. They may even show prints of originals staged as originals when the original was sold long ago. Juries already accept works for evaluation which are no longer in the artist's inventory and may be 10 or more years old - not reflecting the work which the artist currently does....

Why not require CURRENT (within the last 12 months) booth shots which are actually obtained at events to show what an exhibitors set-up REALLY looks like...warts and all.

Juries will have to acknowledge that they are live shots and not optimized for being pretty. Most exhibitor booths are not pristine, nor exhibit the Spartan emptiness which juries seem to adore. They may need to weight them less heavily to reflect the reality of so many situations 

Most booths are filled with as much product as possible in order to hopefully have items which might appeal to a customer.

CAVEAT - there are some higher end painters and others who do often only display 15-20 pieces in their booths... BUT often they are set up where you cannot see the interior of the display because of the zig-zag walls and mini-maze set-up used to display their work.......... But some of these also have non-show booth jury shots that don't reflect the rather claustrophobic actual booth conditions.

An artist who submits an actual at-the-show-booth-image is often penalized because it reflects reality.

Meanwhile, there are those in the art community who have created a separate revenue stream by offering booth shot creation and post-processing services. Some of these providers appear to have insinuated themselves into the jury advisory process... which gives the appearance of perpetuating the use and preferred acceptance of fake booth photos.

While I admire these folks for their revenue creation efforts, the truth is that those who doing this as a service are enabling a dishonest practice if their clients are not going into a show and setting up their displays in the same way that the images are submitted. And the juries are not being backed up by the show personnel actually going to confirm that the booth looks like the jury image.

If shows have a preference for this Spartan display look which maximizes the booth space and not the amount of product, then they need to be more specific in their jury criteria. In any event, juries need to require actual set-up images for evaluation of perhaps they should scrap the fake booth jury image altogether.

Let the firestorm begin........ I'm wearing my leopard skin print Nomex outfit.....

Creating in our studios, loading up those vans, setting up the tents, meeting the buyers all part of the art fair business all pales beside the wonderful friends we make along the way and the real social network of the artists connecting with the rest of the art fair community and making real friends along the way.

Toni Mann, a potter from Lake Wales, FL, has been part of this group for a long time. She was the instigator and hostess for some amazing parties at the NAIA hosted conferences (I'll never forget the costume prom party held at Winter Park). 

Last year Toni was diagnosed with stage 4 colon/liver cancer and not given much of a chance. Since then her many friends have been cheering her along as she had chemotherapy and underwent surgery a few days ago.

When I saw her at Ann Arbor she couldn't wait to show me the wonderful gift created by her friends, this one of a kind necklace full of personal charms made just for her. She went through each charm and told me who made it.

Hope I remember them all: Travis Lindenbaum, Michele Levett, Barbara Umbel, Judy Goskey, Gael Silverblatt -- not doing a very good job here. Can you help me out?

Never doubt that we are fortunate to live these itinerant lives. Now that is a social network!

P.S. If you'd like to send a card: 

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Passavant, 9100 Babcock Blvd, Rm 6519, Pittsburgh Pa 15237; or leave a message on her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/toni.t.mann?fref=nf

This week is the week I'm all set to get a lot of work done on my websites. Monday morning up and ready to go. So, Connie, why aren't you doing that instead of writing this post?

1. I upgraded to Yosemite OS a few weeks ago and haven't been able to figure out how to scroll as the bar wasn't there so I couldn't update some sites, in particular CallsforArtists.com. Finally got that figured out.

2. My Mac Attack that happened last week has now COMPLETELY shut down my desktop. Black, black -- not even any more spinning beach balls.

3. Head to Mac Forums on my laptop, only to find out that I can't really sign up there because I'm not getting the verification emails.

4. Go to Charter.net to find out why. Can't get in there and my 10 log in attempts freeze that account.

5. Talk to Charter. Get into the email. Find the verification. Back to Mac Forums and it has timed out. 

6. Finally post a HELP to the forums.

7. Hyperventilating now and whining to you ... 

Have your day is better.

This issue has been dragged thru the mud many times but thought i would add to it.   Doing a show in Prescott Az. that is put on the Mountain Artist Guild.   Shows in prescott have a reputation for letting a LOT of buy/sell into their shows.  But this year I read that those doing clothing are required to have receipts for their materials.   Am hoping this will become a trend with the MAG shows but will see.  When i went to get my booth suggested that everyone supply receipts for their materials.  Will try to report after show is over to see what happens  Maybe more promoters should ask for receipts instead of just filling space with anyone,  buy/sell or the original artist or craftsperson

August 15 & 16 

Huntley, Illinois

First Congregational Church of Huntley

Sun. 10am-4pm

75+ Artists

Deadline:  August 12

Application Fee: $25

Booth Fees: $200-$300; $30 extra for corner booth

Huntley Artfest is a community event sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Huntley, a community in Chicago's western suburbs. It draws 8,000 art lovers-viewing the Fine Arts of participating artists, a full stage of entertainment and a vast array of delicious food from our Food Vendors.

This is a Juried Show ($25 non-refundable jury fee-if accepted jurying for that Artist is good for the current year and the two following consecutive years).

All work must be that of a Fine Art nature and fall into the following mediums: ceramics,drawing, fiber non-functional, fiber wearable, paper non-functional, glass, jewelry, acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, sculpture, wood sculpture, mixed media, photography, printmaking, creative writing, furniture (designed and crafted by artist).

REPRODUCTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED unless they are a series of an artist's original art work.  The following will not be accepted: knitting or sewing from kits, resale items, non-original pieces.  

• Huntley Artfest is free admission to the public
• Grass & tree-filled grounds
• Drive up to load & unload
• Free parking (and overnight parking for all Artists as well as accommodations for RV's)
• Overnight grounds security is provided on Friday and Saturday nights.

Website and application:  www.huntleyartfest.org  

Bet you know some of these folks: 

3-D Best of Show: Douglas Richard, Wood, Satsuma, FL

3-D Honorable Mention: Christopher Brautigan, Sculpture, Toledo, OH

3-D Honorable Mention: Lisa Gastelum, Jewelry, Portland, Oregon

3-D Honorable Mention: Linda Jones, Jewelry,  Centerville, IN

3-D Honorable Mention: Lou Michaels, 3-D, Cape Coral, FL

2-D Best of Show: Lisa Kristine, Photography, San Rafael, CA

2-D Honorable Mention: Johanna Mueller, Printmaking, Fort Collins, CO

2-D Honorable Mention: Mi Young Lee, Painting, Austin, TX

2-D Honorable Mention: Candra Boggs, 2-D, Perrysburg, OH

2-D Honorable Mention: Xiao Song Jiang, Painting, Ontario, Canada

Just wrapped up our 3rd year at this show.  Once again we had a great time, enjoyed the venue, and made money.  While this is not our best income show, we love the venue, love Chincoteague Island, and turn this into a real vacation.  We spend 10 days at an expensive RV Park, eat fantastic seafood and such, work 3 days and go home with more money than we arrived with.  Sam Serio is the promoter here, and it's his only event.  Advertising is great, organization top notch, and product mix is pretty good.  While fine art sales are probably limited to venue-related art, such as ponies, waterbirds, sealife,etc.  Beautiful art did not sell well otherwise.  Crafts seemed to do well, lots of great customers, 80% on vacation, but driving, so no issues getting stuff home.  With both indoor and outdoor booths, customers stick around since they can take a break from the weather inside.  If you don't know about the Chincoteague Pony Swim, check that out before considering the show.  The Pony Swim is the Wednesday following the show, and is the busiest week of the year.  We picked up 2 good wholesale accounts at the show, and will return next year!

Did not get into Cherry Creek this year:(  But still wanted to go out west from Atlanta and beat the heat.  Last year won best in show for Open Arts Fest on Pearl Street in Boulder CO and it is a great town.  Here is the review.

Boulder is an awesome town.  People have money, people are quirky in a good way,  the weather is amazing in July, the organizers of the show are wonderful.  The show runs along the Pearl St Mall, which is about 4 blocks of retail that is closed off to traffic.  There are street artists that preform every day here.  Think fire, magic and all that stuff along the mall.  If you are on the mall you set up on Saturday morning, a preferred spot and you pay for it.  There is one street on 14th that sets up on Friday evening.  This is not a big show.  Maybe 125 artists and the quality is good.  The organizers are always on hand but they also know that the artists can work it out better.  All and all easy load in and out.  The organizers bring plenty of cold water, awesome Sunday awards breakfast and snacks.  They are also great with communication and booth placement.  Boulder is a very friendly town.

Boulder can be an expensive place to stay during this time but check out Air bnb and priceline options.  There are amazing farm to table restaurants.  Like I mentioned there are a lot of street artists, depending on where you are located this may or may not be an issue.  My favorite is the Silent Disco Chic who sets up Hula Hoops and can head phones for everyone to rock out too.  

On to the show,  since we won best in show last year we got our pick.  We opted for the 14th street with electricity and set up on Friday evening.  The show and tow trucks killed it.  Set up was around 5 ish with Tow trucks lined up but if the artist could find a spot earlier to park near their spot they didnt bug you.  Awesome communication with the show and the street police and we were all set up by 6PM.  Last year I was on The Mall and early morning all the artists worked very well together and it was easy peasy. The booths along 14th st are traditional set up with booths across from each other and along the curb. We all had storage behind our booths. The set up along the mall is different. Booths here and there, kinda of wherever they fit. It is difficult to explain, but the mall has a lot of benches, play areas and other obstacles so a traditional booth lay out wouldn't work. All seemed to have a decent amount of storage either in the back or along the sides. 

Saturday morning, I had an awesome condo walking distance to the show, and by 9 am artists were making some decent sales, over $1k. Both 2D and 3D.  My price points for 2D start at $1200 to $6K  The crowds were good, not crazy crowded but steady.  We had rain for about 1 hour but the great thing about the Boulder folks, they are out door people and they will wait for the rain to die and come right back out.  I made some sales but nothing over $1800.  

Sunday was an even better day weather wise.  Made some more sales within the $1200-$1800 range.  I had other artist friends whose price points were $150-$1500 range and they were selling but within the $200 range.  So this is not a big $$$$$$$$ money price point show but enough $1800 sales can make you happy.  I am kinda use to a crowd that can handle $3K,$4K,$5K but this show is fun and you can make some $$$.

If you go to Boulder safe up some money and eat at The Black Cat.  Make reservations and enjoy

Here are some Pics.  The hiking one claimed to be easy to moderate, I call total bull.

This was my second summer show, and usually it is a killer--this year it was a bummer.

Part of the reason was the rain--we had a dire forecast and it held true.  On Saturday we covered up, then reopened, only to have to do it five times.  It killed the crowds and sales.  That is usually one of the biggest days there.

Secondly, for some strange reason, the crowds seemed uninterested in looking at the art.  Way too many were on there cellphones and were not even coming into the booths for a look.

Consequently, there were too few opportunities for big sales, which I usually can depend on there.

People were buying mainly lowed, well under $150.  This made for a slow three days with lack-luster crowds.

I cannot put my finger on it why sales were down.  But people were holding back.

I bumped into the show director later in the summer at Madison and told him how I had fared there and he commiserated that the show had been way down on their revenue goals.  That really tells you something.

Personally, the show is too long in its present layout.  It goes over two rising and falling spans across the river (artists booths are on these bridges) then you have to travess longs street rows of artists booths along both sides of the river plus two additional wings of booths that deadend.  It is a bit much for most folks in warm weather.  Because of this layout, you don't get a lot of be-backs.  They mean well when they tell you they just started, and will remember you on the way back, but it usually never happens.  It is very tough getting only one shot at them.

This show has been very good for me over the years, consistently so.  But this year I did not see many Good Shoes People, and you need them to make big sales.

I left, very disappointed, I did less than 50 per cent from the years before.

Unbeknownst to me, this was a harbinger of what this summer would become.

I am intrigued by the notion of a whole festival dedicated to bacon. I think this is the second year of the show. Did anyone do it last year? Any feedback? I am an oil painter; the show is in Savannah, GA. Deadline is July 31. Thanks!