First off. This is a lovely show held in a wonderful Atlantic coast community. It is run by a very capable committee and it is a breeze to setup and teardown.
But it has a few flaws.
First, a little history.
I lived here in the early eighties. Was going to the Photo Program at Daytona CC just north of here. Those days there were two of us from there doing shows --the others were Jerry and Carole Napoli, superb sculptor and her a painter. Nowadays, over a dozen talented artists live here.
You can still drive an automobile on the beach there.
You can still cruise along the ocean and actually see it at numerous exits without all the condos blocking the view.
You can still go all the way down Highway A1A and find Captain JB's Fish Camp Restaurant near the beginnings of the Cape canaveral Seashore.
The view west from JB's across the lagoon has not changed since the beginnings of times. Pristine wetlands teeming with fish and birds. Nobody will ever be able to build there.
You can eat great crabs, oysters, shrimp and fish all nite long--and at a good price for fresh food.
In the early days this show was held mostly on the park along the water with some booths on the street in front. It was smaller, and everybody made some good money. They always had better than average prize money and it attracted the heavy-hitters.
I could manage to make a paycheck and I lived there.
Nowadays, New Smyrna has bloomed like downtown Saint Petersburg, or even Naples on a smaller scale.
There are trendy restaurants everywhere on the mainland, mostly along Canal Street. On beachside, Flagler Avenue has many venues let alone along A1A going down to JBs.
There are quaint beach cottages and there are major McMansions. Lots of condos. Lots of new money moving in from everywhere. Lots of Europeans living there. There's money there.
They mostly like their art done in very traditional ways, almost to the point of trite cliches.
Bird shots and sea oat sunsets images sell all day here. Original, out of the box, art has a much harder time.
They have developed a very healthy patrons purchase program here. Many artists clean up on it.
My friend Steve Vaughn usually has a Pirate's Booty of ribbons on his booth every year. Too bad Melbourne won't let him enjoy the same.
It is a laid back setup. You can come in early at 6 AM up to 12:30 PM on Friday to setup. No hassles, usually plenty of room for inventory storage. Booths are on concrete, you need weights. Wind can be big factor here, after all, it is January and you are right by the Atlantic.
Teardown is easy-peasey. No hysterics like you see down in Boca Raton.
People actually make money here.
Well, some. Not all. And not as many as who need to.
HERE IS THE RUB, OR AS I CALL IT, THE FLAW TO THIS SHOW.
For years it has been a two day show. Then the committee got visions of sugarplums in their heads. They wanted to be a big-boy show like the others--a three-day show.
Guess what New Smyrna I got news for you since you haven't figured this one out yet.
FRIDAY IS A TOTALLY WASTED DAY.
Most artists there, and when I say most, I mean the majority of the show are lucky to make $150-$400 on Friday. Plus, you gotta come in a day early, another hotel nite. Or get up at God-for-saken 3 AM to drive there early for setup.
Guess What New Smyrna?
Most of the people who buy art there work on Fridays. They have real jobs and cannot come out and walk the dogs and jibber-jabber like most of the people we usually see on Friday.
You know the drill. Just like Naples.
Nicely dressed senior citizens, lots of them walking the pooch. Some will actually look at the art, most just walk with friends down the street without looking.
When you engage one of them and try a soft close like, "Well you said you love my piece, do you have any room for it?" They reply,"Oh goodness, no. Are walls are filled."
That is your Friday audience New Smyrna--and it sucks. It is a total waste of time.
We should be able to set up our booths and enjoy the fruits of New Smyrna on Friday.
THE SECOND FLAW OF THIS SHOW.
It is too big.
They added an additional 30-plus booths this year, got up tp 260 exhibitors.
The town is not big enough to attract enough sales for that number.
!80 booths would be fine, 260 is a no-go.
So, I am mainly putting this info out to you newbies who are thinking about a show like this. Exhibitor, beware.
Other than that, it is a great show.
and suggestions
