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I'll be exhibiting at the Cherry Creek Art Festival for the first time in July. I wondered if anyone has suggestions about where to request a booth. It looks like the show is spread out all over the place.

Thanks,

John Leben 

Certain media and styles each have venues that lean towards them versus other mediums and styles.  For example, I did a show in Lexington. I thought that the location would be ideal for my work.  It turned out that the show was organized by a gallery that specialized in abstracts and the show was pointed toward, and marketing concentrated to, their customer base.  A lot of fine crafts, some photography but no realism (or very few including me).  Actually, the closest was an impressionist. A wood turned friend was there (does excellent stuff) did well. The turnout was fair - not great; but still...

 I read the comments/show reviews with keen interest; but when I see the comments are from photographers or people who do fine craft work, I have doubts whether those ratings/comments are germane to me.

I am interested to know which members do realist works and work in oils, pastels or sculpture so I could key in on their comments.  I also encourage those who take the time to comment, which I very much appreciate, to comment on the presence of other mediums and styles that participated and whether they had similar results.  I promise to do the same with shows that I do this year.

May 16 & 17 
East Lansing, Michigan
Downtown
Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 10am-5pm
200 Exhibitors
Deadline:  January 31

Established in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival (ELAF) kicks off the festival season each spring in the beautiful streets of downtown East Lansing.  The popular festival attracts 80,000-70,000 attendees.  In addition to the 200 juried exhibitors, the ELAF encourages future artists through the Emerging Artist Program.

This non-profit event is beloved in the greater Lansing area and attracts devoted art buyers from across the state of Michigan as well as Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Informally known as the "City of the Arts," East Lansing welcomes the finest artists in North America to exhibit at this highly promoted event.

East Lansing is a charming university town with a variety of shops, restaurants and galleries. The beautiful Michigan State University campus is right across the street, which is now home to the renowned Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum.

The combination of the University and the State Capitol nearby brings a well-educated population to attend and appreciate the handmade work.

At the ELAF---ranked #54 by Sunshine Artist magazine---exhibitors can expect:

• well-educated visitors, including professional people
  from state government and the university
• friendly volunteers who welcome artists and make load-in and load-out run smoothly
• perks such as booth sitting services and Friday set-up as well as free artist parking, coffee and break area
• affiliation with local public TV and radio---bringing the right people to you
• eclectic live music that enhances the art rather than distracts from it
• international flavors in a unique food court
• a hand-on area for children
• a festive mood---this is the kickoff of the local festival season!

Apply today:  www.Zapplication.org

For more information please contact:

Michelle Carlson, Art Festival Director

East Lansing Art Festival

410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823

(517) 319-6804

e mail:  info@elartfest.com 

www.elartfest.com 

The festival is presented by the East Lansing Art Festival Board in cooperation with the Arts Commission/City of East Lansing.

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Find more art fairs around the country looking for artists: www.CallsforArtists.com

Well, what a difference one weekend makes.

It seems, most of us there made money.  How refreshing.

Bonita Springs is an oldtime SW Florida community just a wee north of Naples, not far from Ft. Myers too.

An art league sponsors it and there only director for the life of the show, Barry Witt, runs it.

Originally it was held in an upscale shopping plaza right on Route 41.  Lots of traffic, lots of high end neighborhoods, golf courses, yada, yada, yada.

We all made money there..\

Then the plaza closed, got sold, new owners wanted to rework things--so, aloha to the show being there.

Now, it is on Old 41, the original old Tamiami Highway that goes through an old-time downtown.

A little market, laundry mat, retail stores, kayak outfitters, local artists' studios in old huts.

The lazy flowing Imperial River is just up from the show, complete with an old-time Florida tourist stop--se local wildlife, nature, flowers, and of course fauna.

Me, I'd just once like to see Bo Derek floating on a kayak on the old Imperial.  I would even get up earlier then Dick Cunningham to shoot that shot.

Oh well, one can dream.

Barry took a calculated risk moving the show off a well-traveled venue--but hey, you gotta have parking and room for a couple of hundred booths.  So the location works.

They close off Old 41 to traffic for three days so we can leisurely set up all day on Friday and then do the show on the weekend.

Originally, people, well some, were poo-pooing the location.  They were saying all the merchants windows had burglar bars on it.  The locals were  not to be trusted once it got dark.

None of that is true.

No crime, no thefts, it is a very mellow location.

Most booths are on concrete with plenty of storage behind.  The northern end of the show winds down a grass path in the park.  Nicely shaded.  You can almost hear Tarzen calling out to Jane.  Wait!  Did that wily chimp steal Cunningham's tarps.  He's got plenty of money, he can buy more.

BTW.  Dick Cunningham is a wonderful photographer that I admire, and he lives in Bonita Springs.

There is a mellow little coffee shop/ restaurant tucked back one block down from the show.  Great for a breakfast, snack or a beverage.

According to my good friend Lou, they sell a hell of a fine giant can of beer too.  Such a deal.

I guess you could call that a mini-Tequila Report.  Look out!  I may revert back to a few new ones in 2015.  Just without the salt.

Where was I?

Oh, the show.  Come on Nels, tell us more.  Tell us about the moola.

What I like about this show more than the recent Naples show are few really good things.

One, no lousy 4 AM setup time Sucks, Naples, really sucks.

Two.  It is a more compact show.  Easier to get back around to booths, you can actually get "be-backs."

Three.  This is no dog walk show.  The people actually take time to look at the artwork.  What a concept.  Do ya think it has any chance of happening elsewhere.

And four, an extra, most artists are selling.

I saw mucho packages go by my booth both days--big change from Naples.

The level of your fellow  exhibitors is very high here.  You see all the big boy/girl artists on the circuit here.  They know a good thing.  They certainly are not here just to see some alligators.

Saturday brought balmy weather and heavy crowds early.  Lighter after 1 PM but still sales were happening.

My new strategy for selling in 2015 bore fruit for me.  As I posted on FB recently, I was going to make bigger pieces, 40x50, and go after sales over $1K.  It happened here, twice.

Don't ya love it when a plan goes good?

Sunday brought a little breeze and the sniff of rain.  Also lighter crowds, more looky-lookers.

We got rain, from the east, yikes!, around 2:30, then less than an hour later, more, harder.  Streets pooled up, crowds kinda melted away.

Barry came around and told us we could pack out early, if you wanted to schlep out.  No vans in until 5 PM.  Most schlepped.

We were on the road by 5 PM.  Ellen did the show too. She also made moola.  Yikes!  I have a rich wife for the minute.  Gotta love it.

Also, consider this as a min-Tequia Report.

FIRST OFFICIAL TEQUILA REPORT SINCE GOD KNOWS WHEN AND FIRST IN 2015

Anna Maria Oyster bar.  Right off I-75 at the Ellenton Retail Outlets exit.  This is the first exit north of the bridge that separates Palmetto from Bradenton.

We have eaten two successive Sunday nights after doing Naples and Bonita.

Here is why it is such a deal.

Cheap, fresh fish.  What a concept in Florida.

Last week I had fresh Amberjack, this week fresh Mahi. 

You get great hush-puppies for 99 cents, six of them.

Cheap lobster, clams, oysters and shrimp.  i have found a new deal when coming home from a SW Florida show.

Easy to get to and get out.

Plus, the Pilot gas station has the cheapest gas anywhere for 50 miles around.  When we filled up on Friday, it was down to $1.99 per gallon.  On Sunday, it sunk two cents lower.  Meanwhile, Bonita was at $2.48 per gallon.

There you go, an authentic Tequila report.  I had a draft, just one.  Yumm!

Later Gators, Nels.

June 20 & 21   
Wheaton, Illinois
Cantigny Park
Saturday, 10am-5pm| Sunday, 10am-4pm
Deadline: February 2

Cantigny Park is pleased to announce Art in Bloom, an outdoor arts festival. More than 100 juried artists will showcase their work amidst Cantigny's beautiful gardens, grounds and museums. 

Cantigny is a 500-acre park and part of the Chicago-based McCormick Foundation. It is home to two museums, formal gardens, picnic grounds, restaurants and 27 holes of championship golf.

Art in Bloom is always among the park's most popular events. Quality of artwork will take precedence over quantity of artists so the show may vary in size somewhat. 

Friday night set-up is available as well as an air conditioned artist break room, snacks, andvolunteers galore. This event is located on grass under large trees. Ample parking is another valuable asset!

Our publicity campaign will include, but is not limited to, radio, newspaper, eblast, Twitter, Facebook, postcards, web, Cantigny Visitors Guide as well as our Spring and Summer Events guide, posters and banners. In addition we plan on working with many of Cantigny's partners, affiliates and sponsors to help make this art fair the best that it can be.

FESTIVAL FACTS:

• Deadline: February 2
• Jury Fee: $10
• Booth Fee: $300
• Artists: approximately 100
• Prints Allowed
• Ribbon Awards: $1100.00
• Attendance: 10,000+  

To learn more and apply:  www.emevents.com
 
Art in Bloom is one of a series of Chicago area art fairs organized by Erin Melloy of EM Events, a well-established promoter of art shows in the Chicago area. EM Events works closely with some of Chicagoland's most innovative and creative communities and organizations to produce premier art festivals of distinction. At EM Events, it's about the art. 

For additional information please contact:  
Erin Melloy, 630.536.8416,  emelloy@emevents.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Find more excellent shows looking for you:  www.CallsforArtists.com

This week’s blog is focusing primarily on how I price my polymer clay sculptures for sale. It isn’t an exact science and I’ve played around a lot with it. I have found that pricing my art fairly and within market value range is extraordinarily important.  

I really shot myself in the foot when I first started out. I waaaay over priced something to someone who very easily could have been a long-term client. Big mistake. My problem?? Was ignorance.

It was right around the time that lots of local people were seeing my work and I was tinkering with the idea of charging more than just the cost of materials. A lady saw my work and she wanted a logo made. {She owned a business of her own} She explained what she was looking for, we brainstormed and she seemed to love my ideas. She wanted to own the rights to the artwork and put it on all of her apparel. She asked me for a price, and I told her I would think about it and get back to her. Sounds pretty good so far doesn’t it?

On the drive home I spoke with my husband and told him of the opportunity. He being married to me thought as highly of my work as I did and saw first-hand how much effort went into them. He saw how many sketches I did before I ever put paint on the brush. He told me that I should look online and see what people charge for exclusive rights and logos. Still sounds pretty ok right?

This is where it goes wonky. I wish I could blame it on bad fish or temporary insanity, but nope. It was me being me. Darn it. I looked up logos and exclusivity.  What I found was an agency in New York who had created logos such as Nike and Abercrombie and Fitch. So those logos cost somewhere in the range of 4,000.00 to 10,000.00. I was blown away. I showed my husband and did a little dance around the living room. {Seriously… can I just blame the fish?} When I spoke to this lady again, I brought up what I had seen. Keep in mind I never looked past that one page. I never once checked out local artists, or even stopped to consider the fact that the lady I was speaking to was not any different than you or me. She was an everyday lady trying to be in business for herself, doing what she was good at. I sometimes wish future me could go back in time and slap past me.

{Deep breath…} I told her what I had found, and what ‘people were paying’. Not once did I actually give her a quote. But by bringing it up, the damage had been done, absolute and irrevocable damage. Fish anyone?

I have since tried desperately to regain them as a client even offering ‘freebees’ but to no avail. I had stepped outside of the trust circle. I had to accept what I had done and learn from it. It was a tough lesson and completely avoidable, had I done more research before biting off more than I could chew.

Ok. So, here is what I have so far, and so far it seems to be working for me. I am borrowing several bits and pieces that I have learned from others and adding a few changes that I have found that work very well for me. I want to share this with you in the hopes that you are able to figure out a pricing system that not only works for you, but also for your clients. They can be hard to come by. So we, as artists, want to take very VERY good care of them. We want to be able to explain why our art costs what it does. Just in case we are asked. At some point…they always ask. {insert wink}

EXPENSE    {we must count our expenses. This is okay. Don’t feel bad, because this is a business and people do understand and even expect it} 

Let’s say my monthly expenses are 1000.00, I divide that by 4{weeks}=250.00 I divide that number by/40{hours} giving me a base rate 6.25 per hour. {This number will vary depending on your expenses.} If your monthly expenses are higher and this is your primary source of income than you will have to adjust your expense rate. If you are just beginning to build your business and you have help or additional income to help you with your expenses then you can be a little more lenient. Your base cost should be this number and you should build the remainder of your piece’s cost from there

• {rent, electricity, gas, etc, I add my etsy/paypal/advertising fees into this amount }

Materials {always pay attention to what you use and how much. This will give you a great idea of what it takes to produce your art, and in my case helps me to avoid wasting}             

• {clay, glaze, metals if you’re making jewelry, paints, resin…etc, glass eyes I buy or resin eyes I make.

One standard sized sculpted figure typically takes me 1 1/3 block of Sculpey Premo clay. These are between 2.77-3.00 each {depending on where you are-I don’t account for sales or promotional costs because I can’t guarantee I will always be able to get them at that price} if I gloss the piece, I add .30, if I paint it or do detail work with the paint I add .30 {Remember this is just materials and not time.}

• Sometimes I will add little ‘trinkets’ to my pieces, for example miniature items or charms. These are things that I will make in batches. For example, it’s Valentine’s Day, and I have made a bunch of chocolate covered strawberries to add to figures. I can make a batch of 25 strawberries from one block of clay. So I will divide 3.00/25= so each strawberry will cost me .12 to make. The chocolate costs me .04, the headpin for the strawberry charm costs me .03 and the lobster clasp for the charm costs me .11  do you guys see where I’m going with this?

Let’s review what we have so far…

Say that I make a standard sized figure {glossed and painted} with an accompanying charm

4.00 + .30 + .30 + .30 = 4.90 {just materials} add that to your ‘expense’ 4.90 + 6.25 = 11.15

Let’s say that minimum wage is 12.50 an hour. I want to pay myself at least 12.50 an hour for labor. Add this to the amount above:

11.15 +12.50=23.65 Multiply this amount x2 and that will give you the wholesale price of 47.30 this is the base amount I must charge to by the skin of my teeth justify all other expenditures.

Theoretically for retail price it is the wholesale x2 so 47.30 x 2= 94.60

Ooooh… but here is where it gets a little sticky, because the more time it takes you to create a piece the greater its value, right? Not necessarily. I have not yet been able to charge what I am calculating retail to cost to be. I auctioned a piece off, and got close. In the meantime, wholesale lets me stay in business. Replenish what I have used and hopefully put money back into my business.

When I am trying to figure out what to charge, ultimately I have to take into account….’factors’ {seriously, that should be a four-letter word.} “What is a factor?” These are those annoying little things that effect what we can charge vs. what we want to charge.

Some examples of factors would be: Competition {take a look around you… see what some artists are getting for their work. I’m not referring to Picasso or Dhali… but you and me. The little guy with the great big dreams {encouraging look of…encouragement} Find work that is similar to yours. If you are using an internet based storefront, browse around and check out the other stores.

Don’t look skin deep. Really get in there and see if they are making sales. There may be one person charging 150.00 or higher for one piece but if they are only selling 1-2 pieces a month. This is not the way to go, for me at least. On the other end of the scale, there may be an artist selling pieces for 10.50 and has 100 sales in a year. Still not going to cut it, I mean great for them =) but I personally want this to be a monetarily successful business, so I want to find out what people are willing to pay for what I have on a consistent basis.

I’ve looked all over at everyone I can find… I’ve checked out as many online stores/sales that I can seek out who carry anything even similar to what I have. I write to the artists. It is probably one of the most educational and simple things I can do. Most of them are extremely helpful. Only twice have I run into artists who are so fiercely protective of their methods they’d sooner plaster their eyes closed than to give me information. But no worries, life goes on. I fell in love with the majority of the artistic community and I want to pay it forward.

Back to competition. I’m not going lie… there are a couple of people out there who can’t have their stuff up for 5 minutes before someone snatches it.. I’ve seen customers have bidding wars over their art... I’m talking 3-400.00 for one piece! This is my goal…seriously.

I know it sounds terrible but on more than one occasion I have just been beside myself wondering ‘why aren’t these same people wanting my stuff and paying that price? My art is just as nice as theirs.’ The answer is semi-simple. These people have worked their tushies off and in the process gained a fan-base {nothing but respect for these amazing artists} we’ll get into that later… back to factors.

Buyer’s Remorse… that’s an icky one. The more money a person pays for something, the higher their expectations, as they should be.  If they buy something from me and this ‘something’ shows up at their door in anything less than perfect condition, then the buyer will lose faith in me and I will have lost that customer for life. You don’t want this to happen. Word of mouth can go a long way, especially in the art world.

No worries!! Your talent and beautiful artwork captured their attention. So much so, they gave you money for it and that is a wonderful thing! Now it is time to capture their hearts. Because this is an area that we can really shine!  There are so many little touches you can give your packages for very little expense, and this can mean the difference between one time buyer and repeat customer!! There are lots of factors that can apply. It is up to you to figure out which ones will impact you/your business the most. In the long run, it will be the little things that keep people coming back. Be sure that you don't skimp on the little things. Take the time to talk to people who have questions. You never know who you are talking with or what connections they have. If you make a great impression, chances are they will get your name out there. That is exactly what you want. 

When I package my pieces, I use gift boxes. I get them in bulk either from the dollar store, or www.Uship.com great shipping stuff in bulk by-the-way. I decorate my gift boxes, something simple like glitter-tape that color coordinates with my business cards, a ribbon or seasonal fun from the dollar store… I love the dollar store… I add fun tissue paper and a personal hand-written note, and ‘TA-DA!’ It feels like a real treat when they are opening their packages. What a nice surprise for them! I like opening gifts..Don’t you?

I don’t add the cost of the shipping materials to the purchase price of the piece itself. I add it into the shipping cost. I add the box < 1.00 depending on where I get it, .05 for the tissue paper {if I get a box of 20 from the dollar store} .05 for the ribbon or glitter tape. It is inexpensive for me. It is a little extra effort on my part, but this is what I want to do. I am sending a small part of my soul that I created and I want the new owner to treasure it as much as I do.

I hope this is helpful to those of you who are struggling with the idea of pricing your art for sale. For me, this venture has been a most humbling journey. I hope that in some way you will have benefited from my mistakes, and found this material useful. Your feedback is always welcome.

Remember, you are a beautiful and creative soul, truly a gift among people. Here’s hoping you all have a wonderful week full of fresh ideas and inspiration.

As always, until next time,

XO ~Alicia, LDA

May 16 & 17
Indianapolis, Indiana

Grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center

225+ Artists booths
Deadline: January 25

Established in 1971, The Broad Ripple Art Fair, the Art Center's largest fundraise, is Indy's kickoff to the summer festival season!  Now in it's 45th year, the Broad Ripple Art Fair attracts over 15,000 visitors annually to the BroadRipple Village cultural district and showcases more than 225 artists from the U.S. and Canada.

Points of note:

• Top 100 Art Fair (Sunshine Artist Magazine 2014)
• Jury is open to public and scores are released to artists
• Jury/booth fees ($35/$370)
• Over $250,000 in marketing and promotion
• Features 225 fine artists
• Second day pass-back for patrons, gated fair average of over 15,000 attendees
• Heavy item pick up service
• Staff and volunteer supported load-in and load-out
• Over 400 volunteers

Application Dates: 

• Applications Open: October 1
• Application Deadline:  January 25
• Notification:  February 27
• Booth Fee due:  March 22

I know we spend our lives focused on art fairs, presenting our product, production, development of image, and the like, but I have a serious question for you.  Is your studio space in your home, or outside of it?  

Our studio space was half of the basement, but as our business has grown we find that half the house is being engulfed.... and it gets stressful to just find a quiet place away from the action..... So we have begun to consider a studio outside of our home.  Im just curious how everyone else copes with this dilema. 

July 9-12
State College, Pennsylvania
Downtown State College & Penn State Campus
305 Exhibitors
Deadline: January 23

Going to the Arts Festival is a rite of passage for Penn Staters. Students don't miss it and Alumni return for "Arts Festival Alumni Weekend," a program of the Penn State Alumni Association, the largest dues paying alumni association in the world-over 170,000 members strong.  

Some other things to consider:

• We're consistently ranked in the Top Ten in the Sunshine Artist magazine rankings (#3 last time around!)
• We hand out over $17,500 in prizes.  The top prize is $2,700; our second prize is $1,500.  We hand out over 20 prizes, and 50 people will be invited back as jury-exempt artists in 2016 based on on-site jury scores.
• We provide lots of amenities including one of the best artists' receptions on the circuit.
• In a recent survey by ArtFairCalendar.com art fair patrons chose us as one of the nation's Best Art Fairs that they love to attend.

The event also includes a full day of activities for children, performances by international, national, and regional acts on three outdoor states and at four indoor venues, a book festival, and a celebration of Italian Street Painting. And if you're up for it, there's a 5k/10k/10 mile run bright and early Sunday morning with over 500 entrants.

 

Notification is March 16

Booth fee is $525 for 10x10, $1,100 for 10x20

Learn more:  www.arts-festival.com 

Apply:  www.Zapplication.org

Bayou City is moving on with its plans for an even better festival in Memorial Park March 27 & 28.

A recent visit to their website shows a new director and art fair contact. 

Susan Fowler, former executive director, was terminated at the end of the year. She had implemented the board's decision to expand the show to 450 artists last winter when a shortfall in the budget needed to be met. Kelly Kindred, the former executive director and most recently art fair director who had worked for the Art Colony Association (parent of the show) for seven years, was also laid off at that time. 

This was the board's decision as they continue to meet the financial needs of the organization. The new executive director is Joseph Plumbar, the chair of the board of directors.

Kelly will be missed as she sincerely worked hard for the organization and always was there with the artists needs foremost.

July 11 & 12 

Noteworthy:

May 30 & 31

Arts in the Middle is a new name but not a new experience. Led by Gloucester Arts on Main, a popular non-profit arts center in Gloucester Court House, VA, our seasoned team of producers and exhibitors have received state and local funds to renew and expand Art on the Half Shell, the popular festival that drew large crowds until 2012 to our lovely county in Virginia's river country near the Chesapeake Bay.   

After the show on Saturday Pearl, the trolley, will ferry artists to the awards ceremony and celebration honoring our artists at  "Lansdowne" (17th C) historic home in the heart of the village. Relax with live music, drinks, and light fare or stroll along historic streets, shop, dine or visit the town harbor.

So many people contribute to ArtFairInsiders.com and share their stories and help one another. Let's give them a thank you by voting for your favorites in our annual Community Awards.

Who will win?

Nels, Larry, Barry, Barrie, Melanie, Jacki, Tina, Alison, Ruth, Jim, Richard, Robert, Carrie, Scott ... they've all made you laugh and given you a lot of helpful information. Pay back time, baby!

VOTE NOW. Deadline: January 18, midnight. Prizes will be awarded.

CLICK HERE

Saturday, May 16

Marion, Iowa

One Day.

Fifty Artists.

Fourteen Thousand Admirers.

An Alarmingly Small City Block.

Apply to be a part of one of the most artist-profitable festivals in the country!  

• Named by Art Fair Calendar as among "America's Best Art Fairs 2013" and 2014!  
• Named by Art Fair SourceBook as #1 among events featuring 100 artists or fewer!  
• #1 one-day show in the country!  
• A return on your investment of $7.60 for every $1 spent!

Marion is a "vintage uptown" type of community, and a part of the Cedar Rapids metro area in Eastern Iowa.  Our event is one-day, intimate and purpose-driven, and our exhibitors enjoy a sincere welcome and an easy-to-do show.  

There are no bands, there is no beer - the MAF is about the art.  Are we right for you?  Don't hesitate to ask questions! It's awful to be the right artist at the wrong show; we can help you to know if we're the right show for you.  

Visit www.marionartsfestival.com to see the quality and range of our 2014 exhibitors - you'll find fifty of your most respected artist pals!

Then apply: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=3680 

www.marionartsfestival.com 

Deb Bailey, Director: mafdirector@marioncc.org

Not convinced yet? 

February 7 & 8
16th Annual - HeartFest 'A Fine Art Show' 2015
Saturday 10-9
Sunday 11-6
Valley West Mall
West Des Moines, Iowa
50 Fine Artists

• Friday night set up
• Affordable motel nearby
• Booth sharing okay - 2 artists, 2 jury fees required
• Free RB parking, same level load-in/out
  
  

Fees: 

• $30 application fee
• Booth fees from $185 for a single to $420 for a double with electricity

Presented by Sue Stookey, Stookeyshows.com; ArtfestMidwest.com; suestookey@att.net for questions

Deadline: January 10

Apply now: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=3668

Well, I have been chewing on how to do this blog for a few days.  It is never easy when you are stepping on the toes of high mucky-mucks.

What the hell, here goes.

First off.  Naples is not the land of milk and honey that everybody thinks it is.

It is a land inhabited by many monied mid-westerners, Canadians, and a number of Europeans.  Oh yeah, even a few native Floridians too.

They all have plenty of money.  They will spend some, or even lots of it, on art.

For artists doing 2-D work, their tastes tend to run to cliche,generic, atmospheric and bland art.  

They love the tropical, the birds, the fish, the blick.  3-D artists have better time roping in the big bucks.  They will buy expensive bronzes.  They love glitzy glass.  They will buy expensive ceramics. Oh, they love their jewelry.

The trouble is too many unsuspecting artists show up for shows down here thinking they are going to make a killing--"because its Naples, and everybody has lots of money, and they love to buy art."

Trouble is, these artists have heard the rumors of wealth but have not really done any constructive homework--like talking to actual exhibitors who have done it.

Last weekend a lot of artists went home in their vans with the look of disappointment plastered all over their windshields.

This show has more than 240 artists running up and down eight blocks, east to west, on Fifth Avenue.  These are long blocks and most people don't walk the whole show, let alone come back for a second look.  You find very few "be-backs" here.  Mostly, you get one shot  at them.

About ninety per cent of the crowd walks with their little dogs blithefuly by our booths without really looking in.

I would say,last weekend, about 20% of the exhibitors hit big numbers here--between $5-10K.

The rest were lucky to even break $2K.

And, we all paid a $450 booth fee, plus jury fee, plus setup at 4 AM in the morn, crammed in tight, back to back down the street.  Plus, it took most, a whopping 30 minutes or more to get back to the show after parking their vans in the Very Remote parking lot.  Some people ended up hailing a cab, because it was so frustrating waiting for a shuttle.

FIRST, A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE SHOW

For years, Howard Alan ran a very successful New Years Weekend show here in the very same spot as the now, Naples Art Association.

It was a real money-maker for most artists.  Then the powers that be in Naples told Howard,"So Long."

Then the Naples Art Association took over the show.  Then expanded on the idea and said, let's do it in March too.  Plus we will still have the one in Cambier Park and the street in Feb.

When it was actually on the New Years Weekend it attracted a lot of Europeans.  You heard lots of Brits and German accents, and they paid with Americano dineros.

Lately, you hear much more mid-westerners than Europeans, and sadly, for a number of them, the first thing out of their mouths is, "Can you do better than that?"

Years ago, they were ever so polite.  You never heard them utter those words.  They were happy to see you, happy to decorate their winter homes with your work.  They did not ask for discounts.

Now, we tend to get them asking us crude questions like, "Do you sleep in your booths or vans at night?"

I want to reply and ask them, "Do you still beat your wife."  Can't do it, but I often think it.

They have killed the golden goose down here.  Too many shows, too many exhibitors, and not enough buyers to go around for the artists to make a living at it.

When I pay a $450 booth fee, I usually expect that is because this is a worthwhile show, with a proven track record, where I can expect to yield $3.5K-6K in return.  That is a decent return for the amount spent on the booth.

The trouble is, the Naples Art Association is making out like a bandit.  They are essentially getting a 20-25% commission fee on our sales.  And, we are the ones doing all the hard work.

To balance this out, let me tell you about the good things they do.

They give most exhibitors an open side to hang work on.  You are set up in four booth quads with aisles separating each quad.

They have nice artist breakfast set up each morn with one of the food vendors.

They have good volunteers to spell you.  

They have a courteous rapport  with the artists at check in and during the show.

I know the Association cannot control how or whether the crowd will buy some art.

But their booth fee is too high for a decent return for most artists.  

There, I gave them some kudos.

SO NELS, TELL US ABOUT THIS YEAR'S SHOW

Well, it was good, humid weather both days.  No rain.

The town is packed with people, yet I still saw lots of empty seats at restaurants during prime time.

Lots of Canadians down here, and some were spending.

It is an older crowd here, most are in their early 60s and higher.  Lots of dogs.  They love their pets.

Some 3-D people made big sales on Saturday.  A lot of us, did not break one thousand that day.

Everybody kept saying, "Well, my figures show that Sunday is the big day for sales."

Never happened for a lot of us.

Personally, I think this might be evolving into a Monday show.  It sure isn't a Sat.-Sun show anymore.

I have done this show five times now.  Each time it has gotten worse for me.  And, I go with new work.  I was not in it last year--the past director (they got rid of her last summer, and hired a new sheriff) last year did not agree with my definition of hand-colored photography and then put me in the jury against mixed media.  Fat chance I had there.

This year I barely cracked expenses and then some.

You got a high booth fee, high hotels costs, high food costs.  No deals down in Naples.

So, a lucky few make some some moola and the rest of us go home with bread crumbs.

It was not a fun weekend.

So, I will repeat once more"Do some serious homework before coming down here, it is not the land of milk and honey, except for a few.

Later,Gators.

July 17-19

Guilford, Connecticut 

Drawing an estimated 9,000 artists, collectors, and visitors from across the country, Craft Expo is known for its one-of-a-kind contemporary crafts in a variety of media: Ceramics, Glass, Leather, Fiber, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media, Paper Arts, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture and Wood.  

• detailed press releases
• paid print and digital advertising
• direct mailing
• broadcast media events
• and extensive use of social media networking and email campaigns. 
• Exhibitors are also given the opportunity to advertise in the event program.

Feel free to contact us with any other questions.  We look forward to seeing your application!

Monday, January 12, 4 pm ET

Change is good. New is good. Being smart about it is good. Let's learn about 3 new shows and what their organizers are doing with them to make them successful.

We talk about why they hosting the show, how, fund raising, their connections to their community, rounding up sponsors, their hopes for the event and what they are learning along the way.

The guests are:

Patty Swords - the Texas Gulf Coast Arts Festival, sponsored by the Center for the Arts & Sciences in Clute, TX, May 16 & 17

Celane Roden - Arts in the Middle, sponsored by The Virginia Commission for the Arts, Middlesex County and the Town of Urbanna in Urbanna, VA, May 30 & 31

Brett Johnson - the Workhouse Fall Arts Festival, sponsored by Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, September 26 & 27 

This is a nuts and bolts show that should be helpful to show organizers and artists alike.

Newby to the art display world.  I am a glassblower, and have done a few of the local 'Art in the Park' shows.  I currently have 3 tables, that I put in a 'U' shape, with a couple of risers on each table.  I leave the center of the booth open to allow customers in to view all pieces. I don't have any panels or shelves.  Any suggestions?