Blog

Ive been waitlisted at the big ones, bayou, woodlands.  Are there any other decent shows for painters in texas or nearby in the spring. I'm either leaving florida to go to texas in late march for bayou city if i get in, or april then to the midwest for the summer. I travel full time so I'm flexible.  I've applied to many, but havent gotten a good schedule sorted out as of yet. 
So ya, looking for some recommendations, I havent done any in texas yet.

Booth Picture Tip

I've spend the better part of the past year writing about booth pictures. The article which ran in Sunshine Artist Magazine was reproduced here and on the ZAPP web site. If you haven't read it yet, here's a link:
http://bermangraphics.com/blog/photograph-your-booth/

I just ran into an unusual situation yesterday when contacted by an artist who had hired a non jury oriented professional photographer to photograph her booth. When the shoot was happening, the photographer had refused the artist's request to give me a call to go over the images and make suggestions. He had shot the booth standing on a step stool because he thought it would make a better angle. Because of the camera height, there was too much of the front of the canopy top showing and nothing of the interior of the top. That in itself wasn't so bad. The problem was that the artist uses a Craft Hut and now the booth picture looks like the artist was hiding the fact that she is using a pop up canopy.

The only way to let the jurors know you're not using a pop up tent is to let them see the interior of the top in your booth picture.

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

2014 is almost done and so am I (both figuratively and literally). I started this write-up just sit'n in my room after a nice dinner at the Big Fat Greek Restaurant on Mill Ave. in Tempe, AZ waiting for sleep to grab me.

For a more thorough review of this show see my previous posts. http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/2011-tempe-fall-festival-of-the-arts And http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/tempe-az-once-again

For the most part things are the same. Although, for this show they tampered with the load in a bit. First, they moved load in up one hour from 9 to 8 PM! Yippee, at least for some folks. More on that in a bit. Secondly, they changed the parade route from entering the show site from the east side of the downtown area to loading in from the northwest end. They keep tinkering with this in order to try to make it easier or maybe it's because Tempe keeps losing land mass to ASU and development. In either case they are trying their best to make it work.

What didn't work for some folks I talked to was waiting in line from 6:30 and not getting on site for several hours after the 8 pm scheduled load in! It wasn't bad for me and a few others who dollied in from another nearby location. I talked to one Photographer/Artist who said that they didn't get in till 10:30 even though they had an 8:00 load in tag. Things generally move along unless someone parks a humongo truck in the narrow lanes and others can't get by, I don't know if this was the case with the late load-iners.

Weather this year was pretty good all things considered. No snow storms driving in, no cold fronts from CA, etc. there was a big rain storm the Wed and Thurs just before we got there but it cleared out the same afternoon just before load-in and the rest of the weekend was comfortable and mild.

Contrary to my last few reports this Sunday was the best day for my sales. Mostly, a lot of lookers the other two days. I fared about the same, maybe a little better, than last years debacle with the PAC 12 game stealing the show.

December 12, 2014  20/20 is doing their show on "Closing the Sale."  I have been looking for some info on what exactly they will be covering and I can't find anything.  I did see the brief promo for it last week at the end of their show - you know when you are trying to catch the Christmas tree before it falls over and you aren't completely listening to the TV. 

I do know it is on closing the sale but I don't know if it is about helping the customer to not be talked into making an unwanted purchase or if it is about good tips for the seller when making a sale.  Anyway, I think you may want to watch.  No matter which direction the show goes in you should learn something from it.

The show is on at 10 pm on ABC Eastern Standard time.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/

Here you go Connie, a short blog on Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts.

This was our second year participating and it truly felt like an entirely different show, different crowd, etc.  Last year we had a booth location that was close to the end of the show on a side street, plus we had to deal with the Pac 12 Championship Game on Saturday of the show and it seemed most of the attendees were not there for the art show, they were there for the game and didn’t want to buy anything that they would have to carry into the stadium.  We were less than pleased with last year’s sales but wanted to try it again, this time with a better booth location, knowing the Pac 12 Championship game was scheduled for a neutral location, etc. we went into this year’s show with higher expectations.

 This year the load in started an hour earlier than previous years, at 8 PM instead of 9 PM. We had an 8:30 time assigned, finally got to our booth around 8:50, unloaded, set up and on our way back to the RV by 10:30, much better than last year’s 12:30 AM departure from the show site.   So, Friday we started with a little more sleep, better energy and were hoping for a better start to the show than the previous year.  At the end of the show, load out was also much easier than last year, we got the truck in much sooner, loaded and headed off the show site by 1 ½ hours after the end of the show.

 Overall our sales were up 40% over last year, crowds seemed much smaller and weather was so much better.  Last year was cold, in the 50’s, which for AZ is cold.  This year we were in the 70’s all weekend, it was perfect art fair weather.  I don’t know how much of the decrease in crowd size was due to the fact that last year had a lot of attendees that were there for the Pac 12 Championship.  However, even Friday and Sunday’s crowds seemed smaller than what I remembered last year and given our location on Mill Street this year, I was expecting a larger crowd.  A basic booth (no corner, double, etc) cost $560 and for a 3 day show, sales didn’t quite meet our hopes, but were good enough that we will try the fall show again.

 The organization of this show if good, lots of volunteers, booth sitters, etc.  Hospitality booth had limited choices, was centrally located in the show so last year we never even made it to the hospitality booth, it was just too far away from our booth location.   There was an artist party Saturday evening but we elected to skip it, go home and just chill for the night.

I did get to meet other AFI’ers Pauline Haas-Vaughn and Brian Billings for the first time, got to see Mindy Kocchi, Kevin Frosch, and saw Kay Cummins & Dennis Brady several times as their booths were very close to our location.  I know others were there but I didn’t get a chance to wander much, especially on Saturday.

We’ll be back in Tempe for the Spring show in 2014 which will be our first participation in the spring show.

Loving this interactive map, a mood map of the U.S. Researchers found that even though we are called the United States, there is lots of differentiation from location to location. 

You knew that, right? You know the temperature of the Chicago crowd is not the same as the Tempe crowd? Or that Minneapolis doesn't equate to Baltimore ... and that folks always have a good time in Wisconsin? 

Find out: Oz Revisited — Part 5: What’s the Matter With Kansas?)

and: Snake Salvation: One Way to Pray in Appalachia)

and: As Temperature Rises, Empires Fall: How Heat Affects Human Behavior)

I found out why I'm able to run this site ... how about you?

Click the links above or check it out here: http://time.com/7612/americas-mood-map-an-interactive-guide-to-the-united-states-of-attitude/

3rd Annual AFI Secret Santa Gift Exchange 

It's that time of the year! The time where people from all over the world come together to do something nice for each other ...

Time is running out to join this year's merriment!

Ruth Jellema showing us her Secret Santa gift last year, not only visions of sugar plums, but hand embroidered pillowcases for those dreams

Announcing our 2014 gift exchange. Ever been in a "job" where they did the Secret Santa thing? You draw a name and then do nice things for a person secretly during the holiday season and give them a gift at the end -- all anonymously?

We are all so connected with each other in our business that this seems a good time to have some fun with each other.

Won't you join us?

Here is the calendar: 

1. Sign up to join the fun by December 10 at this link.

2. We'll be drawing the names on December 11 and sending them to you

3. Gifts shipped by December 18

4. Post photos of the gift you receive

Look at these from last year: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/santa-s-presents-arriving-show-us?commentId=2160589%3AComment%3A447096

Read about last year's gift exchange here: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/putting-santa-to-bed

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/anyone-up-for-some-holiday-fun?id=2160589%3ATopic%3A361837&page=2#comments

April and May 2015 
Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida

this show sucks, and for some bizarre reason they decided to start charging admission this year so the returning artists said attendance was down 80%.  My neighbor at the show was in my opinion a complete art show genius, she does gem stones and dumped like 5000 of them out on a table so people could pick though and she didnt get an opportunity to sit down all day she was so busy. I think it was definitely difficult for me to sell high end paintings next to 5$ stones, but shoot, she's got her **** figured out.  If i could be that busy all day and make that much money i would.  
Anyways. I dont recommend this show.  there was a howard alan ACE show in st pete same weekend and a painter friend of mine down there said he was doing well, so i chose the wrong show :/

Dont do it!

Can't help but share this quirky "call for artists" ...

www.marionartsfestival.com

March 14 & 15
Historic Downtown Leesburg, Florida
Saturday & Sunday - 10 am to 5 pm
120 Artists

In our 38th year, the Leesburg Art Festival is held on Main Street in Downtown Leesburg. Leesburg is located in the heart of Central Florida, equal distance from each coast.

The Leesburg Art Festival in historic downtown leesburg, Florida is celebrating its 38th year March 14 and 15, 2015. Some of the country's most accomplished artists, as well as rising stars, vie for the $1500 Best in Show Award, Merit, and Judge's choice Awards during the juried event. Cash awards totaling $5,750 will be awarded. Also, the Collectors Circle Program has given the artists over $70,000 in sales since the advanced sale of art vouchers to our members began.

Why you should be here:

• Limited to 120 juried artists
• Event is publicized on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and social media
• Awards to Artists totals $5,750:  Grand Prize:  $1,500, First Place:  $750, 2-D Judge's Choice:  $500, 3-D Judge's Choice:  $500, Special Awards:  $250 (10 each, without regard to category)
• Jury fee:  $25
• Booth fee:$150; Corner Booth: $175
• Artist amenities:  Block captains/booth sitting, free water deliveries, free coffee, free artist dinner on Saturday night with free beer and wine
• Collector's Circle prepurchase program
• "Walk with the Expert" program brings patrons directly to your booth
• Drive in loading and unloading
• Convenient, free artist and RV parking
• Website:   www.LeesburgArtFestival.com For more info call the Leesburg Center for the Arts - 352-365-0232
  
  

  APPLY RIGHT NOW: www.Zapplication.org

June 13 & 14
Chicago, Illinois

250 Artists

Deadline:  December 15

The Old Town Art Fair is a fine art show located on the streets, amid the charming homes and leafy parkways, of the historic Old Town Triangle neighborhood on Chicago's near north side. Picked as one of American Style Magazine's Top Ten art fairs, it had been a perennial favorite of artists, art lovers and art buyers since 1948.  This volunteer-run event benefits neighborhood groups and schools and the Old Town Triangle Association, presenter of the Fair.

The 66th annual edition promises to be something even more special!

• Openings:  40% of our spaces are open to applying artists
• Fewer Booths:  we have decreased the number of booths/artists back to 250
• Better Entertainment: our music venues and offerings are appropriate to our patronage and environment
• Better Food:  We have brought the quality up to the level of the art
• Better Outreach: We surveyed patrons, met with artists and stepped up our public relations efforts.

All two and three-dimensional fine artists who meet the show's qualifications are invited to apply for this premier event. 

Please visit www.Zapplication.org for details and to complete an application.

For more information:  www.oldtowntriangle.com 

See more glimpses of this cool urban fair in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3owrM-QTKgs

May 15, 16, and 17
Reston, Virginia
Reston Town Center
10 am – 6pm Saturday, 10am – 5pm on Sunday
produced by Greater Reston Arts Center
Over 200 artists
Deadline: Sunday, December 13

Our Festival is a competitive, juried, outdoor event that showcases the best contemporary fine art and craft from around the nation, typically attracting 30,000+ patrons. Held in the affluent area of Northern Virginia, thirty minutes outside of Washington DC, Reston Town Center is an easily accessible, upscale, elegant, shopping destination. 

We are committed to elevating the profile of our Festival and have doubled our marketing budget for 2015 to reach new audiences and promote interest from collectors. To enhance regional appeal and promote an art-focused atmosphere for the Festival, we are also partnering with internationally-recognized earth artist Patrick Dougherty. Mr. Dougherty will construct a site-specific, immersive, temporary installation in Town Square Park, which will be on view during the Festival and will be promoted as part of the Festival activities.

Our Festival places the emphasis on the art and the artists with ample artist amenities.
We recognize that our artists invest time, effort and money in us and we strive to make sure that everyone’s Festival experience is excellent.

Below are some of the artist hospitality attributes of our event. 

• Drive up set-up/tear down adjacent to booth on Friday, May 15.
• Reserved artist only parking for oversize vehicles
• More convenient and profitable selling hours
• Complimentary invitation for all participating artists to Friday's Festival Launch Party
• Ample volunteer support & booth sitters
• Continental breakfasts, free bottled water delivery
• Reduced hotel rates
• Indoor restrooms
• Security
• Artist mentor opportunities
• $5,000 in awards and Artist Awards champagne reception on Saturday night at the Greater Reston Arts Center
• A professional program with thumbnail images from every artist with accompanying booth numbers 

Apply today through Juried Art Services http://www.juriedartservices.com/index.php?content=event_info&event_id=840 

The Festival features over 200 skilled artisans who utilize both traditional and unconventional materials and techniques to create hand-crafted, original works of art available for purchase. The sheer diversity of fine art and craft at the Festival, now in its 24th year, ensures that there is something for every taste and budget. One of the highlights of visiting the Festival is having the opportunity to interact directly with the talented participating artists.

Visit www.restonarts.org to learn more about Greater Reston Arts Center, the dynamic visual arts organization that annually produces the Festival, and how it supports our mission to enrich the community through excellent in contemporary visual arts. To ensure and elevate the success of our organization we have an incredibly dedicated Board of Directors, a full compliment of art professionals on staff, and the support of corporate partners, local businesses, members, educators, artists, and patrons.

Additional questions can be answered by GRACE’s Festival Director, Erica Harrison, ericaharrison@restonarts.org or at 703.471.9242

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

Find even more fine art festivals and craft shows looking for artists in 2015: www.CallsforArtists.com

So on the art fair scene, I am still an introvert. I say "Hello" but probably nothing else unless someone ask's me a question. So my work speaks for itself? My sales this year were double of that of 2013. But how does an introvert interact with the customers coming into by booth? What advice would you give me to open up more with customers entering my booth? Are there other introverts in the art fair scene? And how have you done with being in this condition? I know I am kind of shy as well. So all my Lego minifigure photos and vintage Fisher Price Little People shots speak for themselves? I'm trying to get a grip on my introversion and how do you close a sale with this? 

I am new to  Artfair Insiders, and am curious if there is ever a show in Springfield, Mo. I wanted to attend a show sometime.    I am curious if most of the art shows are wall art.

I am a woodworker, and buid many different types of boxes, but have never set up at any show because of the expense in doing so, and the travel.    I have no storage room for booth shelves and a canopy, ect. at this point.   If I would do shows, I will have to make an investment in equipment.

I also have another question for anyone to answer.  I have a website, and process credit cards through the websites sister company, but if I sell at a show; I will need a portable card processor, and don't want to spend a fortune on a new cell phone, and hire a computer guy to teach me how to use the system.  I want a simple credit card scanner / processor that will make direct bank deposits, and send me an email re the deposit.  Can someone recommend to me who they use.

Regards,

Bill Mieswinkel

I was just curious if anyone had any experience with selling with this online juried website? I applied and was accepted, but I don't know of anyone who has used it and was a little nervous to try it out. If it works as it says though, it could be a pretty nice tool. I'd really like to hear from anyone who has had experience with them.

Here is the link:

http://theartgallerist.com/

All of us folks in Michigan have been ga-ga for many years about the amazing work and the social activity that takes place in late September in Grand Rapids at the $500,000 ArtPrize.

Guess what folks? The people in Dallas want an ArtPrize too. Texas artists take note ... this is an amazing opportunity to have your most fabulous work entered into this popular competition and a crack at the very BIG prize money.

From the Detroit News:

For a fee in the "middle-to-upper six figures," according to ArtPrize spokeswoman Jaenell Ott, the hugely successful Grand Rapids art festival is lending its name and expertise to create a lookalike festival in Dallas, set to debut in 2016.

ArtPrize Dallas will be a freestanding nonprofit, raising the $500,000 festival officials say they hope to give out in awards on its own. The original ArtPrize, initially funded by the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation, will not be contributing.

Like the Grand Rapids original, ArtPrize Dallas will be a 19-day event, though it will take place in April, not late September. And it will harness public votes to award at least some of the prizes.

Among the resources ArtPrize officials will transfer to the Dallas operation is their suite of technology-based engagement tools for artists, venue registration, voter "activation" and management. They also will school their Dallas colleagues in event production, how to support artists, trademark licensing and other business matters.

City Hall is already on board. "ArtPrize Dallas will create a lasting impact on the culture of Dallas by engaging and nurturing future artists and promoting a meaningful discussion," said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings in a statement.