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Perfect festival weather brought out the crowds and buyers for the 48th annual Lewiston Art Festival, held on August 9th-10th in the quaint village of Lewiston, NY. Both days were sun-filled with temps in the upper 70's to mid-80's with a slight breeze at times. Direct sunlight overhead brought patrons into tree-shaded booths. All artists' booths, with the exception of the emerging "College Alley" participants, were lined up on both sides of the closed-to-traffic Center Street, facing towards the street. Most of the public walked up one side and down the other. With 165 artist booths, this was fairly easy to do, especially since there were many decent food booths and specialty foods peppered in between with simple, outdoor dining tents at a few cross-streets. Strolling musicians and artist demos were also interspersed throughout the street.

Sponsored by the Arts Council, there were two sets of awards: one for the street chalk competition and one for the participating artists with $5000 being awarded at an artists' breakfast at a local restaurant on Sunday morning. The judges awarded 4 awards in eight categories, though only for specific works at the artist's discretion, which were brought to a judging hall. In addition, one award for overall booth design was given.

This was a fun, casual show with easy set-up and breakdown (no advance check-in as all artists are "pre-registered" and cars were ready to come onto the street just five minutes after the show closed). The people who visited the show are regional (Lewiston, Niagara, Buffalo, Rochester with a fair amount of Canadian visitors) and seem devoted. I juried into two categories, exhibiting my line of porcelain jewelry and decorative porcelain wares. I enjoyed brisk sales all day on Saturday and almost equally on Sunday, with many of my "be-backs" actually returning to purchase. Overwhelmingly, the sales were of the jewelry (about 80%) to that of my claywork, though I was awarded a Third Place award for a sculptural vessel. The photographer next to me had been there for three years consecutively and was pleased with his sales and the airbrush artist with animal portraits was almost giddy regarding her sales. I witnessed many large paintings being walked down the street. Though most of my sales were single sales under $50, I did have several decent multi-purchases and the largest, single item was just under $200, so I do believe that the patrons are a tad price-conscious. Overall, I thought the balance of media was very good with a lot of diversity and the quality was good (7 on a scale from 1-10), though some of the art was outstanding.

I was very pleasantly surprised by many things. I had only participated in this show once before and that was about nine years ago. THIS was not that show. It was staged differently, no vintage cars, the street was closed to traffic, it was so much larger and far better attended. If there hadn't been the poutine fries and the French artichokes, I wouldn't have thought I was at the same show. I thought that the Arts Council did a fine job and I will be delighted to return next year.

Mini rant of the day.  I am sure I am not the only one.

Why do artists / crafters think we need to hear how badly they are doing?  Now, I am always willing to help out in any way possible, but this is my peeve:  Please don't complain about the show, the customers, your terrible sales, it's the worst show you have ever done, then tell me that you are coming back next year?  I can only think of 3 reasons:

• You think I am stupid
• You are stupid
• The worst show you have ever done is still very profitable for you! (I hope this is the one)

I love 99% of the folks in our business, and love to hear success stories.  It just seems that far too many of us would rather find fault in everything.  My motto- "If you are up to your neck in Horse crap, there must be a pony in there somewhere!"

Yorkfest Festival is coming up on August 23-24 in York Pennsylvania, and yes, we will be there.  We had been hoping for an art fair that would put us out close to Pennsylvania Amish country to visit a dear aunt, so when the jury gave us the thumbs up we were excited.

But i dont know alot about the show, and wonder if you have done it, and what suggestions you might have for the show.  We are located in what seems to be a good spot on the Rails and Trails section, close to the action, near a corner.  

I would really value your feedback.

After having bilateral hip surgery - right hip replaced and left hip revised in March and a right shoulder replacement in June, my wonderful surgeon has given me the ok to start doing shows in a slow manner without too much lifting (and I am still working on raising my arm).  He's told me to keep being creative and designing.  We didn't sign up for anything because we didn't know how long my recovery would be (and I am still doing pt 3x a week and have limited stamina).  But we want to get our 'feet wet' again so we are going to see about doing a show here and there.  It's hard for us to decide anything for the spring -- my left shoulder is failing and I will be needing to have it replaced.  I have wonderful genes -- but those little osteoarthritis 'pacpeople' love my joints so much they can't stop chomping away!!!  I have just started polishing the jewelry -- a good activity for arm/hand strengthening.  Jay and I are beginning to think about how we can do shows and preserve my joints as long as we can -- knowing that he uses a wheelchair so we have always had challenges.

The things I love about this show.  I have been doing shows for 25-30 years. I have done Uptown and Powderhorn.  I have been with the Loring show from the beginning and have found it is very successful for me. The set up is great, easy access to the booth and a little extra space for inventory. Sales were great for me, although I did have a little more inventory going in. As far as security, it is a homeless area as Powderhorn and Uptown which have the same issues. I did have a zipper opened in the back but nothing was taken. I do secure all my items in Plastic containers and cover it all with a tarp overnight.  Most of the shows I do, and I do about 14 a year have parking several blocks away. Parking  is never a fun thing for any artist or artisan however the promoters are trying to make spaces for customers and try to accommodate us. At least we don’t have to cart our things in, which is a big plus for everyone.

I want to begin with Sam Serio who owns and runs the event, fantastic guy always smiling and keeping sure our experience as a vendors is the best. He has great experience as a vendor and now running shows.  He is also part of the Jury, and according to the products exhibited, he is doing a great job.  

For the clients is a small fee of $5,00 admission, it is a large tourist which normally come to the Island to spent money and they love this event, they come to the event to buy and enjoy the music and of course the great Blueberry deserts. 

The location " Chincoteague community center" has both indoor and outdoor booths.  We were outside in a 10x10 location, however it is in a grass the place is well keep it. 

The Vendors, well selected, friendly, smiling people and always with great attitude to help and support each other.

It was a great event and the sales were great to good.  

Lately there seems to be an epidemic of artists forgoing their cameras to shoot pictures of their artwork and booths with their iphones or ipads. Over the weekend, I received unusable images from four different artists.

In all cases, the artists thought that the pictures they took with their iphone/ipad were better than they could have taken with their camera - even the camera in the one megapixel ipad 2. Actually most people have no idea of the pixel dimensions (height and width) of the pictures taken with their mobile devices. About the only thing they are good for is taking a selfie of themselves with their friends or pets.

My advice is that any point and shoot camera, when set up on a tripod and set for maximum image quality, will blow away pictures taken with mobile devices that blow out highlights and are usually not sharp because they don't take well to being used on a tripod.

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

I cannot wait to see a negative review on this event!  I will blast them.  This is by far the best value in a show that I have found.  The buyers abound.  The promoter does an incredible job - from sponsoring year round "Keep the Highways Clean" signs, to ads everywhere, billboards, and more, to handing out flyers to every patron advertising NEXT YEARS SHOW!  They book great entertainment that draws crowds.  2013 - Oak Ridge Boys.  2014 - Three Dog Night.  Next year - RONNIE MILSAP!! and on his farewell tour?  Incredible!  People will come for the concert on Friday night and stay overnight for the festival.  The Promoters (Chuck and Lori) even bring gifts to the vendors (this year Stainless Water bottles and Zippered money bags) and they are printing with NEXT YEAR'S show dates!  

Do I have anything negative to say?  Of course.  Vendors should read the rules.  They are very clear on the application.  Don't want to hear your complaints when the rules are enforced.  It is a very limited vehicle access venue, and move out is less than easy.  Take a chill pill, don't expect to load up and scoot in 30 minutes, be considerate of others and find a sense of humor.  Sales?  The buyers are there.  If you don't have signs, you don't have a banner, you dress like a  bum, and you sit on your a$$ in the back of your canopy, well......   These customers (like all shows) want to be engaged, hear about your art/craft, and get involved.  They are there to enjoy themselves.  Have some fun with them.  For God's sake don't tell them how slow it is - they can look around and see the crowd.  Get them to spend time with you.  The busier you look, the more you will sell.  If you must sit and demo your craft, hire a booth worker to sell and help your customers. If you think the sheer amazing beauty of your work is going to sell itself, you are sadly mistaken.

We have already paid and booked this event for next year, and I am certain this show will book out very early.  No BS jury nonsense here - Chuck and Lori are the Jury, and they are very, very good at it.  Buy sell is commercial, separate area, and much much more costly.  Oh - the booth has gone up for next year - a Whopping $135.00 if you apply before January 1st.  Best deal in the country, IMHO.

I have to say in the few short weeks I've been here and on some other forums I have learned so much.  And it must be working because I can't believe some of the shows I got into.  Both ODC Winterfairs.  Mellwood, Hyde Park.. 

After being waitlisted for Winterfair Cincinnati last year I decided to really work on my photos.  I read a lot of tutorials and started to use the information from them and I have to say I think my photos jumped in quality.  I do have to laugh because my booth shot for the ODC shows I took with my cell phone at a show I was doing in Louisville KY.  I didn't even photoshop the wrinkles out of the one table cover and I didn't have 3 walls up.  But I think the overall look of the tent - I try to look like a funky boutique must read to the jurors.

I think I've spent a few hours today reading posts about various shows and marking my calendar to apply for show that I never thought I'd get into.  I have to say this site is such a valuable resource for me.

This is the other booth shot I used.. I know.. the tent isn't even white!  the HORROR!  But once again they can see a consistency in how I set up my booth from show to show

Life it is about expectations. As we grew we are teach what a successful life should be. We define what a successful is a person it is by how much financial wealth that person obtain. I always wonder what next idea will come that will improve ourselves. One thing that we forget is the lesson from the last financial crash. We like to blame others for our problem but I just wonder if we had learned anything in the last few years. Are still living beyond our means. It used to be that only debt we will have was our home and cars. Everything else was paid in layaway or cash.

In the pass few years in art fair business we had see things go to the sour side. We had see the fine art shows becomes festival. Shows where showcase fine art only now they had become a fine art and craft mix. With time those shows carrying craft people the vendors became more wise and start introducing imports (profit). When a line  become successful, that means that line is no more  fine art. Does creating a work that target a niche it means that you had soul your artistic values?

Are we in the end of the art fair era? Are the shows will be like Wells Street Art Fair? Artists get angry about the buy and sell but I did not care because it does affect me. It took me while to understand even if I am in photography why I should care about buy and sale. Why should I care if another photographer sale his 8X10 image for 25 and I sale it for 50. I should care why a ceramics artist should not sale functional art in a fine art show. I should care that fine art show should only carry jewelry that you can not find in department store or how much it cost. I should care why they ask the range of your price points at my application.

I start to notice that I want to aim higher but I can not because our market does not allow it. Our promoters are bringing in low end buyers or simply people can not afford it (wages freeze, cost living increasing, medical cost keep going up, political fights, wars, etc). I will like to charge the proper amount of money for a art piece but that means that piece will sit for months and bills keep coming. I will to get a place where I ask for x amount and people do not ask for a discount. I notice that I need to underprice because to much low end merchandise at the art fair. When I see the list of artist I wonder where the high end  artist are. I walk a show and I see the same level of artist as me. I see very few artists with work that which I can own.

My expectations are so low at this point that people wonder how can you live like that. Those days where I will make work that mean something socially are gone. In these days I make work that is what I call commercial work. I believe that most photographers friends will understand what I mean and funny thing I was trying not be like you but I understand why we all became like that.

I know I’m late with this, but better late than never I suppose…

See also my review from 2013.

First up, the Edmonds, WA show, Father’s Day weekend, June 13-15. Setup on Thursday at assigned times. The show runs Friday and Saturday 10-8 and Sunday 10-6. Booth fee is $150 in line plus 15%. This was my 2^nd year doing this show.

This show is set up in a park near the waterfront in the town of Edmonds, WA, just north of Seattle. I drove up from Portland on Thursday morning. I was a little late getting to the site, but unlike last year I didn’t have long to wait to drive onto the field to set up. Most of the others around me were already set up so getting my car in wasn’t a problem. Again, the booths were pole to pole and back to back with NO wiggle room. It makes setup very difficult. Putting up my sides was a challenge. At least this year, since there weren’t many other artists still setting up around me, I was able to set up out of my car and didn’t have to work around stuff piled in the center of my booth. The weather was sunny and warm. I didn’t see much sun the rest of the weekend.

The weather, pretty much the whole weekend was either raining, or threatening rain and chilly. My Friday sales were almost non-existent. Saturday and Sunday were also down from last year, but not as much. I had some repeat customers. Traffic was down substantially from last year. I ended up down about 35% this year, coupled with the fact that I had to pay more for lodging left me with little profit. I heard some other artists saying about the same.

Load out was a mess. It was pouring rain. It was almost 10pm before I finally got out of there with the help of my booth neighbors. I was very glad I decided to spend the night in Edmonds instead of driving home. I may try this show again to see if last year was unusually good or this year was unusually bad. I like the location, the people and there aren’t many early shows in this neck of the woods. It's a show I really want to work for me.

I should mention that the organization of this show is excellent. Communication is good, there is a frequent shuttle from the artist parking and they provide snacks and coffee daily and an artist dinner on Sat night. They also have wandering booth sitters that come by to see if you need a break. All the volunteers seem to enjoy what they are doing.

My wife is tolerant, otherwise my head would be off after this one. I did Loring Park two years ago and did badly. I did it again, thinking that I had newer work and I had finally gone to canvas prints for my photography. It wasn't working and I lost my shorts once again. She was right, I was wrong, and I won't be back just like the patrons who say they will. Maybe it will work for some, but there will not be a third time looking for a charm. Outside of the lousy sales, I did have a fun time and had some great neighbors.

Okay, let's start off about the show. The promoters were pretty diligent about communications, sending several emails in advance reminding everyone where to go, what the regulations were, where to get the tax info and licenses. Can't fault them there; they were on it.

Set up was on Friday, unless you were crazy enough to try it on Saturday morning. Space was approximately 12x12, and my space was under a giant Linden tree, next to the trunk. By scooting to the far edge of my space I was able to have an open outside wall. While it was dark under there, I brought 2 boat batteries and a half dozen lights. The back of the booth faced the lake and a few shims were needed to keep the tent reasonably level. Lots of room behind the booths. I lucked out as the prevailing wind came through the back of the booth and kept a nice breeze going most of the time. I brought fans and only needed to use them a few times. My next door neighbor was Dorothy Schutte, a fabric artist who had bought one of my pieces about 15 years ago, and we had a great time. Dorothy is German so we dubbed our location Unter den Linden ;-)

Saturday started off slow with the show opening at 10:00. By 10:45 we were wondering if the gates were opened or not. Traffic was slo-o-o-w. By 1:30 it looked like the usual traffic about 15 minutes before closing. I sold one flip bin piece the entire day. The crowds never materialized as they should and I saw very few packages being carried. WTH? The weather was nice, warm out but not the usual blistering August heat. It never rained although skies looked dark a few times. I did hear that it rained at Uptown and that show closed early.

Sunday was supposed to rain at tear down, so I put up the back tarp as an awning in case it rained. Since the tree over us extended way out past the back of the booth, there wouldn't be any direct rain on us. If I were going back, I would ask for that spot again. Same story as Saturday, slow traffic and thin crowds, and little buying energy. A painter across from me zeroed out for the show, a mixed media artist around the corner did half of what she usually does, and some others said they didn't make booth fee back. I only sold another flip bin piece on Sunday, so my sales were embarrassingly low. Adding all expenses up; gas, food, lodging, booth fees, and some incidentals, I took about a thousand buck hit on this show and didn't even get to the Mall of America afterwards.

I did find out that about half of the artists at the show are new to it, as were the ones around me. That's always a red flag. The layout seems picturesque at first with everyone circling around the lake, but that makes for a long walk. To be blunt, most of the patrons looked long in the tooth and gray of head. Relatively few were young ones until Sunday when a lot of young folks were there looking like it was an afternoon date to check out (not buy) the artwork. A lot of the older folks aren't too crazy about making a long walk around the park.

Now this is the part that no one is going to want to hear. The security folks are not off duty police; they're a couple of guys with a security shirt on and a walky-talky. They can't be everywhere and they are limited as to what they can do. The show has a problem, and always has, with the homeless. A tool bag was stolen from one artist on Friday night and left in someone else's tent after they figured out they couldn't get much money for it. A few people found tarps unzipped the next day, two booths down from me had someone sleep in their booth overnight. Another artist found all the snacks she had left in her booth had been opened and eaten. At least this year, no one had their booth used as a latrine, which has happened before.

Speaking of latrines, we had use of the park facility indoor restrooms on Friday and for a little while on Saturday morning, but someone locked the doors to them and we had to use the Port-a-pots after that. We learned quickly to stay away from the Park dept port-a-pots by the basketball court because they were disgustingly nasty. It didn't help on Friday when one of the artists next to us went down there and found a couple in coitus flagrante delicto inside one of the johns. You would have thought they would have at least locked the door ;-/

Parking was a pain in the wazoo, with no free parking anywhere [edit: close], and the [edit: free] locations were about 3 blocks away. Three blocks is okay if you're young and healthy. I have bum knees, bone on bone, and a bad ankle. I asked about handicapped parking of which there were maybe three spots, all of which were used by residents around the park. One spot was so far away it did no good whatsoever, We were told to not park around the park itself in order to leave those for patrons. The north side of the park, past the tennis courts, was adjacent to a commercial area and far away from any of the art tents, about a 2-3 block walk. Seemed like a good spot as we thought the parking ban was adjacent to the show side of the park. I only had to stop and sit a couple times when my legs hurt too much. So here's the clincher on that good spot :-) Several other artists were parking there also. I found out at show's end that the show folks checked out the parking and took license plate data. Those people won't be allowed back into the show in the future. Ask me if I give a damn, it's a moot point anyway. This is a show I'm permanently removing from future consideration. 

Given that sales were way, way too low, and the overall feeling that the show works better for local and regional artists, I have to say that I won't return to this show. I gave it a shot two times, there won't be a third time. At any given show, there will always be some that do exceptionally well, and others that don't do as well. Unfortunately, I was in the latter group.

Tuesday, August 12 - 5 pm ET

Sharon McAllister, Executive Director of ArtFest Fort Myers joins Sara Shambarger, Director of Art Fairs at the Krasl Art Center's Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff to share their experiences. The two of them have been in the art fair business for over fifteen years each, travel to visit other art fairs and have a wide perspective on creating a community-wide event that facilitates "buy-in" by the local population and vie to make their shows the artist's "favorite."

How does an art festival market their event to the public without big name entertainers, wine tasting areas, children's stages, interactive activities for fairgoers? In other words, strictly an art fair.

This show will have strategic information that will be useful to artists and show organizers

We'll talk about:

• what they do to make an art fair attractive to buyers and how artists are their partners in doing this
• how artists can help them in their mission to bring buyers to the shows
• what they think artists can do to maximize their sales 
• the challenges they face marketing tthe events during "high season" in their resort communities
• how to bring in an audience when the focus is solely on the art fair, without big name entertainers, wine tasting, road races, zumbathons, stilt walkers, intrusive sponsor booths

Click here to listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2014/08/12/from-florida-to-michigan--how-directors-market-their-shows

If you have questions you'd like me to ask, please leave them in the comments below.

Would you like to speak with us during the show? Then call in 805-243-1338

Here you go, folks: Three show reviews and two very dramatic life events. Which one should win "Post of the Month?" 

Scott Pakulski - 6/30/2014, "Crosby Festival of the Arts 2014"

Jacki Bilsborrow - 7/7/2014, "Cops, Robbers & a Bag of Gold"

Sandy Schimmel Gold - 7/10/14, "Please Help My Friend ... and Fellow Festival Artist"

Margaret Luttrell - 7/16/2014,  "Central Penn...a big show in a little town"

S. Brian Berkun 7/23/2014 "A Bolder Boulder Arts Festival"

Deadline for Voting: August 14, 6 pm ET

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

FYI - a fun little contest where you could win $250.00.  Link below....

American Craft Week Contest

I am reaching out to this amazing community to get feedback from artists who participate in Art, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak, Michigan.

It looks like the latest review is from 2011, and I wanted to know if anyone has feedback who participated in 2012 and 2013.  I think the potential is huge - but so is the commitment.

Thanks so much!

Kelli

There is good and there is bad to report--let me start with the good.

THE JOURNEY THERE--FROM SAUGATUCK,MICHIGAN

This is always a beautiful journey.

From Michigan I can make it one day or one and a half days, depending on how I want to travel.

I first did this show in 1987.  I have done it 15 times since.  Had not done it since 2011.  In 2012 I was scheduled to do it  but instead elected to have my chest sawed open--quad-triple bypass and two valves replaced.  I am ok now, stronger than before.  I wish I could say the same for the show.

But back to the good stuff.

When I take one-and-a-half-day trips it is because I get to stay in Madison,Wisconsin and reconnect with great Norwegian brothers who have their own little kingdom of restaurants there--the Birge Brothers.

Also the neat thing is the journey to Madison.

In the 1980's there was always this one old barn off I-94 going to Madison.  It had this great mural on it.

It was like a rendition from the album cover of a rock group called Its a Beautiful Day--the LaFlammes.

The mural had this giant blue bird of happiness that covered one third of the barn side.  Then there was happy flowers.  It was a trippy 1960's flashback.

So I was energized  this trip to look for it.  It sits out there in the nowhere and then, boom, there it is.  You can easily blow by at it when going 75 mph.

So I was looking for it.

I was wondering was it still there, was the farm sold, was the  mural painted over.

I kind of remembered to where to start looking for it--about 27 miles east of Madison.

Sure enough, I came up a large rise, a bunch of trees blazed by me and there--it was still there.

I quickly braked, almost ran two Walmart trucks off the road, hell, its Walmart, who cares.

The mural is definitely on its last legs.  It barely reads on the side of the barn.  But that Bluebird looks just as great to me as the first time I saw it.  If that mural ever disappears, then I aint going to Madison anymore via I-94.

HANGING OUT IN MADISON

Madison is a throwback to the 60s, liberal and hippy.

I hooked up with my buddy Chris Birge, he and his brothers own a little empire of restaurants, coffee bars and wine stores.  I first met them in the late 1980's, they were in their 20's I was in my 40's.  When I did Madison on the Square, they had a restaurant there, the Blue Marlin, and they would always park a car in spot in front of their restaurant and save it for me.  I would get to eat great seafood, drink awesome wines, and have my van ten feet from my booth.  I took a cab back and forth.  So we became best of friends.

So I had not seen or talked to Chris in three years.  I just showed up at the Weary Traveler Restaurant on Williamson Street(The locals call it Willy Street).

I reconnected with him.

Luckily for me he had bought a pool table for his house by the lake.  Luckily for me, I had misspent most of my youth shooting pool, so I trimmed him for a nice debt where we got to go to three different restaurants on Willy and he picked up the tap.  I paid the tips.

First, we went to a cool new bistro called Pig in a Coat where we munched on lamb carpaccio with a Malbec from Argentina.  Personally, I would have favored a redhead from Madison, but I savored what  my host offered.  (Geez, I hope Ellen is not reading this)

We foliowed up this with a neat little sojourn to a Laotion restaurant next.

We had great prawns, spicy and gritty.

Finally, we hit a Japanese noodle restaurant and did, pickled veggies, poke, and Ramen noodles--with lots of Sake.

What the hell, Minneapolis was only four and a half hours away the next day, and I was going to set up the booth.

Tte journey to the twin cities.

You cut north on I-94, GO PAST TOMAH, PAST EAU CLAIRE.

You see three million silos and barns, they are everywhere--you are in the heartland.

The hills roll for miles, corn is just starting to pop.  You see dairy cattle up your ring-yang.  You see goats.  You see these giant tourist destinations for water parks.

You pass by Osseo, Wisconsin.  If you care to venture in, off the freeway, you come downtown to the Norske Nook Restaurant.  There, you encounter the tallest pies you have ever seen in your life.  Yep, the meringue maybe three feet above the fruit--who cares.  

You can pick apple,raspberry,mince, lemon and 20 others.  This is pie heaven.  You have to go at least once.

OK, WE ARE ALMOST TO MINNEAPOLIS--WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED AT THE SHOW?

Gee, I thought you would never ask.

Here are the basics.

This is a three-day show with a previous day setup, or if you are on Hennepin, a Friday morn setup.  Also the rest off ya can set up that morn.  Show starts at noon.

Booth fee is close to $500, it s a rip off.  Most artists don't get the return here anymore.

Also it is further ripoff, because of booth location,

The show has 350 exhibitors.

About 125  are on Hennepin Avenue.  This is on a main road where all the restaurants, retail and bars are.

The rest of the show is on the mall.

This is on a two-sided road with a green patch of grass down the middle.  Booths are back to back on the median, with generous space behind.  Then there are booths on both sides of the streets.  The mall runs a good four blocks,DOWNHILL, which means patrons must walk four blocks back uphill.

Guess what?

Over 50 per cent of them don't even walk all the way down.

OK,OK.

FROM HERE ON IS MY ASSESSMENT OF THE SHOW, STRICTLY FROM A 2-D POINT OF VIEW ( I am a photographer) WITH INPUT FROM SOME 3-D FRIENDS, MOSTLY GLASS GUYS I KNOW.

By now, some of you newbies are thinking, "Geez, the guy is finally going to tell us something about the show after all his hippy and travel-loge bullshit."

Yeah, well here goes, take this with the following proviso.  This used to be a $5k-$8K show, no more.

I know what I know, after doing this for 40 years.  I watch closely, I observe what people are carrying.

Also, I greet everybody that comes in, I am not on my cellphone.  Oh, I have new work, too.  Not the same old,same old.  Gee some of it gets me into shows like, Gasparilla, Saint Louis and Fort Worth.  So pay attention to my patter.  I am telling it like it is--and folks, I know what i is.

FINALLY, AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS YEAR'S UPTOWN.

First off, up front, it was a big down year for most of us in all medias.

I talked to friends in jewelry, glass, clay, painting and photos.

For most--it was way off.

Oh sure, there are those lucky few. I had the guy with stone birds across from me.  He had to do a cool $8K or better.  Those birds never should have been in the Uptown.

A photo friend of mine did $8K last year and barely made $2K.

Most people did not do above $2K for the show.

All they bought was the lowest end possible.

Forget about be-backs.

Most of them did not have $50 cash in their pockets.

The show was an Ann Arbor redux.  They walked by without really looking at anything.

I had my worst show,ever, there.  All I could sell was $25 photos.  Only sold four pieces at $150 the whole show.

It was not pretty.

Weather was decent.  Not too overly hot.  Had a storm Saturday nite that ended the show two hours early.

Sunday, was my best day, and it was pathetic.

My two glass buddies from the twin cities, who only got in off the wait list, had pathetic shows.

Interestingly, both these guys routinely get into the best shows like Coconut Grove, Winter Park, St. Louis, et al, and they barely got in the show off the wait list.  What does that say about that sharp-eyed jury.  Stone birds were better than original glass art.

Unfortunately, the director of this show is not that sharp.  She don't get around and see how other shows of their magnitude are run.  She collects a paycheck.  

She is happy, while hundreds off artists are unhappy.

This show is spinning downward.

The booth fees too high, the rewards too low.

The committee is clueless and their jury is mediocre at best.

The twin cities deserve better.

SO THERE IT IS.  THE JOURNEY IS A BEAUTIFUL ONE BUT I DON'T THINK THE FINANCIAL REWARDS ARE COMMISURATE.

Love to hear others comments.

Again, I caution, my observations were based on"  Being there and looking, being a 2-D guy,

and having 25 years of perspective there.

Later gators.  Nels.

I don't often feel motivated to report on a show, but sometimes it's a must!  This was our second year at this oceanside event and worthy of a review.  

First, the venue - the Chincoteague community center is the location for both indoor and outdoor booths.  I can only really report on the indoor, but the outdoor vendors seemed to be happy.  Indoors, we have either a 10x10 or 8x8 space, with power available at extra cost.  The Air Conditioning is great, event with all the doors opening and closing.  Linoleum Tile floor is immaculate, as is the rest of the building.  "Dan", the center coordinator, is on-site all the time and ready to resolve any challenges that may arise.  The Wi-Fi is free, password protected, and great!  Plenty of ingress and egress for load in and out.  Tables and chairs are complementary.

Next, the promoter.  Sam Serio owns and runs the event.  Sam has years of experience as a vendor and it shows.  He is the Jury, and is very good at it.  No buy/sell indoors for sure, very little outdoors and those that are there do NOT compete with the crafters.  Sam also allows a few commercial booths like Bath Fitter, and that's fine by me.  They pay dearly, and keep costs under control.  Sam charges a $5,00 admission fee, with multi day discounts, coupons, and late arrival deals.  Sam also does a drawing on Friday and Saturday for a total of 4 - $50 coupons for next year's booth fee!

The Crowd - this is a largely tourist crowd that loves this event.  They buy.  They are not broke.  Super bunch of shoppers, and we make new friends every year.

The Vendors - first rate bunch.  Positive attitudes abound

The weather - last year hot, but this year was amazing

Hours - Friday and Saturday and Sunday, 9-4:30

The Island - Chincoteague is a vacation paradise.  Whether camping, Hotel, B&B or vacation rental, you will have a magnificent stay.  The annual Chincoteague Pony Swim is the Wednesday after the show.

This is a very nice event and the sales are great to good.  Our take is that if you can spend 2 weeks in a beautiful place, eat, drink and hang out, spend 3 days at a show and come home with more money than you arrived with, it's a big win!