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Call for Artists: Columbus Winterfair

December 5-7 1823.gif
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio Expo Center
Presented by Ohio Designer Craftsmen
Fri. & Sat. 10am-8pm; Sun. noon-5pm
400 Exhibitors
Deadline:  July 8

1841.jpg?width=251Ohio Designer Craftsmen invites artists to a rewarding experience selling their high quality, original, handmade work at our "Columbus Winterfair".  Now in it's 38th year, the show attracts an audience of 18,000 who look forward to holiday shopping at Columbus' premier fine craft event. 

Winterfair is held at the Ohio Expo Center, a well-known location with easy access from major highways and ample parking.  Visitors shop throughout the weekend using free return passes.

The show is supported by a powerful marketing plan, including:

  • Direct mail postcard sent to 60,000 past customers.  Additional postcards and e-cards made available to artists for their own customer lists
  • Email blast reminder to past customers the week before the show
  • 12 billboards seen by thousands of drivers beginning one month in advance
  • Television and radio commercials reaching over 1 million viewers and listeners an average of 4 times
  • On-air ticket giveaways on television and radio
  • Reduced price tickets sold in advance through newspaper, online and at the Ohio Craft Museum
  • Print ads in major local newspapers, magazines and entertainment tabloids
  • Online ad campaign reaching 150,000
  • Listings on all area events calendars
  • Twitter and Facebook promotions beginning two weeks before the show
  • PR campaign attracting media coverage of the event

Artist amenities include:

  • A wide selection of conveniently located hotels and a lot for RV's
  • Convenient hours and setup, allowing artists to enjoy fine restaurants and entertainment in the Short North arts district and Polaris shopping area near hotels
  • Six cash awards for excellence, two judge's choice awards and a drawing for one "Dinner Winner," who enjoys a great meal for two, on the house!
  • Convenient parking, now including some under cover
  • Friendly, helpful staff with experience runni1843.jpgng a well organized show; Booth sitters
  • Printed directory listing booth location for every artist and offeringartists individual ad opportunities
  • Online directory on our web site with photos of artists' work and links to their web sites

What exhibitors say:

  • "You guys put on a classy show, and we love being a part of it.  Thanks!"
  • "This is an event that we do not want to miss.  ODC has been wonderful!"
  • "This year's show easily outpaced last year's for me, and last year's was my previous best!"

For more information:

Contact: John Barr, Fairs Manager

(614)486-7119

jbarr@ohiocraft.org

Applications available at:  www.ohiocraft.org

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Prizewinners: Old Town Art Fair

Chicago - June 14 & 15, 20148869142652?profile=original

Digital Art, Drawing/Pastel & Painting:

Best in Show - Katie Musolff, painting (in photo)

Second Place - Taylor Mazer, Drawing/Pastel

2D Mixed Media, Photography & Printmaking:

Best in Show: Mikel Robinson, Photography

Second Place - Chia Haruta, Printmaking

Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Stone and Wood:

Best in Show - Steve Uren, Wood

Second Place - Norman & Hetty Metzger, Fiber

3D Mixed Media, Jewelry, Metal & Sculpture:

Best in Show - Theodore Gall, Sculpture

Second Place - Ann Marie Cianciolo, Jewelry

and maybe the best award ever!!

People's Choice Award - a trip for two to Barcelona

Jeff Zachmann - Jeff's work is kinetic sculptures that stop people in their tracks
http://www.zachmann.com

Congrats to all of them.

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licensed work

i would like to weigh in on this topic as it crosses many categories, not only photography.  I believe honesty is the best policy and it should be reflected both ways, in the jurying: quaifications and in the artists booth: by price and format (like the difference between a print and an original.) If the show does not allow prints or restricts the proportion of prints to originals then those are the rules.  If something has been licensed to someone else I would expect to pay a percentage of an original and certainly not more than another licensed piece of art.  The artist who finds himself in the position of selling something someone finds in target will be losing that future sale if he misrepresents it The art world has many levels of prints from famous artists like picasso, miro, etc.  you can find it on a postcard, a lithograph or even a poster.  The prices are reflective of the medium.  It doesn't make the art any less good.  I would be happy to own a litho or painting version of the dove of peace by picasso.  The fact that it has been reproduced does not lessen its value but probably the opposite.

 

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The Makings of a Collector?

A couple of months back I wrote about selling my first piece through a gallery.  As exciting as that was (and it was REALLY exciting), I recently had an even more exciting experience. The person who bought my image called me up and asked if I’d sign the mat board that surrounded the picture.

I’ve seen other pieces where the photographer did that very thing, but it never occurred to me to do it myself.  While I don’t mind having a signature on the back of the picture, I personally feel that writing on the mat board detracts from the overall image.  But, hey, if someone buys a photo of mine and wants the autograph, I’m not gonna tell him/her “no.”

8869140882?profile=originalSo I was cool and collected when I told my buyer that, yes, I would be happy to sign the piece, but inwardly I was floating on air for days.  To be honest, I’m still flying.  We made arrangements to meet so I could sign the mat for him, and he graciously agreed to have his picture taken with me, so I could commemorate this awesome event.  Craig joked about me being his “famous baby,” but there was definitely some aspect of fame in what I was feeling.

As I mentioned before, as an artist, it’s wonderful to hear that someone likes your work; whether it be a book, movie role, or piece of art.  Then, when someone likes your work enough to buy it, you feel like you’ve “arrived” somehow.  And it goes a long way to making you feel like you’re a professional artist.

But to have someone ask for your autograph on said piece of art is a whole level unto itself.  You find yourself speculating whether or not others will want your autograph when they purchase something of yours, or if this someone will become a collector of your artwork.  I found myself wondering if this buyer will look for more of my pieces in other exhibits.  There’s a level of excitement that comes from thinking someone might own more than one of my pictures.

And now that Craig and I are gearing up to work art fairs, there’s an even bigger possibility that people will like our work enough that they’ll buy more than one print.  The thought just makes me giddy because it’s our dream to be able to make a living off of our art.

But for now, it’s enough to know that someone wanted my signature on a piece of my work.  Here’s hoping that it won’t be the last time.

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"Welcome to the ___ Art Festival! We hope you enjoy the wide array of fine art and craft we have presented for you. Please be considerate when visiting each booth; do not photograph or touch art work without permission. Please keep your children and pets under control. Please be respectful of our artists; each of their booths are their "gallery" spaces; not a public space to check your email, visit with friends or have lunch. And, if you love art and want us to continue to bring you an exceptional event, BUY ART TODAY. Please be aware, each of our professional artists and crafters have paid for their space here today, and many of them have also paid for travel expenses just for the opportunity to sell their work to you. Our express purpose for organizing this show is to create a relaxing venue where you can shop for art. Please support our artists!"

Perhaps the T-Shirts you distribute this year to volunteers could include your logo and the words BUY ART TODAY as a not-so-subliminal message.

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November 28-30  1823.gif
Covington, Kentucky 

Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Fri. & Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. 11am-4pm
Presented by Ohio Designer Craftsmen
225 exhibitors
Deadline:  July 8
 
Ohio Designer Craftsmen invites artists to a rewarding experience selling their high quality, original, handmade work at our "Greater Cincinnati Winterfair."

  • Now in its 36th year, the show takes place on "Black Friday," one of the biggest shopping days of the year
  • An established and growing audience of 7,000 anticipates kicking off their holiday shopping at Winterfair, Greater Cincinnati's premier fine craft holiday shopping event
  • The show is held in the Northern Kentucky C 1814.jpg onvention Center, a modern, well-appointed facility on the banks of the Ohio River.  Located in Covington, KY, the convention center is just over a suspension bridge from downtown Cincinnati in a bustling entertainment area serving both sides of the river.

The show is supported by a powerful marketing plan, including

  • Direct mail postcard offering $1 off admission coupon, sent to 36,000 past customers.  Additional postcards made available to artists for their own customer lists.
  • Email blast reminder to past customers the week before the show
  • Television and radio commercials reaching over 44,000 viewers and listeners an average of 5 times
  • On-air ticket giveaways on television and radio
  • Print ads in major local newspapers and online ads reaching 75,000
  • Listings on all area events calendars
  • Twitter and Facebook promotions beginning two weeks before the show
  • PR campaign attracting media coverage of the event

Artists amenities include:

  • A wide selection of nearby hotels, including the Marriott River Center.  The Marriott is attached to the Convention Center, offering artists affordable convenience, safety, beautiful river views and convenient parking
  • Convenient hours and flexible set-up days, allowing artists to enjoy the many nearby attractions, from the Newport Aquarium to upscale restaurants
  • Five cash awards for excellence and a drawing for one "Dinner Winner," who enjoys a great meal for two, on the house!
  • Friendly, helpful staff with experience running a well organized show; Booth sitters
  • Printed directory listing booth location for every artist
  • Online directory on our web site with photos of artists' work and links to their web sites
1813.jpg

What exhibitors say:
28-30

  • "Customers loved being able to return the entire weekend with their passes."
  • "Thanks for continuing to do an awesome job with all the advertising!"
  • Loved and appreciate the show and all that you did to make it special."
  • "It's a great show!  Plenty of visitors/buyers."

For more information: 

Please contact John Barr, Fairs Manager

(618)486-7119

jbarr@ohiocraft.org 

 

Applications available:  www.ohiocraft.org 

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8869141492?profile=originalMilwaukee, WI - June 20-22

Award Winners
Scott Amrhein, Glass                            
Sandra Byers, Ceramics                     
Theodore Gall, Sculpture                     
Kyle Hawke,Wood                          
Nicario Jimenez, Mixed Media 3D      
William Kidd,Ceramics               
Frances Kite,Jewelry                       
Elisabeth Maurland,Ceramics                 
Mark Sudduth,Glass                              
Betsy Youngquist, Mixed Media 3D
Honorable Mention
Paveen “Beer” Chunhaswasdikul,Ceramics         
Micheal Paul Cole, Photography   
Stephan Cox, Glass                
Ron Dekok, Wood              
Nathan Grubich & Amanda St. Hilaire-Grubich, Ceramics         
Jack & Alice McLean, Metal            
Jeffrey Raasch, Ceramics         
Thomas Wargin, Sculpture        
Warner Whitfield, Glass               
James Wilbat, Glass               

Sculpture Garden

Tim Arnold, Ceramics

Thanks Jim Parker for sending us the list! Hope you had a great show there also. Now I'm looking closer at the list; only one winner in 2D and 6 in ceramics and 5 in glass ... ? 

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Strawberry Days- Still not working for me

This will be my fourth and hopefully last time to give Strawberry Days in Glenwood Springs CO a chance to be a decent show.  When I did this show back in 2002 I was disappointed in sales compared to booth fee but if I could have made close to what I did back then I would have been thrilled.  

I know this show has a new promoter and it seemed she was doing her best and working very hard to be sure there wasn't any buy sell and that the artists/crafts people were showing what they juried in with. The quality of the show was decent though I didn't get a chance to walk the full show (even at a slow show I tend to stick to my booth because I would hate to miss a sale or opportunity).

I heard comments that the work was better than past years but really the key issue is the demographics of the show goers.  Generally they were very young and didn't have any inclination to buy even the lowest price pieces.  But they were very engaged and interested in my work- when they were there.  There were many hours of not a person in my booth... which to me is just no fun- even if I'm not selling I would like to at least be showing my work and talking to people.  

The hours are very long and the three days just drag on.  At least I had great neighbors to chat with and could work on my clay.  But I can tell when I have a terribly slow show because I get too much done- not enough breaks to wrap up works of art for customers.

I would love to see this show come back- it fits very well into a CO show schedule and it's in a wonderful community but I think I will wait awhile to see if these young art show attendees can eventually turn into young art buyers.  

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August 23 & 24LakesideLivingLogo
Lake Orion, Michigan
Sat. 11am-7pm; Sun. 11am-5pm
Deadline: July 7

 

We are looking for high quality artwork that fits in to this setting. Work that feels more relaxing. All mediums are acceptable. 

 

Another show in Integrity Show's focused roster, Integrity Events produces events specifically appropriate for each community where they are held. This attracts crowds that have a direct interest in the works being presented.

 

While Oakland County, Michigan, is one of the most affluent in the country, we find that patrons in this area are more interested in work under $500. 

 

Lakeside Living celebrates the more casual lifestyle of Northern Oakland County, an area with many small lakes populated by people who love living near the lakes with the attendant recreation found there. Integrity Shows avoids the "everything for everybody" concept of shows.  The marketing is designed to bring people with the means and ability to buy your artwork.  Our shows are widely praised for the effort placed toward supporting participating artists.  We understand that your success is essential and we do what it takes to meet your needs.

 

We support a three year jury rotation system.  Once accepted you are assured of three years of participation as long as you confirm your interest by deadline.  We believe that artists do better when they can plan their schedules and develop collectors.

Noteworthy:1810.jpg

  • Application deadline July 7
  • A celebration of a more relaxed lifestyle
  • Adjacent to established Dragon on the Lake event
  • Extensive marketing
  • Co-Produced by the Orion Art Center and Integrity Shows
  • Show Hours: Sat. 11am-7pm; Sun. 11am-5pm
  • Free Parking, beverages, respect

For more info:  www.integrityshows.wix.com/lakeside   

Apply online via Entrythingy:   www.entrythingy.com

For questions or a paper application please contact:

Mary@integrityshows.com

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Licensed work?

As you might expect from my previous post, I am being extra careful to be pro-active in the jury process.  I'd love to get feedback on something from other event coordinators and some artists.

Photographer  "___________" a talented artists regular in my events has some really cool prints.  I like them enough that I have purchased a few.

Then I found an identical image at Target on a cheaper substrate.

I ask. He tells me that he had licensed the image to Target for a short time five years back, and that it was no longer being licensed.

I tell him he cannot sell any image that had been ever licensed at the events I coordinate.  Simple enough.  It does not belong.  I am not showing his work to the jurors.  He is not eligible for my events. 

To be fair, I would like to try representing his thoughts.  He is welcome to comment on this post if he feels that I don't get it right. 

He says that "at least 20-30% of art fair artists license images or sell through- Fine Art America, GBC, Red Bubble, or Image Conscious".

He also pointed out that my prospectus does not specifically mention "licensed" art.

He is in some major fine art shows.  I won't mention them here.

Tell me event organizers, what's your thoughts on this? 

Artists?  I am confident that I am making the right decision. Your thoughts?

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Lego Movie effect?

 

Okay. I see an interesting trend here. At Maple and Main Art Fair and at Crokcer Park Fine Art Fair about 5-6 people come into my booth and sings "Everything is Awesome" each day. I call this the Lego Movie effect. I even had one guy comment that he thought about my booth watching the Lego Movie at Maple and Main. I guess being in my third year at art fairs, I am starting to get a following... Yay!

But, I do love people when they sing "Everything is Awesome" in my booth. Here is a shot of my booth from Funky Ferndale last year...

8869139878?profile=original

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more art}

recently part of the edina fine art show in minneapolis. generally described as 50th and france st in edina. nice show with high quality art and a high reputation in an upscale suburb of minneapolis.

the title of this blog refers to the MORE ART (arrow) that was positioned on 50th st pointing to the lund (grocery store) parking lot where 40 or so artists found ourselves. out of sight (other than the sign) out of the way(all of us) and out of luck (some of us). i cant and wont say that everyone had a bad show but the lack of the same crowd that was afforded those on 50th or france was definitely a factor for a lot of us.

maybe a newbie lot you say? why? same bad booth fee, same bad setup, same bad experience and more than many on the main drag. this kind of treatment is just plain wrong and im putting it kindly. we pay the same booth fee to have the same shot at the same crowd with a show setup that makes sense for the customer AND the artist. promoters and artists alike know from the get go that when a MORE ART} sign goes up, the setup is WRONG.

greed has wormed its way in and it has no place in a quality show like edina. we and others were sandwiched in like sardines, pull up to your booth option doesnt exist even though we were assured that it did and while 12 booths enjoyed a 20 ft aisle, the other 24 of us were graced with an 8 footer. i kept looking at it trying to figure out who couldnt read a tape. STOP the lund lot, edina. put us on 50th or france or dont put us at all. ill take my chances with the jury.

if you feel like your wallet has to have a lund lot, make it VOLUNTARY. given the option, i would have and should have stayed at home. just make sure the option is accompanied by a pic of the MORE ART} sign. well figure it out. and by the way, lunds is a GREAT grocery store.

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Photo Essay: Old Town Art Fair 2014

Chicago, IL - June 14 & 15 - 65th Annual Old Town Art Fair - 250 Artists

8869136260?profile=originalThis top-rated art fair is in the heart of arguably the best urban neighborhood in the country, built after the Chicago Fire, cheek by jowl beautifully restored homes and gardens, city living at its best. The show benefits the OTAF boys and girls club and is run by 750 volunteers. 60% of the exhibitors were reinvited from the previous year, making it tough to jury in.

8869136457?profile=originalOne of my favorite booths, paintings by Jerry Brem. Nice work, very nice look (did you see that rug that repeats the colors in the paintings?)

8869136290?profile=original

Did you say serious buyers? I met this man in Carol Boucher's booth early on Saturday morning. He and his wife had a complete schema including measurements for the work they intended to purchase.

8869136870?profile=original

Beautiful glass by perennial award winner Tony Cray.

8869136887?profile=originalI took this photo of mixed media artist Lisa Norris' booth because I loved her panel covers (and then I saw the cool work), linen draped over the Armstrong panels and tied on with simple cotton ties. It really complemented her work which harkens back to dressmaking days with the pattern collages.

8869137675?profile=originalWho is one of the most famous collectors at the art fairs? Here he is, Don Kinder, with his crony woodworker Matthew Hatala

8869137498?profile=originalSarah Kaufman, how tall IS that booth? The logistics of setting this up overwhelmed me.

8869138454?profile=originalTed Gall (in the background) with the intriguing bronze sculptures has been at this show for nearly 40 years. His collectors showed up to lighten his load for the trip home.

8869137698?profile=original

8869138691?profile=originalPhotographer Steven Daniel with his traveling companion, Jasper

8869138879?profile=originalI know Kristina Robinson isn't going to like this photo of her, but photographer Mikel Robinson carried off the Best of Photography prize. I believe it was his first time at this show.

8869139089?profile=originalMeet Sabrina Zhou, an AFI member, participating in her very first art fair. How does an artist end up at Old Town as a first fair? She said she reads everything on this site and used all the info you have shared. She also had a sterling assistant. 

8869139470?profile=originalIt was great to see old friends and members of AFI: Steve Olszewski, David Curles, Carol Boucher, Beth Crowder, Anne London, Amos Amit, Andrew Shea, Doug and Renee Sigwarth, Mark Sudduth, Christine Bartling, Jack and Joe Forney, Frances Kite, Harry Roa, Jerry Scavezze, Linds Steinworth, Frank Strunk, Chris Bruno, Kina Crow, Chris Dahlquuist, Cherie Haney, Marjolyn van der Hart, Amy Flynn and Phil Crone, Dawn Adams, Kathy and Jim Eaton, Charlie Gatewood, Signe Grushovenko, Sarah Kaufman, Michael Bryant, Chris Coffey, Steven Daniel, Ray Hartl, Clif Henri, Cali Hobgood, Jerry Maschinot, Allan Teger, Daryl Thetford, Chia Haruta, Marina Terauds, Phil Thompson, Ted Gall, Jennifer Ivory, Matt Hatala and Jay McDougall.

Jennifer Ivory did a show review with more details that you can see here: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/review-of-the-old-town-art-show-held-last-weekend

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Call for Artists: The Beaches Art Fest

1913.jpg?width=300 October 4                    
Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Pablo Historical Park
10am-5pm
100 Artists
Deadline: June 30

The Beaches Art Fest is a new juried fine art show being presented by The Beaches Museum and Driftwood of Jacksonville Beach.

This is a new event which we are promoting as an upscale show,  partnering with organizations that "get" what a fine art event should  be. We'd love to have you join us at our inaugural show. Jacksonville does not have a fine art fair and we want to be the one.

MelindaBradshaw3-200.jpg?width=300

One hundred fine artists (including gallery artists) will be exhibiting in the Beaches Historical Park on Beach Boulevard. 

The Park is only two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful  beaches, and in close proximity to fine dining and quality hotels, in a highly visible location at the intersection of A1A and Beach Boulevard. 

A two block stretch on Pablo Avenue will be closed off to traffic and lined with canopies and tents each revealing it's own little world of treasures, and in the picturesque park with little indoor "Galleries"!

Finding quality art fairs in October in Florida is a challenge. We hope you will join us to kick off what we plan to be a destination art fair.

There will be performing arts, along with savory refreshments to purchase.
         

For more information and to apply:
 www.BeachesArtFest.com

                                         

Click here to download an application

        

           

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St Louis Jury Statistics revisited

I've always been an advocate for attending open juries because you can see how your jury images project and compare with your competitor's images. The only thing that's missing at an open jury is getting feedback on your images. Some shows offer what's called a mock or image evaluation jury where a few experienced jurors comment on the images while they are projected in front of a room filled with artists.

Cindy Lerick, the executive director of the St Louis Art Fair, goes out of the way to do everything possible to make applying to her show a learning experience for the artists. This year she released jury feedback and scoring statistics, including thumbnail images by medium category, for each artist that applied.

For the last few years, Cindy has offered a mock jury that takes place a few months before the application deadline for St Louis. Then she lets artists change their application images if they've improved them after getting feedback at the mock jury. I've been one of her mock jurors and have also presented a workshop on photographing artwork in conjunction with the mock jury. So when the jury statistics were released, I wondered if there was a way to figure out the actual value of the mock jury in that how many artists who attended, and then applied and were accepted into the show. Cindy sent me the statistics I asked for and I published an article about it. The numbers are significant. Here's the article I wrote about it:

http://bermangraphics.com/blog/feedback-from-the-jury/

Here's the statistics:

slaf-mock-jury-stats.jpg

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

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When your back is to the sea and you can feel a cool ocean breeze, life can't be too bad for an art show.  We wish we had 25 others on the ocean.

Well, I have done this one since 1985, off and on.  Had not been there for three years because of heart troubles.  This year was not one of my memorable ones, but it was for many others.

In the old days they used to give you spots along a snow fence that were 15-foot wide by six-foot deep.  Some people had three spots--45 feet long.

Nowadays you have a spiffy new boardwalk, concrete of course, with a metal rail to tie the rear of your booth to, and it is 10-foot deep and wide.

There is usually some room between booths to do a little extra wall hanging.  

There is room in front of your booth, across a wide boardwalk to stash inventory on carts or under your umbrella.  Overall, the mood is very mellow and beachy.

A lot of artists rent a room at a hotel right on the boardwalk, preferably not far from their booth.  Then you can park your van in the hotel lot and have a short hike to your booth with art.

Of course, hotel rates are never cheap for these locations, plan to pay $125 and up per night if you are lucky to snag one.  Old-timers have next year's reservations already set up.

This show is like a United Nations convention.

It gets lots of the Florida artists, looking to escape the summer heat down there and make money.  I see artists from out west as far away as Washington State and California.

Then there are plenty of midwesterners there--it is only a day and a half drive for most.

Then you got all  the locals and Atlantic coast artists.

It is like old home week, I probably know at least 100 artists there, some have been doing it as long as me.

It is a very mellow show.  With hotel rooms nearby, blenders are going all the time, and chilled wine and beers are the norm.  Nobody seems to be out of the sorts--unless they forgot there sunscreen.

It is a long show--four days.  Thank God the hours are reasonable with show ending most nights at six pm.

Funny thing about those hours.  I did a doozy on Friday night.

It rained late that afternoon, and everybody shut down before six pm. I shut down real quick and took a power nap in my hotel room.  I got up and went back and reopened my booth around 6:30.  Nobody else was open.  "Sly me," I am saying to myself.  "I got this whole beach crowd to myself."  Which was maybe 60 people walking around.  I sat there for about 30 minutes, no sales happening.  Then two artist friends, Patrick and Rona, strolled by.  They giggled and laughed at me.  Rona said,"Nels what are you doing open?  The show closed at six."  Dumb me, I thought it was open til 8 pm.  I figured the artists had enough with the rain and slim Friday sales.  I thought I was going to clean up.

Ironically, they left.  Immediately a young couple came in and spent $40.  I closed immediately  and spent it on sushi.

Gee, I guess I should read my show packet and know the hours.

You can set up up on Wednesday.  A lot of people start early while it is cool.  They have drive on program, so You can come on with vehicle and drop off stuff.

Also, at tear-down they are letting us drive on--that is a new thing that just started last year.

Still, most artists with hotel rooms nearby and vans in the lot, choose to dolly out.  Show ended at 5 pm and I was loaded via dolly by 6:15.

This year was off for a lot of us.  Mostly low-end sales with very few framed pieces being sold.

Still, a good number of artists posted big sales.  Ten of my friends on Facebook mentioned how they had had a killer show--and, this was in all mediums.

The crowds were thinner, you could tell by how uncrowded the boardwalk was at times.  Restaurants were not jammed like usual.

Personally, I think people are reluctant to spend much right now.

I did not have single person come in and say they were looking for a big piece to put over the bed or the fireplace.

"Be-backs" were few and far between.  The show runs almost 14 blocks long, so the length inhibits a lot of be-backs.

In the past years I could count on the military to buy at least 30 per cent of my show totals.  Today, they are deployed and their spending is almost nil.

This is still a fun show to do, and most people make some money.  It is just one of those shows you have to try for yourself to see if it works.

They buy mostly traditional work.  And, of course, they love sea-related imagery.

This is an expensive show to do, especially if you are staying at a hotel on the boardwalk.

With just a single booth, I figured my overhead was close to $1700 for the show.  And, I was not doing it extravagantly.

So far, this year is a soft year, I don't see the economy rebounding well at all.  Our biz is changing, and I think it is for the worst.

Well, I have this weekend off, so I can garden and lick my wounds and get ready for another day.

Later, gators.

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The Secret of a Smile

This may really be the most simplistic business and marketing tool that has ever been conceived. The smile.  I just spent 3 pleasant days at a festival in Columbia, Maryland.  My sales were enough to cover my expenses so nothing exciting so why do I say 'pleasant days'?  Well....they were because I smiled most of the time I was there.  Yes there were the ying-yangs asking me where I found my canes, etc, etc, etc  but I smiled (ok laughed) at them and answered their sometimes silly questions.  I smile because it makes me feel good and even look better (which is a feat in itself) to potential buyers.   I know this is true because I like to stroll around and see other artists work and the ones that actually smiled at me (maybe a buyer) were much more attractive.  Since they were making eye contact and smiling at me I immediately felt welcome to enter their area and view their items.  The smile was present at only 8 of the 60 booths at the show.  Yes, yes, I know they probably smiled when they sold something but that is the Point.  You wil sell nothing if you scare the people away with a hang dog frown on your face.  It is a basic truth that people wil respond to a smile and walk away from a frown.  

Other than low sales (welcome to the real world economy) this was a great show,,Great bands non-stop for the entire show; nightly entertainment, kids on stilts (cute as buttons), professional street entertainers, and on and on.  I concentrated on these things and my wife of 40+ years and I smiled and when I did people came to me.  They didn't all buy but they walked in the door per-se.  

Smiling not only attracts people (don't over do it or they might think you finally cracked) it makes you feel good, lowers blood pressure, decreases anxiety attacks (brought on by stupid questions), increases your oxygen intake, relaxes your face muscles, and helps you to enjoy what is at hand and stop worrying about the things you can't control.  Its GOOD BUSINESS to. So SMILE at that next show and feel better.

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August 15 & 166a00e54fba8a7388330192aa6b786e970d-120wi
Frankfort, Michigan
Market Square Park
Coordinated by the Frankfort-Elberta Chamber of Commerce
Fri. 4pm-8pm; Sat. 10am-5pm
180+ Artists
Deadline:  July 1

Where is Frankfort?  High on a bluff in the heart of Michigan's summer vacation land, the hidden gem of Northern Michigan on Lake Michigan and Betsie Bay.

  From the Chamber of Commerce:

This very popular northern Michigan Art Fair has been voted one of the top 10 Art Fairs in Michigan!  This two-day event provides a variety of artists and food.  Visitors specifically look for their favorite artists year after year.  We do our best to keep them in their same spot, so they know right where to find them!

1893.jpg The fair is in a beautiful park setting with up to 10,000 people in attendance.  It is one of the most popular art fairs in Northern Michigan.  The Chamber also hosts a few other fundraisers that day to help with the cost of putting on a fantastic event like this.

What's not to like?

  • two days
  • beautiful time of year for weather
  • spacious booth spaces:  12x12
  • great booth fee: $105 for both days!
  • Jury fee $15

1895.jpg?width=300There is also fun for the whole family with all the downtown businesses as well as a collector car show 3 blocks away, among many other activities that day and great local food.  You might even want to fit in some salmon fishing! 

 

LATE APPLICATION FEE: Due to the numerous late applications in years past - we are applying a $25 late application fee for ALL applications received after May 1, 2014.

 

NEW!  Apply online our website:  www.frankfort-elberta.com/index.php?option=como 

 

 

For more questions contact:  Joanne Bartley, Executive Director, C of C at (231)352-7251
or fcofc@frankfort-elberta.com 

 

For more information about this tourism mecca: www.frankfort-elberta.com 

 

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Find more opportunities for artists: www.CallsforArtists.com 

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