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This is my first year doing shows, and thus far I have done 8 total and have 2 more before the year come to a close.  I have had a rough ride thus far to be honest.  The best I have done was (looking back now, not even that great), not too far from home, and one of my first shows.  I have, however, been in A LOT of awful shows, and others that were great, but for some reason I heard at every single one "This is the worst year of this show to date"... Every. Single. Show.  You can imagine, this has disheartened me greatly, being my first year in the game, and hearing that it is the worst year for people who have been at it for 25+ years.  I have tried to meet and learn as much as I can from the artists around me at every show, and honestly have learned a lot, but also lost a lot of passion, motivation, money, tears, and time.  I feel as though I am a bit lost at this point, and am not sure where to start again for the next year (or even start again period). 

I just did the Lake Forest Art on the Square show, which had an amazing turn out, lots of people buying work, lots of enthusiasm, yet I did not sell a thing, and did not have very many people coming into my booth.  I heard from other artists that since it was my first year, a lot of people do not like to buy from you unless they have seen you before... which I find crazy ridiculous, but informative.  I am not sure I would do the show again, considering I'm completely in the whole, and the toss up of it being a good show for me is a bit too great.  Although I saw a lot of people walking around with work (and originals at that), I heard from a lot of the artists around me that they did not do as good as they have done in the past and that the crowd was not as good... Are all shows going down hill or is it just me?? 

I know the economy is not where it used to be, but I am beginning to have the feeling that people just don't care about original work.  I really really really do not want to do prints, but I'm beginning to think I just have to otherwise I'm never going to make money.  Or I will just have to not do shows until I have a legit income that can support my dream.  I get people that come into my booth, are there for a long time, and as soon as I come up to speak to them, they run away.  As if they do not want to know that there is a human being attached to the work because they feel as though then they are obligated to buy from me or something?  Conversations are few, usually only with other artists who are visiting the fair do I speak with in length, aka farther than "hi, how are you?  If you have any questions please feel free to ask.. yaddah yaddah". 

This has been a year of experiences, sadness, happiness, feeling of failure, and learning/ getting a VERY thick skin.  I wish things could have been different, and that everyone had semi the same response at shows, but unfortunately, everyone's experience is different, mine however, has been that Art is losing the battle. :(

       First, I want to mention one of the highlights of this show, at least for my wife, Lori Huff, and I. On Friday evening we were joined by AFIers Dick Sherer, his wife Jean, Steve Sawusch, and Steve Appel at the Dunraven Inn for dinner. If you’ve never dined at the Dunraven, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Pictured from L to R: Steve Appel, Weldon Lee, Steve Sawusch, Dick Shearer, Jean Shearer, and Lori Huff

Now for the review . . .

City:  Estes Park    State: Colorado

Start Date:  8/31/13             End Date:  9/2/13

Promoter:  Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary

Event Name:  Estes Park Arts & Crafts Show

Weather:  partly cloudy, mornings – cool, afternoons – hot, intermittent rain Sat and Sun afternoons. Fortunately, there was little, to no wind.

Venue:  Bond Park (located in the center of town along Elkhorn Avenue) featuring breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The park is situated adjacent to the Municipal Court with access to restrooms and water fountains.

General Information

Event Rating. (0 is the worst, 10 is the best)

Sales:  5

       Slow at times for us with sales in the 500 to 1K range. I would guess that most exhibitors experienced decent sales. A few did exceptionally well. However, we    personally did better during the Memorial Day show hosted by the Art Center of Estes Park.

Attendance:  8

       Well attended by locals, out-of-towners, and their dogs, with roughly 100 exhibiting artists.

Enjoyability:  10

       Friendly people and friendly dogs

Public Mood:  10

       Upbeat. Everyone seemed to be having a good time

Buying Power:  7

       At most shows this year, 90-percent of our sales have consisted of (20x30) photographs in the $400 price range. However, this show was different with roughly 40-percent of our sales consisting of items under $100 (mugs, coasters, books, etc.).

Organization:  The show was well organized with volunteers frequently checking on exhibitors to offer their services. Unloading was a snap with set-up taking place all day Friday before the show. A few even set up Thursday evening. If you came early Friday as we always do, you could drive up to your spot and unload. Plus, there was someone there to help in the process. Since it takes us time to break down once the show is over, we were able to do the same thing when loading up to leave. 

     The only thing I would change would be to add a couple of food vendors. However, in all fairness, volunteers would drop by every day, take lunch orders from one of the local restaurants, and then return at lunch with the food. The selections were good and we love dining at the restaurant providing the food. I just prefer a different food selection at art fairs.

     I definitely plan on attending this show in 2014.

Estes Park is the gateway to the east side of Rocky Mountain Park. There are many summer homes in the area and it is a destination for a broad spectrum of nationalities, income levels, and interests.  I started doing this show in 2010 after sales at the Memorial Day show in Estes park could not seem to get beyond $2K for three days.  Gross sales at the September Labor Day show since 2010 have ranged from $3.8-$4.7K and I have considered it a good solid show. This year sales were off and I will analyze this later.  The show is produced by the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary, Inc. and they do an all-around EXCELLENT job!!!!  The town is packed for the weekend, and leading up to the show was a lot of promotion on Facebook.

SETUP AND TAKE DOWN.  Set up officially begins at 9:00 ON Friday but Rotarians are present to check you in as early as 8:00. If you are early you can park at your site to unload. Street parking is available within a block of the show, but oversize vehicle and trailers have to park at the fairgrounds. Free shuttle service is available from there, and in town. Volunteers are available to assist with set up.

               Takedown begins at 3:00 on Monday and volunteers were there to help.  The Rotarians who helped me with carrying merchandise tubs to my truck cut 15 minutes off standard knock down time.  Like set up, traffic was controlled and vehicles were not allowed in until you were ready to load.

 WEATHER.  Temperatures were in the high 70s to low 80s all three days. There were brief afternoon showers but not heavy rain. The longest was about an hour on Sunday.  Some people ducked into shops but, others got out the rain gear and umbrellas. There was little wind which can be a problem at Estes Park shows.  The fleece jacket felt good when the showers were over.

 THE SHOW.  The town was packed with people and thousands went through the art show. There was seldom a time when people were not in my booth but sales fell short of expectations this year.  My booth location had been moved from the north end down to a prime location on Elkhorn Ave./US 36, the main street through town to RMNP. Other artist in a variety of mediums also noted that their sales were down this year. It simple seemed like a crowd of lookers (and in my case smellers) who were not buying holiday gifts or mementos of their vacation.  Belts and suspenders were my top sellers. My sales were in the $2-$2.5K range. They would have been down around $1.1K (break even for all show expenses – booth, housing, travel etc.)  if it weren’t for including repairs taken in and special order work, both of which are post-show completion and cash flow.  There was a good balance of all art mediums including edibles like jellies and salsas.  No buy/sell at this show.  Nuts and bolts for the show are in www.artshowreviews.com.

 ANALYSIS.  At three Colorado shows, Grand Junction, Winter Park and Estes Park, I have had several returning clients tell me “… I bought ……. from you last year´ and not buy anything this year. No gifts for Uncle Charlie etc. At Estes Park this probably accounted for $700/day which, if sales had occurred, it would have made this a more typical show for me.  I also did not see the usual number of horse owners.

I know some of you will say “what is this guy complaining about with his sales”.  I am a former scientist and thus an analytical artist/businessman.  When shows do not meet their expected financial expectation, it is time to reassess. For this summer's “down shows” they will probably be placed on a schedule of doing them in alternate years.  I am thinking that if my returning clients don’t find me there every year, maybe they will get Uncle Charlie’s gift or something they need/want realizing I might not be there next year.  

 THE OTHER FUN STUFF.  Weldon Lee organized a dinner for AFIs at the Dunraven Inn.  I will leave it to him to give you the details.  I met AFI Ruth Finkenbiner who came by my booth. These summer art shows in Colorado resort areas are working vacations for Jean and me. I don’t mind spending the money on a condo or house so long as it has a hot tub. It really relaxes these old bones after a day in the booth. I also like staying at the historic old places we rent in Estes Park.  After the show we went to RMNP. There were still hoards of people especially at the popular alpine lake trail heads. I didn’t want to hike with lots of “traffic and crying babies” so we opted for the subalpine Bierdstadt Lake (named for the painter, I bagged Mount Bierdstadt, 14,065’ a couple years ago).  It was a 4.5 mile round trip and pretty much a “walk your dog” hike with the route we took.  We saw maybe 10 people tops.  Special picture of the return route for Steve Appel who loves Colorado mountain driving LOL.  More pictures on my Facebook page: Richard L. Sherer.  It was 95 in Denver so we opted to go over Trail Ridge Road and return home through Winter Park and over Berthoud Pass. I got to do a lot of mountain road driving with the loaded to the gills Suburban.  Cool with thunderstorms by the time we got home around 8:00pm.   

PHOTOS. The show, Birdstadt Lake and Longs Peak 14,259’), switchbacks down to valley trail head.

Hello everybody,

this is my first review in this forum,please excuse all my typos,english is only my third language.

Last weekend (Labor Day) I did for the 10th consecutive year the 3 day show on the Santa Fe Plaza run by the Fiesta Council of Santa Fe,NM.

Set up is always the day before, so on Friday.

Every artist gets 15 Minutes to unload,very convinient close to the booth spot.

Also you can park after the show close to your spot to load again, just a little

waiting time until it was my turn.

This year a new managment took over just days before the show, but everybody was very nice and helpful, better than ever before.

I always have the same booth spot for years and know my neighbors well over the years and it's always nice meeting those 3 Texas couples every year again.

Unforunatly since 2008 year after year the show gets worse what sales is concerned.

When I startde doing the show in 2004 the booth fee was $300 or $350, not sure any more and I went home with 6k or so, so very, very good.

A good show for me is when the booth fee was 10% of my sales.

Well this year my sales were down to under 2k but the booth fee was up to $450.

So I consider this show not a good show anymore.

There are more and more buy-sell "artists" in the show who sell cheap neck-coolers etc.

and people spend their little money with them and not with us artists anymore.

I do abstract paintings in oils and acrylis, ORIGINALS ONLY ! and sold just one painting.

Thanks heaven I also do bead work (like a gazillion others too) and jewelry always sells, as you all know.

So I will hold off on this show even so I live in Santa Fe just 2 miles away from the Plaza,

until the economy gets better.

Thanks for reading my review,

greetings from Santa Fe to all of you and have a great remaining summer

Heike

Second art fair review, here we go...

This was my second juried art fair.  Two years ago, when I was in the beginning phases of learning everything I could from the Art Fair Insiders forums, my family & I were in Flagstaff and checked out the Flagstaff Art in the Park 4th of July event.  At the time, I was taking lots of mental notes and thought to myself, maybe next year?  Maybe by then I'll have a display put together and enough art and get into this art fair.

So, two years and a couple of months later, it was pretty cool to be juried into their Labor Day event.  

I'm still new at the art fair review thing, so I'll try to do my best here. 

Application process: they are not on Zapp, so you mail in your application along with three photos of individual art pieces and a photo of your booth.  Two checks go with the application, one for the jury fee and one for the booth fee, which is cashed when you are juried in or returned if you are not.

Communication: the organizer, Stu, returned emails quickly and was good to deal with.  At the art fair, I saw him pretty often, although I actually wasn't introduced to him... I just knew who he was from having seen the Facebook page.  He was personable and easy to talk to.

Location: the art fair is in Wheeler Park, a block off Route 66 and visible from it.  The park is right on the road heading up to the ski hill, which is a well-used thoroughfare, so the location is highly visible.  Pretty hard to miss if you're doing more than just driving by on the freeway.  Flagstaff is a very popular location for people to escape the heat of the Phoenix area, being only about 2 1/2 hours away.  All weekend, it was fun to ask people where they were from.  Quite a variety of answers.

Load in: it was busy, but I guess that's pretty expected when everybody is trying to set up all at the same time.  We arrived about an hour and a half after the time when you could start setting up, so things were well under way when we got there.  They allow you to park in the parking lot by the park during load in, and lots of people had their vehicles on the side road by the park.  We were even double-parked on that side road for a time, but it was pretty quick and nobody seemed to mind while the set up was going on.

Parking: it's about a block away at the Catholic school, although I actually never saw it, because my husband dropped me off at the curb by my booth each day and went to park the van.

The fair itself: the art fair is advertised as a fine arts & crafts fair, which is what it is.  I wasn't sure going in how I'd do, being more on the "fine art" end of things.  It seemed that the lower-priced items were more popular with the patrons of this event.  We had a major downpour on Saturday, which definitely hampered things.  It was amazing to see how many people came out after the heaviest rains were over, carrying umbrellas and wearing raincoats.  These people didn't seem fazed by rain.

On Sunday & Monday, we had beautiful weather and lots of crowds.  On Sunday, there was a farmers market nearby, so a lot of the folks going there came through the art fair on their way to and from the farmers market. 

As for how I did?  Well... I sold some smaller prints but didn't come anywhere near to making my booth fee, let alone meeting my total expenses.  But it was still a lovely weekend, fun to visit with the other artists and talk with a lot of really interesting people who came by, a nice getaway for my family from the heat.  And, it was pretty cool being a part of the event that I had hoped to get into, back at the beginning before I had a display or even enough paintings to really contemplate getting into a juried event.

I'm still trying to find my niche for my art, whether the art fair market is even the right place to try to sell my work.  So, if I were another artist, I wouldn't necessarily decide whether or not to try this event based on my results.  But my gut feeling is that if you are more on the "fine art" side of things, it might not be the best venue.  It seemed that most of what was being bought were the smaller, less pricey items.

I'm not giving up on this art fair thing yet.  I've got a juried art festival coming up in a couple of months, and we'll see how I do there.  I just have to pace myself on applying for more art fairs, because paying booth fees without selling enough to cover the fees adds up pretty quickly. 

I have learned pretty much everything I know about art fairs from AFI, and I have to say it really helped a lot at my first out-of-town, first major downpour, art fair.  Thanks, Art Fair Insiders! :)

Yep, that's me. Can't leave anything alone. But let's start with the good stuff.

This is the best show in Western New York. Hyperbole aside, just a joy to do. I have done this show since the first one 14 years ago when an artist friend called me and said "wanna do a show"? It is in a trendy urban neighborhood (where I just happen to live), about 4-5 blocks long. They have a dance tent and a kids area and a music stage and I normally avoid shows that have all that but this one just works. I made my best sales number of the year. Everyone loves this show. I mean everyone: artists, visitors, kids, dogs. It is a consensus that the people spend because of the happy atmosphere. I agree.

The show was established by local artists and is run by energizer bunny volunteers. Kudos to them all. The food court is run on solar energy and all the plastic utensils are comostable. It's stuff like that that tickles people.

Now, about that molehill. I was schmoozing with a friend who does amazing work with fabric. She prints and dyes nature designs on fabric and then creates wall hangings and bags and quilts. Her booth has jute blinds on the walls and understated, uncluttered display pedestals. It's like entering a Zen zone. Beautiful. I tell you this so that you can feel the horror of what set up beside her" Dye your own scarf!! Yahoo! Step right up, squirt ink into these troughs, drag this cheap square of silk in it, lookie you made something. That will be 25 bucks. Next!

Seriously. It was awful. The guy would step into the middle of the street and do his carnival barker thing to draw a crowd (an activity strictly prohibited) and then do his routine. He made a poop load of money.

So, of course, I "facebooked" a picture of this junk booth with the sarcastic comment "wonder what his jury pix looked like" because I know lots of really talented folks who cannot get into this show. I got like 50 comments. The artists were incensed, the "civilians" told us to have a drink, those with knowledge of the workings defended the committee and advised we take it up with them.

I think a lot of us mentioned it in the post show comment forms, but on the 2nd day the head of the committee stopped by the guy's booth to stop him from carnival barking and was overheard telling him he misrepresented what he was going to be showing. Should he have been tossed? Sure. But the show was so crowded and the vibe was so good I think he probably decided to ride it out.

It dawned on me later that our jury pix are on line for this show so I looked up the guy. Yep. He submitted pretty pictures of hand dyed silk scarves. Lovely. I would have accepted him.

Turns out he has been infecting shows all over the NorthEast with his tacky booth. Some shows are not as tightly juried as this one, but he apparently always presents himself as a fabric artist and then shows up with an EZ Up, 2 troughs and a bunch of red plastic buckets.

Oh, and guess who the Buffalo News showed a photo of in their coverage of the event? Yep. Sigh.

Still the best show, still the best crew, still my best sales. Molehills aside.

ArtFest Fort Myers works all year to produce the best fine art festival in Southwest Florida and many artists agree that this fine art festival puts all the right components together to create a very successful weekend for their artists!

ArtFest Fort Myers staff joins forces with a great volunteer
Steering Committee of  community "movers and shakers" who oversee the weekend, insuring that artist needs come first.

Expect:

• drive up access for staggered Friday set up
• great artist breakfast including eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit & juice, muffins
• reserved artist parking
• discounted hotel rates
• weekend  booth sitters and indoor restrooms, your every comfort is considered so you can concentrate on sales.

These wonderful amenities are one of the reasons so many great artists want to be a part of this event and isn't it fitting to be surrounded by artists with the caliber of work that you want to be associated with?

"I have participated in your show three times and each time my sales have been better than prior years.  Your promotional efforts are fantastic-there were always big crowds!  ArtFest Fort Myers is one of the top shows in Florida for sales," Michael Brown, a digital artist from the 2013 festival.

ArtFest Fort Myers understands that bringing a buying crowd to your booth is their main objective.  The art festival's comprehensive advertising plan includes TV, radio, newspapers, glossy magazines, billboards, direct mail, theatre & symphony programs and all social media outlets.  Ten million advertising impressions mean that the buying crowd from a    tri-county area and beyond are informed about the great artwork coming to ArtFest Fort Myers the first weekend in February! For 13 years, our community has supported the art festival and they are waiting for you to arrive!

          What is special about Fort Myers?

• An international airport, perfect weather and good business environment has enticed powerhouse corporations such as Hertz, Chico's, Sony and Gartner Group to call Fort Myers their home.
• Ever increasing residential and commercial construction, lots of new jobs
• and another season of record-breaking domestic and international tourism are spurring exciting population and job growth.
• AND our commitment to the arts is evident everywhere you look.

Pastel by Katie Wilson, 2D MM Winner

Apply now, through ZAPPlication, to make ArtFest Fort Myers a key part of your successful winter season in Florida!

A true community event, ArtFest Fort Myers is free to the public and includes art related activities to attract the best audience in a wide age range.  This non-profit supports art in the schools and community all year long.  Plan now to be a part of this fabulous Fort Myers art experience!

Well, first off, your bad-boy got flagged again (must be a career trait) by the anal fire department at Uppper arlington, that is NW of downtown Columbus,OH.

God forbid!

They tell us how we must set up our booths with anchors in zee ground.  All stakes must be at precisely 45-degrees into the ground--perpetrators will be shot at dawn.

The Fire guy came along to me and yanked my tent-peg out of the soggy ground.  I said, "I could put my 45-pound John Deere weight on it."  He did not want that. Wind could make the weight dance around on the ground.  I was flagged.  I put a dog-thether on it.

  An hour later the Committee came by and said, "the Fire Dept. Failed you."  Oh no!  I replied.

They checked my dog-ties and found them adequate.  No flies on my stakes.

Geez!  Don't these guys have better things to do, like putting out fires on over-zealous gas grilles that do wings too long.

This show used to be one of the best one-day shows in the midwest.

No longer.

Too much beads and non-descript jewelry. Not much original art there, let alone any of the many good regulars I used to see on the circuit.

They mostly bought little precious pieces of paper.  Real low, real slow--sales-wise,  not worth the eight hour drive to and from.

Don't do this show unless you live close enough not to have to stay at a hotel--it is a shadow of its former self.

And, that is me being nice about it.

Recognized among the top art events in the United States, the fair has received a four-star rating from Sunshine Artist, America’s premier art and craft show magazine and has consistently hosted some of the best touring artists in the country.

Photographer Michael Bryant and Golden Dolly winner, Christine Green at ABE

Best of Show: Luis Enrique Guitierrez, Raleigh, NC      (Ceramics)

1st Place: Emilie Pritchard, Panama City, FL  (Jewelry)

2nd Place:  Ella Isaac, Philadelphia, PA                     (Fabric/Fiber/Leather)

3rd Place:  Mikel Robinson, Asheville, NC (Photography)

Awards of Excellence:

1.  Ralph Rankin, Orlando, FL   (Ceramics)

2.  Xiao Jiang, Scarborough, Ontario    (Painting)

3.  Tim Gralewski, Royal Oak, MI   (Graphics and Printmaking)

4.  Andrew Costine, Tyrone, NC   (Wood)

5.  Brian Shope, Hendersonville, NC  (Wood)

Spirit of the City: Athlone Clarke, Douglasville, GA  (MM 2-D)

Golden Dolly Award: Christine Green, Micanopy, FL  (For many year's hauling boxes, setting up the booth, working at the art fairs and then hauling it all away again, assisting her husband, Bruce Green - Ceramics

Yes nearly two hours, but a lifetime of wisdom is shared.  Hans Meijer from Georgia expounds on every aspect of Vending. In Displaying items to pricing, and everything in between. So Before you click start make a bathroom run, get a beverage pen and paper and you can hit pause if need be. 

At the star of this year I was lucky to into Lakefront Arts festival in Milwaukee. I figure that doing the Third Ward by Amy will be a good choice. Start looking for hotels April for both shows but only can get for the lakefront. A couple friends advice to drive back and forward for the Third Ward show since I could not find anything closed to the area. Gurnee was the closed hotel with opening and for that distance it did not make sense to paid for hotel since my home is 35 to 45 minutes from there.

A week before the show things just went _____________. Amy found by the city of Milwaukee that we could not set in Saturday morning as she plan. The parade for Harley Davidson will start at 10am and will running one street east from the show. The parade will block the entrance to main parking lot for the artists. I do not think she pass this info to the artists. Also this also mean that all local people wont be attending the show or just skip town. It also mean that we need to check at 3am and start to set up at 4am. Considering that closet place you can stay was 45 minutes away you can figure the reaction. I send email asking to reconsider the set up time as well some other artist. We got a email back that what the city put us in that schedule. The set up was great set for the cars that need to tow. That did not help me.

The attendance was great but the people was there for the parade not for us. Some people got lucky but most walk out of there super _____________. I think that the show has potential. There are rumors that she may change the date but that will mean we starting again from ground zero.

Because of the lack of sales and reading other forums here some things that start looking at this show with her. I knew that people cancel. That was artist that was showing that should not be there. She has reduce her standards and that is very disappointing. Instead of letting people that may look buy and sale or candle people what about give people more room to display like (12 feet deep and 15 wide). Yes that is a corner display and that will prevent or justify not reducing her booth fee. This what keep people are complaining. I know she does a great job of advertising and she make effort to promote her shows. I do not think is her fault the shows do not get more buyers. She has lost some of best art shows artists and could because what had become her reputation but instead of sending "hate mail" or telling she has lost touch what about we send ideas to improve our living hood, she may try some those ideas. Also take a look how many shows you are doing in the area and how many years showing the same stuff. Do not blame the promoter are all the failure some blame falls on us.

Do not think that if she is not promoter of the show that fee is will go down neither. I saw Fountain Square taken by Chicago Special Events and the fee stay the same and it got worst (Wells Street part 2). Now the Lakeview East fee stay the same but the sale may not break the bank but wow this how all shows should be run.

I will tell you if you trying any of her show try Port Clinton (another rumor is that the sales was not there and artist will be dropping if that is true that will be good for me) and Third Ward. Everything if you are not local stay away until you start getting good reports now the draw back is that she needs x amount of artist must of the new blood can not afford her shows so guess that who take those spots.

Only time we tell and yes I like her and some her staff (Lisa and Omar) but this how a make a living and money talks and how feel about you wont change that.

April 10-13 - Show days
National Building Museum
Washington, DC

120 exhibitors
Deadline: September 15, 2013

"As options for craft artists to show work diminish, it becomes more important for them to seek venues whose audiences are national, international and sophisticated. I would highly recommend The Smithsonian Craft Show's Quest for the Best as a stellar example for them to gain exposure and to advance their careers."

Lloyd E. Herman, Founding Director Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Jewelry by Ann Marie Cianciolo

In a Quest for the Best the Smithsonian Craft Show encourages artists to apply in any of 12 media - basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood for its annual Show in Washington, DC, April, 2014.

This is an opportunity to have your work seen and juried by our nationally recognized experts Jason Busch, Curator of Decorative Arts, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Joanne Cooper, owner of Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Michael Monroe, former Curator-in-Charge at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery and Director Emeritus of the Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, Washington.

Learn more & apply: www.SmithsonianCraftShow.org

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - 4 PM ET

Art publishing is a big business. Have you explored licensing your images for print and other products? This podcast will help you sort out the basics and get you thinking about another source of income from your art.

What you will learn:

1.  What it means to license your art (how it works, contractual permission, etc - a broad overview)

2.  How to create art that works for licensing

3.  How long it takes to make money

4.  Basic expectations manufacturers have of artists who license their art (digital files, website, etc)

5.  Some day-to-day realities of life in the art licensing industry (lots of competition, art changes, deadlines, quick turnaround requests, often no response to submissions...)

Our guest is  artist Tara Reed who founded her art licensing business in 2004. She creates art that helps sell products, teaches artists about the business side of licensing and blogs about licensing at www.ArtLicensingBlog.com. She serves on the Advisor Board of SURTEX, a premier trade show for the art licensing industry.

Do you have questions you'd like me to ask Tara? Please put them in the comments below.

You can also call into speak with her: 805-243-1338 

October 4-6, 2013  
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Downtown Bayfield
10am-5pm
150 Artists
Exhibitor Fee: $325 $275
Jury Fee: $20
Deadline: until full-still accepting

Bayfield's Apple Festival has been hailed as the "Best Festival in Wisconsin" by Wisconsin Trails Magazine and one of the "Top Ten Autumn Festivals in North America" by the Society of American Travel Writers.  Is it because of the charming small town atmosphere?  The famous Grand Parade featuring a "Mass Band"?  The countless booths of fresh apple pies, tarts, caramel apples, ciders and other fall treats?  Well, YES!

Located on the pristine shores of Lake Superior, this event features over 60 orchard and food booths selling Bayfield's apples, apple desserts & delicacies, nearly 150 arts and crafts booths, carnival rides and games, live entertainment by Bayfield's own Big Top Chautauqua performers, contests and a grand parade. Average attendance 50,000.

Artists, fyi: We have already accepted applications at the higher rate of $325, so we'll be extending $50 vouchers for next year to those artists who paid the higher rate, plus the 2014 booth fee will stay at $275.  Take advantage of these newly reduced rates!

For more information:

Bayfield Chamber & Visitor Bureau
P.O. Box 138
Bayfield, WI  54814
(715)779-3335
(800)447-4094
Email: debi@bayfield.org

Perhaps you have seen our notices about the new list we are building, "America's Best Art Fairs", which we are developing as an aid to people who love to attend art fairs to collect art. We've been working on this idea for a couple of years and we are getting near the time to roll out the survey.

Here are four logos we have developed for the survey. Which one do you like the best?

We are also open to suggestions.

Deadline: September 1.

P.S. We have had an amazing # of nominating submissions for the survey. Many thanks to you. If you haven't filled it out yet. Here it is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TPRSSYS

If you know people who love to buy art at art fairs will you also please forward it to them?

When my jury results for Art in the High Desert came I expected to file it away with my rejections. I had juried for this show for 4 or 5 years, always with the same results... no joy. I was close to giving it up and not apply this year. I was shocked to be wait-listed. And then I was almost immediately called off the wait-list. I’m really glad I didn’t give up! It was a wonderful show in all respects... except for the weather, but more on that later.

Art in the High Desert is located in central Oregon in the resort area of Bend. The area is known for the Mt. Bachelor ski resort, the Deschutes river, and other various outdoor activities and its numerous brew pubs. As the name implies it is in the high desert. This is an artist run 3 day show running Friday thru Sunday. It’s always the weekend before Labor Day. It has been set up to attract artists heading to either Art in the Pearl in Portland or Sausalito near San Francisco the following weekend. Because of its timing and proximity it is able to draw from a field of excellent artists. The show is set along the banks of the Deschutes River, right across a footbridge from the Old Mill district shops.

This show promotes original art. There is no music and no stilt walkers. There is a list of rules, which I did see enforced. All work hanging on walls needed to be originals, which I liked. I never hang reproductions. It makes it easier for the customers to know what is what. No B/S that I could tell. The show directors are present and communicative. Carla came to my booth to welcome me and talk a bit, she spent time running around with weather updates when her text message system failed to work.

Here's a short video someone made of the festival on Sunday, some of it in the rain.

booth fee $375

amenities

artist hosting
Thursday night artist dinner
food, drinks and coffee all mornings
awards breakfast on Sunday
wide booth spaces with storage behind
booth sitters
jury feedback (what a concept!)
gifts for the artist (this year a wine stopper and a AHD sketchbook with the logo embossed on the cover)

Thursday

I drove the 160 miles from Portland and checked in with my host. Yes, this show offers artist hosting. The woman I stayed with was wonderful and I hope I have made a new friend. Her home was only about a mile from the festival site.

Setup

Setup is by time. There were volunteers a plenty and carts for artist’s use during setup. Spaces were wide enough to walk between to access the storage behind the booths. It was windy and threatening rain so we were instructed to set up and secure our canopies first before finishing unloading. There was a little rain but it didn’t last long. I unloaded everything and hung most of my work and went to the artist dinner. This was hosted with beer and wine. There was a talk about selling at art festivals before the dinner.

Friday and Saturday

Ran from 10am-6pm. Friday was mostly browsers but Saturday the real buyers came out. I had one very good customer who had come to the Old Mill to see a movie and ended up buying 3 paintings from me! I saw other original work walking by all day on Saturday.

Sunday

When I think of Bend I think of sunny, hot (and maybe windy) summer days. The last thing I expected was rain, but after threatening all weekend, the skies finally opened up Sunday afternoon. We were told we could close an hour early at 3pm if the weather didn’t break. Some artists started closing around 2:30 because rain was blowing into their booths. There were still a few hardy shoppers. I took down my price tags but otherwise waited until after 3 to seriously start packing up amist the cracks of lightning and sounds of thunder. It crossed my mind that a metal canopy might not be the safest place to be in a thunder storm :/. Fortunately, by the time I was ready to load my vehicle the rain had stopped.

Yes, I would do this show again in a heartbeat. My sales were good and the cost of doing this show is relatively low. I think the weather on Sunday may have affected my sales somewhat.

As I approach the ripe young age of 50 there are times I ask myself how long my body can take the grind and physical toll on my body from all the long drives, setups, breakdowns, standing on my feet for hours etc. that are part of the job description for art shows.

Recently I threw out my back (not from doing a show, but from all things, exercising!)  and although I am recovering quickly (hopefully in time for my next show next week) I am really starting to think what would happen if something more serious happened. Luckily I had no shows scheduled for two weeks, so this gives me time to recoup. But the thought of missing a couple shows would be costly. Unlikely I would get my booth fee refunded in addition to non refundable Priceline fees.  I do shows on my own and God forbid I am on the road when my back gives out...what to do then? Cant set up ,break down, drive....that's another blog though.

I don't have a history of back problems so hopefully this is a one time thing,  and Im in pretty good health and shape, BUT life has a way of changing quickly. So my question for you is how many of you artist carry disability Insurance and any advice on what to look for or good reputable companies that carry it for artist and did you have issues with getting insurance because of the line of work were in? Thanks.

I am new in participating in art fairs. Two weeks ago, on August 17, I had a booth at the Agora Art Fair in Fitchburg, WI, near Madison. I was reasonably successful with slightly over $1000 in sales. One of the pieces I displayed was a 30x40 picture of a restaurant on a bridge in a small town in Provence. Many people admired it, but no bought it. That is, no one bought it until yesterday, when I received a phone call from someone who had taken my card. She told me she wanted to purchase it and could I bring it over and help her hang it. I agreed, and my sales from that show just went up about 30 percent. You never know.