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So with great anticipation we took the plunge into the art festival pool this past weekend in Fernandina Beach as part of the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.  Here is our top ten lessons learned.

10. Although it may seem like a good idea to pack your canopy weights in the front of the trailer for weight distribution for traveling, if you are setting up in rain and high winds you do not want to have to unload the whole trailer in the rain to get to the weights, especially when your wife is precariously perched on the canopy to keep it on the ground. If you decide to leave the art fair business you could rent your tent out as a parasail.

9. Overkill on your tent weights is a good idea. I had made two 32-34# for each leg By the second day of your tent staying put, when others are taking flight or collapsing, some people will think you are some kind of tent guru, especially if they were not there to watch you bumbling through the initial set up.

8. If you have a five page list of things you just had to have for your first show, you will spend a lot of time looking for stuff when setting up in a storm. You will get very wet while doing this. It did not take us a minute over five hours to set up our display. (We did receive many compliments regarding the finished product, thanks to much good advice from folks on AFI.)

7. Being a Good Samaritan comes at a price. If you move you vehicle and trailer to help another person leave the show as a result of their canopy actually turning into a parasail prior to the show, you may look for a place to put your truck and trailer for an hour or more. Especially when a few inconsiderate %$%#@&$&! will leave their cars, trucks or RV’s anywhere. (I moved my truck because some idiot had parked in the middle of the street so these poor folks could not pass to leave).  I don’t regret the decision, but I did lose an hour.

6. Do not take the connecting pins to your knock-down display panels when you leave for an hour to move the truck. By all means, do not insist to your wife that you do not have the same connectors in your pocket, which may result in her having to look through the same five pages of stuff referred to in lesson 8.

5. You cannot use too much tent sealer. However, you can use too little. Fortunately, we only had a couple of leaks that were manageable.

4. The 12 volt marine battery powered electrical system with 12V LED spotlights and 12V fans worked great. We did not have to use the fans till the sun came out on Sunday, but we had plenty of power from two marine batteries. We only used about 20% of our available power and we did not have to worry about the 12V system in the rain. This proves the old saying that even a blind squirrel finds the acorn sometimes.

3. The ability to understand different dialects is crucial in large festivals. For example I had to translate the interesting language of drunkenese, when the young party-goer slurred to my wife and  I that he had been in one of her paintings all day and he just had to hug the artist, which fortunately was not me. If necessary, I would have rescued her once I was able to stop laughing.

2. The artists, the host organization representatives, Island Art Association representatives, the volunteers, and the patrons, were friendly and helpful. We met many nice and interesting people.  The lesson is that these are great people to hang out with for a weekend.

1. Although all the oohs and ahhs and compliments as to the quality of the art cannot be deposited in a bank, the positive encouragement was priceless especially when it came from other artists. We only sold one small painting but the experience and confidence we gained learning to deal with difficult weather,  how to improve our set up and marketing will pay off in the future. Sherry nearly ran out of business cards. We will be much more confident with our next show in Roanoke, Virginia. We threw ourselves in the pool and we didn’t drown.

So it was a slow day at the First Saturday Arts Market. We only sold a couple of prints... the director of the show confirmed that it was lees than the usual traffic and sales. But is was great weather and good live music and we had a ball. Sales would be nice but what the hell. I realized that's not why I am here. Why are we doing this then? Here's the top ten reasons why:
1.) I love to draw. That's why I do this. It's therapy It calms and invigorates me. I feel like I get better with each one I do.
2.) And what am I going to do with all those drawings? I love to share them with other people, other artists.
3.) After years of working trade show booths and networking I love to meet and talk to people.
4.) I love to people watch and art fairs are a great show. Sometimes I wonder what is on display... the art or those viewing it.
5.) Bev and I have, after all these years, found something we love to DO together other than just BEING together. Yeah indy movies and antiquing are fun but THIS is an adventure.
6.) We love off-beat road trips and always thought that would be a great retirement but we aren't campers, we aren't gonna roll in a Winnebago and we wondered how we could afford the hotels and travel. What the hell... now it's all tax deductible!
7.) People can spend a lot of money on their hobbies. They buy boats, buy expensive golf clubs and pay outrageous greens fees. Well this is our hobby and who knows... we might sell something and maybe even make a living at it... others do. 
8.) For years I did commercial art for clients who would change or reject it with little or no knowledge or basis for their opinions. I swore I would someday do art for art's sake. And do exactly what I thought was right. See commercial art is all about money. You get paid for it so it can be used to manipulate other people to give your client their money. I ain't gonna do that any more.
9.) I am creating something unique and original. I take paper and pencil and give birth to something that didn't exist before and will never be done by anybody else quite the same way.
10.) See number 1.
That's why we're here.

Can anyone add any insight to this show? Its June 14th and 15th. (Friday/Sat) draws about 20,000 but also includes a 5k race along with arts and crafts. Its according to the promoter most people return and she only has a couple booth spaces left. its about an 8 hr. drive for me so would love to know if its worth it. Thanks.

Oh I DO love this art festival.  The park setting is absolutely beautiful.  The selection of artists is well done with great variety and quality.  The committee is friendly and helpful.  The volunteers are always at the ready and checked on us frequently.  There is a wonderful dinner on Saturday evening with awarding of the ribbons and prizes.  There was a steady stream of patrons both days and I saw a good number of purchases large and small in their hands.  Saturday we sold small prints mostly – but a lot of them.  The price of my small prints was admittedly VERY reasonable.  I am discontinuing the 8x10 so priced to sell and sell they did.  We did make a couple of good sales at closing time, when most of the other artists had already closed their doors.  It’s never over until it is over.  Sunday was one of those picture perfect days.  It was sunny and 70’s and slight breeze.  One of those days that make you glad to be alive.  We sold several canvases and a couple of the larger ones.  Again, we made sale of a large canvas just at closing time.  And the best part is of the 20 some photographers I took a ribbon and some prize money.  YEAH.  Interesting (and scary) that the artist is responsible for selecting the piece that is judged.  I selected one of my new prints where I went outside my comfort zone.  It is the only piece that is obviously manipulated in Photoshop.  It is very different than anything else in my “gallery”.  Apparently a good choice.  Overall a very nice weekend at a wonderful art festival.

This was the first year for what promise to be an outstanding annual event.  First year shows are always tough, both for the promoters/organizers and also for the artists willing to take a chance on a new event.

Originally we were going to do Rockville’s Memorial Day Festival (which was great for us last year) but when I never got the application information I contacted the town and discovered that the city had dropped the art fair component from the weekend event.  (There is a really big hole in the ground where a huge building is going up that may have required they downsize the festival somewhat.)

Based on our success in this market last year, we decided to try the A-RTS Festival.  The folks who do Bethesda Row put it on.  They obviously have a lot of experience putting on quality events and it showed.

Rockville Town Square is a very successful mixed-use community.  There are lots of restaurant, office space, and condo/apartments.  This is a DC bedroom community and there is a lot of money in the area.

The show was spread over several street connected by either another street or by the town square.  We were on a street that did not connect directly to any of the others with artist tents but the white canopies were clearly visible through the square.  I was a little worried but it turned out not to be the “Death Valley” that was described in the post on the Sanford show.

Load-in started at 4:30 AM on Saturday morning – yuck.  The street we were on was too narrow for both vans and tents so it was a dolly-in/out event.  One of the show sponsors (a local grocery store) opened up their parking lot and it was a fairly short roll over level ground to our spot.  Others on our street would have had a little further to go.  On other streets, there was room to drive in.

It was pretty chilly in the morning but we were blessed with sun – good for the art and good for our thin-blooded Florida bodies.

The crowd was not huge over the course of the two days but it was steady.  We had a decent weekend and we were pleased.  The best part for us was that Staci’s canvas mounted work did well enough that we have decided to phase out what had been her low price point bread-and-butter functional décor items (more craft than art). 

Breakfast was provided on Sunday morning and our block captain was great in checking regularly to see if we needed anything.  Booth sitting was readily available if needed.

The negatives.  There was really only one.  Some of the music was too loud at our location (it was probably fine elsewhere in the show but the stage was pretty close to our booth). 

The director was well aware of the issue, had the amps turned down and assured everyone in our vicinity that acts to be booked in future festivals will not be problematic.  I believe her.  (Having said that, I’m not sure why any music is needed other that perhaps some art exhibit friendly all-acoustic string stuff.  If patrons are listening to a band, they aren’t looking at art.)

Overall we were very pleased with this first year event.  We will certainly apply again next year and I would expect even bigger crowds given that it will be Year 2.  At least one AFI’er got a well-deserved Best in Category ribbon.  Here’s the list:

Best in Show - Samuel Yao (Decorative Fiber)

Best in Category 
Ceramics - Peter Saenger
Digital - Edward Loedding
Drawing - Benjamin Frey
Decorative Fiber - John Gunther
Wearable Fiber - Kim Potter
Glass - Henry Levine
Graphics - Grant Silverstein
Jewelry - Teddi Fine
Metalwork - Ron Stinson
Mixed Media 2D - Sandhi Schimmel Gold
Mixed Media 3D - Douglas Durkee
Painting - Richard Toft
Photography - David Cieslikowski
Sculpture - Charles Strain
Wood - David O'Neil

We were looking forward to going back to Darien, GA.  It is a quaint little community with a really nice (good food) restaurant/bar right on the river where the shrimp boats dock.  The Art in the Park is just outside the gates of the Blessing of the Fleet festival.  The Art in the Park had about 25 real artists, enjoyable music and set up is around a fountain under a canopy of live oaks.  Delightful.    We arrived and as soon as we opened the doors our car was inundated with no-see-ums.  They attacked as if they had not eaten all year and were making a feast of us from head to toe.  We quickly grabbed the hats and insect spray but the nasty bugs were insatiable and highly resistant to our repeated sprayings.  Being the ever-determined artists we set up and made ready to sell our little hearts out.  There were no crowds.  There was a steady flow of browsers.  It appeared they were mostly on their way to the Blessing of the Fleet for the marshmallow guns and many varieties of bead stringers and BS.  Sunday was about the same but add the pleasure of rain starting about 1 hour before break-down.  We got home about midnight and unloaded everything and hung tent to dry. In the final analysis we did sell a couple of the larger canvas prints and a number of 8x10 prints.  We came out just barely covering expenses.  I love Darien but I think I will go as a vacationer. 

I just found out I was accepted at St James 4th Street Section, Louisville, and it is the same weekend as the Rio Grande Balloon Festival & Art Fair, Albuquerque, to which I am also accepted.

Has anyone out there done these two shows and have some evaluative comments to make concerning the pros & cons of doing one over the other?

I'd love to hear from anyone who can help me with my coin toss.

Hi,

Has any one done the " Bluffton Annual Arts and Seafood Festival" in Bluffton, SC. It is in October and a paper application.I recall that someone from the group did but can't remember who and don't know where to look for the info. I am Sooo technically challenged.

I would greatly appreciate any info that you could provide.

Thanks, Virginia

Monday morning and I'm dizzy tired - a different tired than if I'd had great sales over the weekend. I've figured out there are four different kinds of art festival turnouts:

4. Nobody comes. The promoter kept all the show fees instead of advertising or its 105º and you end up getting to have really long conversations with other vendors.

3. The promoter did promote the show, but on bus ads. Large or small crowds show up and wander around like entitled zombies, annoyed that we are in the way of them being able to freely walk drunk down the middle of the street, or giving off a vibe that artists are there to amuse them for free and not doing a very good job of it. These shows spawn unfortunate, demoralizing thoughts about the human race and are are usually full of tacky knock off imports since the promoter doesn't care that their 'Juried Fine Arts Faire' is a flea market full of barkers selling doo doo.

2. Medium to large crowds of nicely dressed, curious, (few vacant eyes & slack jaws), mid and upper mid class folks out to meet their neighbors, taste a little wine and engage with the artisans. They appear willing to be tempted to buy, but it usually ends up to be cute earrings and something metal to stick in the back garden.

1. Kick ass shows of enthusiastic shoppers who know what they like, can make decisions and make doing this worthwhile. Sometimes it is only one day in a festival, but these are the shows where you believe in fair fairies.

A traditionally great show was a solid 2 this weekend. Big picture oh well, at least a lot more people came into my booth, acted enthused and wanted a schedule. Little picture, ouch. At least I won't have to spend a lot of time accounting.

The first picture is of the main street at this festival, the second is of one of the two side streets that over 50 artists had the misfortune to be relegated to. We named our street death valley, I swear I saw tumbleweeds. The pictures were taken at the intersection of the two streets at the same time. The disadvantage of being placed on a side street is glaringly obvious. I spoke with several artists on both side streets, many zero sales, a fortunate few made expenses, and a woodturner friend of mine had decent sales but way off his usual. I had my first zero day ever in ten years on Saturday, but managed to just make expenses on Sunday. The problem was that all the entertainment, libations, restaurants and stores were on the main street so very few people ventured off that street. All was not lost though, with all the time on my hands I made several new friends, enjoyed some very good sangria made by Trish at the Sanford wine bar which was located behind my booth, and went to my first food truck rally after close of show.

Logistically easy set up and breakdown, overly generous spaces with four to five feet between each booth, hospitality suite stocked with food and beverages all day, lunch delivered on saturday (firehouse subs) water delivered all day and booth sitters available. The musical entertainment that was provided all weekend by local bands was the best I've ever heard at a festival. Decent awards with 1,2,3 in each catagory and a best is show.

The ammenities were very good, but the bottom line is this is how I make my living and my potential revenue was cut in half because of a side street space. I've spoken with the director and given her some suggestions. There were several of our members there so I hope they chime in with their views of the show. I'd love to hear a review by someone on main street.

This is the second year for this show and I think with some tweeking it could be a decent show. I would try it again, but only if I could be on the main street.

Hi Friends.....This review is going to be short and to the point, as there isn't a whole lot to say about this show other than that it is Excellent!!!

Load in was easy and pretty straightforward.  I checked in with a very nice and friendly volunteer.  I paid the extra fee to park in the elementary school lot and I am glad I did, I was steps from my booth.  I had to use the dolly, but it was a breeze.

At this show you have a choice between a street booth or a booth under a large tent.  It costs a bit more ($100) to be under the tent and it is money well spent.  Electricity is included in the fee and I will always do the tent if given a choice.  The weather this year was unusual at Brookside.  Cold, snow and rain in May, can ya believe that???  I was so glad to be under the tent.  I had great neighbors too!!

The crowds came despite the bad weather and sales were good, make that excellent.  I sold more in one day (Saturday) than I have sold at any other show I have done this year in a whole weekend.  Sunday was really good for sales too.  I ended the show at a level of good profit after all expenses. People in Kansas City love their art and support their art fairs, despite the weather.  I have completely sold out of my small pieces and am low on my standard size sculptures after this weekend.  That is how well I sold at this show.  I will be working at a feverish pace this week to replenish my stock, which is plenty fine with me.  LOL

Volunteers were everywhere and very helpful and friendly.  They circulated the show and Show Director, Dona Potts was very involved, accessibe at all times and very, very nice.  I cannot say enough good things about this show's organization and the work done by the staff to ensure a professional, smooth event.  They all did a great job!!

Load out was easy, fast and there were no problems at all.

This show gets an A+ from me in all areas.  I am going to hope, pray, chant, light candles, cross my fingers and do the best possible art I can for my jury pictures for next year so I can hopefully get in again.  I would move heaven and earth to do this show and highly recommend it to anyone. 

I will be doing The Gumtree Festival in Tupelo, MS this coming weekend and will post a review on Monday for that show.  Stay tuned!  Thanks for reading.....

PS  I got to meet Jim and Karen Parker at this show.  Lovely people and I am now the proud owner of a Jim Parker photo that I will cherish!  Thanks, Jim!!!!!  

June 15 & 16  
Evanston, Illinois

Main Street Station Shopping District
Downtown Evanston
10am-9pm daily
Deadline: May 15

• 375 Artists and craftspeople from across the nation come together every year to exhibit and sell paintings, ceramics, pottery, photographs, jewelry, graphic arts, wearable art, country and home craft, antiques and collectibles. 
• They are joined by 150 local businesses and commercial exhibitors who put on an old fashioned Sidewalk Sale. 
• Over 30 food vendors offer a full international menu featuring the old favorites as well as new fare. 
• Three different stages showcases entertainment.

The Custer Fair attracts over 70,000 attendees.  It has been called, "The North Shore social event of the year."  This fair has been twice voted the best art fair by North Shore Magazine and it is an inaugural inductee into the Illinois Festival Hall of Fame.

The Chicago Sun-Times says,  "This 39 year-old fest of chompin', stompin', and shoppin' isn't just any old street fair."

The Custer Fair is located in the Evanston Main Street Station Shopping District.

        For more info: www.custerfair.com

        Apply: www.custerfair.com/Applications

        E-mail: office@custerfair.com 

July 13 & 14  
Warren, Michigan
Halmich Park, 13 Mile Rd
between Ryan and Dequindre
10am-5pm
70 Exhibitors
Deadline: May 10

This is an artist friendly show about helping artists sell their specialties in one of Michigan's largest communities.  Warren is the largest city in Macomb County and third largest in the state with a population over 134,000.  The fair is held in Helmich Park where you will find plenty space for artists and patron parking.  Easy setup for artists; setup times on Friday and Saturday morning.

Warren's top employers include General Motors who just posted record earnings of $7.6 billion. Other top employer's in the city include TACOM, Chrysler, St. John and Henry Ford Hospitals.  The show main sponsors are:  Warren Cultural Commission and Warren Tri-County Fine Arts Association. 

We anticipate 5,000-7,000 visitors to the show this year.

We hold hourly drawings during the event for gift certificates that patrons can use to purchase art.  At the end of the day artists redeem these certificates for cash from Warren Art in the Park.  We also hire a juror who will judge and award cash prizes and ribbons on Saturday.  There are several food vendors.

For more info and applications:   

Michael Peychich: (248)259-2315
email: MGPPhotography@gmail.com
Paula Wild: (586)795-5471
email: wildart102@att.net

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

Find more art fairs looking for artists: www.CallsforArtists.com13

Yes, the Friends are you!  We are heading out of Florida for the very first time this year, and would love any suggestions for shows in the Maryland/Virginia/Delaware/South Jersey area.  We are staying in Southern Maryland (Solomons Island) and here is what we have booked (or appliied to) so far (please no horror stories on these shows - let us find out on our own with a positive attitude since we are already ccommitted)

June 1,2 - Blackbeard Festival - Hampton, VA

June 8,9 - Annapolis Arts and Crafts

June 15, 16 - SoMD Sun and Music Fest

July 13, 14 - Annapolis Irish Festival

July 20,21 - Chicoteague Blueberry Festival

We sell "Ear Pins", 8 styles, 80 colors, $16-75, 100 handcrafted and Sterling, GF

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Kudos to writer Lisa Gutierrez for her article "At Brookside Fine, Art Deserves Fine Manners" in the Kansas City Star, all about Art Fair Etiquette for shoppers.

One of this weekend's finest art fairs is taking place in the Brookside Shopping District in Kansas City this weekend, the Brookside Art Annual, May 3-5. Many of you will be there and it is great to see that the publicity for the show includes writers such as Lisa who "gets" the business.

Here are some of her tips:

• First, control your kids. 
• Keep your dogs out of the tents.
• Don't browse while drunk.
• Don’t stand around yapping and block the way into the booths.
• Don’t make uninformed — read “stupid” — comments about the art within their earshot.
• And about buying stuff … don’t dicker. An art festival is not a flea market.

The Stars and Stripes Art Fair is a new event that celebrates the images and people that make this country great.  All mediums are accepted.  Our focus in on positive imagery, work that shows what we can accomplish by working together.  Images of natural beauty and decorative and functional art that helps to beautify our homes and lives.

The event joins the established Stars and Stripes Festival as it moves to Freedom Hill County Park, a large special event park and entertainment center.  With free admission, free parking and free entertainment the past attendance at this event has been over 100,000 people.

The art section will be away from the music stages, in a prime spot near the entrance.  This section closes at 7pm with fencing and security.  The art fair portion is produced by Integrity Shows.  Integrity focuses on one of a kind art shows designed to generate sales.  We have a three year jury process so if you are accepted this year, you are automatically accepted in future years as long as you apply by deadline.

For this event we are offering a 25% discount to veterans and members of the US
Military, as well as their spouses.  Please check the appropriate box and send proof with your application.

For more info and application: www.MichiganArtShow.com

You may also contact Mary Strope at:

I did the Magic city show this weekend . Sales very poor and Sunday non existent because of rain. So glad I and many others left before the pouring rain hit at about Noon. Funny, The city called the show early on but the event did not.I was back home in Atlanta just before that hard rain came in.

Vandals, came through on Friday night and hit two inside rows of tents on both sides of the park. They put 6 inch cuts on the sides of many tents. I was so thankful that I escaped any of this but felt so badly for the others.

Sales were poor for most if at all. Well, another one to cross off the list. Too bad as this used to be a great selling show but in B'ham's case it is the economy that has hit this area.

Rumor has it that this show will be going to zapp soon. Since I have done the show, I thought I'd give my opinion on it for anyone who may stumble upon it on zapp.

Let me preface this by saying that this show has always been a craft show and the jury standards for it have been lackluster. They allow "merchant" booths, meaning that shop owners on Main St. are allowed to buy space so there is buy/sell at the show. I've been doing the show for 5 years or so because it is not a very far drive from home and Franklin, TN is the wealthiest county in TN. This used to be one of my top 5 shows of the year, that is, when the locals and the Nashville crowd came to it.

The show has gotten gradually and dramatically worse as far as quality of work goes over the past few years. I and others have put our 2 cents in with the show promoter (which as we all know does a lot of good - NOT!). I hope going to zapp changes things for them for the better, however, I believe it will be too little too late.

It is quite a shame though, there is a lot of money in Franklin. The problem is when you start seeing 4 booths of wooden pens, 3 booths of puppets (which are imported from China), a bunch of merchants w/"sale" signs selling sunglasses & shoes, and pvc projectile toys, well....surely you see where this is going. Needless to say, the locals who are from Franklin and have the money to support the arts could care less about it so they don't come (now that the show has become a glorified flea market). They are not attracting the sophisticated buyers they used to from the downtown Nashville area. Instead, the people coming to it are from out in the sticks and are not there to buy or shop. I'm not sure if they cut their advertising budget or have changed who they are advertising to. One restaurant owner I spoke with told me that the locals who normally shop on Main St. avoid it during the show because it has gotten a reputation for not having a quality of work that is worth any serious buyers coming down there for.

The show has usually been pretty good about giving their awards (which BTW is a nice gesture, but you won't get much money out of) to the quality artists that are set up there. Sadly though, this year, to add insult to injury I noticed that a reputable and talented painter I know did not receive an award, while someone putting together pre-purchased beads to spell names did. A fine art photographer who sells originals didn't receive an award, but a graphic artist selling giclee prints did.

In summary, should you decide to try the show, do so knowing these things, keep your expectations low, and I hope you get lucky. I certainly wouldn't travel any great distance to do it unless you need a filler on the way to somewhere else.