All Posts (7707)

Sort by

Double Booked

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.

Read more…

Could Use Some Help!!

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

Read more…

Had such high hopes

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.

Read more…

Sanford, FL art festival

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.8869109861?profile=original8869108498?profile=original

Read more…

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!!!!!  

Read more…

June 15 & 16  Custer logo
Evanston, Illinois

Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts

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.
121.jpg?width=216
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 

Read more…

More From Cottonwood

I can't tell you how many times I've heard "You should have been here last year..." or something similar to it! This is another of those times. Neighbor Dan said, last year was killer and the guy next to him reported huge sales as well, despite the weather being sweltering and 100, so they both came loaded for bear thinking it would be the same. Maybe it is a sad commentary for me to say that I took it in stride as I've been to some pretty average shows as of late and it wasn't as difficult for me as it seemed for them. If there is one thing I've learned never trust what "was" as today is a new day. And so it is.The weather was perfect, sunny and mild with some breezy gusts, and the people came out in droves. I could see some big pieces taking legs and moving about but I and other nearby artists spent a lot of time talking to and engaging with visitors and still saw low sales numbers. My sales didn't even come till after 4:00!Near the end of the day I overheard one patron conversing with her son about how she liked to browse the first day and then come back on the second day to spend more time with the artists that she was really interested in. Perhaps others will do so as well. So, tomorrow the weather is supposed to be a bit warmer and a little less windy and, after all, it is another day!
Read more…

Greetings from Cottonwood

The Achilles Storm is affecting things around the country and Dallas is seeing some of its effects as well. Thankfully nothing like other parts of the country. Yesterday afternoon as I "blew" into town there was a stiff northerly wind blowing with temps in the 50's. To say the least it was a little challenging to set up the tent with walls a-flapping. It looked like rain all afternoon but thankfully that didnt materialize. I'm glad I bought those screw down stakes before I left Denver! This morning temps were to be in the 40's with a slight warm up to the low 60's by this afternoon. I'm going to wait till then to finish set-up! The weekend, thankfully is supposed to be in the 60's and the 70's by Sunday. Still, warmer than it was last Oct when another large cold front chilled the Dallas area!
Read more…
WarrenLogo


July 13 & 14  Warren1
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.

1266.jpg?width=300 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:   1265.jpg?width=225


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

Read more…

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.

Read more…

"Fine Art Deserves Fine Manners"

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.
Wishing everyone who is "on the streets" this weekend the success you deeply desire. 
Read more…

Call for Artists: Stars & Stripes Art Fair

StarsStripes2013Logo

June 28-30
Sterling Heights, Michigan
11am-7pm
54 Artists
Deadline May 16


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.

1255.jpg?width=250 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
1193.jpgMilitary, 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:

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

Find even more art fairs looking for artists: CallsforArtists.com
Read more…

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.

Read more…

Franklin Main Street Festival

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.

Read more…

Hi Friends.....Here is my review of The Main Street Festival in Franklin, TN.  It is a good review and one caveat...I was awarded first place, so I might be a bit biased and still very thrilled; this is my first first place award ever. 

I arrrived Friday evening and checked in with show director, Rene Evans and her staff.  They are all very nice people and very helpful.  We had to wait until 10pm to begin setting up unless the cars were moved from the area where the booth was.  The police were closing the streets at 10 and I got lucky and my booth area was clear by 9, so I started setting up.  The weather was not good.  It was pouring down rain the entire time I set up.  It took longer than normal, due to the rain, but I got it all done and went to the hotel to dry out and get some much needed rest.

 

I overslept a bit on Saturday due to the short night and being so worn out, but managed to get to the show about an hour before it opened to finish the finer details in the booth.  Saturday's weather was horrible.  It poured down rain all morning and into the afternoon.  Fortunately, there was no wind, just constant rain.  Naturally, the crowds were very light in the morning, but the best part was the serious buyers were there.  Parkas and umbrellas in tow, the people who love art and the festival still came and were shopping.  I had very good sales on Saturday despite the rain.  I thanked each person who came in to my booth for being out in the weather and many of them bought.  There were several empty spaces where artists had not set up and in some ways I can't blame them and in other ways I think they lost out on the good buying crowd on Saturday.  The rain slowed down in the afternoon and eventually stopped about two hours before show closing.  The crowd picked up and everything got more lively. 

 

Sunday was much better weather, no rain and pleasant.  The crowd was totally different.  It was a crowd of after church people, families and lookie loos!  Very, very big crowd on Sunday.  This festival is well attended when the weather is good, there is no doubt about that.  Unfortuantely, the Sunday crowd was more conservative and not nearly as many buyers as on Saturday.  I sold one piece on Sunday. 

Jurying....This show is a mixture of art and craft.  There was some beautiful fine art there, some very nice crafts and of course, obvious buy/sell and some things that I would not jury into a show.  I am not sure what thier goal is during the jurying process, but I felt they did a pretty good job of it, with a few things that I wouldn't jury in, but maybe there is more to that than I know.  (There may be exceptions made for local businesses/artisans, I got that vibe, and that's totally ok with me!)  

I had very nice neighbors at this show, they couldn't have been better or more helpful.  The show director is very involved and was my booth sitter on 2 occasions.  I felt that this show is well organized and well ran.  My sales at this show were good and after all expenses made a modest "paycheck" profit.  I think if Saturay had not been so rainy I could have made more.  I did have a few pieces that got wet and needed repair, so they were not out.  I think if they were out, they likely would have sold too, making my sales total better.  Overall, I am pleased with this show and feel it was worth it.  Having won first place in the show, I am automaticly in next year and I will do the show again.  I will give this show a solid A in terms of organization, staff, attendance, sales and overall artist experience.  I encourage anyone who is thinking about doing Main Street Festival to apply for it and if accepted, by all means do this show!!!!!!!         

Read more…

September 7 & 8Lakeview Logo
September 14 & 15
Chicago, Illinois
Intersection of Broadway and Belmont
Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 10am-5pm
175 Artists
New deadline: May 15

Please note: Due to a date change by the Chicago Cubs this show has been moved one week later. The deadline has also changed to accommodate the schedule. 

The Lakeview East Festival of the Arts is Chicago's premier fine art and fine craft festival showcasing over 170 juried artists.  Lakeview is located on the north side of Chicago, near Wrigley Field, north Halsted and Lincoln Park in a very diverse, culturally rich 1073.jpg?width=195community with unique boutique stores, cafes and restaurants.

The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has hosted this event for the past seven years.  More than 40,000 attendees are expected to attend this year's festival.  The festival is set on Broadway Avenue just north of Belmont Avenue.

This festival has a strong marketing and media plan and hosts an annual artist reception.  Other amenities include artist reserved parking, Saturday night Artist Party, and a full breakfast served Saturday and Sunday.


Jury Fee: $20 Booth Fee: $425
Checks payable to:  Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce
EM Events


This event is run by EM Events, founded by Erin Melloy in  1995 as an event planning company. Today, it is our pleasure to work closely with some of Chicagoland's most innovative and creative communities and organizations to produce premier art festivals of distinction.

Read more…

The only thing I ask you God.

This Oscar talking to God. It may not make any sense and may not be clear English, it is just my mind talking and typing.

I do not know what to expect this year since I change my body work a bit. My first show is Cottonwood Art Fair and last One of a Kind Chicago. Waiting for the Sugar Creek, Bucktown Art Fair, La Plaza and Historic Shaw. My high of the preseason was that I got into Lakefront Arts Festival Milwaukee. I am hoping to apply to more shows for the fall. Also I am planing to start early March 2014.

Read post by Nels and Munks. They both have great points and Bless both of them. The truth is they have the courage to express what we feel but we are afraid to express.

This last Xmas my knee staring to give me problems. In last few months I drain both knees at least three times. My right knee is getting roaster combo injections and it starting feeling better. After cottonwood  I will see how they feel. The pain is not pleasant at time but I am grateful to be able to walk.

What is my point you may ask God? There are people that want you do well but most people want you to fail. Do not ask why but it is just an observation. I got to the point that want everybody to do well and more important to be able to meet all obligations in life. If I see you at the show just said hi. If you want we can always can go out for friendly dinner. When I travel to a show I am only going with you God. Eating dinner alone sucks. If God let me meet a friendly female do not think the wrong thing. Last year I learn not ask where you are staying or to smile because Oh my God..... One thing for sure I got divorce and I have not interest in dating any artist. So do not worry about that. If I see a friendly male artist lets us have dinner and not I not in that side of the fence neither. Eating dinner alone sucks and talking to God to myself is bit CRAZY at times.

If you want to be fellow artist want to talk politics do not expect me to change my mind. I very in the middle and more Democrat than conservative. I like to able to choose. Some people do not believe in that. Do not talk to me about you, God and the church. I almost became a priest but after looking at the church, ......well .....

Last time I check God can only help you if you help yourself. Buy the lottery ticket if you want God to help you win the lottery.

I am sure I got more things in my mind but what is the point to express them. You do not care other than God wants us to be good, at least that what my faith believe.

So, God if you let me meet fellow artist let them be friendly and I wish you the best. God let me see my friends I will like to talk about life not about the art that we sale. God let friends have the smarts to tell me if I am doing something wrong so I can improve. The only company I have is you God. God you also knows that so bad that Devil does not want me in hell because I will exile him from hell. So do not think I am stupid.

The best thing about starting a new season is that you are full of hope and joy. That I am grateful that can still walk. I am grateful that can hope to move my work. The only thing I ask God today that he help me to sale my work and be able to meet my obligations. I did my part God, I produce new work and apply the best two advice from my friends to my work. Best thing Armando who gave some advice in the One of Kind Show will be the neighbor at the first show of the season.

At this point I will be 46 very soon GOD. I just want a simple quiet life and no worry where my next meal will come from. And God because I want I simple life it does mean I want to be poor and the other ways you may think. I want you know that appreciate all the lessons in life  and every single bad experience. That I only hate some people because they want to hurt me. I do not want anything bad to happen to them I just do not want them to be in my life.

Please God this is the only prayer you get from me. You know that gave all the tools in life and is my choice to use them wisely. I just want you let me have profit year and meet my obligations because is in your hands now because I had done my part. I almost forgot help the fellow artist to have good sales because I do not want negative feed back when you are helping me to have a great show after great show because I already did my part and will keep doing my part in our agreement.

To you all my fellow artist I wish you the best and be happy because the fellow artist next to you may become homeless or very poor in many nasty ways or some many other bad things that can happen to him that you may not know. For all you please do you part to improve your life and do not make other people life more difficult. The rest is up to you GOD.

Read more…

September 21 & 22  St.CroixLogo
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota
Historic rivertown on the St. Croix River
10am-5pm
175 Artists and Craftspeople
Deadline: May 1

Award winning, well established show with quality art and craft.

  • Beautiful setting outdoors
  • easy set-up, no pets
  • Fall leaf looking ten minutes north of Stillwater, 40 min. from Minneapolis
  • All profits go to our Public Safety Department
  • Extensive advertising of the art fair is planned this year

 

28.jpg?width=400 This is an outdoor event that has the reputation of being an outstanding art fair.  It is always held the 3rd weekend of September, the peak of our fall colors tourist season.  Marine on St. Croix is located in Northern Washington County, eleven miles north of Stillwater and seventeen miles south of Taylors Falls on Highway 95 at County Road 4. 

 

For more info: www.marineonstcroix.org/artfairdetails.shtm  

(651)433-3636

Email: marineartfair@midconetwork.com  

Read more…

HATS OFF TO VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK SHOW.

First off, I am still pulling arrows out of my back from this recent post.

The torrent of responses, some of them nasty, on Facebook--was amusing.  I have been thru worse like the "Fish on the fence episode three years ago."

That said.  The most important thing I did was I effected (not affected) change.

I felt photography was getting the raw end of that deal thru their statements in their prospectus.

(Sorry, Mr. Slade a prospectus is a prospectus whether or not you get it on Zapp).

I just want to make three nice observations.

First.  I think Christie Kelly, the new director of the show did a class act.

She listened, she set things straight.  That's all I was hoping for.

I did not see any of the rest of you really step up and point out the unfairness of their ORIGINAL STATED POLICY about eligible photos.

Some people on Facebook said I was a bully, using my blog to browbeat poor Miss or Mrs. Kelly.

All I did was point out some obvious things that were not in sync with the rest of the circuit.

Christie Kelly has a great future.  Better than I can say for many directors who you can't talk to let alone get a word in.  She is a class act.

Secondly, I have always stood forward in letting anybody and everybody know that I feel all 2-D artists should be allowed to sell reproductions of their work.  You will get no quarrel from me.

Interestingly, Va. Beach like many shows says no repros for painters and the like--then of course, they go and sell repro posters of their former shows.

I know.  You will justify them by saying, "It is a fund-raiser."  Guess what?  When I show up to sell, it is also a fund-raiiser--its called the Nels Johnson Fund-raiser to Make Enough Money to Pay the Monthly Mortgage.

Thirdly, and this goes out especially to the little bully snips who like to downgrade us photographers.  I especially love the ones who don't make a living on the street and try to apply museum standards to the street.

If you think it is easy to make big bucks, let alone, a living, out there as a digital photographer--then jump right on in.

The waters are muddied and bloodied from all the ones I have seen come and go over 37 years.  And guess what?  I am still standing tall, shooting my own visions and marketing them.

I would like to see how many of you can jump in, get in really good shows and then make money.  Guess what?  Many are called and few are chosen.

So, the bottom line was, I had the balls to make note of a serious problem--and effected change.  Guess what?  I did it.  Which is more than most of you who sit on pretty chairs do on SOCIAL MEDIA but don't really make anything happen.

That's all folks, this is my Fu........day and I am out of here.  Playing golf tomorrow.  Sleeping good tonight, because I made something happen.8869110659?profile=original

Read more…

Mainsail Art Fair In St. Petersburg, Florida

My winter plan last year was to do 7 Florida shows, most of them in South Florida (2 in Naples, one in Bonita, one in Ft Myers, Las Olas and Coconut Grove) with the only exception being Winter Park. Winter Park delivered with very good sales, but the other 6 shows were terrible. This winter I stayed away from South Florida and did only three shows (Gasparilla, Winter Park and Mainsail), all in the middle of Florida in metropolitan areas not affected so much by the tourists and the snowbirds. I earned more money at these three shows this year than I did at seven shows last year.

Mainsail was the weakest of the three generating only $2000 in sales. Those sales were especially disappointing because my wife and I flew home to Michigan for a month between Winter Park and Mainsail, creating more travel expenses than if the shows were all back to back.

The show is laid out in a large grassy park next to the waterfront. Each space is outlined in white chalk with a wooden sign in front of it showing the booth number. Spaces are about 12x12, laid out back to back. One odd thing about the show is that the committee does not reveal your booth number until you arrive at check in. I guess, that way, you can't complain in advance about where they put your booth.

Check in started at 1pm on the dot on Friday afternoon and artists were not allowed to start setting up until after checking in (indeed, no one knew where their booth would be anyway). Artists were told that all the set up would have to be done before 6pm because the park would be shut down at that time. I'm not sure if that rule was enforced because we finished before 6pm and got out of there before the deadline.

Some shows (like Gasparilla) have a super-organized set-up procedure where every artist has an assigned set-up time when they are allowed to bring their stuff into the art fair grounds. Not so at Mainsail. Once we got our packet and knew where our booth would be, we just streamed into the park willy nilly looking for our spot. I actually prefer this kind of arrangement because it depends on the artists themselves to work out where to park their vans and trailers to unload and set up. I saw little of the art fair committee during setup. No art fair police directing traffic and enforcing rules. Artists worked with each other to make room and accommodate each other. Load out on Sunday afternoon was handled the same way, letting the artists work out their own schedule and drive their vehicles into the grounds whenever they were ready. I like it when the committee recognizes that us artists are adults and can work things out among each other.

Weather forecast for the week-end was a little threatening with 40-50% rain being forecast for both days. Remarkably, the only rain during the show was a slight sprinkle on Sunday that some artists may not even have noticed. So, the weather held off until 7pm on Sunday, just as I was closing the door on my trailer after packing up. Some artists were still packing up at that time, and probably got wet, but we drove back to the hotel under a mild, but steady rainfall.

Just about all my sales were small ones, for unframed pieces. My biggest sale was $200. This was not a crowd that was buying big ticket items. As usual, sales varied among the artists, but I didn't hear of any big winners. This is a conservative crowd mostly out to look, not buy. 

I like the setting for the show and the ease of setup and break down. Although my sales were a little disappointing, they were much better at Mainsail than at all 6 of the South Florida shows I did last year. If I can schedule this show without the airfare and the hassle of parking my rig somewhere for a month, I'd do it again. I just wish the committee could come up with some ideas for getting some bigger spenders to come out for the show.

Read more…