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I entered a show through Juried Art Services that was called the love film and art festival in Los Angeles April 13 & 14 and found out this weekend it was a total scam!!! I contacted the Los Angeles State Historic Park where the show was supposed to be and was informed that the park was never even booked for the show. Needless to say I  am shur I can hold my breath and wait for the 440.00 booth fee back. Juried Art Services still has an entry for a fall show on there site evan when they told me 4 days ago that the show was cancelled. I talked to another artist that lost 2500.00 on this scam because she booked hotel accomidations with the booth fee with the people throwing this show. I can not believe that Juried Art Services is not responding to this. Myself and other artist scamed by this all agreed none of us would have entered this show if it was not on there site. Please forward this to every artist possible.  

August 24  
Green, Ohio
Green Arts Council and the City of Green
Boettler Park, 5300 Massillon Rd.
10am-5pm
60 Exhibitors
Deadline: May 31

Art-A-palooza is a juried art and fine craft show celebrating its ninth year in 2013.  The City of Green is growing exponentially with the recent merging of Akron General Medical Center and Summa Health Systems facilities, as well as significant Fortune 500 companies.  The City of Green is also adjacent to several other upscale communities, and is easily accessed by I-77 and I-76.

The location of the show at Boettler Park provides drive-up accessibility for artist site set-up, and easy parking for RV's and trailers. 

Artists tents are situated around a picturesque pond with a fountain.  Set-up is on Friday the 23rd and overnight security is provided.  The Green Arts council provides an artist breakfast snack, and complimentary water.  Booth sitting is available.

Event promoters cast a wide net of public advertising via social media, target websites and print media, postcard mailing and distribution, radio broadcast, posted notice and piggyback advertising.  Sponsors include local and regional small and large businesses.Children's art activities and food are available. 

Artist surveys prove that the event is a profitable one for most of them.  There are artist cash prizes totaling $700 and amazing booth fees starting at $100.

Where is Green? Click this link.

For more info & to apply: www.greenartscouncil.org, click "art-A-palooza" in menu

Contact info:
Joan Smith at Gallery 143 (330)608-5542, email: gallery143@neo.rr.com
or Jackie Parker (330)697-8460, email: jlptrummy@aol.com

What I am going to say is real.  I did it.  This is not fantasy.

First, a caveat (means, possibly, a warning) when you do the following you can probably give up any hope of getting in that show in the next 20 years, unless they all get Alzheimers, which I do not wish upon anybody.

That said, I got my annual rejection from Oconowoc, WI for the 15th year in a row.  Never have even made the wait list.

So this is what I just Emailed them.  WTF, I have nothing to lose because I will never, ever, let them suck another dollar out of me for a jury fee.

It could be a good model, if you have nothing to lose.  In my case, they have sucked more than $600 out of me in jury fees.  Mind you, I have sent, fresh, new, innovative work every year to them.

Here it goes.

"You people can go recuse yourselves.

I have applied to your show for over 10 years, without, once, even getting on your wait list.

"In the meantime I have been in shows way above your level like St. Louis and the Plaza, to name a few.

"I sent you ground-breaking work never done by many photographers before--and I don't even make your wait list.

"You are mired in mediocrity.  I will never apply to your show again.

"BTW.  I have done shows for more than 37 years and won more than 300 awards in juried competitions.

"Obviously your jury does not know good, original work that stares them in the face (Or is it only floral arrangements of flowers that does it with you folks).

"It is your loss, Nels Johnson."

That is what I sent.

If shows can relentlessly raise their jury and booth fees, w/o due consideration--they ought to be able to take a little heat once in a while.

Of course, you political-correct newbies, and oldies, will go--are you fricking nuts?

Enough is enough.

As the man said in a great movie, "I am tired of it, I aint taking it anymore.

That is all folks.  Nels.

 Up here on the North Coast it is results week for some of the biggest shows. I've been doing this for about 15 years now and I have become a tad hardened to it all. Granted, if I don't get any of the half dozen big ones, my season is toast and so is my credit history, but what I have learned is that you survive. And I also learned that a yes or no from a show jury does not define you or your talent. I didn't always feel that way, it grew with me as my hide thickened. It is a lesson you have to learn for yourself. I don't think there is a Bruce Baker tape about it.

So, today I got a few calls from  fellow art carnies, wondering if I had heard from this show or that. We were supposed to be notified by now, they said. I'm gonna call, one said. I sent an email, another declared.

Seriously folks? Breathe. There is probably one woman slogging through a cyber tower of email addys right now, hoping she doesn't accept the rejected. 

I called, one person reported. The jury meets Saturday. That was good to know. And then *ping*, an email for me with good news on the other show. I dutifully called back to say "check your email" and then there was an hour of silence. Bummer.

Sure enough, there was a rejection for one of them. Not even a wait list. We will return your check ASAP. This is a talented woman with unusual work and she has been rejected by several of the good ones this year. I don't get it, and she just assumes she should burn her equipment and look for work with a regular pay check and, probably, an apron and baseball cap. She raged. She sounded so dispirited. She says she can't keep doing this, looking for affirmation from these shows. Oh wait a minute, friend of mine. These are people who are good at running events. They do not have the power or ability to judge your body of work on a grander scale. They have so many slots for your medium and it is very competitive and they have a certain vision for how they want their show to "look". This is not where you seek affirmation. 

I am not delusional. I know I get into some of these shows because I have little competition. So I don't know what else to say to these friends of mine who take these rejections to heart and soul. All I can share with them is that it took me a long time to figure out how to play this and in there, somehow, I got better. I found shows that suited me and my widgets. I applied to shows I always thought were above my level because I had nothing to lose and I got some of them! Go figure. I met people who became good friends, who literally changed my life. 

And I learned that this business of art shows, this business of hunkering down under a tent for a few days with your guts on display for folks chowing down kettle corn, this way of life that rolls from application to show to counting out the bills to another show and another accounting until your Summer is over and your kids are suddenly grown...this business is not for everyone. 

I know there will be a day (or 12) this Summer when I'll be in my tent, dusting my books and pretty collages to keep busy while the jeweler across the road is swatting away people with a broom and I will feel envy and wonder if I should change course at this late stage until I remember that I am doing what I want to do, the way I want to do it. That enough people like what I do that I can keep the lights on and gas in my car. That if this show bites there is another one coming up in a week or two and I may rich and be-ribboned there. You just never know.

Trying to be sympathetic to my crushed friends while doing a happy jig in my head, that's the hard part. It's like trying to ...well, you know.

Ann and I are taking the month of April off.  Meantime, you should see what the other guy looks like.

Mulberry Street Festival, Macon GA, March 23-34, 2013

Just imagine.  It is your 43 annual festival.  You have about 230 artists coming.  You have thousands of people looking forward to the festival in downtown Macon where it has been held for 43 years.  You have been watching the weather with great trepidation all week.  It is Friday afternoon.  Forcast is now for severe thunderstorms.  Chance of hail.  Wind.  Just two years ago the festival suffered a severe micro burst.  It is 3 p.m.  Artists will be signing in and setting up their booths at 6 p.m.  Imagine the potential damage to artists, products, and the people who might come to the festival.  Imagine the potential legal aspects.  The decision is made to cancel the event.  But no.  Wait.  What if there was another venue option?  What if it could be moved and held under cover?  Yes.  Maybe.  But could another venue be found and get all necessary approvals?  What about publicity?  What about traffic?

They actually did it.  Middle Georgia Arts Association moved the venue to the State Farmers Market where there would be cover against the elements.  As artists arrived at the usual check in site they were re-directed to the Farmers Market.  Of course there were now no assigned spaces.  It was find a spot and get set up best you can.  And the artists did it.  Well, some were a bit grumpy.  Some people don’t like change even if it is good for you.  But overall most artists greatly appreciated the protection.  And it did rain.  A LOT.  And there was some wind.  There was hail but that was a little further north of Macon.  Could have been on our tents!  The local newspapers, radio, TV News stations were all making the announcements.  Social media spread the word like wild fire.  And the people came.  They came in droves.  Buses were provided to shuttle people who were parking at the nearby college and the mall.  Police officers helped direct traffic.  People were able to enjoy the festival even though it was raining – outside the covered Farmers Market.  Sales were all across the board.  For me it was another great show.  On Saturday we did not have time to take lunch.  Sunday was also steady. 

Imagine the impossible.  And Middle Georgia Arts Association took on mission impossible and put on a great, and safe, festival.  I was in awe at what they accomplished.  Hats off to all those who made the 43^rd Annual Mulberry Street Festival the success it was. 

Here are some pics of the event. I know, not some of my best photography but I was trying to grab a couple quick shots between sales. Saturday night there were thunderstorms.  There was wind.  There were a couple tents tossed about.  And with all sympathy to those who experienced some damage, ahem….where are your tent weights?  Please people, unless you are inside a fully contained building use weights for your safety and the safety of those around you.

September 27-29
Columbus, Ohio
Genoa Park
Fri. 5 pm-9pm; Sat. Noon-9pm; Sun. Noon-5pm
120 artists
Deadline: April 7

Join us for the 2013 Riverfront Arts Festival. This year Genoa Park will play host to more than 100 local and national artists of the highest caliber, featuring a variety of fabrications and designs from fine oil paintings to functional pottery and textiles. While the heartbeat of the festival is the amazing selection of visual artists, the park also features a waterfront amphitheater, which will host our most incredible musical lineup ever.   

The  Riverfront  Art  Festival celebrates its seventh anniversary this year. It  features  a  picturesque setting, winding along the west bank of the  Scioto River  in  downtown Columbus. The location is nearly  synonymous  with  festival-going, in a city ranked by American  Style Magazine as one of the top 10 big cities for art.

This year we will have more than $250,000 in media support 

from our radio, television and print partners at our  disposal, which will be utilized to drive traffic to the festival.

Late  September in Columbus is beautiful. Add in the opera and live jazz and doesn't this sound like a great place to finish up your outdoor fair season?

For more info: www.dispatchevents.com

Apply: www.zapplication.org 

Questions? Amanda Leeman, Promotions One, Inc., 614-299-9221, aleeman@dispatch.com

June 15-16  
Minneapolis, Minnesota
downtown on the Mississippi Riverfront 
250 Exhibitors

 Apply now: www.Zapplication.org

For many reasons, including a date change, this show has some spaces left for April 12-14.

April 12-14
Novi, Michigan 
Suburban Collection Showplace
Fri.: 1pm-8pm; Sat.: 10am-6pm; Sun.: 11am-5pm
Artist Reception: Sat.: 6pm
200 Artists

Jewelry Full

Art fairs are always looking for ways to enhance the event both for artists and the attending public. This Fall the show will open on Fri. at 1pm and close at 8pm. We will be returning with the hugely successful Friday Ladies Night Out promotion that drew over 2000 women to line up for entry on Friday.

A robust marketing campaign is in effect with a variety of media partners.

Expect an elegant entrance gallery showcasing your art, community partnerships and other fresh components that create a wonderful regional marketplace for artists and their patrons.

Location:
The Suburban Collection Showplace is located in Novi, Michigan, situated in Western Oakland County, one of the nation's most affluent areas. It is familiar to patrons as a premier indoor venue for specialty events.

Attendance:  Over the past decade the Suburban Collection showplace has been host to premier indoor art fairs each year during the months of April and October. Attendance figures from these fairs have averaged in the tens of thousands.

Artist Amenities:

• Custom Great Lakes Art Fair discount coupons
• e-mail blast content
• free tickets, postcards and other collateral materials to distribute to their patrons
• drive up to your booth to unload and load
• artist hospitality area and reception
• artist gallery
• free electrical & free close parking

Please visit our website: www.GreatLakesArtFair.com for images of past events and list of past participants.

We want you to help us build this biannual event into an event that regional artists can count on. Please join us.

Call Andrea Picklo today for details and to secure one of these spaces: (248)348-5660, ext. 208.

Learn more at our website: www.GreatLakesArtFair.com/artistapply.html

I just wanted to say "Happy Easter" to everyone this weekend. Hope it's wonderfully sane :)

                              THIS PACKAGE WILL BLOW ATTENDEES AWAY--IT IS A MUST-HAVE!

#Naturally, everything is included from both Package 1 and 2.

#THE MUCH ANTICIPATED LINKAGE FEE (Thanks go to Amy Amdur, one of the first show directors who figured out you could charge extra (linkage) for you and your honey to be next to each other at an art show).

For a mere $50 extra, on top of the $999, you and your honey both get to sit together in the Artist Chair.  And it is your choice where you want to sit--front, back, hell, even in the neighboring booth.

Imagine the joint thrill as you both whisper Sweet-Nothings into potential client's ears.  Think of the joy you will get when you look a customer right in the eyes and say, "I don't think you can really afford that piece."  Watch  the wheels go around.

#If the artist wins a ribbon at the show, you get to keep it.  He gets the cash, you get the ribbon.

#In a show that pulls pieces for judging, you will get the thrill of walking four blocks to the building and retrieving the piece.  

You will experience the delicious thrill of victory or defeat as you first walk in and find the piece.  Will it be with ribbon?  Or without?

#Workshop Attendees get a choice of either helping the artist setup and stock their booth at the beginning of a show.  Imagine the thrill of sitting in a long line of vans waiting to pull in at 4 AM in the morn. Or you can choose to help teardown and restock the van.

#If an artist, while at a show, has just been accepted into the show via Zapplication, you will get the thrill of pressing "The Accept Button" on their Internet device.  There is a slight $25 up charge if the button is on a Tablet rather than a smartphone.  Heck, the Button is larger on the Tablet, and it should cost more because of the additional excitement.

#When a show committee member comes around soliciting an artist for a donation to a charity drawing, you get the thrill to speak for the artist and say,"Nuts to you buddy, we aint giving anymore."

#Finally, you get to blog about your experience on ArtFairInsider, either Geoff Coe or Me will let you know which day we want to screw around either shooting birds, or birdies, and you can fill our spots on AFI.  We will teach you neat tricks, on how to string them along--how to get more than 1000 hits off a half-baked idea.

Well, that is my scheme.  It is all quite doable.

Thanks go out to:  Terry and Deborah --could not have done it without your inspirations.

To my Mom-who taught me to type with two fingers.

To Constance Mettler, who lets me blog away to my heart's content.

That's it--I am out of here.

                                         THE ADVANCED ARTIST-LEVEL WORKSHOP--ONLY $600.00

All clients get everything that was included in the Entry Level Package (Except Paul Shatz may not be at every show you are at.

HERE ARE SUPER ADD-ONS EVERY WORKSHOP ATTENDEE WILL WANT

#The Director's Chair will be moved out to the front of the booth.

You will get the thrill of overhearing hearing the wandering masses snide remarks about your art. You will get to hear some great cellphone conversations, maybe even overhear a hot tip for the Stock Market.

#You get your own personably autographed roll of toilet paper.  Imagine the thrill, even a little smugness, as you go to the Porto-Potties and know even if they have run out (And they usually do) YOU GOT YOURS.  Oh what a relief it is.

#You get to swill the artists blend of either cheap white or cheap red wine.  And drink from a hand-blown wine glass.  No plastic for you.

#You will be instructed by the Artist on how to approach new clients in the booth.

You will learn little tricks of the trade such as:  when we can spot a high-roller even when he is wearing cheap sandals:  learn how we know when a client has exhausted their limit on the credit card, so we don't waste undue time with them.  Learn who has got the cash.

#Morning workshop attendees get to help the artist roll up the tarps on the booth, possibly even fold some.

Afternoon workshop attendees get to help drop the tarps and secure merchandise for the night.

#All workshop attendees are guaranteed to have at least one experience of when a client tries to get you down on your price.  Experience the thrill of saying,"Nuts to you buddy."  If they up the bargaining price and the sale is made, the Attendee gets a 20 per-cent commission out of it.

That is quite a package for $600.  Wait til you read about the Uber Package, next.

When Terry Speer and Deborah Banyas and I were sitting at the recent Bayou show (we were doing nothing, no customers) a gentleman walked into our booth and spotted us in the back behind our booths where we has additional awnings  covering us and our artworks.  

Of course we had coolers galore, cookies strewn everywhere, Terry was making a hummus sandwich.  This guy looked at us and said,"Cool! So this is how artists live at shows."

I replied,"This is more like Urban Camping.  We set up our camps, make money off the wandering masses and move on."

This guy thought this was very trey cool.

Then, the Light went on in my fertile little head.

What if we did workshops, charging our clients for the privilege of acting like, being like, participating like an artist at an outdoor art show.

So, here is my scheme brought to you at three levels:  The Basic package for $300,  The Advanced Artist Experience for $600, and finally The Uber-Artist Deluxe Package for $999.00.

Here are sample packages of each.

THE BASIC PACKAGE: YOU TOO, CAN ACT LIKE AN ARTIST FOR THREE HOURS FOR $300.00

HERE IS WHAT YOU GET.

# A chance to sit in an artist's directors chair in the back of his booth

#The artist will whisper sweet nothings into your ears so that you will get the thrill of replying, as an artist, to potential clients.

#If you chose the Morning shift, you will be invited to the Free Artists' Breakfest.

#You will have your own personally autographed, by the artist, bottle of sparkling water.

#You get to help yourself to whatever the artist has in their cooler, alcoholic beverages not included at this level.

#You will be given an official artist name tag to wear with your own name on it (Unless you are buy/sell, then we will pick one out of the Wikipedia for you).

#You will participate in at least one artist sales transaction.  Think of the thrill of taking a strangers Credit Card and swiping it thru that little Square device.  You even get to "bag" the purchase.

#Afternoon workshop clients get to go to the Artist's Dinner (there will be a $50 surcharge added if dinner is anything more than, hotdogs or cold pizza).  In the event of there being no Artist Dinner, you will get to hang around artist Paul Shatz's van and drink free beer while we discuss such lofty premises like "What is the meaning of all this Giclee Process and is it the end of Painters as we know them?"

OK THAT IS PACKAGE ONE.

I am going to start a second new blog to introduce  the Deluxe Package since I can't format this blog the way I want it.

Stay with me--we are all going to be so rich.

If only a person could be in two places at once. Recent top shows were in La Quinta, CA, and Houston, TX. If you can jury into the top shows and live somewhere in between La Quinta and Houston, do you make the trek to both?

La Quinta, CA, March 22-24 - La Quinta Arts Festival

Best of Show – Teresa Saia – Drawing, Pastel and Painting

Best of Category:

Ceramics: Hasuyo Miller and Robert Farmer

Fiber: Debora Hyde (first time at La Quinta)

Glass: Christopher Jeffries

Jewelry: Harry Roa (first time at La Quinta)

Mixed Media: Sathya Burchman (first time at La Quinta)

Painting: Annette Hammer

Photography: Mark Stephenson

Sculpture: James Hill

Wood: Tom Thornton

Event Manager Kathleen Hughes reports:

Art Sales - $2.77 million up from $2.5 million in 2012 (plus post festival sales are still coming in!)

Number of Artists – 233 of which 24% were new to La Quinta. They came from 29 states.

Attendance – up 3% from 2012 – 25,500 patrons. (We draw from the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament and from the international equestrian polo finals which are both great demographic matches and within 3 miles of Festival)

Houston, TX - March 26-28 - Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park

Prizewinners:

1. Nicario Jimenez - Booth 150 - Score 39.5
2. Lisa Kristine - Booth 277 - Score 36.5
3.  Ella Richards - Booth 265 - Score 35.5
4. Gaston Carrio - Booth 290 - Score 30

Best Booth
1. Steven Potts - Booth 209 - Score 62
2. Michael Gard - Booth 91 - Score 60.5 

MFAH Curatorial Award for Excellence in Mixed Media - Chris Dahlquist

Here is an excellent article about the business of being an art fair artist: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/03-23-13-business-incubator-bayou-city-arts-fest-says-no-more-starving-artists-debuts-innovative-program/

And here's a video: http://www.khou.com/community/bayou-art-festival/video/Bayou-City-Art-Festival-A-wonderland-of-artists-creativity--199626601.html

All original paintings, in my case watercolors, and will do a few of the historic old chapel.  Show is the end of April to end of first weekend in May.

So I tried a new show this spring as I wanted to see if I might have a market there….St. Augustine was the locale and is an easy 3 ½ hour drive for me.…. It was the Old Town Art & Craft Show by Holiday Art Shows on 3/23-3/24. The setting was an events field about two blocks from Old Town St. Augustine, adjacent to a large public parking garage and across from Barnacle Bills which has yummy, well priced food.

Set-up is on Friday or Saturday a.m. and break down could not be easier… Drive up to your spot and get it done. Extremely well laid-out with everyone open on at least 2 sides. Advertising was extensive and signage was plentiful. A few people started coming around 9 to beat the rain, the show opened at 10 and the rain started at 11…. Torrential rain on the hard packed earth…a deluge for about 20-30 minutes and then off and on for the next 2 hours and then the lightning started…close enough that you could see the smoke from whatever it hit…close enough that I felt the hair stand up on my neck… by then we had been told to close down for the day and so we retired to Barnacle Bills for a late lunch to wait out the next round of rain and then mosey back to the hotel…

Rain, some hail and lots of blowing overnight…arrived at the site on Sunday amidst tornado watch and a line of t-storms on the way… Lynn chose to cancel rather than have us break down in the wind and rain and I feel it was a good call based on the forecast. I heard later that it rained for several hours and then high winds the rest of the day. You take your chances with spring in the south and luck was not on our side for this show.

So for the 4 hours that we were open, a thin trickle of people came armed with their umbrellas and hung out. A mix of locals and tourists. I sold a piece to a local couple that paid for my gas for the trip. I got a call yesterday from another local couple wanting a piece that they saw which paid for my hotel. I saw 3D packages walking out and small jewelry bags but not much 2D walking by. I do wonder what the attendance and sales would have been like without the inclement weather so I’ll try this show again.

Here’s a link to a time lapse video that shows our show layout although the article is about another activity. http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2013-03-23/rain-soaks-saturdays-chalk-walk

OK Nels I'm waiting with baited breath to hear what this is about. Give it up!!

OK, here comes my Teaser Blog.

As I was previously saying, my neighbors and I at the Bayou City (Houston,TX)were twiddling our thumbs.  My neighbors were Terry Speer and the lovely Deborah Banyas.  They are longtime exhibitors on the circuit----even longer than me.

Anyways, we were tossing Reeses Peanut Butter peices back and forth, throwing Sweet Chili Pistachio nuts at each other, and wondering, WTF!  Where are the customers.

So, first we started throwing cinder blocks across the path, hoping to hit somebody and get their Gold Card.  Damn, no luck.

Next, we tried three-hundred pound boulders.  Which was very difficult for Deborah since she only weighs about 95 pounds.  Next, with Terry's acquisition, we tried hurling Deborah at potential clients.  Damn, still no luck.

Next, I tried the one that always seems to work--a one-hundred-dollar-bill attached with silly putty onto a fishing rod.  It is kind of like trout fishing.  You tease the bait out there and slowly lure them in.  Damn, not a single bite!  We were ready to start using worms, or day-old potato chips.  We were desperate.

So, since we had no customers to speak to, we started brain-storming.

That is when I came up with this incredible concept.

It is so good, I am awarding Barry Bernstein exclusive territorial rights to it--between Marquette,MI and Pictured Rocks,MI.  Barry if you want Southern rights--like Charlevoix or Petosky, you are going to have to arm-wrestle Luciano Duse for them.  Good luck!

Since Bill, from Lakeland has been so sick and recuperating, I am giving him exclusives between Oveido and Auburndale,FL.  Way to go ,Bill!

So, here is a little hint about this brainstorm.

HINT ONE.  THINK ABOUT PAINTERS AND GOD FORBID!, PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHO DO WORKSHOPS.

HINT TWO.  THINK ABOUT AN EMPTY CHAIR.

HINT THREE.  I GOTTA ADMIT, I STOLE THIS IDEA FROM AMY AMDUR--THINK ABOUT LINKAGE FOR A $100.

There, that is a lot of hints.

Maybe tomorrow I will let you in on it, if I get enough hits off this blog.