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I'm trying to decide which one to apply for during the weekend of March 23/24, read all the great things about Englewood, don't know anything about either area. Coming over from the other side. anybody want to comment, I'ld love some input, thanks in advance, Jackie Z

Thank you all sooooooo much to everyone that helped me with figuring out what was a good website service to go with!!  I ended up going with Indiemade (although I'm sure FASO is good as well) and I'm really happy with that choice.  Their interface is so easy to use.

This has been on my 'to do' list for a couple of years now and the time was right for me to start working on getting it up.  I've been working on the site most of this last month and as of  Saturday is now finally ready to launch!

My website: www.handmadendesigns.com

A friend is using Pinterest in a unique way as a tool to facilitate conversation with commission clients. She "pins" a series of images that help her customers hone in on a particular concept, color, etc.  For example, a customer says "purple." Well what does that mean?  She posts twenty different images of purple and opens a discussion. You can go to http://pinterest.com/kimclayton1/all-shades-of-purple/ for a better example. Again, this can go back and forth. A customer can easily post images for direction and discussion with an artist. One more way social media might have an impact on your business and your finances.

September 21 & 22 
Batavia, Illinois
80 Artists

The Art in Your Eye Fine Art Show seeks artists for its ninth annual fine art festival in downtown Batavia, Illinois.

Set on the beautiful Batavia Riverwalk on the banks of the Fox River, Art in Your Eye is sponsored by the City of Batavia and presented by a collaborative partnership of Batavia organizations. The festival reflects Batavia's growing arts movement, the spirit of Batavia artists and a community that supports art of all kinds.

The two-day festival centerpiece is the fine art show, complemented by live continuous music at the new Peg Bond Center Performing Arts Pavilion, exceptional children's art activities, an indoor City Hall art exhibition of local artists, healthy food and free guarded bicycle parking to attract cyclists along the Fox River bicycle trail that runs through the festival.

Complete information about Art In Your Eye can be found at the website:artinyoureye.com.

Tremendous community and volunteer support and amenities make this show highly regarded by artist participants.

• Jury Fee: $18
• Booth Fee: $285
• Prints allowed   
• Artists: 80 max.
• Ribbon Awards: $8,000
• Attendance: 7,000+

Art in Your Eye is one of a series of Chicago area art fairs managed by Erin Melloy of EM Events. EM Events are held in partnership with local business organizations bring close interaction between  each community and its' local art fair and ensuring you loyal patrons.

Thursday, January 31, 10 am, ET

Are you ready for to wholesale your fine art or fine craft? Do you have handmade goods that you'd like to see in galleries and gift shops? 

Guests will be:

Paul Willsea, who along with his partner Carol O'Brien, has worked as a glass artist for over 20 years. They  sell their work through the wholesale marketplace as well as at art fairs. In addition, Paul has been on the Board of advisors for the Buyers Market of American Craft and is well acquainted with the business aspects of wholesale shows.

John Terry, owner of the Avalon Gallery in Del Ray Beach, FL, who not only attends the wholesale markets looking for new artists to showcase you'll also find him at street art fairs searching for the perfect work for his enterprises.

Stacey Miller, a jeweler, brand new to wholesaling who will share her experiences preparing to participate as a first time exhibitor at the upcoming Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia in February. 

Join us as we learn about:

• best wholesale marketplaces
• what a wholesale buyer is looking for, price points, inventory, presentation
• the ups and downs of the gallery business
• is wholesale for you?
• ideas for longevity in the business
• how to prepare for your first show

You can call in with your questions: (805) 243-1338

Leave your questions in the comments below and I'll ask the guests

Listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2013/01/31/is-wholesale-marketing-an-answer-for-you

The Unified Body of Work

I just added an article about what makes a uniform or consistent body of jury images, including a few examples.
http://bermangraphics.com/blog/the-uniform-body-of-work/

Something to think about next time you plan to have some of your creations photographed for jurying.

Here's just one of a few examples from the article.

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

Your Invitation to apply to the Guild's suite of fine art fairs in the Midwest. The Guild is a non-profit, membership organization of professional artists. Do you like art fairs run by artists? These events are there to serve their artist members and you too!

Deadline February 1. Apply: JuriedArtServices.com.

July 27 & 28
Geneva, Illinois
8 S. Third Street, in the downtown
presented by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce
175 Artists
Deadline: February 1

Geneva, a chic and charming historic town located on the Fox River, will celebrate its 12th annual Fine Arts Fair in 2013. Its prestigious reputation of offering a superb selection of fine art by renowned artists and cutting edge newcomers attracts beginning and avid collectors. The show is tucked among 100+ specialty shops located in Victorian-style homes and century-old buildings. Awards for 

emerging and seasoned artists along with warm small-town hospitality, offer a picture-postcard setting for this juried art celebration.

NOTE: Prints, photography, digital art and computer generated art: Prints must be produced by traditional printmaking techniques. Giclee prints are allowed only in digital photography. Photography may be wet darkroom (chemicals) or digital darkroom. We define computer generated art as an art form created entirely with a computer.

Emerging artists are required to abide by the same rules as professional artists. The jury fee is waived for emerging artists. If accepted the space fee is $100. Note: emerging artists are considered those who have never paid for a booth space at a fine art or craft fair. Accepted artists will receive one "wall" to display artwork on that is approximately 6' high by 8' long. Artists need to supply their own chair, umbrella and pedestals. Limited photography spaces are available.

FESTIVAL FACTS:

Jury Fee: $20 Booth Fee: $300
Ribbon Awards: $4,000 * Attendance: 20,000
Learn more & apply here: http://www.emevents.com/

This event is run by EM Events, founded by Erin Melloy in1995 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.

Any opinions on Mt. Gretna and Mt. Holly?  The areas are not that far from each other - close to Lancaster, PA.  Any thoughts on one or the other or both would be appreciated.  Thanks - d:)

Just found these shows?

Thoughts?

deborah

Any thoughts on the Wickford Art Show in July?  I did it a few years ago, it wasn't so good, but I heard that it was a lot better last year. This year they have a new director...

I'm a printmaker.

June 1 & 2 
Columbia, Missouri
presented by the Columbia Art League
Stephens Lake Park
Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm
110 artists
Deadline: February 8

First held in 1958, Art in the Park is the oldest and largest art festival in mid-Missouri.  It is the highlight of the summer season in this arts-focused city, home of the University of Missouri and winner of the first ever Missouri Arts Council's Creative Community Award in 2007.

The 2013 festival will be held at Stephens Lake Park, a historic tree-lined park set around the serene Stephens Lake.  In support of the main event, Columbia's premier Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, the 2013 Art in the Park will include musical and magical entertainment for children and adults, a children's art area, an Emerging Artist Pavilion showing work by local high school and undergraduate students, a Young Collector's Tent, a food court and wine tasting.

Key to the festival's success in a dedication to promote the

John Dennison, Best in Show

importance of art sales by the organizers, Columbia Art League.  Executive Director, Diana Moxon, has run the festival for the past 7 years and sees her mission as an advocate for the visiting artists.  Her advance media mantra is that it's not enough simply to show up, but that shopping for art is vital to the longevity of the festival.

A comprehensive marketing campaign:

• TV, Radio, local, regional & national print media, billboards, yard signs, social networking, postcards, posters and web campaigns
• The festival enjoys repeat sponsorship year on year from a variety of local banks and businesses.

Cash awards are $4,250 with a top prize of $1,000.  The festival is designated a Signature Series event by the local Convention & Visitor's Bureau.  Festival is free of charge and estimated attendance is around 15,000.

Amenities for Artists include:

• Friday night welcome party & dinner at the CAL Gallery
• Artist breakfast at the park on Sat. and Sun.
• Lunch boxes delivered to booths on Sat., Artist Hospitality tent with snacks
• Limited edition festival reusable acrylic tumbler
• Water delivered to artist's booths all weekend
• Booth sitters, extensive volunteer assistance with load-in and load-out
• Hotel discounts

"Thank you for a wonderful art fair experience.  Your show was incredibly organized, the volunteers were so friendly and helpful and sales were great!  It was simply such a pleasure spending the weekend with all of you" Pamela Slaughenhaupt, Studio Pamela, Swansea, IL (2012)

"Thanks again for the best run event I ever attended.  I always enjoy Columbia and you all make it great" Mike McNeil, Bloomington, IL (2012)  

"If organizers of other shows would use you as a role model, we would have many better shows out there!  You do so much advertising and listening to artists.  I appreciate all your efforts."  Kris Clement, Springfield, MO (2012)

"To the team of volunteers, thank you for giving so generously of yourselves to make Art in the Park  an event that artists look forward to every year.  Your smiling faces, your friendly gestures, your willingness to go the extra mile to satisfy our every need touches us in ways you will never know"  Bill & Terrie Merritt, Camdenton, MO (2012)

For more info:

Diana Moxon, Executive Director

Columbia Art League

(573)-443-8838/Fax: (573)817-1261

www.columbiaartleague.org  

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

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

I promised Connie I was going to post my review of this show. I don't know if I should post it on the review side or not because this is a total different business. This is a show that takes place in the Chicago Merchandise Mart January 19th -22nd. It is a wholesale show, gift stores, boutiques and COUPLE small galleries come to do some of their buying. You have to really have something that a store could sell easy. A product that you can sell for a reasonable price and you don't have to invest so much time making it, otherwise go back to your original art and stay in regular art shows that you can sell your paintings for as much as you want. Remember that stores have to double their cost so if you want to sell your originals you will have to really get your prices down. I came up with an inexpensive line of prints and some other inexpensive gifty items using my art. You have to come up with a clever idea of maybe launch a stationary line, note cards, maybe an inexpensive line of your paintings just for gift stores. The traffic is not the best but the organizers are trying and doing their best in bringing more CHicago buyers. There was more buyers from MN, WI, MI etc. Not too many Chicago buyers. They usually go to NY to do their buying for what I heard but the Mart is offering them deals to visit the show, like transportation or lunch or stuff like that so they buy in this show. I had the luck of running into couple stores that my work would have great potential so I got couple orders that can grow in the future. I need this business for my dead season so that is why I decided to do this show. Not a big mark up, but at least I will stay active and little money coming here and there. My neighbor, a painter was happy with the show. She had small paintings with nature themes, nice and peaceful paintings wholeselling from 42.00-400.00 She sold her inventory to 2 or 3 galleries but my other neighbor a jeweler was disappointed. Some people was happy, some not too happy. The organizers were asking for our feedback, they know traffic is low but at the same time they know Chicago buyers prefer to travel to NY. They are trying to change that and have them shop local. They offered us to give them a list of stores that we could think could be our buyers and they personally will visit them and invite them to the future markets. They know this is a problem but they are working on it. This will be a great show for wholesalers if there was more buyers. But "IF" is another story. If you are curious to try it talk to the organizers, maybe you can find a space in emerging artists and they have better rates. You never know, maybe the store that you wish you was selling your art can spot you right there. I've been after a store to carry my new line for months, I couldn't get a hold of them and they came to my booth and placed an order. Luck? Maybe... They have several areas: Boutique, Fair trade, emerging artists, gourmet foods etc. I hope more buyers visit this show in the future. That will help everybody. I will give it a try next year. My head was spinning with new ideas during those 4 days. I will recommend to bring your laptop so you can work on your stuff otherwise you can get bored. Or maybe bring your materials and work on your art. I wish I did that, at least I was working on my etsy via my Iphone during the show. That kept me a little busy.

My Florida schedule is slimmer than last year. I'm doing Gasparilla and Winter Park, then flying home to Michigan for a month. Then I'll be doing the Mainsail Art Fair in St. Pete on April 20-21. I was planning to head back to Michigan with my trailer after that show, but I was just invited to participate in the Melbourne Art Fair on the 27th and 28th of April. I've never done that show but notice that it was ranked #39 by Sunshine Artist Mag. Now I have to decide whether to stay in Florida for another week so I can do the Melbourne show. Anyone out there done Melbourne? I noticed that my friend Ellen Marshall won an award last year. Nels, did you do the show too?

January 26 & 27 

Friday, January 25, 2013, 6p - 8p: Preview Party @ Ocean Sotheby's International Realty, 81888 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada. Come meet the Expo artists as they first arrive to our island and see a selection of Expo artwork before the show.

Saturday & Sunday, January 26 & 27, 2013, 10a - 5p: Islamorada Fine Art Expo.  Come see and collect artwork from our exquisite Expo artists, visiting Islamorada from all over the country.  While at the show, enjoy lunch and beverages from our local restaurants and performances by actors and musicians throughout the day!

The Islamorada Fine Art Expo is one of the newcomers to the 

art fair business, celebrating its second year. It is held in a beautiful cultural district where you will enjoy all the pleasures of being in the Keys at the best time of the year. 

Artists are enthusiastic about the event (still somewhat a secret in the business) and enjoy the ambiance and intimacy of the setting. It's a great chance for you to meet them and find exquisite work without the hassles of the crowds. 

Expect tropical themed work as well as one of a kind work by artists from around the country. Who can blame them for wanting to be in the Keys in January?

Meet our featured artist Geoff Coe and take home a piece of Florida.

For more info: http://islamoradafineartexpo.com

(Bill Slade just reminded me/us to post a review of this first year show. Bill: Was wondering what happened to you guys--hope you're feeling better! Here's my review:)

It takes nerves of steel to launch a new show in Florida, the Land of Outdoor Art Fair Over-saturation.  It takes commitment and execution to pull off a winner. And based on what I saw and heard this past weekend, Bill Kinney/Paragon Events' Sarasota Fine Art Festival did the improbable, if not impossible: hit a home run in downtown Sarasota. 

This was a well-advertised, well-communicated show by any measure.  The ad schedule distributed to artists several weeks before the event listed heavy print and online media play, and included plenty of directional signs, flashing billboards (ART SHOW...TURN HERE) to attract the attention of traffic on nearby US 41 and shoppers nearby.  I didn't see the Goodyear blimp, nor dancing monkeys wearing sandwich boards on nearby street corners, but these are minor quibbles.  Kinney had done his homework. And it paid off with steady crowds, not of browsers, but ACTUAL BUYERS. 

I had five people browsing my bins as soon as I had them set up on Saturday morning.  And although my large canvas wraps still weren't selling on a par with my 2012 numbers, there were plenty of large matted prints heading out the front door late into the day. 
Sunday started slowly, but by 1 PM a repeat performance was in full swing, and some late-day canvas sales pushed my sales into high-water territory for this still-young 2013 season. . .in a town where, for whatever reason, I've had a tough time achieving strong results.

My neighbors all were at least satisfied, and several were quite pleased, "especially for a first-year show," said one.  "You never know what you're going to get.  Couldn't have asked for better." 

Kinney reported the show sales results on Monday morning in an email to artists, including breakdown of median and average sales by category for the 66 exhibitors (of 75 total) who reported their sales to him as he strolled the show, notebook in hand, late Sunday afternoon. 

Show quality was excellent, and that's not just my opinion; that's what a number of customers were telling me.  Traditional 2-D art, beautiful functional art, art that made me think, and quirky stuff that made me laugh.  Not a buy-sell booth anywhere. 

Paragon is developing a reputation for exceptional communication with exhibitors, businesses, and sponsors and for doing the little things fully and well.  I, for one, am glad to see it paying off.  And it looks like the buying public is noticing, too.  

Show notes:
* Booth fee: $395 single/$790 double/$50 corner. You can apply through Zapp, but payments are made directly to Paragon.

*Setup: Early Saturday morning. Drive in as directed, then pull right up to your booth. Simple.

* Teardown: Same as above, stress-free.  I was on the road by 7 pm. 

* Artist amenities: None, unless you count the catered artist party Saturday night. Delish!

* Areas for improvement: 

   --The show stayed open until 6 pm Saturday, which all agreed turned out not to be a money-maker.  Next year's show will close at 5, Kinney reports.

   --There was a little confusion over which parking garage behind the show was the one intended for artists.  Several of us pulled into the wrong one and were directed across the street (whoops).  An "Artist Parking" sign next year would be helpful.  (I also learned that my "high-boy" Ford Transit, with roof rack, is 86 inches high, not the 84 inches advertised.  Luckily, the Selby Library had a nice, big lot only two blocks away.)

 We were  scheduled to participate in Paragon's Sarasota Fine Art Festival this past weekend;  but the FLU did me in; stopping me cold in my tracks. So any, and all comments, opinions ,etc would be very informative, and greatly appreciated by all who are members here.We have heard from a few friends that  they did well; but the more imput the better. Thanks - safe travels ,and stay well 

July 13 & 14
Northbrook, Illinois
Village Green Park
Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. 10am-4pm
70+ artists
Deadline: February 1

Join us in Northbrook for an artful experience! Set in the  picturesque  Village  Green Park downtown, with its tree lined paths and hometown feel,  Art in the Park - A Northbrook Fine Arts Festival presents the highest quality in fine art and craft.

For the past three  years, the Northbrook Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Northbrook Park District, has hosted the event and it has quickly developed into a revered and highly anticipated summer happening for the Village and surrounding communities.

In addition to the many artists and artwork, the festival will include  food vendors, live music, children's activities, a silent art auction  and more.  Parking and admission are free.

Northbrook's Art in the Park is one of a series of Chicago area art fairs managed by Erin Melloy of EM Events. EM Events are held in partnership with local  business organizations bring close interaction between each community and its' local art fair and ensuring you loyal patrons.

Jury Fee: $20 Booth Fee: $285.00

Learn more and apply: http://emevents.com

This event is run by EM Events, founded by Erin Melloy in 1995 as an event planning company specializing in outdoor art festivals.

ARTISTS, you are what it's all about. We can't control the weather (really) or the economy (unfortunately) but we  can make sure you have the opportunity to showcase your art at well organized, carefully juried festivals.

At EM Events, we don't make money off your  booth or jury fees. We are paid a flat rate fee no matter the size of the event. This approach allows us to focus on the art. We at EM  Events-along with our many clients-believe in quality of art work over  quantity of artists.

I just got home from a great 3 week run in SE Florida.  Left 85 degree weather yesterday and many many hours later arrived to 28 degrees here in Atlanta :(  At least I am in my own bed now and don't have to eat out anymore.  My DH suprised me with an IPAD for Christmas, but they aren't great for typing on, so I decided to wait to write a review until I got to a computer with a keyboard and do a wrap up review. (This is a long one Connie so I know you will need to do lots of editing;) 

Last year I rented a place for 3 months in Florida and did shows January, February and March along the east coast of Florida.  This year I have work to do in February in Atlanta so I was only able to go to Florida for the month of January.

First weekend was Las Olas Part I.  This is the third Las Olas I have done, second time for Part I.  The crowd is usually mixed with the main market for me being recently retired people who have moved to The Fort and some 30 something Miami people.   I now know that staying at The Riverside is the only way to go for me.  It is totally worth the expense since I believe I sell better having the convience and comfort of The Riverside.  I arrived early on Friday and was able to enjoy the pool, shops and the great Friday happy hour, and figure out my booth spot/ parking.  The lot I usually like to use, which is convient to my booth had gone up from $20 a day to $50 a day!!!  No way was I going to pay $150 for parking.  The Riverside worked with me and the valets dealt with my van for the price I wanted in almost the same location as the $50 a day lot.   They gave me a room that overlooked my booth space and after a great dinner on Las Olas with artist friends  I was as comfortable as one can be the night before the early morning L. Olas set up.  (One thing I love about The Riverside is the wake up call person.  Every time I set up the really really really early  wake up call time they laugh at me ;)  When I woke up I was able to look out my window and see that the street was clear so I got my van and unloaded/parked easily.  We had sometime before we could start setting up so all the booth neighbors discussed their needs and we figured out the best way to set up for all of us.  Booths have been discussed many many times for this show so I don't feel I need to go into anymore detail about this.  Set up went pretty easily and I was back in my room taking a nap  before the show.  It did start to rain during set up and for the first part of the show.  Since SE Snow Birds have to have the most perfect of art show weather to show up (not too cold=below 70 degrees, no rain, not too cloudy but not too sunny=go to the beach)  the crowds were not the normal L. Olas Part I crowds.   I did make a few sales and some hopefuls for Sunday.  I had mixed feelings on Saturday night when I didn't have any deliveries.  I was really too tired to deliver, but no deliveries means no big sales.  Sunday the weather was much better and so was the crowd.  It still never got crazy crowded at my end but a good amount of shoppers.   The hopefulls came or called back.  My smaller pieces usually do well in Las Olas, and they did again this year.  I was all out of my smaller sizes by the end of the show and had one big delivery to make after tear down.  Tear down went as smoothly as possible.  I was pulling out of the show by 7:30 and on the way to Miami to make my delivery, which was perfect since I was staying in Miami for that night.

I was staying in Miami for the night because Monday morning a group of us were cruising out of Port of Miami between shows.  I had gotten this tip from another artist last year when I was in Florida.  Great idea and I highly recommend doing this.  It is cheaper than staying on land and lots of fun.  I was worried that it would limit me for follow up visits and sales but really I had a good amount of Monday and most of Friday after the cruise to deal with follow up stuff. 

Friday back from the Cruise, did some L. Olas stuff then went to Boca Raton.  Boca Raton where the people are really rich, older, retired Snow Birds, love to buy expensive art and are VERY high maintenance.  Got a great rate at The Courtyard, practically walking distance to the show and great restaurants all around, plus they had laundry!  The set up at Boca Fest is much easier then Las Olas.  You don't have to get up at a crazy hour everyone has tons of space.  I am able to blow the back out and make another room and some people bring an extra tent.  Parking was a bit crazy this year.   We had a new, closer place to park for free, but it rained Saturday morning (again) and the sand/dirt lot got messy and full fast.  We were told we could park in the same spot as last year, again pretty close but later were told we couldn't.  It was a pain to go move the cars but the HA team was great about watching out for us to make sure we wouldn't be ticketed or towed and contacted all of us that needed to be moved.  The place we needed to move to was just as convenient, just a different spot.  By the time the show started the rain had stopped and the shoppers came.  Lots of expensive art was leaving the show.  I know  what West Boca wants from me is not the same as the east part of SE Florida, but I was not able, or organized enough to pack the very packed van with all the right art for an entire booth set up of West Boca art.  Saturday I had hopefulls.  Sunday the weather was great and before the show even started some of the hopefuls called me with good news.  Sunday sales were better and by the end of the day I had my deliver runs figured out.  At the end of the show I decided to do my deliveries before I dealt with tear down.  So off I went with ID in hand to visit all the super mega gated communities that are such a PIA to deal with especially on Sundays with a Cargo Van.  I got back around 6:30 and was out by 7:30.  Easy in and out at this show.  Boca was a decent show for me, but something about Boca kills a part of your soul and I just never feel as happy about the show until I get out of that town for at least a day.  Still it is a great show to do between shows and I made some money and it felt great to tell a couple people to go to hell when they tried to negotiate with me on price late on Sunday because they figured I "needed" the sale.  ( I don’t think I told them to go to hell actually, but in my head that is what it sounded like)

Back to Miami on Sunday night where I decided to stay on land for the week.  I rented a 1 bedroom duplex in Coral Gables for the week and was really happy I did.  It was so nice to have an actual kitchen, living room and my own laundry.  I mainly wanted to sleep and do nothing that week and that is what I pretty much did.  I was able to meet with my SE Florida reps one day, found excellent Peruvian and Cuban food and I speak much better Spanish then I did before I arrived :)  On Thursday some of us artists met at Wynwood design district.  If you are in Miami you must do this.  I think this was my favorite day of my trip.  Excellent work, exciting area and very inspiring.  Beaux Arts has a Friday set up, yeah!!!!!  I find doing three travel shows by myself in a row very tiring and by the third show having the last show be a Friday set up is great.  For this show we received a ton of information and rules many times.  We had pages on set up procedures, but nothing about where we were actually suppose to go.  Since the show is affiliated with the Lowes Museum on The University of Miami campus I was brilliant enough to figure out that that might be the location to go to to get our artists packets, and it was.  The volunteers were all very nice junior league type women, and there was a bunch of them.  They were very helpful with what they wanted to help with.  With what they couldn’t help with you were on your own.   Not a big deal since the other artists at the show are great and everyone seemed to try and work together.  My spot was easy to get to and set up.  All very civilized and smooth except for the crazy tree trunks running through  out my booth and the booths around me.  Some of the booths are on grass and some are on pavement.  I did buy a corner booth, and depending on your location you had a ton of space and could blow out, or you were packed in tightly.  I was packed in pretty tight and I was in what one of the other artists liked to call "The St James Inner Court".   It was the first time I was doing this show and all the artist in this so called court were doing the show for the first time as well.   Friday night and early Saturday morning it rained, and it rained a lot.  So far it had rained every Saturday morning on this trip.  Luckily by the time I got to the show to open up my booth the rain had stopped and had stopped for the rest of the day.  The grass areas weren't too bad just wet.  The pavement folks set up in the parking lots probably had some puddles but nothing too  bad.  From my inner court I could easily see lots and lots of people, young people too, just not in my area.  Getting over the tree roots was an issue for strollers, wheel chairs and general walkers.  Like I said I had a corner and one side of my booth there was a sidewalk so it was easier for people to get to me.  The good thing about being in the inner court was that the people who did come to see us really did want to see us.  They weren't just strolling they were shopping.  Lots of serious art buyers at this show.  People would come back 4,5,6 times to look and decided.  I had a few good sales on Saturday and figured if I had the same day on Sunday then I would be very happy to end my Florida run.  Sunday started off slow, like Saturday did.  This show definitely felt different than the other Florida shows I had done where people start shopping at 8:30 am.  The weather was beautiful and by the end of the day my booth was pretty bare.  Around 4pm a dog peed on my new weights and then these really big wild parrots showed up and pooped on my booth.  I figured it must be a sign of good luck.  At the end of the day I decided to do deliveries again before tearing down.  Getting in and out was going to be crazy so I wanted to wait for it to die down anyway.  When I got back to my booth at 6:15 pm it was very dark and there was a couple waiting for me in the middle of all the chaos of break down.  The husband had thought it was a three day show because of Martin Luther King Day.  Late in the day he found out it wasn't.  The wife was furious and even made the husband miss the end of the football game so they could make it back to the show before I left.   I only had two large pieces left and  they took both, in the dark!  That was a first for me.  They even brought a car big enough so I didn't have to deliver.  It was nice to be at a show where the artists were treated like artists and not vendors.  I packed up in the dark and got out by 8pm.  It all went pretty smoothly considering it was a free for all tear down, good job artists.  All the artists were great and helpful with each other.  Thank you to all the artists that kept an eye on me.

It was a great trip to Florida but I am glad to be home.  I hope to do the exact same thing next year in January.  I would eat at the same places, stay at the same places, do the same things, hopefully sell the same amount.  The only thing I would change is the last hotel I stayed in on my drive back to Atlanta.  Good Luck to the rest of you staying for the season.  Florida is a beautiful place to be this time of year.

I wonder how many artists have artistic families? I get my hand to eye skills
from my father, who designed the moving walkways at airports during his days as
a Chief Mechanical Engineer. I wrote a blog entry about him and a wonderful
friend of his who supported me when I was first starting out as a full time
artist.

http://www.pencilenvy.blogspot.com/2013/01/dinner-with-skip.html

Have
a great day!!!