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High winds hit Howard Alan's Venice show hard overnight, as reported elsewhere by Barry Bernstein and Nels Johnson (with great contributions from others).   It didn't stop the show in Venice, though it made Sunday morning startup a bit complicated for some. 

The show was quite well attended both days (very warm and humid on Saturday). This town supports the heck out of this show in all weather--the "vibe" is more like a Rotary show than a big art festival. Although the pockets aren't deep, for the most part, if you have $30-40 items you can sell plenty of them. I haven't done this show in several years, and I was quite surprised to get visits from customers who bought from me not only here, but at a small, low-key show at the Venice Airport that I did in 2009 and 2010. It is one friendly crowd, for sure.

The weather front moved through just before dawn on Sunday morning.  I was unable to walk the show but show manager Helayne Stallings said that several tents were damaged.  One artist near me was trying to put the roof back on his tent as I arrived; high winds later on Sunday knocked over one sculpture right off the pedestal, shattering it all over Venice Avenue.  For the most part, damage was reported as minor. 

We probably caught a break, in that the winds were 20-30 mph from the NW, and the show is set up east-west, so the buildings helped to block them. There was a rumor circulating on Sunday that Helayne had authorized artists to leave if they wanted, so I tracked her down to check. 

It wasn't true, she explained, and told me about the only show she'd ever cancelled (I believe in Bloomington Hills, MI) about 15 years ago.  The weather cleared up after the call had been made, and she caught quite a bit of flak.

So the on-site show managers give a full report to Howard himself, and he  alone makes the call whether or not to cancel the show, she said. 

At any rate, the crowds continued to come (attendance and sales were even better on Sunday for most of the artists I spoke with at show's end-- quite surprisingly to me).

This show doesn't fly high on the radar screen, and my sales aren't what I get at Coconut Point and Naples by a long shot.  But it's a reliable paycheck, the 70-mile commute to my home is easy Interstate 75 driving, and I've always appreciated the warm welcome I get here. 
Nearly everyone I spoke with was happy or at least satisfied with their sales.  Or maybe, like me, they were just counting their blessings that they survived to show another weekend.  

 (Note: Haven't heard from anyone about Naples Mercato, which was cancelled on Day 2.  Anyone?)

The downward trend in the fourth show of my Florida tour continues. Raking in a disappointing $1200 in each of the first three shows (Artfest in Ft. Myers, Coconut Grove and Naples National), I didn't think sales can get worse, but they did.

I'm now convinced of two things. The recession continues here in Florida, and the work I do is not connecting with this audience. I'm a digital artist (which disqualifies a percentage of the art-buying public), and I don't expect stellar sales at every event. But to participate in these events, I need to make enough money to cover the overhead. Thus far, in Florida, I have not been able to do that.

My impression was that most artists at Las Olas were disappointed in sales. I'm curious to hear from other artists. Were sales down for others? Howard stopped by my booth a couple times on Saturday to give me a pep talk. He'd been following my posts and assured me that Sunday was the big buying day at Las Olas. Big wind and rain probably kept some people away, but I did have sales of $400 on Sunday while only $300 on Saturday, so, I guess Howard was right.

As for the show, it seemed that Howard Alan brought in a big crowd. The streets were mostly full, even when it rained early on Sunday afternoon. The location of my booth was excellent, just off of eighth street, facing North. I was in the shade all weekend and I had easy access to my car and trailer in a metered parking lot only 1/2 block away. Parking was $1 per hour, worth it, for me, because of the convenience of having my trailer so close. Of course, my plan of being able to quickly restock as my pictures flew out of the tent in the hands of eager buyers was, in retrospect, a bit overly optimistic.

I've still got three more shows to go before I can go home to Saugatuck to lick my wounds. Next week, Bonita Springs, then Winter Park and finally, Naples Downtown... all highly ranked shows, and shows that I have done in the past with some limited success. Of course, I did OK at Las Olas a couple years ago as well. My wife, Marcia will be joining me for these last three shows. Maybe her pretty face will bring in the big bucks.

March 8-11

La Quinta, California

Outdoor gallery on La Quinta Civic Center Campus  

230 contemporary artists from 30 states and Canada 

Festival hours: 10 am to 5 pm 

The 30th Annual La Quinta Arts Festival returns to the visually stunning setting of La Quinta's Civic Center Campus in the greater Palm Springs area - Southern California's preferred desert resort location. 

This award winning event attracts art patrons and tourists from across the nation as one of the Coachella Valley's premier attractions. Live Entertainment, Delicious Food, Wine and Beer complement your experience.

Only the best artists qualify for La Quinta Arts Festival.  Undergoing a rigorous jury process competing with nearly 1,000 applicants these artists display mastery of their respective medium and excellence in presentation to qualify for La Quinta Arts Festival, consistently ranked among the top ten Art Fairs and Festivals in the Nation.

Artist Jason Napier from Washington says: 

There are many reasons why this is my favorite show...The staff is absolutely amazing! The setting is drop dead gorgeous! The artists at this show are of the highest caliber! 

The 30th Anniversary will be marked by the addition of Randy Strong as the Featured Festival Artist. Strong, an award winning designer and innovator of sculptural glass, is recognized as one of the leaders of the American Studio Art Glass Movement. 

La Quinta Arts Festival is presented by La Quinta Arts Founda-

tion, in partnership with Premier Sponsor the City of La Quinta. Proceeds garnered from La Quinta Arts Festival have helped to provide college scholarship awards totaling $1,000,000 to visual art majors. 

Find complete information at www.LQAF.com or call (760) 564-1244.  Daily Festival tickets are $12; a Multi-day pass is $15. Children under 12 are free. Pre-purchase discount Multi-day tickets online at www.LQAF.com

April 21-22 & 28-29
Houston, Texas 
Downtown Houston
Noon-8pm
200 Artists
Deadline: March 1 print deadline for inclusion on website, mobile app and event program.  Booths sell on first come/first served basis.

What is the show all about?

- Celebration of international arts and culture

- City blocks of entertainment and interactive fun for all ages
- A variety of musical artists from zydeco to blues, rock and world beat

What are the selling points of the show?
- Ethnically diverse audience
- Arts-oriented patrons attracted by cultural programs and visual arts  exhibits

- Hundreds of thousands of people attend iFest each year

Artist Amenities:

• Multi-million dollar multi-media advertising and publicity campaign
• Breakfast on festival mornings
• Booth sitting/artist relief provided
• Signage for each artist
• Juried event with recognition and prizes
• Strong buyer power: 49% of iFest attendees have incomes of $50.000+
• Fabulous international cuisine and local favorites

Presented  by the Houston Festival Foundation, Inc a 501(c)3 non profit  organization established in 1971.  This will be our 42nd Annual event.   The high quality iFest Markets are unsurpassed in selection, quality and  authenticity.  Each market area is designed to offer the vendor a rich  and beautiful market venue from which to sell products and to attract a  large crowd.

For more information and application:  

http://www.ifest.org/markets/

Contact information: Annabelle Ruch-Director of Artists Markets

Email: markets@ifest.org

Cell: (832)771-7661   

Did not see any reviews on the 52nd Annual Artcenter Traverse City Outdoor Artfair or the Sounds an and sight Festival in Chelsea, MI. Has anyone done them and what do you think. Thanks

Since I just talked about the recent Gasparilla--and high winds--I thought a little basics primer would be of use to you newbies.

Oldtimers who have been around know what to do.

In the 38 years of doing shows I have been blown down once, and lost work and had booth damage, and that was because a hurricane hit our show in Vero Beach at 4 am in the morn with winds in excess of 75 mph.

Anyways, here are the basics.  Follow them and most times you will get out intact and undamaged.  You gotta work quick, no dilly-dallying.

First off, get both the front and the rear side curtains out of the way, unzip them.  They are just wind-catchers.

Undo your front and rear awnings if you have any, get them on the ground, quickly.  Fold all this stuff up later.  You want your booth down and work out quickly.

OK. Now take all the art off the walls and package it up. Same if you had art on pedestals or shelves. Get it into the van quickly.  Most times this can be accomplished 15-30 minutes.  Things don't have to be perfectly packaged.  You can do that later.  You want things down so if the booth takes a quick wind hit you don't lose work.

Next, and this applies to 2-D artists or any artist who uses fabric over their metal panels.  Get them off quickly.  They are sails and catch the wind.  With them off the air will flow quickly thru instead of building lift and tension on your structure.

If you have solid wall panels, like ProPanels or door sections.  Get them down on the ground.  Reduce your wind resistance.

Now comes the roof which can be tricky in windy times.  If you can get help one or two people who will be able to hold on to corner poles while you are undoing the fasteners to your roof.

Important.  Don't undo your weights or tiedowns until roof is off.  Take all the help you can get.

When faced with a choice of whether to take roof off back to front or in reverse, think about wind direction.  Undo the end that goes with the wind.  If you try to go against it, it will be very difficult--too much vector forces from the wind will make it impossible to roll back your roof.

Get it on the ground fast.  Now you have no wind resistance and the booth structure will come down without bending parts.

Now, take the time to fold covers and put them away.  Same goes for the roof.

If you follow this method you will get out of most windy shows (even in gusts up to 25 mph) intact and undamaged.  After all that is the only result you want.

Print this out and save it in your van, you never know when it is going to come in handy.  Fair weather friends and mucho sales.  Nels.

I know Barry Bernstein gave you a quick memo about Gasparilla Art Show in Tampa, but I thought I could give a little more in depth reporting.

My wife, Ellen Marshall was an exhibitor there.  I was not, I was in the lovely Blooming Bartow show down the road.  I tore down on Saturday at 3 pm when winds were already blasting that show at 25 mph-plus.  I got out in one piece, work intact, booth intact, made $440.00 Whoopee!

Got home last night and Ellen told me about her day.  She sold a big cow for over $2K so her show was made.

We knew from the weather reports that Sunday was not going to be a good weather day which would translate into pitiful artist sales and big risks of work and booth getting trashed.

So Sunday morn after doing breakfest across from the show, I suggested to her to do the sensible thing--tear down and get the hell out of Dodge intact.

When we arrived at the show her neighbor two booths over had his rear of the booth badly crippled.  There were others who were blown over.  Hell, big metal sculptures were blown over.  And the wind was just getting started at 8 am in the morn.

Ellen's booth was on the first line of booths in the show.  Right next to Ashley Drive set up on a concrete plaza.  Her row got the first blasts of air coming in.  Most booths fared poorly.  I mean people were weighted down with heavy blocks,weights, tied to poles.  But there is only so much wind our temporary booths can withstand and then something has to give.

We jumped the plaza curb and got her van in there.  An hour later, with help from some passerbys, we were out of there.  Jerry and Carol Napoli, neighbors started to slowly tear down.  We went home and promptly fell back to sleep, safe and sound.

Around 10 am I went out for a New York Times and decided to swing by Ashley and see how the booths were faring.  Almost every booth on Ellen's row was now taken down as well as booths on the next row in.  People out in the park, on grass, fared better.  They could stake down--they didn't have booths walking in the wind.  Trouble was, there was nobody there to sell to.

It is ironic about Gasparilla.  They offer some of the biggest prize money on the circuit--more than $75,000.  But being in this newly remodeled downtown park they now have the dubious honor of being one of the worst shows that you will ever have to tear down from.  Show was to be over at 5pm, Ellen's load-in time was  scheduled for 7 pm, two hours after closing.

Unfortunately the City Fathers of Tampa (i.e. the City Council) are hell-bent on that show only being on this concrete plaza with some grass in downtown.  God Forbid!  No artists are to be on the streets.

This poses several problems.  One, because of park size, the number of exhibitors is now less.  Two, being on concrete, even weighted down, booths are going to walk in high winds (Guess what, it is always rainy and,or windy at Gasparilla, that is the norm).  Three, vehicles must stay only on concrete sidewalks which makes for a tedious setup and teardown.  The local fire chief is adamantly opposed to any vehicles parked on Ashley behind cones.  Although Sunday morn, they did have a row of cones out with vans inside, tearing down and loading out.  This is no way to put on a prestigious art show.  

More and more artists are going to quit applying to Gasparilla, the effort is not worth it.

I am just glad we got Ellen out intact and booth undamaged.  Same thing for me at lovely Blooming Bartow(don't waste your time there unless you have ceramic butterfly gardens on rebar selling for $19.95--my neighbor sold out of them by noontime.).  I pray other exhibitors got out of Gasparilla undamaged.

The wind has been howling all day with very uncomfortable temps.  It was a tough weather weekend with the Mercado and Sullivan shows closing in Naples as well as Gasparilla.  It sounds like Howard's Los Olas escaped the brunt of the weather according to exhibitor Steve Vaughn.

I would love to see Gasparilla succed.  But the City Fathers are on a wrong course for this show.

Ironically, yesterday artist Rick Abrams wisely started tearing his booth down at 3:30 and a couple of committee members gave him shit over it.  Then this morn, those very members were holding onto a big committee tent for dear life.  Talk about karma man, there you have it.

Hopefully other exhibitors who were there will chime in with a report.  You all can't just be lurkers, you gotta be proactive sometimes.  Now I am going to take a delightful afternoon nap and have some great sushi this evening--Ellen's buying.

I visited the Gasparilla show yesterday and talked to some friends. I had a good time but it was windy but manageable. Not so this morning.  It rained overnight and booths got wiped out. It's noon now and I hear people are packing up. This pic is taken from Mathew Hatala's FB page:

Has anyone done the Funky Ferndale art fair and if so good or bad. Thanks

August 3-5
Park City, Utah
Presented by the Kimball Art Center
220 artists
Deadline: March 12

The 43rd Annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival will be held August 3rd – 5th. Each year, the first full weekend in August, 220 juror-selected artists in 12 media categories fill Historic Park City Main Street attracting over 55,000 attendees from 41 states and Canada to experience this multi-sensory Festival.

The Festival showcases and promotes:

• visual arts
• live art demonstrations
• diverse musical performances on multiple stages
• a kids art area
• art-focused films
• and the incredible cuisine of Park City through the Festival’s Taste of Art program

Please apply to participate in The Park City Kimball Arts Festival which is one of the longest running and largest arts festivals in the Western United States and serves as the nonprofit Kimball Art Center’s primary fundraiser.

Learn more about our show: www.kimballartcenter.org

Artists may apply at www.zapplication.org.

Deadline EXTENDED to March 12th, 2012 – PLEASE JOIN US!

Application fee: $35

I'd welcome suggestions about how to do this without obvious bungee cords - also how to hang curtains. I have an EZ Up tent.  Thanks! 

I was wondering how you all sign your works of art.   I have an electric engraving tool that i scratch my name onto the piece of steel that my work is on.   My signature is faint that is the problem.  I am thinking of getting a stamp and put my name in that way.   Has anyone done this and if so would like to know the results.   The other thought is weld a small metal plaque on each piece .   I have seen it once.  Has anyone done a lasar label.   I am just curious to know what people do these days.   Seems like someone has decided to copy my work,  think it is coming from overseas but not sure.    

May 5 & 6

Sanford, Florida

Historic Downtown Sanford
100 Artists
Deadline: March 16 

$14,000 in Awards ~ $3,000 Best of Show

A NEW art festival experience... 

We  are very excited about our inaugural event and plan to make it one of  the South's premier outdoor fine arts festivals. A different festival  experience awaits you! Over 100 Premier Artists will be selected to  participate in this art festival.

Throughout the festival we will  also include 12 demonstrating areas for artists selected through our  jury process. These artists will have adjacent spaces to demonstrate  their artistic process along with their finished artwork to sell.  

There will be eight (8) defined categories.

• Painting includes: watercolor, oil, acrylic
• Fine Craft includes: wood, glass, leather, basketry  and fiber
• Sculpture
• Drawing, Pastel, Pen & Ink
• Digital, Graphics & Mixed Media
• Jewelry
• Clay
• Photography  

Anticipated attendance: Approximately 30,000 visitors over the two day Festival run.  

Entertainment: Soft acoustical music artists perform throughout the festival footprint. Performance  art students from Midway Elementary School also will be featured.

More info at our website: www.stjohnsriverartfest.com 

Jury Fee: $35.00

Booth Fee: $225.00    

Artists must apply online at www.stjohnsriverartfest.com or print out application on the site and mail via USPS.   

Each  artist is required to send (3) images of their work and (1) of their  display. These images must be on a CD with artist info (name, phone  & email) written on the disk.    

Please mail completed application, booth fee ($225.00 or $450.00) and jury fee ($35.00) to:

        
Contact Information:  riverartfest@gmail.com
Phone: Rae Marie: 407-324-1577
Alt Phone: Kim House: 407-323-9272

I have an opportunity in my schedule this year to do this show.

10x10 corners are $100 shy of 3k. That's just the booth fee.  I would like to try this show, but of course hesitate at the thought of just breaking even, or even losing money. Photography (subject not Chicago) might be a tough sell at a holiday show like this.  Am looking for some feedback re: do attendance numbers/exposure support the booth fee? What is the attendance trend the last few years? Would love to hear from anyone on their thoughts on the show. Deadline for app is March 5.

June 23-24
Des Moines, Iowa

10th Annual Artfest Midwest
Iowa State Fairgrounds (indoors)
Show hours:  10-6 Saturday, 10-5 Sunday
Over 230 artists
Application deadline (on www.Zapplication.org):  March 3

Presented by Stookey Companies, Chosen as a "Show Stopping Startup"
    by Sunshine Artist Magazine

Highlights—

•    Iowa’s largest fine art show!
•    Tenth anniversary
•    Affordable, alternative to the outdoor downtown Des Moines art show
•    Free admission, free parking,
•    Free shuttle to and from the downtown show (10 minute ride)
•    Air conditioned, indoors
•    Goal of presenting this show is to contribute to the enjoyment of the arts during that weekend in
      Des Moines and to provide a complement to the downtown show.
•    Estimated attendance 30,000 (according to “Sunshine Artist Magazine”)
•    Extensive media plan, including TV & radio
•    Friday set-up
•    Easy and convenient loading and unloading—flat access

Stookey Companies is a family-owned, Iowa-based event coordination business that has specialized in organizing Fine Art, Craft and Antique shows for over 17 years in Iowa.

To apply:  www.Zapplication.org
For more information: www.ArtFestMidwest.com, suestookey@att.net, 515-278-6200,
    PO Box 31083, Des Moines, IA 50310

Hello

I am new here, and looking for advise when it comes to Credit Cards. I will try to get in to a local Winter craft market this year and sell my knitted items. I understand that it is a must, to accept credit card, not only cash. I will probably use the machine  once or twice a year. What solution do you recommend ?

September 29 & 30  

Peoria, Illinois

50th Annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair
Peoria Riverfront Festival Park 

Peoria Riverfront
150 Artists 

Deadline: March 9 new deadline: March 14

$10,000 Total Awards

Best of show: $2,500

10 Awards of Excellence of $750 each 

Location: Peoria is half way between Chicago and St. Louis

Friday: Patron Preview Party

Saturday: 9am-5pm

Sunday: 10am-5pm

Rated #73 in the Top 200 Art Fairs by Sunshine Artist Magazine

Ranked in the top 200 Fairs from 2008 Art Fair Sourcebook 

• #103 in Fine Art
• #131 in Fine Craft

Whether you're a first-timer...

"This is my 1st year and I had a wonderful time. We don't always get treated well (after booth fee is paid). So the Peoria "Pamper the Artist" program is very much appreciated. Thanks to all who made it happen." 2010 Fine Art Fair Artist 

Or back for more...(noted by Sally Bright, returning artist, in the Peoria Journal Star, Sept. 26, 2010)    

"I love this show.  It's a whole community thing, not just an elite group of artists.  It's super fun to be around, and we feel appreciated by both the producers and the community at large.  One of the best things about the show is the location, and not just because it's on the beautiful riverfront."     

The Fine Art Fair is known for ...

• An appreciative buying audience for ALL mediums
• After-fair sales
• Easy set-up and teardown/level and accessible
• Convenient reserved free parking for artists
• Affordable and close accommodations (over 800 hotel rooms within walking distance of the venue)
• Over 450 energetic community volunteers-willing to please and deliver refreshments
• Booth sitters available if you need to grab a snack or take a break
• Overnight security Friday & Saturday
• Complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner all weekend
• Saturday night complimentary artist awards dinner (with entertainment)
• Opportunity to mix & mingle and pre-sell at the Friday night preview party
• Artist-only break room and information center
• Beautiful outdoor Riverfront venue
• The company of highly respected, nationally recognized, award winning artists
• ATM on site for IMMEDIATE CASH PURCHASES!
• Good old-fashioned mid-western hospitality!!

Ask the artists who have exhibited in Peoria.  No one does it better.  We excel in artist amenities from complimentary lunch and breakfast to an Artist Awards dinner that is standing room only.  We work hard to make your experience in the heart of the Midwest one you won't forget.  With 35% of our exhibiting artists new each year, we never tire of hearing, "Wow, I never thought I'd do this well or have this much fun in Peoria, IL!"

Visit our Facebook pageto become a fan and view photos from the 2011 Fine Art Fair.

Application available at: http://www.zapplication.org  

For additional information, please call 309-671-1093, visit www.peoriafineartfair.com

or email: artfair@peoriaartguld.org

We are not doing our usual east coast  trip this year.  Lots of disappointments last year. We have applied to a number of shows in Colorado and Utah. Has anybody doen any of the three Breckenridge Mountain Art Festivals? 2 in July, 1 in September? Need soem direction. We have applied to  Downtwon Denver, Salt Lake City Utah Arts fest.,  but need to fill in July and August.

During this week's Art Fair Insiders podcast, Connie Mettler spoke with Stephen King (Des Moines Arts Festival) and Cindy Lerick (Saint Louis Art Fair). Both of these events utilize the ZAPPlication® system to collect and adjudicate their applications. If you missed the podcast, you can find out all about it and how to listen to the recording at: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/podcast-5-pm-2-27-art-fair-directors-cindy-lerick-stephen-king

During the podcast a question came up regarding how applications can be sub-sorted within the ZAPP® jury process. Events that license the ZAPP® system can choose to sub-sort applications within each medium category by Application ID#, Date Received, or Last Name. Here's what each of those options means:

Application ID#: A number generated when the application is first started. This number is unique to this application for this specific event and event year. Artists who started applications early in the time the application was open will appear before those who started applications later in the cycle.

Date Received: This option sorts the applications based on the submission time stamp (date and time the application was submitted). Artists who submit applications early on will appear earlier in the slide-show. It is our understanding that most events which utilize ZAPP® use this option so that artists who submit first are given the first look by jurors.

Last Name: This option sorts the applications within a medium category alphabetically (A-Z) by last name. Sorting in this manner does not necessarily mean that jurors can see applicant last names. We believe most events do a blind jury process (meaning artist last names are not visible by the jurors), so for events who might utilize this option, only the jury administrator would know that the applications are sorted in this manner.

Hopefully this information is helpful to you and clears up an unanswered question from this most recent podcast! As a reminder, ZAPP® is a software tool that events can use for their application and jury processes. Events determine their own individual policies regarding deadlines, jury processes, and other related items. The ZAPP® system provides options and tools to help administrators with their event management but ZAPP® does not manage these events nor dictate their show policies.

Artists with questions about an event's policy or jury process should contact the event directly as each show has varied policies and procedures.


Cheers!
Leah, Manager of ZAPP®