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Not loosing sight of what's important.

I'm working with an artist (handbag designer) who immigrated to this country and is living on a shoestring budget. She wanted to apply to a show on Juried Art Services and got my contact information from the JAS web site. The pictures she took of her own bags were not going to get her into any shows so I asked her to send me the five bags to photograph. Having a difficult time understanding English, she assumed I was asking her to send me the five images again. I was finally able to get her to understand that I was going to take the pictures of her bags and not charge her. The thank you e-mail I received from her made it all worth while, and prompted me to write this.

No matter how much you need it, sometimes things are more important than money.

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

Alrighty then.......This is my first blog on this site,so please bear with me.

I am a photographer and I shoot primarily land/seascapes as well as nature. I have entered and been accepted to a few juried Art Fairs in the past few years. I don't do many and most all of them are within about 100 mile drive.

I enjoy them and love the intereaction with customers and other artists.

My question is.........When a judge (or judges) view your booth,what exactly are they looking at (for)and what or how is it determined who gets a ribbon? Is it based soley on your work, or other elements? Do they use a point system? Is interacting and conversing with the judge(s) a good or bad thing?

The most recent fair I participated in last weekend had about 70+ 2-D entries and one judge for that category.

Just a newbie question I guess,but one that I am curious about.

The First Huntley Artfest closed on Sunday at 4 PM to the accolades of attending Artist and Patrons. Approximately 2,800 patrons strolled through Artfest Grounds, enjoying the Arts, Music and Food. All good things seem to be put to a 'Test' and Artfest had its trials. How on earth does one survive a monsoon, 10 minutes before your Art Fair is to open? The answer is simple: "You remain steadfast and then take care of others" That is exactly what the Organizers and a multitude of volunteers - all from "The First Congregational Church" did on Saturday Morning.

The Artist attending Artfest were taken back by the immediate response to make sure that they the Artist were up back and running, while Tents of the Artfest Organizers, lay on the ground from the storm that morning.

Heavy rain and 60+ mph winds did not deter Artfest, and the Celebration continued. Now that Artfest is over, I can sit back with a big smile and lots of Pride in the efforts put forth by The First Congregational Church.

Huntley now has an Annual Event that is sure to grow over years to come. As the Talent on Stage continues to expand, and more Artist hear of the awesome Art Fair in Huntley, Huntley has become a destination point, for Artist.

The list is long to Thank all those who made Artfest happen, so please stop by our Web Page http://www.firsthuntleyartfair.org to view the many local businesses and residents who aided the First Congregational Church, in breathing life into a Dream, A Vision,... and now a Reality.

Within the next couple of weeks the Dates will be set for Huntley Artfest 2012. I will announce the dates at that time.

New this year: 

In year's past this show has limited its media to strictly non-functional art, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, etc.  Because of many requests from the community we are enlarging the media that will be accepted. All media in fine art and fine craft are now eligible for participation. We welcome fiber, ceramics, jewelry, wood and other fine craft categories for jurying.

I have been corresponding with a director at a large, well-respected art festival (she would prefer to remain anonymous, noone wants a reputation as being out to "get" artists) regarding Mistura, the watch people.  She has received numerous questions about them and their veracity as artists but has been unable to come up with concrete facts.  

Their website doesn't give enough info and they claim to be the artists.   I know they were at the art festival in Lake Forest, IL today.  Were they at your festival?  Do you have any information about them proving that this company has a factory where the watches are produced?

This director will notify a lot of other festivals and perhaps this vendor will finally sell at the appropriate venues and a real artist can use their booth space at an art festival.  

Thanks for your help.

One small step for artists.............

St. Louis has been experiencing a drought this summer. When we arrived on Friday to the show, it was 100 degrees (actual temperature). I didn't ask what the heat-index was ... I didn't want to know. Thank goodness Queeny Park is an indoor art show.

We were able to unload the car and set up without too much trouble. On Friday evening, they serve wine at the show and make it an event. We have never done much in sales on Friday night, but that was not the case this time. Friday ended up being our best sales of the 3 day show. The wine was flowing, the credit cards were flying.

Saturday and Sunday brought a more restrained attendee. I don't know why ... But over all, it was a very good show for us. In fact, it was our best trip to St. Louis. The weather was very hot again on Saturday until it started to rain. Sunday was cooler. I was very glad we were indoors in the a/c.

We had a number of "regulars" stop by our booth and visit. And there are a number of artists that we connected with as well. The artist next to us, got a ribbon. And we met Phillis Roewe across from us. She is this sweet woman, who has been married for over 57 years. (Or was it 59 years) YIKES! She is still doing shows. Her husband came in on Sunday afternoon and helped her take down the booth.

Next stop: Milwaukee Trimborn Farms, next weekend.

A few days back an artist posted a question about how to engage prospective customers.  Here's a place to start.

Getting Artists to be Better Salespeople

Hmm, the working assumption is you want and need to sell more of your art.  Granted many artists don’t do their thing for income or as a biz.  And that’s OK, but IF you do, and sales are slow, those over-stuffed shelves of aging art inventory can be like a creative spirit-robbing, inspiration-thief in the night.  There’s the Usual Suspects to move art: add another art fair, drop price, run sales, try the next gallery, place ads, get a new agent, hold events with wine and cheese, get a new web site, start a blog, etc.  But what about the secret weapon.

Become a better Salesartist.

A sale is nothing more than a transfer of enthusiasm.

Attributed to Brian Tracy in The Psychology of Selling, this declaration is widely known in sales circles, is simple, unforgettable, and rich.  It bears mantra-esque repetition.  Transfer more enthusiasm. Get more sales.

Don’t confuse this nugget with selling STYLE.  Many different styles are effective.  Like your favorite clothes, you use a combo of ones that fit well, are comfortable, blend naturally with your personality, build confidence, and are tailored for who you’re selling to at the moment.

Actively transferring enthusiasm to prospects shopping your art is another matter.  It starts with a ‘reveal’ and communicates the core of your passion.  Passion you got, you’re an artist!  Pass FORWARD the passion (think electricity through wire) and now you’re a cookin’ hot Salesartist.

If you CAN take the time, sure it will pay to study the art of selling:  get a few books, read some sales blogs, attend seminars, get CD’s, fine-tune techniques, practice and apply to your art selling.  If and when you overheat with ‘too much information"...

...just talk to a customer.  Directly.  Listen…the words they use, what they see, what they like or dislike, what they feel, about YOUR work.

Then your turn…Transfer the Enthusiasm.

Much success, Rick

I am going to add new info for Labor Day right here so you don't have to go thru the whole dang thing. Monday was the nicest day, though very chilly. Think heavy wool sweaters with chilling breezes.  People were out early, sales were being made.  I had the most fun with people on Monday, did not make as much as Sunday, but I made a profit.  When interviewing my fellow artists about Sunday sales, a number had done $4-5K on that day,a small number of artists.  Most others if they did $1K they were lucky.  Many unhappy campers who will not be coming back.  We head home for Saugatuck today.  Give me a day to unwind and I WILL REPORT A NEW BLOG WITH THOUGHTFUL OBSERVATIONS, MEANINGFUL EDITORIAL ADVICE AND GIVE THE PLUSES AND MINUSES TO THIS SHOW.  Too bad Webbie could not make it here, he could have said a big load of things.  Later Gators.

Below here is where I started my Friday report.

I have added new info since Fri. morn,Well, we are here.

Weather forcast absolutely sucks.

Today, heat at 95 degrees with 30% percent chance of rain.

Tomorrow, 90 degrees with 40%.

Sunday, mid-eighties with 30%.

Monday, sunny--high of 66 degrees.

We will do our best, but frankly, this is going to hurt attendance.

Pray for us.  Nels and Ellen.

New Info.

Returned to hotel Fri. nite, exhausted from 96 degree heat most of day.  Guess what?  Looking forward to a cool shower and a cool room.  AC was busted, in the Westin, they moved us to a new room.  That just about summed up the day.

Show is well organized.  But, we are just one small part of this whole affair.  It has the feel of a giant eight-block country fair with loud music booths and food boooths everywhere.  Oh yeah, then there is some art, us.

We were mostly ignored.  Most people did not do even $300 for the day.  I made $236, Ellen made zero.

New info about Saturday

Just a few quick notes before leaving for show on Sunday.

Read the comments below especially on second page--they tell ya about the bad weather, again, that hit nthe show.

There was no warning about high winds when we decided to buckle up for the night at 7:30.  But, it sounds like shades of Columbus all over again. One tell,Richard the Wooden Spoon Maker told us thet had done a manutory evacuation of the Ann Arbor Stadium earlier around 7 PM. 

When Richard isn't wrapping a spoon every five minutes that tells you a lot about sales.

All I know is that in our section on 7th which is like the beginning of the show, sales were pretty abysmal for most of us.  The Angel guy was killing them with lowend prints.  Aaron from Georgia with great African folk art paintings made several big sales during the day.  Ellen sold one small one for $295--that is her only sale for the whole show.  Me, I didn't even do $1400 for the day.  These people were wandering in La-La land.  Very few interested buyers.

Weather is a factor, went to a high of 95 degrees which kills most sales.  Economy in Royal Oak is not good.

On the other hand, out on the main drag, Washington Street, there were bigger crowds and a lot more successes.

Then, there are the legion of lost souls area. 7th crosses WaSHINGTON.  MOST PEOPLE TAKE A RIGHT TURN AND WALK THAT WAY, BUT IF THEY KEPT GOING STRAIGHT, THEY WOULD FIND ABOUT 20 MORE BOOTHS HIDDEN BEHIND A GIANT FUDGE TRUCK DISPLAY WHICH ALMOST TOTALLY HIDES THEM.  MOST PEOPLE THEIR WERE UNHAPPY CAMPERS.  I TALKED TO THREE OF THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE BACK UNLESS A MIRACLE HAPPENS.

I AM PRAYING FOR A GOOD MIRACLE FOR ALL OF US.

THANKS MUNKS, FOR ZIPPERING UP OUR BLOWN OPEN TARP--YOU ARE A PRINCE.  HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SELL A FEW BIG ONES TODAY.

THANKS TO JIM PARKER, AS ALWAYS, A STALWART FORCE AMONG ARTISTS.

NEW INFO ABOUT SUNDAY.

Cooled down finally to low eigthy, crowds werew larger and sales were somewhat larger.

Trouble is, most people were still unhappy with sales for the day.  Lots of them did less than a grand, some were lucky to do $1600, and then a lucky number did outstanding sales.

Most exhibitors who were there last year agreed that thus was not the  buying crowd they saw last year.

They are a blue collar crowd and they dont seem to want to spend much money.  They reminded me too much of being like the Ann Arbor crowd we saw.

Ellen tells me we gotta go now in order to get our parking spot.

Will continue tomorrow where I left off.

Parker, others, feel free to jump in.

Aloha, Nels and Ellen.

So, this is too bad, but not too big a surprise, considering... Were you there? Did you pay to park? I know I paid $20 to the Unitarian Church. This probably didn't get counted in the mix as well as many of the other private parking lots. But this is the official info. Read it all here:

http://www.annarbor.com/news/dda-parking-revenues-from-art-fair-at-lowest-level-in-a-decade-users-of-parking-system-down-in-july/ 

 This is my first comment since I joined this site and, unfortunately, not a good one.

 Last weekend I did Bucktown Art fair, in Chicago and would like to point that it was not a good art fair. Not for me. Some people did well, but those with low price point. This was more of "community art fair" where everything and anything goes. I should have  known better, mia culpa...maxima!!

  But, I am glad to join this group of people and hope to help with my judgement as  well as here others.

  By the way, my show season 2011 was the best ever!! I prepared myself for the worst and got the best. I did;

St Paul,MN show in April, Broadripple, IN in May, Community Art fair in Hyde Park (57 St small sister) in Chicago, Salina KS in June, Fountain Square Art fest, Evanston ( last few years going down, but for me this year was a blast), Krasl Art Fair, St Joseph MI. 

  I am getting ready for Lake Forest Il, Naperville, IL and on waiting list for great Peoria show that I did many many years with a lot success.

 So, this is for  beginning. Oh, I forgot that I took month off, from July 13-August 16 and went on well deserved vacation to my home country Croatia.

  Tutulu...

I will admit I was in a lousy mood for the early morning set-up on Saturday. Perhaps it was the nightmare- just before I woke- that someone stole our newly purchased (used)Mini-van loaded the night before with all the art fair stuff?

Everyone seemed a bit grumpy and “off” and I can only blame the humidity that lifted mid-afternoon. Or maybe Mercury finally moved all the way out of retro-grade- whatever that means. The artists were pretty much on their own for parking management made even more complicated because after 9 or so, stages and things began to be set up and routes became even more limited. I ended up parking on a nearby street despite free parking provided for the artists at a nearby school.

I was assisted in unloading by a friendly and cheerful (and strong!) volunteer and that went a long way toward making me feel welcome and supported.

Check-in was not advertised and only the sight of other artists striding past with a plate full of muffins and bagels and a banana and a glass of OJ notified us of free food Saturday morning (only). When I checked at the info booth, I was given a small info packet and (best!!) a free little black apron with pockets. What a useful freebie! Thank you Bucktown!

At any rate, I was ready for my uneven site, having scoped it out a few days before. We brought a few bricks and boards to level things out as well as the shims that we always carry; but I was still feeling sorry for myself until I saw what other artists had to contend with and I had lots of shade! If you get a spot in the park, come prepared for very uneven spots. The guy next to us moved because his site had a lot of really bad tree roots sticking up-I think I’d be most worried about customers tripping on them! 

This left us alone on our little hill and I have to say, I think the booth looked great with the galvanized tin gleaming in the sun.

The fair opened at 11 which seemed luxurious in light of the morning set-up. We had arrived about 7 :40 and were all set by 10. However, I did not make my firs sale until 1:30 so I was relieved to find that this seems to be a fair that just doesn’t get cooking until late afternoon.

This is a NOISY art fair and is also packed with kids and dogs. There are a lot of really terrific shows for the kids and also a kid’s activity tent where my son spent most of his time. There is also a great playground and a city pool- though I didn’t notice if they closed that for the fair. If you have kids, this is a terrific fair to keep them happy- it’s also very contained so they are less likely to get lost or go far.

 My ponderings as I waited to sell anything and then as I waited to “break even” was: perhaps not every fair is the right fair for me even if I get in. Maybe this is too young a crowd; do they want trendy? Or are they just wandering around looking at stuff to entertain themselves. No one was carrying any purchases- this is something artists look for. If someone drags a bunch of bags into your booth, you feel optimistic!

Then, after people began to buy things I decided that my best work always sells. When I mentioned this to my husband, he asked me what percentage of my work is my best work I guessed perhaps 30% of what I create? Don’t get me wrong- and you artists know this; the work I put out is all “good”. It’s technically sound and attractive but there are always those pieces that, when you pull them out of the kiln, you say, “ah, that’s a nice one.” You might even be tempted to keep it- some, the very best, you do. You can’t quite bear to let them go. We know which pieces those are.

At any rate, my day picked up so that by the 7 o’clock closing time, I was relieved and felt I had not made a mistake in participating in what I think, is a lovely little fair.

The next day, again, I did not make a sale until well after noon and, this being my last fair, I put out everything in my bins. I wanted to just get rid of it! Surprisingly, I sold a lot of older work- one vase I was so sick of, I just gave it away with the purchase of a larger vase. It was a great day and this turned out to be a terrific fair- definitely the RIGHT fair for me!

The day ended at 7 again although sales ended about 6 pm. And  the load-out in the dark kind of sucked. Every one was tired, there was even less space (tents and stages still up) and less traffic management. Thank goodness for the van! I cannot imagine slipping in and out of there with anything larger!

Other drawbacks to this fair was that we were positioned precisely where we could hear the kid’s shows (and taped music) at exactly the same volume as we were hearing performances on the main-stage. I went home with a sore throat from having to raise my voice to be heard by friends and customers. I also think that much noise is tiring although I did find it energizing when we were packing up!

Lastly, the hike to the porta-potties was almost painful and  time-consuming and then, at the end of the day, no TP was adding insult to injury. Clearly I’ve been spoiled in the past (most notably by Krasl).

On the way out, I saw this incredible booth (photo) but never saw who it was or what he was selling!?

All in all I think it was a great fair- if you participate, bear in mind it could be a late-starting crowd.

Ok, it is uncomfortable for me to talk about my art... but I am a friendly person. I am not comfortable sitting in the back of my booth, watching folks who MAY buy a piece of my work... and me MAYBE saying "I was thinking about a time when.... I created this piece."

HELP! I need an in between! First year of doing shows, and I am loving it...just am feeling awkward! Thank you all!

~Crystal