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This is my third year participating in this long running Florida art show but due to the layoffs at the Cape I was a bit concerned about sales this year. I need not have worried as this turned out to be my best sales year yet at this show. It was perfect weather for an art show, the crowds came out, and if you had the right price point they were buying. This show has fairly decent prize money so it attracts all the artists who depend on prize money for their earnings, but there are only so many awards. I spoke with several artists who zeroed out because they didn't win an award and had nothing on the lower price end for the people to buy. The crowd was VERY cautious about parting with even a small amount of money, all of my sales were under $100, fortunately I had a lot of them. Most of the people were on vacation so they were looking for smaller gift items and my jewelry fit the bill, but I had to work for every sale.

Logistically easy set up and breakdown, artist ammenities adequate, boothsitters available, the Cocoa Beach police very laidback about artist parking, and good overnight security.

I'm going to get on my soapbox for a moment but it's a positive rant. When most people come to an art show they want to meet the artist but they can't do that if you're not in you booth. My neighbor this weekend was a ceramic artist who didn't have a good day on Saturday so decided screw it and on Sunday spent the day socializing, shopping, anything but staying in his booth and trying to salvage the weekend. When he did have someone who wanted to buy something because he wasn't there they would come in to my booth to ask if I knew where he was. I didn't want him to loose any sales so I would track him down. As I work alone that left my booth full of jewelry unattended and my customers waiting on me. I know I could have said I didn't know where he was, but I will never dissapoint a customer when it's in my power to help out. A couple of the ladies ended up buying from me. Ok I'm stepped off my box now.

I wish you all happy holidays and a succesful new year.

February is one of the most wonderful months of the year in Florida with 76 degree temperatures and delightful sunshiny weather. Each year the Art & Living Expo has grown and we have some exciting plans in store for our next edition.

This year's Expo will feature 175 juried artists on Robinson Street and North Eola Drive along Orlando's signature location Lake Eola Park. Because of its success we are growing again to accommodate the thousands of attendees and for more spacious artist locations.

Art Lovers of Central Florida have strongly supported the festival. So, to make sure we are presenting the Best Art Talent, we are rewarding you with more Art Awards:

Our jurist panel will consist of three independent judges selected through our event partner ArtistsRegistry.com and the Downtown Orlando Arts District.

What you can expect:

• The festival will also feature live entertainment, street performers, children and family activities in the Park with the Orlando Museum of Art and the Orange County Regional History Center and so much more.

• The Art & Living Expo will be strongly promoted throughout Central Florida, with newspaper, radio, social media and cable/TV promotion.

• Exhibitors will be allowed to drive up to their booth locations to unload and load. We will offer early set-up on Friday February 19 at 3pm or first thing Saturday morning of the event at 6am.

To find out more information on our festival and review our Artist Applications visit: www.downtownorlandoproperties.com

Jim Barton
407 592 0002
Orlando Downtown Art & Living Expo

Just completed the 9th annual Winter Garden Fl art fest. Because it was downtown, there was no Fri set up. But set up went relatively well Sat am. Able to drop off your stuff, then park only a block away. Tear down was similarly easy. Weather was pretty good although it was overcast Sunday and we had a couple short, very light, sprinkles. Crowds were a little light both days although Sat was busier by far. This was a small show, only 20 - 30 artists (if that), but good ones. The rest of the booths, located on the next block down, were vendors, food, and re-sellers. It was good that the artists were segregated in the same area.

Nice setting all in all. very pleasant old down town area. Lots of good retaurants, cafe's etc. Public bathrooms easily available in the Edgewater Hotel, near the booths.

The show was run by the downtown merchants guild. Sherry DeWeese, deserves special mention. She seemed to be the main organizer/manager, and she was all over it. Came by the booth several times. Very attentive, friendly and helpful. Sherry mentioned that although this was the 9th annual, that this is only the 2nd year that they've been running the show in house. Reading between the lines, my guess is that prior years were run by a commercial organizer and they were not happy with the end result. I got the impression that the merchant's guild were in a building process, not only for the art show but for the entire down town venue. So, although the crowds were a bit light and the show small, I think the show will only get better next year.

We hit our financial goal, thanks, in part, to a $250 award check (pleasant surprise & blessing), but would still have been happy even wiithout it. It wasn't our best show, but even with the light crowds, we did well enough. I'm planning to go next year.

This was our second year doing this small show (it's third year in existence) and we were overall pleased with results.

This is an indoor show held in the small but lovely Garfield Park Arts Center. The organizer is very accommodating and goes out of her way to communicate all aspects of the show - from advertising/publicity to food arrangements. Organizer also arranges to have a few musical/dance groups perform periodically which enlivens the crowd.

The unjuried show is supposed to be a fine arts show and for the most part succeeds very well - the calibre of art being fairly consistent and not "craftsy" in nature.

Load in is very easy - you're able to drive right up to doors that open into the main vending rooms. You can load in late Friday afternoon prior to the Saturday/Sunday show dates as well as Saturday morning. I like to take over my display fixtures and set up Friday and then bring in my art Saturday morning to finalize the set up. Total set up time alotted between 2 days is 6 hours - which is more than enough.

For a small fee - food is provided for both days (breakfast, lunch and snacks). Beverages are provided to all artists at no cost.

Cost for booth is nominal ($75 for a double booth - which is well worth it space wise).

As to traffic - about 1,000 attendees over the 2 day event. Not a large crowd overall - but for the size of the venue not too bad. Saturday was the better day sales wise, we always contend with a drop off on Sunday because our local Pro Football team is very popular (although they ultimately had a loss this weekend).

We work in a variety of mediums: Painting (watercolor,oil and acrylic), Photography, Pencil Drawings and Wood Turnings. We sold a bit of all this event - mostly in the under $50 price range. Small items: miniscapes - (miniature acrylic paintings complete with easels) and photo card sets sold the best at $20 and under.

Most artists around me seemed to be doing well also - in the smaller price range and I heard a couple had nice larger sales.

Load out was just as easy as load in - we were packed and out in about an hour.

I was disappointed to hear two artists talking - and one said she was going to have buttons made up to wear that read "Cute doesn't feed my kids" and "Pretty doesn't pay my bills". I found this to be a very distasteful attitude - our booth visitors are not obligated to buy - and nobody forced us into this art venture.

For my husband and I - this has been a wonderful experience. We are producing and sharing our love of art in a way we enjoy. And while it's not today enabling us to quit our "day jobs" it does provide an outlet for something we would be doing anyway. We both demonstrate as we work our booth - I work on commissioned pet portraits (it's great dedicated time to paint) and he draws. We have found this draws people into the booth and stimulates conversations. We also very much enjoy talking with kids that are interested in what we are doing and think we might be encouraging future artists in this small way as well.

Next up for us: the Winter Market at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis December 4th. That show's a bit more costly but has been a good show for us in the past as well. I'll review it after the show.

Happy and safe holidays to all and happy arting!

-k-

It's late and I'm tired but I wanted to get this out tonight!

Art in the Gardens (www.npbchamber.com/aitg) in located off PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and took place on November20 and 21, 2010. The show is located ona road in the Midtown outdoor shopping center between the main buildings andcan’t be seen from the road. Midtownincludes a 500 seat theater, 300 room banquet hall, and 225 condo units. This project has been around forapproximately five years (reported from repeat offender artists), and is quiteempty – I’d say at least 50% has never been occupied.

I choose to make the three hour drive Saturday morning versus spending a second motel night and arrived 15 minutes prior to the show’sopening. And this is after a quick stopat McDonalds in Okeechobee, Florida for a morning sausage McMuffin and blackcoffee. The security guard was adamantthat even though I had my packet and parking pass that I could not drive in forsetup until I checked in. Check in wasquick and included another packet with show badges and my name on an 8 ½ by 11sheet of blue paper. She also went overthe artist amenities which included coffee, water, muffins, and fruit in themorning, and a sandwich and chips each afternoon. Very nice. They were set up in a vacant store front which included an indoorrestroom for artists. I drove right tomy booth and set up – piece of cake as most artists had set up Friday night –it doesn’t get any better than this.

I took a quick walk around the show prior to opening and the work quality was very nice. However,there was a lot of photography and jewelry. I’m pretty sure that I didn’t see any pottery and there was one othersculpture artist than myself. In oneblock, there were four photographers in a row with one across from them; I knowhow I’d feel if I were one of them. I’destimate there were about 100 artist booths and a few chamber of commercemember’s booths.

Saturday, Day 1, had a light crowd that did not appear to be buying from most artists around me. Isold four smaller items but nothing of any merit. One copper artist near me sold threereasonable size pieces but told me he had to discount one by 50% and another bya smaller percentage.

Sunday, Day 2, was worse for me but a few of my neighbors sold a few pieces. One photographer Ispoke with that lives ½ mile from the show said he’s been coming since the showstarted five years ago thinking that he was going to make some money and ithasn’t happened yet. Another I spokewith sold a few things but it was questionable that he’d make any money.

Tear down was a cluster. A few minutes before the show closed, vehicles started driving in fromtwo different directions. Fortunately, Iwas parked at the end of the road. Threecarts and 34 minutes later I was able to make my escape. There were a number of artists that weretrapped on the inside but everyone was polite.

Joe’s View

The best thing about this show was meeting two fellow AFI’s – Hi Rich and Sherry. This show is in anarea that has potential to draw a great art buying crowd. Unfortunately, it’s got a lot going againstit including: being in a near vacant shopping center with the booths hidden fromthe view of PGA Boulevard; no real signage from the road indicating a fine artshow is going on; and a very low turnout of potential art buyers. I do want to stress that the promoters dotreat the artists well. However, we dohave to make money and it’s going to take some changes if that’s going tohappen here.