Anyone else do this show?
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Anyone else do this show?
September 6 and closing the festival. Firefighters and paramedics came
to the rescue. Read the rest of the story here: http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=13107536
I give Artists a discount on my artist chairs,I only charge $300.00 to artists which about what it costs to make them.Mahogany frames,stainless steel hardware and cordura seat ,they last for 20 years or more.I also do repairs for the life of the chair and refinish and reseat them.
Labor Day Wknd 2010: This was my first time at the Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts. This is a good, solid show and the weather was PERFECT both days. It was nice to do a show that made a good profit. The show is well managed and the community is involved! The committee running this show is invested in making it a positive for both artists and patrons. The Patrons....wow!... they support this show in numbers. The show claims 48K attendance, I'm not sure if it got to that number but there were hordes of people attending the show. The image above shows the attendance on Saturday around noon and it was much this way on Sunday.
The organizers have kept the show small, 120 artists. I think that's perfect. Booths are all in a line, up both sides of the tree shaded 4th Street, so no bad spots...patrons walk the entire show. Plenty of storage behind your tent and artists parking is near for easy access to inventory. Bring shims... you will need to level but not too much. This is a Zapplication show: jury fee was $25 and booth fee, $200.
Sales were strong for me on Saturday and if things had continued on Sunday, the show would have been outstanding. For many artists I spoke with, sales were down on Sunday though attendance was equally strong for both days. There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the art. A lot of folks come out to enjoy the creativity with a nice mix of young and old (no gate fee). Sales for me were mostly for small stuff, under $100, though I did sell a few pieces for $200 and one piece for $300.
This is a well juried show and deserves its top ranking. I would return if given the opportunity.
Cheers, Leo
P.S. Restaurants in Bloomington are FANTASTIC. I usually pass on the vendor food... but not here... fabulous.
P.S.S. Judy Goskey, good to meet you at dinner!
I am doing it... opening the can o' worms that is. This is something I have wanted to discuss, but wanted to wait for just the right moment. Heading into the home stretch of this blog series I figure now is the time to cover the topic of buy/sell over the next few questions of this blog series mostly because many artists are finding they are having a hard time competing with it when at art fairs. Before I dive in head first, I want to make sure we are all on the same page. For this question I am going to cover the basics first.
Question #31 Buy/sell: How did it get so out of hand?
First, clarify the terms. I hear buy/sell, retail, and re-sell or re-sale used interchangeably and don't think that is right. Buy/sell refers to the idea of buying something that is already made - at cost or wholesale value - and then resold to make a profit. This has been going on for many many years as this is how retail stores work and do business – in this aspect there really is nothing wrong here.... Just think of the can of corn, tools, cleaning supplies you buy... this is all re-sell. However, the best way to describe the issue with craft artists is re-sell as it is the re-selling of items, mostly non-handmade by the "artist" yet proclaiming it is made by them. The issue grows from this as much of the items are imported from China or India where labor wages and work ethic is deplorable and the more we perpetuate this, the more it says to others it is ok because "we" are saving money. This is where everyone gets their panties in a bunch – including myself! However, the wedgie will have to be adjusted later... The question is how did it get out of hand.
Think back to when you saw this popping up... For me it is the early 1990's. Based upon my research, I am almost dead on as much of this started in the late 1980's to early 1990's with the beginning of NAFTA (North American Fair Trade Agreement) – a good amount of info on this is available via wikipedia to learn more about NAFTA – which created a trade bloc with the US, Canada, and Mexico. A trade bloc which is an intergovernmental agreement to reduce taxes and tarrifs on traded goods in hopes to build relations with other countries. Not much later APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) was formed. In the formation of these groups the flood gates opened to allow more and more goods come into America. One of the best examples – and not the only one – is Wal-Mart in their push to have lower prices. Being they are such a mega company where money can and will be made, getting “product” cheaper to make a profit, is where much of this school of thought comes from. Who cares if the quality goes down – and this is me talking (don't forget the issues with kids toys and toothpaste recalls) – at least “I” am making money. The issue is when cheaper labor is available, businesses follow and take advantage of that because it is an easier out. After all many of us want to keep costs low to increase profits. This is enticing to artists because many are just one or two people. If that artist has found a niche and is exploding they may find this is the best road for them, never really having the forward thinking of what impact this might cause. And it is this way of thinking, where I think re-sell has greatly affected the art community all in the name of making a couple of extra bucks.
The issues this has caused is a battle of quality vs. quantity. “Artists” are now (and have been for at least 10 years or more) trying to pass off work as made by them when it is most likely something made overseas. Then there is the issue of determining what is and what isn't re-sell when it comes to jurying. What erks me, and countless others, is that the true artists who have learned their medium through years of training, making each item by hand, and jumped through the hoops of getting into juried shows to see their neighbor who simply took their “art” out of a box, slapped a new price tag on it and start selling at the same fair is what makes me (us) irritated beyond measure. This is not fair, it is cheating, and plain wrong. It cheapens the show and the hard work of fellow artists. Now that I hope we are on the same page, future questions which I will answer, will be the subject matter in this blog series. The next question will deal with this re-sell issue in ways how to over come this by educating the public and then tips on how to deal with possible culprits at shows you sell at. I cannot say enough how thankful I am to know all of you reading this support this and are able to get something out of my tips. Knowing that makes my day. Please keep reading and print and pass them along to friends or others you see may benefit from this blog. - Michelle Sholund, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
Thanks to Connie, Lisa, & Jon for making this a great show for me.
The Greater St Louis Art Association has been producing the Art Fair at Queeny Park for more than 30 years. In the early years, this show was the premier art event in St Louis, but it has since been eclipsed by the big budget fairs, the St Louis Art Fair and Art on the Square across the river in Belleville Illinois. Over the last five or so years, the Queeny show has had its ups and downs....
I'm very happy to report that the changes that the show committee have implemented over the last year or so have all been for the positive. The crowds were good and they were steady from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. The only lull that I saw was during the first half hour on Sunday morning. During the peak periods, which ran for several hours each day, it was difficult to make your way through the aisles.
Queeny is an indoor show held in the Greensfelder Recreation Center, a St Louis County Parks facility. Since the show happened to fall on the first cool weekend in several months, we were afraid that the customers would want to be outside rather than indoors with us, but thankfully, that was not the case. There was a positive energy to the show from both the customers and the artists. The customers that I had contact with were all happy to be out and many were spending.
We were very pleased with sales. My wife Gail makes lampworked glass beads and jewelry and we have done the show, Spring and/or Fall, more than 8 times over the last 6 years. This was our best Queeny show ever, and ranks among our top dozen shows since we started doing them in 2002. Most artists we talked to did well, some did fair, but a few didn't do so well.
After a string of mediocre shows, it is really gratifying to be in a good show that is reminiscent of those of 5 and 6 years ago. There are too many people on the show committee to thank individually, they all did an outstanding job and all the parts of the show melded well together.
The dates for the Spring Art Show are April 8-10, 2011. The Fall show is normally over Labor Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, which would put it September 2-4, 2011. More information at http://gslaa.org
From the Free Press: http://www.freep.com/article/20100904/NEWS03/100904029/Big-crowds-for-day-two-of-Ford-Arts-Beats-&-Eats?GID=PA9+8tqIfTsx/ER83dzu73FMkNCRvrZ/ueL6N0qOFmM%3D
http://www.freep.com/article/99999999/NEWS03/100827084/0/ENT05&template=theme&theme=2010_ARTSBEATSEATS
From the Royal Oak Tribune: http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/09/04/news/doc4c82c7a6e0a48757892742.txt
Of course I am a little biased...working my a.. off here! Hope all my friends are having great weekends around the country on this beautiful weekend. Perfect art fair weather here in Royal Oak today.
February 26 & 27, 2011Historic Old Town -
Key West, Florida
Application Deadline - October 1, 2010
100 artist booths
The Key West Art Center, a non-profit community art center, sponsors this fine art show that highlights 100 artist exhibitors. Locals and tourists alike flock to the Old Towne to see what's new each year and to see old favorites.
Cruise boats dock just blocks from the show and passengers are dropped onto the street a block from where the canopies line the beautiful tree lined streets. Running parallel one block from famous Duval Street and its famous bars and restaurants, is an added bonus.
In its 46th year now the show has grown from an all local art show to a nationally rated Fine Art Show. Like Key West itself, this show has a wonderful mix of styles and traditions and the
The 100 juried artists set up on Whitehead and Caroline Streets in the historic district and through the famous Presidential Gates into the private residential community known as Truman Annex. This compact arrangement makes it easy for visitors to walk the entire show.
This show is run by artists for artists, and strives to bring all the right things together for everyone to have a great show. Advertising is done throughout the Keys and South Florida with support from the Florida Keys Tourist Development Grant and the Key West Art Center.
Please feel free to call for more information. We are Key
West...... we are happy to answer all your questions and hope you come visit!Lois Songer - Director
KWArtCtr@earthlink.net
This show is 11 years old. It was started by art show artists who were ticked off at being juried out of Allentown in favor of "foreigners". They wanted this show to be the anti-Allentown alternative.
Western NYers get an extra jury point to tilt the show in their favor. There are 180 booths now, started at 80 and I hope they stop here. There are components to this show that would normally make me think twice: a dance stage, a music stage, a kid's area, etc. But this one works. It brings out a really good demographic, I think. And the neighborhood (Elmwood Village) is the city's best (not just because I live there). Diverse, good money, educated.
The attendees love this show and invariable say they prefer it to the larger Allentown. There is a nice mix of fine art and craft and they also have a "domestic craft" category with a few slots allotted there. But, truth be told, I saw nothing that seemed to fit that description.
People were carrying purchases, many of them framed art work/photographs which I always take as a good sign. The size of this show makes the "I'll be back" a real possibility. People also tend to come for both days because of the entertainment and that helps us, too.
There are no awards, amenities consist of coffee, juice and mini muffins at set up. Lots of volunteers that can be flagged down as needed.
There is an ease and fun element to this show that makes it a favorite of mine. I'm not sure what it is. But the customers seem to feel it to. They are just...I dunno...happier or something. And happy people spend more. I really believe that.
Most people I spoke to did really well, for some, their best show of the year. It is a hopeful sign. If the Christmas shows live up to the test, I may actually escape with a decent profit this year. :)
My director chairs I have been using for twenty years are worn out. I have seen several artists with nice heavy wooden framed chairs and padded seats. They are not the x crossed leg directors chairs but four legged straight or slightly curved leg type. Can anyone tell me where to find them? Have searched on line but apparently not under the correct description.
Thanks
Ed Schmidt
Art at the Glen, Glenview
Show was at the site of the old Glenview Naval Airbase which is now an upscale community with condos, shops, etc. Set up is generally easy although some exhibitors had store customers parked in their booth space which presented a problem for those few. Otherwise set up and tear down is quite easy. Typical of any show, many did well and others not so well. Quite hot and humid which tried the paitience of many exhibitors there. We had a significant increase in sales, almost double of last year. Great response from customers to our work.
Gold Coast
New location at Grant Park this year. City would not allow the show to be in the old location on LaSalle Street, so it had to be moved. Chicago Bears scheduled a preseason exhibition game after show date was set. Chicago Police initally would not let to show open at all on Saturday. After intense lobbying with the mayors office, show was allowed to stay open only until 3:00PM on Saturday. Attendance and sales were slow on Friday and just getting started good on Saturday when we had to close. Sunday attendance and sales were excellant. Will take a year or two for the public to get used to the new location. Total sales were not as well as expected but still acceptable. All exhibitors had to be out of the park by 11:OOPM Sunday or there was a fine. Thought tear down would be "NIGHTMARE" but most artists and security personnel worked well and everyone was out well before the deadline. Always a hot head or two around who didn't want to follow the rules but they were quickly quelched. All in all show went well. Some problems with mud and standing water from the rain Friday night. Amdur was limited by the park commission as to the remedies (no mulch, hay ect). Put down topsoil and plywood and made the best they could of the situation.
Port Clinton
The name says it all! Attendance was great both days although Sunday was very hot and humid. Public still came out and spent. Again many exhibitors did well and others not. Tough competition in two dimensional work. Many in my opinion overpriced their work. Don't know if this was their regular price or raised them because it was Port Clinton. Many well known high end artist did well while others sold very little although their work was of excellent design and execution. We had our best show of the year and both days were our best selling days of the year. Sales started at show opening both days and continued after closing time. May have been the fact that were are the only toymakers in the show and our price points are in the $50-175 dollar range. Poster for the show was a play on the tortist and the hare theme and we were the tortist when it came to teardown as we were one of the last to pack out. Show lived up to its' reputation and looking forward to next year.
Ed Schmidt
Toys 'N' Stuff
Wooden Toys
I exhibited at the Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival in Gainesville, Florida last April. When I opened up my tent Sunday morning I discovered that watersprinklers had gone off in my booth during the night.yes""> The sprinklers were really buried in the grass and I didn’teven know I had sprinklers, in fact, it took me a while to figure out why partof my booth was absolutely soaked. Luckily I had placed my directors chair right over the invisiblesprinklers and that prevented the water from spraying high enough to soakeverything. I had $1460.00 indamaged work (watercolors) and another artist (photographer) had about twice asmuch damage to his work. The showorganizer, Kathryn Leyman, spent the next three plus months trying to get thephotographer and me compensated for our losses.yes""> The city owned the land the sprinklers were in - butSunTrust Bank owned the sprinklers - but a maintenance/landscape company was incharge of the sprinklers – the finger pointing went on and on! I think sometimes Kathryn was patientand sometimes she was angry but I do know she spent a lot of time and did notgive up! It’s a nice show and Kathryn wants to see to it that the artist arewell treated and fairly treated. The photographer and I owe her a great bigthank you for persisting. She gotus our money and justice did finally prevail!yes""> We couldn’t have made it work without her. Thank you Kathryn Lehman!
Christina Smith
Christinasmith.net
csmithstudio@mac.comWe've moved into larger art pieces, kind if tied in with below. Anyone else doing so? Thought for sure we had our $4400 piece sold at last show, plus a strong bite on our $1400 item. Our top items in the past have been about $650, starts at $20. Anyone have any advice on selling larger pieces?
FM NAIA
The current economic climateArtists are really struggling as a demographic for a myriad of reasons. Yet I keep running into artists who are telling me they’re having the best year ever, simply because they have embraced change and done things differently. Some of them are working larger, which is a smart way to go. When I go to shows and galleries these days, almost everything on display is small scale. Too many artists are working small thinking they’re going to increase their sales because money is tight. The success stories are artists who are working bigger and making their work more expensive and more impressive. People who can afford to buy art live in large homes and often have more than one. These successful artists, in these tough economic times report to me that they are selling large scale art at higher price points over smaller pieces. It really makes sense that people who have money to buy art do not want small scale. The people who used to buy small art are so financially stressed they can no longer afford it.
Overall, I believe the event is on the right track by lowering admission and parking fees, but it'll take a while to get the crowds back. The jury process is really broken and needs fixing - there's always been some buy-sell people at this event, but they were separated from the really hand-made people. This time everyone was all mixed together, with about 25% buy-sell. The supposedly juried area layout is one of the worst I've ever seen. Attendees can't tell where they've been or where they're going. The spoke arrangement just doesn't work, but after hearing how many crafters have complained about it and how often, I don't think they'll change it. I still can't figure out what the area we were in was supposed to be (it was called "the Country Store"), but even though there were buy-sell folks in it, it turned out to be the most comfortable and lucrative area to be in. We'll try Lucketts again next year as long as we can get the same spot!
Saturday November 20
Canton, Michigan
Plymouth High School
8400 Beck Rd.
9 am to 4 pm
Deadline: when full
Sponsored by the Plymouth-Canton Music Boosters,
a 501c3 organization
125 exhibitors
a 501c3 organization
125 exhibitors
Canton is in the metro Detroit area, right here.
Several years ago, with funds from the school district drying up that supported a nationally recognized band program, the parents rallied and started fund raising so their children could continue to be enriched by participation in the music program. Their drive to provide an excellent music program for their children is illustrated in their similar efforts to provide a quality craft show.
The juried arts and crafts event is held annually to support the music/band programs at the Plymouth Canton Educational Park. A bake sale, raffle, concessions, and entertainment will also be available. All funds raised go to the band programs at all three Plymouth-Canton High Schools, including the nationally-acclaimed Plymouth-Canton Marching Band that ranked 7th in the Nation in 2007.
What does this mean for you?
- a small quality event
- low booth fees
- easy in and out in one day
- solid support by the community
- resulting in a day well spent by you
From ours: We were in a new area that was shaded (VERY welcome!), near the main entry gate so we had a lot of traffic, but there was some buy-sell mixed in with the crafters - not more than a hand full, but enough to show the jury process needed tightening. Sales were steady up until the heat really set in around 3PM, which usually happens here. From that point on, attendees kind of go into zombie mode and just walk around. Gross today wasn't spectacular, but more than made costs so we're into the black already and there's still tomorrow.
From two different friends out where we'd been in the past in an unshaded open field: Hot from the beginning. The spoke layout left many attendees asking where so and so was and lost at times. One said he had a very big sale at the end of the day that made up for his last bad show. The other said they'd done "OK", but weren't happy.
From someone who we know makes all their products and was put in what used to be a buy-sell section: No traffic, next to no sales, really upset as they'd been coming to this event for over eight years and had never been put there before.
From someone who's been there for 21 years: They asked for the same spot as the previous year, but were put somewhere completely different. Sales were marginal compared to last year, and they didn't see some repeat customers who'd always stopped by their booth on Saturday before.
Bottom line - very mixed. From what we can tell, the people running the event are trying to improve it, but sometimes having difficulty around the edges. We'll report again tomorrow.
September 3-6
Royal Oak, Michigan
on the downtown streets
130 artists
All metro Detroit is excited about the reinvigorated Arts, Beats & Eats at its new location in the hip downtown of Royal Oak. Its rich combination of the best in art, music and food has us all eager to make the trek. A sterling example of "something for everyone", celebrate the end of the summer here!
Royal Oak, Michigan
on the downtown streets
130 artists
All metro Detroit is excited about the reinvigorated Arts, Beats & Eats at its new location in the hip downtown of Royal Oak. Its rich combination of the best in art, music and food has us all eager to make the trek. A sterling example of "something for everyone", celebrate the end of the summer here!
THE ARTS:
Art hours:
This popular metro Detroit event moves this year to a new site in downtown Royal Oak. You have got to be there to enjoy this last celebration of summer. This is not an overwhelming art fair that will exhaust you but a select group or artists, both local and national, chosen from over 500 applicants. More than fifty of them have never participated in this art fair, so you can expect many new faces as well as your favorites.
Who'll you find:
<- Last year's Best of Show winner, photographer
Clifton Henri
- popular wearable arts from Dawn DeSanto
- Detroit's own Carl Lundgren
- popular sculptor Jerry Berta
- featured artist Mark Traughber
- painter Bruce Holwerda returns
- many, many more eager to meet you! You are going to love it!
Get a sneak preview right here of the artists.
- popular wearable arts from Dawn DeSanto
- Detroit's own Carl Lundgren
- popular sculptor Jerry Berta
- featured artist Mark Traughber
- painter Bruce Holwerda returns
- many, many more eager to meet you! You are going to love it!
Get a sneak preview right here of the artists.
Cultural advocacy: This year's Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is providing arts and cultural organizations with expanded opportunities throughout the festival to
showcase their unique programs in the community and their arts advocacy.
You will find performances by:
- Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
- Royal Oak Symphony
- Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
- Matrix Theatre Company
- Nadanta Dancers and more
Many stages focusing on local talent as well as national acts like Macy Gray, WAR, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Clint Black and my own personal favorite the fabulous Thornetta Davis on Friday night!
THE EATS:
53 Restaurants will be showcasing and offering great food and tastes throughout the weekend- including Sanders Candy and Vince & Joe's Gourmet Market. An array of food will be presented with no food item costing more than $5.
This is a serious "destination" event. Will I see you there?
40 Questions Craft Artist Blog Series Question #30 Should I limit thetypes of art I sell at shows?
Welcome back to the world of art fairs, right? I know it seems I might havedropped off the face of the earth, however I am here, just beenworking on a pretty fun project, not related to art fairs per say,but in the realm of the arts... Before I get side tracked – I amhere about the blog series and most importantly this weeks question.When I walk a show – not so much the big, traditional,well-established art fairs, but all kinds, there are times I seesomeone offering some paintings they do and some scarves theyknitted. Another might sell handmade – beautiful and organic –soaps, however at the same time photography too. Am I the only onewho wonders, what are you really good at and now faced with a choice,should I buy one type of art or the other, or neither? Call mekookie, but I wonder if the artists themselves ever ask this ofthemselves too – what am I really good at and should I focus myattention on that. Here's my thoughts on this...
Question #30 – Should I limit the types of art I sell at shows?
Here's my wishy washy answer – yes and no. Here me out though – I havereasons and the answer, I personally can't say it has to be one wayor the other because there are exceptions.
So first the reasons why it can work... Two things come to mind when itcomes to having more than one type of art to sell at a booth at onetime. One, you are just starting out and you don't know what willsell. Two, you are experimenting with a new medium and want to testmarket it.
When it won't work are any other times other than listed above. I say thisbecause if you look at business in the past (or even present) who aretrying to do more than what they normally do, issues occur. Don'tget me wrong there is such a thing as cross promotion of items andpartnerships, however this isn't what I am talking about. Forinstance have you ever walked into your favorite boutique and noticethem starting to carry a line that is just all wrong. Customers getconfused. Is this shop going in a different direction? What doesthis mean about “my” favorite stuff – is it being phased out?Then perhaps you wonder about quality, because if you specialize inbeing a great pottery maker, why take up weaving and start sellingthat – one has nothing to do with the other?
The idea of limiting the types of art to one category is ideal for a fewreasons. Consistency is one. Another reason is honing your talentequals good quality work. Spreading yourself too thin means spendingmore money on different kinds of raw materials, equipment andbalancing the time in making two different kinds of art in twodifferent mediums. At the same time you'll need to consider how toset up your booth to accommodate the two mediums and other similarissues too. One other reason is that show promoters want people tosell one time of medium or else there could be an over abundance ofone medium throughout the whole show which will affect everyonessales. This is particular with jewelry. I have known some people todo one type of medium and then include earrings or bracelets – notcool both with other jewelry artists and the promoter as well.
If you are doing this, and decide that maybe you should narrow it down toone, it boils down to these two points. Really look at the one artform that you love to do – even if you didn't get paid and choosethat one – being happy making what you make will result in betterartwork. The other option is to go with the one you don't mindmaking, but is a sure deal to paying your bills and most costeffective to ensure better profits. The answer is going to bedifferent from one artist to another, so if all else fails make yourdecision the old fashioned way – make a pro and con list, sit on itfor a few days and tweak it, and then come back to it and make yourdecision based on the outcome of the list.
I really feel this is a topic that doesn't get enough discussion andhope my advice helps. The next question in the series will focus onthe whole debate between buy/sell vs. handmade and why customers buyone or the other. Thanks for reading and will be back soon with moreanswers to popular questions. Feel free to ask your own questionstoo – I will be happy to fit it in with the blog series! -Michelle Sholund, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
