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The mountains are great and HOT HOT HOT 90s// there were crowds and buying was happening although selective // I saw alot of satisfied artists, and then some that were down in sales from the past; The heat as always ends the shows, no matter where, earlier; as was the case here; Once again The Rothbards have had another successful Art Festival, and my experience was enjoyable,successful, easy load in-out, a great location and all in all a return is in the cards for next year..

BARRINGTON BREW REPORT//// Great homebrew at the Barrington Brewery; Brewed in the barn in the back I asked not but enjoyed alot/// BUT THE BEST was a local 1/2 gallon growler of OPA OPA BEER BREWED about 15 mies to the north// $6.98 a growler and then $2 back for the bottle deposit $4.98 I,ll go back //the beer was fabulous// Fair Winds, and Safe Travels with great fortunes

If you follow this blog, you probably figured out that Boston Mills ArtFest has happened. ArtFest is a two weekend event that happens on the last weekend in June (a party night and 2 show days) and the 1st weekend in July (a party night and 3 show days). Two years ago I did the show on the first weekend and this year I tried second weekend. In the past artists could only do one or the other, but applications were down this year and a handful of artists got to try their luck on both weekends. To my surprise, I did just about identical gross sales numbers this year as I did two years ago.... this is a solid show (but had still hoped to do a little better with the extra day).

Setup: The rendering above shows the layout. There are four large artist tents, facing in each direction and about 32 individual tents down the middle. The large tent, on the left, is considered the North tent, but the sun sets behind it; go figure. Setup and breakdown are not bad, but you have to dolly everything to and from the parking lot, that is unless you get one of the few areas where you can park behind your booth (North tent).

Both times that I've done the show, I pitched my own tent in the middle section. I recommend paying a little more for a spot in the bigger tents... weather is a factor this time of year... this year it was hot! The larger tents stay cooler and people linger longer. That said, sales were still strong for me.

Location: Where is Boston Mills? Seems like it should be near Boston, MA but not even close, Boston Mills Artfest takes place at the base of a bunny slope (err, ski resort) just south of Cleveland, OH in the township of Peninsula, Ohio. The show draws from affluent suburbs around Cleveland and Akron and they come in good numbers.

Sales: Very good art displayed at this show and patrons bought big, though with caution. Several painters did outstanding at this show. A friend of mine from OH was well above 5 figures with several commissions pending. I spoke with potters, stained glass artists, photographers and jewelers who had a solid show in the 5-7K range. Not all fared well; a painter I met had a very disappointing show as did a multi-media artist. Like all shows this year, some hit it out of the park and some don't.

The Organization: This is a well publicized and coordinated event. Show volunteers frequently checked in with me to see if I had any needs. This is a well oiled machine that has been coordinated for years by Ron Beahn.

Amenities: An opening dinner for the artists, which meant hands off on the food and refreshments provided to paying patrons during the opening drunken bash... I mean hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer tasting. With an artist badge, artists could enjoy the tasting during the last 15 minutes of the event and without a badge, could blend in for earlier tastings.

My booth was near the music performance stage, which is usually the kiss of death for any artist who draws that lot. It certainly was on Friday opening night, but for the rest of the weekend, this was a fabulous spot. The music was incredibly good!!... concert quality. Each performance drew folks from all around the grounds and many listening to the performances spent time in my booth - which resulted in sales.

Here's a group call Mo' Mojo. They are a mix of Zydeco, Blues and Cajun. They can draw a crowd. I'll go to any art show that they're performing at. Hear an mp3 from their web site.

Bottom line: Would I return to ArtFest? You betcha.

Cheers!

The only thing that beats sleeping in your own bed and doing an art show, winning an award and sleeping in your bed, and doing an art show- is having dinner with Nels Johnson, while you are doing all of those things! We did the show, won an award (so did Nels!), and had a fantastic dinner with Nels at the Blue Canyon restaurant in Twinsburg, Ohio. Nels was waiting at the bar for us to arrive-dirty martini in hand, we started drinking at the table..Bob and I love a drink we call the "Patti-thing"...Belvedere vodka chilled up with a float of cointreau- orange slice for effect, Nels ordered a very good bottle of wine for himself..a great dinner, good company, and two more days of the art show in store for us.

We did not fare that well at the art show..we were outside in extreme heat for two of the three days.The tents are where you want to be- rain or shine, you will see more people, and feel less stress.We hope next year we can be in a tent. I don't know how the customers perceive the artists outside, compared to the ones inside the tents.I think we are treated like step-children, as they hurridly walk from tent to tent...see you next year...in a tent!

It was held on June 27 in downtown Menominee, Mich......which is a small city at the most southern part of the upper Peninsula......across the river from Marinette, WI.....50 booths....drove up the grass of the park to load and unload. The park is right on the water and there is a marina too...nice crowd all day....weather was hot and humid.

Now the important stuff......nice eats for the artists.....inside bathrooms in the Yacht Club.....yes I felt like a member.....where is my captain's hat and telescope?

In the morn, lots of people, who bought little....and us artists all started to worry.....is it me?.....is it my art?..is my display not displayed properly?...is my name badge on crooked..did I miss a spot when I shaved this morning?......do I look too artsy for older lady buyers....should I talk more?....should I talk less? ......etc, etc.

Suddenly my daughter, Karen, arrrived at 1:30.....and people immediately started buying.....she was a good luck charm....for sure.....and cute too....she is my little girl....only 29.

So i finished with over 10 times entry fee......which was $65, I think. And someone wants 50 copies at wholesale prices.

Saw some old friends.....used to work nearby.....Show rates 3 DAVEY's......I paint pictures and sell mostly prints of same.

ArtWalk on the Bay

• The venue is a grassy 4.3 acre park adjacent to the luxurious (and brand new) Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The flat and accessible park offers ease of load-in and out. ArtWalk on the Bay provides high quality 10' by 10' tents that are also 10' high.
  
• Access to more than 40,000 annual attendees
  
• A page on the ArtWalk on the Bay web site that will remain up until summer, 2011. Check out www.artwalkonthebay.org/
• Tenting opportunity provided by show management
• An opportunity to be included in the festival's very dynamic publicity outrreach (print, broadcast, online)
• Listing in Event Brochure/Map
• Booth sitters offered to participants

Artists who participate in ArtWalk on the Bay find that they sell artwork long after the event as a result of the comprehensive web page dedicated to each artist that can be updated by you as
frequently as you wish...you can upload new artwork images, change your artist statement, etc. This living gallery is a unique feature to this event, and one that many artists have stated "is worth the price of the registration fee."

ArtWalk on the bay does not charge an up-front jury fee. We typically receive approximately 500 applications, and we accept approximately 150 artists.

The festival is a celebration of arts and culture throughout the region. KidsWalk features interactive art activities for kids, and showcases the art education program founded by our organization: ArtReach, which takes professional artists into elementary schools to address the lack of programming for our region's budding young artists.

To learn more:www.artreachsandiego.org

Musical performances also take place throughout the weekend, featuring everything from gospel to classical music. The festival is embraced by San Diego's Mayor, the Port of San Diego and numerous corporate sponsors, as a world class celebration of culture in the region.

Visit the website to learn more: www.artwalksandiego.org

To apply, go to: http://www.artwalkonthebay.org/register.htm

Anyone know of any dog rescue groups looking for vendors for their fundraising gala in northern Illinois or southern Wisconsin. I have been a vendor with two different greyhound rescue groups, looking for more.

Thank you in advance.

Does anyone have any insight into this show?

The show is held on Washington Street, downtown Grand Haven. This is an awesome port town on Lake Michigan about 30 miles west of Grand Rapids.

The show is put on by Howard Alan. Show fee $350, $25 app. fee. Set up is at 5am Sat morning. The town revamped there streetscape which made some manuvering a little tricky, glad I started setting up at 4am(don't ask). There were banners above Washington street at both ends, yard signs pointing the way to the show and posters in many storefronts. People knew you were going to be there. Promoter provided Panera Bread bagels each morning, no other perks were provided..water, boothsitters etc. Which is fine with me, I can take care of those things myself. I would much rather see money spent on advertising.

The show was set up in two sections. Fine art down main street, around 80 artists. Crafters were on a cross street, around 20. The town had a block for sponser booths, kids activity, etc.

Saturdays weather started out with a little rain, by 10am it was blue sky and beautiful. Got up into the upper 80's. There were tons of people, but the buying energy just was not there. Plenty of interest,just could not get them to pull the trigger.

Early Sunday saw two thunderstorms come in. Lots of rain. Arrived at show to see around a dozen EZ-ups collapsed on the towns section. A couple of EZ-Ups in the art section were also damaged. I believe the rain filled the tops with so much water they couldn't take it, I don't think it was the wind. Sundays energy was about the same.

A bronze sculpture next to me sold his lowest price pieces for the weekend, he did around $1000. Was his worst show so far this year. A photographer friend of mine was happy with his sales, he has a double booth. I do not ask people what they make, if they share it with me fine. A fiber artist did $3000. A painter next to me did abstract fish. It was her second show ever and she did well. She sold her largest painting for $1100 plus a couple of smaller pieces. Was great fun watching her have success!! Me, I did $1800 and was happy to end up with that. This was my 3rd year here, previous shows were in the upper 3k. By the way, I make stone lamps and vases.

I sleep in my trailer so do not know what hotel costs are, I do know they are not cheap from the past shows. I pack my own food so no restaraunt reports. Sorry Nels, was to tired to go out for a drink to give you a report.

I will do show again, was just one of those years. Helayne with Howard Alan did a great job, was always around to put out fires.

Kevin