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LIVE PODCAST - MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1 PM ET

Of course being an artist isn't a job, nor a vocation, its in your bones and defines who you are. Luckily we live in a country where there is room to change and the legal means of doing so. Start out as an engineer, a pot dealer, a social worker, a biologist and one day you're standing in a tent in a park in Alabama and people are not only handing you compliments on your work but money too. Many people in this business say "I don't know how to do anything else, no one would hire me."

Meet Jack Stoddart known these days as someone who is one of the "wrong people doing the right thing." Hippie Jack traveled (family in tow - wife Lynne and 4 kids) to art fairs for many years. Presently he is a music festival producer on his central Tennessee farm. The Stoddart kids are showing work at art fairs themselves these days. Just like everyone else their lives have been upended by Covid-19. No concerts, no art fairs. What happens next?

We talk about when things come crashing down and tell stories about what he believes are the important things, including serving the under-served people of Appalachia with fairness, dignity, and compassion. Ideas for the long run.

We hope you will call in with your stories: 805-243-1338

There is help for that.

This message is from Carroll Swayze, a printmaker from Florida who has been involved with the NAIA, an artists support organization since its inception in the 1990's. 

I am the Communications Coordinator of the NAIA (National Association of Independent Artists) and I am sending a letter for you to any cancelled show that is not refunding show fees explaining why they need to return your money. If you have a show that is not refunding your show fee please send me your cancellation letter by email and I will try to get your money back for you. If you have the directors name and email that would help me time wise too.

Send to: SwayzeArt@msn.com

Rather than trying to follow the ever-growing list of cancellations, I was wondering if any art fairs anywhere in the country are still actually being held.

According to Zapplication's calendar, there are still uncanceled art fairs scheduled for this weekend.  Is that for real?

Anybody gearing up to participate in an art fair this weekend?  Next weekend?

In the interest of keeping our imaginations going in these dark and dreary times I'm copying an email I received because of the cool ideas therein ... seems we don't have to keep doing the same thing over and over again.

BERKELEY, CALIF.: WWW.VISITBERKELEY.COM
The city has deployed over 25 handwashing stations around the city, primarily giving homeless citizens a way to clean up and take steps to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: WWW.CHARLOTTESGOTALOT.COM
It’s all about supporting local businesses, with a dedicated webpage encouraging denizens who are foodies, families, fitness fans, and fundraisers to remain active in the community. Think of it as the F-words that you can say without ruffling any feathers. The site details the offers, but essentially there are four key takeaways.
- The city encourages taking out food, tipping, and buying gift cards from local vendors.
- It shares entertainment options for families sheltering inside, including live stream events like bingo and science experiments.
- It urges fitness fans to attend virtual yoga and dance classes.
- It implores citizens to fundraise and give back, donating blood, food products, and money to charities citywide.

Take a look at the events listed on Charlotte’s site and let’s chat about how to tell this story now as Charlotte and the rest of the country is rapidly adapting to the coronavirus crisis.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.: WWW.CHATTANOOGAFUN.COM
ConnectChatt: The Chattanooga Tourism Co. has launched Connect Chatt to bring people together digitally in Chattanooga and across the world who are practicing social distancing. The team will be sharing the community’s virtual experiences through social media using the hashtag #ConnectChatt and online at ChattanoogaFun.com/Connect. The social posts will include a way in which everyone can support Chattanoogans through virtual tipping, buying season passes, ordering takeout, etc. The ConnectChatt virtual experience series kicked off on St. Patrick’s Day with a live performance from Stringer’s Ridge Band, which played Irish tunes from home via Facebook Live. Their virtual tip jar generated about as much as a normal gig, and they played to more than 10,000 people. Yesterday, the Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls gave live tours.

Service Industry donations: A local Chattanoogan created a website to bring a little extra support to the city’s service industry professionals, whose livelihoods are being affected by restaurant closures. The site encourages community members to consider tipping a local service industry worker through Venmo or Cash App. When the site is refreshed it shows a new person to support.

The Mustang Express: Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy takes student meals on the road amid coronavirus concerns - Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, the all-girls public charter school in Hamilton County, has taken student meals on the road. The school, which serves students in grades 6 through 12 from predominantly low-income neighborhoods in Chattanooga, launched the "Mustang Express" Thursday morning as schools across the state find ways to support students and families while they are closed due to COVID-19 concerns. Link to article here.

CINCINNATI, OHIO: WWW.CINCINNATIUSA.COM
The Adult Version of An Ice Cream Truck: Madtree Brewing Co. is bringing food to the streets of the Queen City to help keep spirits high in the city and assist in feeding all of those who must stay quarantined. Their draft truck will be providing curbside pizza and beer from 11am – 7pm. For an update on times & locations, please click here: https://www.madtreebrewing.com/news/the-beer-truck

Staying Calm with Mindful Music Moments: ArtsWave is launching Mindful Music Moments, a partnership created by the Well in partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera. Members of the public can sign up for a free 10-week subscription to Mindful Music Moments, brief daily combinations of meditation and music. Mindful Music Moments is one of more than 100 projects and organizations funded through ArtsWave each year

Karrikin Begins Sanitizer Production: Karrikin Spirits Company’s master distillers are getting to work to produce sanitizer based on ingredients and recommendations from the World Health Organization. Produced slightly above the recommended alcohol percentage, it’s giving you another weapon against fighting viruses and bacteria. Secondly, if you stop by for a bottle of hand sanitizer, you’re directly supporting the workers, with 100% of proceeds from the sales of hand sanitizer is being used to support this staff that is so vital to our success as a business. Look for an announcement soon on our Facebook and Instagram pages for how and where you can purchase a $3 bottle of Cincinnati.

The LEE Initiative will expand its reach to Cincinnati in partnership with Mita's Restaurant:Starting on March 19th, Mita's Restaurant will transform into a relief center for any restaurant worker who has been laid off or has had a significant reduction in hours and/or pay. With the help of Makers Mark, the restaurant is offering help for those in dire need of food and supplies. Each night, it will pack hundreds of to-go dinners that will be offered to recently unemployed restaurant workers. Dinners are offered on a first come first serve basis. Mita’s is also stocking supplies for those in need: diapers, baby food, non-perishable canned foods and cereals, toilet paper when available, paper towels, notebooks and pencils, aspirin and more. For more information, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/mitascincinnati/

LONG BEACH, CALIF.: WWW.VISITLONGBEACH.COM
The city is looking to protect its homeless community, which is vulnerable to the disease and its effects. Handwashing stations and shelters are just a few of the initiatives that the city is funding in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Local restaurants are also transforming into corner stores to help feed the population while table service has ceased. Breweries are baking goods and restaurants are rebranding as markets to help locals who would otherwise be waiting in long lines at the supermarkets.

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.: WWW.VISITLOUDOUN.ORG
Scott and Becky Harris at Catoctin Creek Distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia, are working with local authorities to create FDA-approved hand sanitizer. It’s a process that helps local communities, but also keeps their distillery afloat as restaurant orders for their whiskey begin to plummet.

LOUISVILLE, KY.: WWW.GOTOLOUISVILLE.COM
Forget bourbon, Louisville is focusing on hand sanitizer. Rabbit Hole Distillery is one of many spirits manufacturers nationwide who are pivoting from drinks to hand gels, helping to combat the spread of coronavirus while also keeping their employees busy

MIAMI, FLA.: WWW.MIAMIANDBEACHES.COM
The United Way launched a fund for families and small businesses hurting from coronavirus, providing them with products and assistance for emergency relief.

While most tourism facilities are closed, it’s a prime moment for professional development for tourism workers. During the coronavirus pandemic, hospitality students and faculty adapt, learn 'to always be prepared'. Find the latest FIU information about the coronavirus on the university's resource page. 

OAKLAND, CALIF.: WWW.VISITOAKLAND.COM
Two Oakland Hotels will open their doors to house homeless people. While many individuals are sheltering in place, those without shelter are doing the best they can. To help reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading through the homeless population, the city is working with two hotels to offers stays of up to three months, a fantastic way to use tourism facilities that aren’t otherwise being used.

SEATTLE, WASH.: WWW.VISITSEATTLE.ORG
The city of Seattle giving out grocery vouchers to families, up to $800 per family. The distributions will total some 5 million dollars and will help families where parents have lost jobs because of coronavirus closures.

ST. LOUIS, MO.: WWW.EXPLORESTLOUIS.COM
For those stuck inside, the St. Louis Zoo has launched stlzootube to let viewers tune in from home and see what’s happening inside the city’s zoo. It’s a great alternative to Netflix! Furthermore, although the Zoo may be closed to the public, its team wants to #BringTheStlZooToYou! Their first priority is the care and well-being of our animals, but when they can, they will be happy to add something fun & positive to your newsfeed! They also did a penguin tour on social media! It’s not just the zoo: St. Louis Aquarium hosted a morning breakfast event with their baby sloth Coconut, so look for more in the future.

CHIARA PERETTI

Senior Account Executive

DEVELOPMENT COUNSELLORS INTERNATIONAL

The Leader in Marketing Places

New York | Denver | Los Angeles | Toronto

215 Park Avenue South, 14th Floor  

New York, NY 10003

T 212.444.7104 C 917.655.2184

E chiara.peretti@aboutdci.com

July 25 & 26

The Stony Creek Art Fair is in a beautiful setting next to a lake.  The large parking lot is within 100 feet. Close to large homes and wealthy patrons, this show should be good for most price points.  

Stony Creek is a popular park in northern Oakland County, Michigan.  Near Rochester, Birmingham and other high-income cities.  Millions of people visit the park annually. 

The show offers dedicated parking for artists and patrons adjacent to the event. We will limit the show to 75 booths. Our marketing program is designed to attract qualified high-end art collectors.  

https://www.integrityshows.com/our-events

MONDAY - MARCH 23 - 1 PM ET

How are you feeling? I am totally enervated and concerned about the future of art festivals, not only in the short term but in the long run. I'm hearing from artists and reading comments on ArtFairInsiders.com about "what next?" and I have to take some action. This exhaustion leads down a dire path. My answer: let's talk.

On this podcast art show directors will come together to discuss cancellations, refunds, rescheduling and the disruption to our business and what they are doing to keep their events and artists income alive for another day.

The first responders to our call for a panel, and who will be joining us:

Karen Delhey, Executive Director, The Guild of Artists & Artisans (Ann Arbor); Anne Curran, Executive Director, Armonk Outdoor Art Show (Armonk, NY); Jean Hungiville, President/CEO, Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce (FL); Amy Amdur, CEO and President Amdur Productions (Chicago area) and Mark Loeb of Integrity Shows (metro Detroit). 

The jumping off point from my inbox:

"I live in Massachusetts and do shows throughout the northeast, from Vermont to South Jersey, NY and the coast line of NJ, Ct, RI, NY etc. shows are start to cancel. Some are right on target with refunding the booth fees, some wasn't to reschedule (& we all know that's the kiss of death to shows) and some, are unscrupulously not refunding any money. I would love to hear from those promoters who are choosing to refund, reschedule, & run as to their thoughts."

We would love to have other show directors call in with their comments on the topic. Here's the #: (805) 243-1338.

(As always this will be recorded live and will also be downloadable forever from ArtFairRadio.com)

Click here to listen: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2020/03/23/show-organizers-coronavirus--what-do-you-do

Please put your questions in the comments below. There is SO much to discuss and we'll try to hit the most important issues. Let's help each other to a brighter day. 

Hi,

Please encourage the various art fairs that are canceling to put on a virtual art fair. They can use their site to have patrons drop down as they do on google maps to the show site and look at the booth slide of each artist in the show. upon clicking on the image of the booth slide they get to that artist's website to shop for art. The judge for awards can still hand out awards by doing the exact same thing that they always do nowadays. Judge from the website. Since the award judges come to the shows already knowing who will win awards from looking at the websites, they will just be doing the same as always.  The artists could use that money.

We are being told to trust that we will get our booth fees returned. I call BS!! The April show has been canceled by Vintage Market Days yet......

From Vintage Market Days: There is no money for us to give back to vendors, and free booths are literally all we can offer. Booth rent does not pay the promoter's paycheck, it goes directly out the door and into the hands of our marketing partners who spend the money on our ads and commercials. While our marketing partners have agreed to suspend the ads, Facebook promotions, commercials, and spreads for our new rescheduled dates.

Well, they offered a new date but I am already booked at St. James in Louisville, Ky. So since they used all the money how are they going to promote the new show? Most of the promoters I know have insurance that covers this! I will probably not do any of their shows again  :::bad taste:::

15% Off All Orders!

We are offering 15% off every order now through May 1st, with our best wishes for a swift economic recovery for all!

FlourishDisplays.com

Looking back at my posts, I am fixated on the subject of creating a fair jury and clearly providing information to artists so that they can choose the best shows for their art.  For each artist, there is a different answer, including things that range from proximity to price point.

How can I provide answers that would be helpful to all of them?

The next section is very long and very detailed.  Maybe it would never be read if posted on my web site.  Still, if we're going to be transparent the information may need to be available.  Let me know what you think.

SHOULD YOU APPLY TO THIS SHOW?

Thank you for considering applying to our Art Fairs.   We want to be as transparent as possible with the goal of getting the best quality, most suitable artists into this event.  We also want to help you decide if the show is a good fit before you spend money on application fees.

Please note, while the information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge, and has been reviewed by participating artists, there is no assurance or guarantee for your success.  There are so many variables from weather to taste that a guarantee would be virtually impossible.

The first step is for you to be familiar with your art and if it is a good fit for the show.   Degas would not be a good fit for our Funky Ferndale Art Fair (but wouldn’t we be thrilled if we had Dali!)  For our Belle Isle Art Fair it may be the reverse.

In the ideal world you would have a chance to attend every show you want to consider before you apply.  Since that is not practical, we suggest that you take a look at the images on the website.  Does the show include art like yours?  How does the quality, medium, sensibility of art in these images compare to yours?

It’s not a bad idea to email the show to ask if they feel your art fits their sensibility.  Even better would be to email some of the artists that you saw represented in the show who may be on your contact list.  I believe most show promoters will give an honest assessment,   but they may not be able to give as accurate information as a previous attending artist. 

Does the show list the criteria that they are using to jury?  Is there a relative weight to each element?  I advise our jurors to look at originality, competence, suitability and one other intangible area.

            Originality-  Would you find similar images at Target?  Are other applicants

sending similar work?

Competence- Basically, who is in charge- the artist or the material? Does it look like the artist completed the work in an appropriate way for the style?

Suitability- Does your style fit the show?  Rarely will you see the same artist at a high school craft fair and a juried art fair.

Finally, the intangible.  Would the look of this booth (and the art in it) be good for the perceived quality of the fair, or might it harm it?

            It helps to know who is jurying the show and how.  An art fair artist may see things differently than a museum director.  College professors may know what is good art, but may not know what sells at the shows.

            Our juries are composed of local talented artists from each community in a variety of mediums.  Other shows may use museum experts, art professors or other community members.  For each group there are advantages and disadvantages.  I remember one show that I worked with thirty years ago that was juried by museum staff but attended by regular folks.  The jurors choices did not always match up with the tastes of the public.

            We allow time for discussion at our jury sessions.  Some shows prohibit it, restrict it, or don’t provide an opportunity for it.  Some shows jury remotely with each juror signing in from home.  Others run a projector and limit views and statements to a specific time frame.  I suppose if we had 1000 applicants we would need to be more efficient, but I prefer allowing for discussion.  If we arrive at consensus great. If not we move on and come back to it.  Another advantage of this system is that I can gather comments to share with the artists.

            Now for a more controversial area that would also help you to determine if applications are advised.  The numbers.  Size of show, number of applications, mix of artists and percent that are jury exempt.   Frankly with the top shows none of this may make a difference.  If your work is suitable for the Smithstonian Fair I’d say go for it, even though it’s not the largest show, has fewer attendees and has many, many applicants.  The sales and prestige make it worth the effort.

            Size of show indicates both the audience and the number of artists.  Frankly I feel like both of those numbers are far less relevant than the spending per artist.  I’d much rather hear from artists about their success.  Who comes to the show is more important than how many.  One thousand wealthy collectors mean much more than 40,000 music loving passer bys.  There is an exception to this-  if you are selling twenty dollar mugs and need to gross $3000 to be happy, that indicates 150 transactions. For you the size of the crowd matters more than the artists selling $15000 work who averages a sale every two or three shows.

            Ratio matters.   Most shows received up to 50% jewelry applications.  Anyone who has been in a general art fair with 50% jewelers is likely to see a problem.  (Gem and jewelry shows do work, but only if that is the intention).  You can sometimes tell this by looking at the web site.  We keep any one medium to about 20% maximum.  Perhaps a bit more with multi-media as they are so varied.  Also with the Art of Fire- Clay, Glass and Metal our limits are different since there are only three mediums.

            I have been accused of not having enough spaces open for new artists because of what we feel is an artist friendly policy.  If you are accepted into one of our shows, you can return for two more years without jurying if you follow the rules and procedures.  Mathmatically that sounds problematic, but in reality it works and supports artists.  The numbers folks say that if 75% of the artists return that only 25% of the spaces are open.  The reality is that we have never had less than 60% of spaces available even with the vast majority coming back.  How cn that be?  Not everyone is on the same three year cycle.   Starting a new show, we may place only 50-60 artists.  That gives each a better chance of success.  The next year, depending on results and applications we add more artists, and so on for the third year.  This works out well.

            Some shows require everyone jury every year.  I have heard of prize winners being denied the opportunity to return.  Frankly I feel like our policy is more artist friendly and evens out the power structure.  I’m sure we lose some mathematically inclined artists.

            All this text and I’ll give you a one paragraph conclusion that is more important than the rest of it put together-  Find artists in a different medium than yours who sell well to the same audience you do.  Share advice.  Different mediums so you’re not directly competing and have no reason to hold back. 

            Please share your thoughts and comments.

I'm receiving a bunch of creative emails from artists promoting online sales and discounts, etc. 

Here's the latest from a good email marketer, John Leben:

Subject line: John Leben is having a 20% Off Sale

Content: 

Type "SALE20" at Checkout

 

 

The last three of the eight art fairs I was scheduled to exhibit in were cancelled in Florida this past week because of the virus. This sale is to offer you an opportunity to see and buy my work at a discount and to help me recoup some of my losses from those cancellations. 

There is more to John's email, but you get the gist of it. Learn more about John and his sale. Btw, this is NOT an advertisement.

What about you? What are you going? Show us your stuff ... (and be careful and safe)

Some of the discussions on various social media pages have revolved around resources for artists. Here are some that you may or may not have come across and may or may not be of use to you.

https://cerfplus.org/get-relief/apply-for-help/craft-emergency-relief-fund/

https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/

https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Rauschenberg-Emergency-Grants

https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Emergency%20Grants

Historic Old Louisville neighborhood

Consistently ranked as one of the top fine art shows in the nation, the St. James Court Art Show attracts more than 250,000 attendees annually from all across the nation who come to purchase unique, handcrafted items directly from the hands that crafted them. Held annually on the first full weekend of October in historic Old Louisville, the St. James Court Art Show has been running continuously since 1957. 

There are five sections of the St. James Court Art Show that artists can apply to: St. James Court, Belgravia Court, Fourth Street, 3rd Street, and 1300 Association. Each section juries artists. 

 

What to expect:

• Over 250,000 attendees 
• $10,000 in awards 
• Booth sitters and complimentary meals 
• Friendly volunteers and staff 
• Drive-up loading and unloading (weather permitting)
• Deadlines vary by section: April 1 to June 1
• Application Fees vary by section: $30 - $40 
• Booth Fees vary by section and location: starting at $550
   

When I left New Smyrna early Thursday morning, I waved Ellen a goodbye kiss and took a big breath.

So far as I knew this was about the only show to go on for the weekend in Florida.

Vero is a biggie, So was Winter Park the following weekend.

I had ordered and bought lots of inventory, printing papers, mat boards, frames and glass in anticipation.

My past history told me I had the potential to make $10k-$18k between the two shows.

That could hold me over into late May.  I needed this bad.  Just like so many of my friends,

I was also looking at nearly $2k in booth fees due by the end of the month.

I headed down I-95 with crossed fingers.

I arrived early and found my booth space.  Challenging, but I could handle it.

You could feel the apprehension in the air.

Everybody was trading stories. Shows cancelled, what are we going to do.  What future shows were closing.

By 3pm, after a cool lunch with Chris and Linda at the Riverside Cafe I was finally setup.

Everybody was looking forward to making money on Friday.

We counted ourselves lucky.

The. At 4pm I heard the first rumor.

They were cancelling Winter Park.

I about threw up.  Way to spoil a perfect Mahi sandwich.

Minutes later, it was official.

Now, I was really sick.

Let me preface this—about sick.

When I did Gasparilla two weekends earlier, I caught an airborne virus from somebody.

First I got that tickle in the back of my throat.  Next day I was coughing up yellow mucus.

The next two days, I had no energy, stayed in bed.  Went to a clinic on Friday and was diagnosed with a viral respitory infection.  Not the Coronavirus.

Got an inhaler, took Musinex, and started a daily pill.

Laid low next five days and slowly recovered.  Ellen caught it.

By Wednesday, day before. Vero, I was still weak.

 BY Thursday I felt ok and was on my way.

So Friday morn first day of show, we were all ready.

I heard that more than a dozen artists had shown up early to see if there were any cancellations.

There were none.

People came early.

There was good social distancing.

Nobody was on top of another.

no coughing, no sneezing.

I signed for people on my Square on the IPad.

Alcohol wiped all cards and screens.

People were happy to see us.

 Not a lot of sales going on, but people were happy.

Friday is never a biggie here,  If you make $500 you are doing good.

Had lots of bites.

Usually the wife comes today and Spock’s out the show.

Then they drag their husbands off the golf course and buy on Saturday.

I had at least 12 situations like that.  Saturday looked real good.

Then, do not forget this was Friday the 13th!

The shitstorm hit us,

.We had heard rumblings around the show around 4pm.

Show was closing—permanently.

At five minutes before closing, the red golf cart with the show director started making the rounds.

We were told that the show was closed, by sheriffs order, and we had to get our white tents and asses out of Dodge.  Pronto.

I got a sick feeling again.  This really sucked.

I packed out in less than two hours.  My heart was not in it.

I started having feelings about artist oblivion.

This is what I found out later.

The Show wanted to go on.  Because of Trumps Excecutive Order police depts. had to close down all large public gatherings.  End of show, no refunds.  Tough, fucking shit.

So, it is Monday and I am at my fav NSB bar, the Ocean Breeze.  It is Monday Monday, so all food and drink is half price for guys.

We just got the news.  The bright orange Tuna said that any gatherings of people are verboten, unless you are at one of his rally’s. A little sarcasm.

I ordered another Patron and sushi.

I am living on the edge.

Jeez! We thought all that was important, was to get in the best shows and prosper.

Now! Who knows, where is my next future sale.  And online is not where it is at.

Shows are cancelling or rescheduling, but applications still have to be submitted. And for some artists that means needing new images. So for anyone hiring me to photograph their artwork or improve their images, I'll do 50% when the job is finished and you can pay the balance when you can afford it, no matter how long it takes, and you can even pay me off incrementally.

Check out the examples of my art photography:
http://bermangraphics.com/digital-jury-resources/jury-slide-photography.htm

Check out the examples of my jury image improvements:
http://bermangraphics.com/digital-jury-resources/fixing-jury-images.htm

Call 412-401-8100 if you have any questions.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com