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So last year I won a super prize after donating to the annual AFI fundraiser. I donated again this year, of course thinking well, I probably won't win anything but I'm going to support the community!

So I get notified to choose my prize...shock! And best of all, one of the prizes was something I really wanted, and I got it! So many thanks to Red River Paper for providing a gift certificate to their wonderful selection of fine art printing papers! My first purchase will most likely be one (or a few) of the many paper type kits they offer so I can see for myself what works best on my printer before choosing a favorite. I'm so looking forward to experimenting with their various photo papers and I feel confident they will outshine the "big name" brands I've used in the past!

I am looking for ideas on how to mark spots on the cement in the perpetual RAIN.

Dear Festival Partners,  La Quinta Arts Foundation is writing to inform you that La Quinta Arts Festival will not be presented in 2020. We sincerely thank you for your dedication and contributions to La Quinta Arts Festival. Your support has been integral to the Festival’s achievements delivering great benefit for the City of La Quinta, its residents and visitors.  Together, we have achieved great success presenting the best fine art festival in the nation, facilitating hundreds of artist’s livelihoods, and awarding more than $1.3 million in visual art college scholarships. Please know that our work with local arts and culture activities will continue, including our successful scholarship program for local students. PLEASE READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE

This is a real loss to the art fair business. You think these events will always be there and to have such a solid show disappear is a shock. Such a very fine event that attracted the best artists in the business and the clientele that could appreciate and buy their work. I'm so sorry to be posting this here. From what I've read the show will not likely return after 2020.

Many thanks to the La Quinta Arts Festival Foundation that has built this fine event that has been a very bright light in the art fair business. We look forward to what Christi Salamone and Kathleen Hughes will bring us next. 

Ron Mellott, long-time photo/artist, needs financial help from us, the Art Fair community.  Suffering a near collapse at his last art fair, he was helped by neighbors to pack-up.  Seeking medical attention, he was checked into the hospital and under-went triple by-pass surgery on his heart.

Having invested jury and show fee money for a full summer schedule he finds several shows he contacted have graciously refunded his booth fees, but with no income on the horizon until maybe September, and bills to pay, he really needs our help to maintain his residence and keep from going deep into debt.

I remind you, he is the one who has stood up for other artists in need.  See this posting from several years ago:

 https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/archie-smith-his-moment-of-need

Now he needs help.  I started with a $50 donation to his PayPal account.  Please consider a like donation for a veteran artist in need!

Go to PayPal and log in or sign-up for an account.  On the top line click on "Tools" and click on "Send Money".  Copy and Paste his email address in the blank space.

ronsmellott@bluemarble.net

Be sure to click on "Sending to a Friend" so there is no transaction fee charged.

If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can send a donation directly to him at:

Ron S. Mellott; 4909 South Victor Pike: Bloomington, IN 47403

Thank you for your attention....

For years there has been a mostly silent struggle between local merchants and the art fairs that pop up in their midst periodically. But I know of some very unhappy merchants over the years in Ann Arbor and Scottsdale and other smaller towns. 

In Montauk recently the merchants are speaking up about the events on the village green, their customers buy at the art fair and then don't have money to spend in the stores. 

The art show, whose vendors are primarily from out of town, has become competition because far more than paintings and photographs are on sale, said Ms. Allen. “When it was an art fair I thought it was great. Now it’s a craft fair,” she said, explaining that people were selling hats, trinkets such as glass animals, and jewelry, all of which are items that retail shops in town offer. “How can East Hampton take revenue from local families and give it to some businesses from elsewhere during our holiday weekends?” she asked.

Have you been part of a struggle like this ... what do you think ... do you ever think about your impact on the businesses around you?

Here's more info: https://easthamptonstar.com/201966/montauk-and-east-hampton-businesses-bemoan-street-fairs

I decided to hang up my art fair shoes a few years back and ready to find a new home for my Flourish Trimline Art Fair Canopy - 10x10 standard height. Double wide skylight with twin heat/wind vents in roof. Optional features: rear door, french wall, 30” skylight awning, Sta-Bar kit, 2 std. walls, 2 universal roll-up door walls, tie downs, custom leg weights, easy riser kit, custom pole storage/display case with HD rollers, storage container for hardware. Complete 4-piece mesh panel set - 2 sides, adjustable width(rear door), and french wall - with Deluxe Carrying Bag. Always cleaned and well maintained and in excellent condition. Includes all original documentation and complete original hardware/fittings/strapping. Original cost $2400. Sell price $1000 firm. A great top of the line piece of equipment that works for artists and protects valuables. Complete and ready to go - just add art.I live in michigan

Many, many thanks for all the pledges. This was one of our most successful pledge drives so far. I appreciate your generosity, some of you for many, many

years. The art fair business thrives under its community umbrella. Sharing with one another enriches everyone. 

Here are the names drawn today in the order in which they were drawn. Everyone on this list should take look at the prize page here and make a choice and send that choice to me: info@artfaircalendar.com.

Obviously the first few people will get their top choices, so the 

farther you are down on the list please send me at least 3 choices.

Please let me hear from you by late Sunday. If you haven't contacted me by then I'll move on to the next person. On Monday morning any prizes

that have not been claimed will be given to others whose name was not drawn in the "great prize grab."

THURSDAY - MAY 30 - 5 PM ET

You support our websites with your donations and we really appreciate it. We couldn't do it without you.

Listen as Connie Mettler, host of ArtFairRadio.com and ArtFairCalendar.com and her co hosts, Sara Shambarger, former Art Director of the Krasl Art Fair in St. Joseph, MI and NAIA board member, and Trudi Van Dyke, veteran art fair juror, art curator and art consultant will join me as we draw the names for the winners in the 2019 Pledge Drive.

We'll give away nearly $9000 in prizes to our patrons. If you sent us $$ during the Pledge Drive there is a very good chance you will win one of our 63 prizes! (at this point about 1 in 3).

Didn't pledge yet? Hurry up. Here's the link: 

https://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

On Tuesday we had one of our best podcasts, a report from 3 different artists from Florida, Chicago and Washington State, on their journeys creating art and participating in art fairs. I believe nearly 100 years total experience among them. 

Their tips for you: 

1. Kathleen Teach has supported herself at art shows, entirely, for 20 years, starting out with nothing."I look back on it now with wonderful memories and some pride. My independence and sense of adventure was the envy of all my friends." Her advice: Do not be afraid to raise your prices. When I could hardly keep up with all the sales I was making a customer said to me, "why don't you raise your prices?" Result: less work, more money.

Btw, Kathleen is looking for someone to mentor, to learn her business and the art fair business. Contact her through her FB page or contact me, if you are interested.

2. Stephanie Wheat is a self taught handbag designer specializing in handmade leather accessories, who participates in wholesale events and top notch retail fairs, has gallery accounts and is going international by participating in Paris Fashion Week this fall. Her advice: always use the best quality materials available. You'll enjoy the creative process more and your fine work will find its market. 

3. Kathy Ross, has been a full time self-employed artist since 1978.  She has pursued many materials (99% sculptural) and is currently pursuing even more possibilities working with found objects. She even sleeps in her tent at La Quinta! Her advice: People were always asking me how long it took to make something, so I started keeping track of the hours. Now in my booth beside each object I include the # of hours it took to create. It has helped sales!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then we drew the first five names for the winners in the 2019 Pledge Drive:

1. Debbie Stillman

2. John Houle

3. Patricia Venaleck

4. Carolyn Copper

5. Lou Ann Grover

Debbie, John, Patricia, Carolyn and Lou Ann, visit the prize page and let me know your choice. Congrats. 

Last Call to be eligible to win these prizes in our Pledge Drive drawing tomorrow, May 30, ET.

1. 2 - $300 gift certificates from FlourishDisplays.com
2. 3 - $200 gift certificates from ProPanels.com
3. 12 free booth spaces: Holiday Art Shows in Florida (2), Howard Alan Festival in Florida, Rose Squared in New Jersey, Berkshires Festival in the Berkshires from AmericanCraftMarketing.com, 8 AFFPS shows in Georgia and Texas, Art Spectacular in Springfield, IL
4. 2 - Website reviews. Web design for the arts & small business - Cyberhenge.com
5. Jury imaging and information from Larry Berman and Larry Sanders
6. Art Fair Sourcebook , (2) 1 year subscriptions from Greg Lawler (this just added!) Welcome to Holbein!
7. 3 - $100 gift certificates from Red River Paper
8. 9 sets of quality artist paints from HolbeinArtistMaterials.com  (this just added!) Welcome to Holbein!
9. 2 hours art consulting from art consultant and juror for events Trudi Van Dyke
10. "Marketing Strategies for Artists", an e-course from ArtsyShark.com
11. Ingot weights for your canopy from CanopyWeights.com
12. $50 discount on a canopy banner from CanopyBanner.com
13. A year's membership at FestivalNet.com
14. and to top it off a $100 gift certificate for Amazon from ACT.com
15. and much more

If ArtFairInsiders.com has taught you anything, found a good show, found a friend, sold or bought a tent, helped you with jurying then you need to click on this birthday cake and pledge your $$ right now.

No prize worth less than $50. Double your money back ;)

Drawing for prizes on Thursday, May 30, at 5 pm ET.

Tuesday, May 28, 5 pm ET

Story telling today: An amazing podcast with three women covering the spectrum of creativity. 

• A stoneworker, Kathleen Teach, who with her trusty trailer traveled alone for over 160,000 miles participating in art fairs
  
  
• A leatherworker, Stephanie Wheat, who starting from scratch has built a business that is taking her to Paris Fashion Week
  
  
• Sculptor, Kathy Ross, a full time self-employed artist since 1978, creating one of a kind pieces from cookie tins, fabric, jewels, imagination. An example here: http://kathyross3d.com/two-horse-tin-horse-town/

You will be inspired and head into the day ready for your next challenge.

Learn more: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2019/05/28/3-artists-creating-a-career-as-an-artist
 

and click here to listen

PLUS:  we'll be drawing the names of the first 5 winners in the Pledge Drive. Pledge now so you can be in the drawing: https://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

Would like the tall ones but 7' will work. also any free standing accessories

I am loooking for a Trimline Tent and any accesories that can go with it.

Finished my second event...Burro Races in Georgetown CO. Since my last event, I purchased Flourish mesh walls and absolutely love them.  My husband does setup was talking them up to other vendors.

I decided to forgo the wood curtain on the back, glad I did the tent looks clean and crisp. I will be using smaller S hooks next time as it was difficult inserting the larger hooks in the mesh.  Now I just need to figure out a good way of showing my stickers. I had them hanging on the wall but they kept flying away.

Just a few days left to contribute to our 10th Pledge Drive. All contributions will have their name entered in to the drawing on May 30, 5 pm ET. How do you like these prizes?

(2) Gift Certificates of $300 ($600)   From our friends at flourishdisplays.com        800-296-0049

8 Free 2019 Booth Spaces (1 per artist) (Provided the show isn't full, you pass the jury and the display is acceptable)     Spring Festival on Ponce, Atlanta - April 6-7 Turtle Creek Spring Festival, Dallas - April 13-14 Sandy Springs Artsapalooza, Sandy Springs, GA - April 21-22 Roswell Spring Arts Festival, Roswell, GA - May 4-5 Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival, Atlanta - Sept. 28-29 Turtle Creek Arts Festival, Dallas - Oct. 5-6 Fall Festival on Ponce, Atlanta - Oct. 12-13 Dallas Festival of the Arts, Dallas - Oct. 26-27   One free booth space, covers booth fee only. Artist must apply on Zapp. Show reserves the right to refuse (application fee will be refunded.) Non-transferable.     from Randall Fox & Brian Greene of AFFPS.com

Free booth space at Berkshires Arts & Culture Festival  Great Barrington, MA  July 5-7 Value from $495 (Jewelry & photography are full. Openings  for ceramics, painting, glass, wood, mixed media, drawing,digital ...) from Richard & Joanna Rothbard, www.AmericanArtMarketing.com

Free booth space  The Original Boca Art Show at Boca Center Boca Raton, FL Feb. 29 & March 1 donor value: $350 (provided the show isn't full, you pass the jury, the category isn't full and display is acceptable)    www.artfestival.com

10 x 12 booth space at any Rose Squared Productions event (Provided the show isn't full, you pass the jury and the display is acceptable)   Good for any of our outdoor shows - $420 value from Howard & Janet Rose, www.rosesquared.com

Sanders Visual Images Images with Impact. Rouse the jurors up out of that jury stupor. Visit or send your work to my Milwaukee area studio for the highest quality images of any art medium. Includes all costs up to donation value. value $150 Larry Sanders, Sanders Visual Images  www.juryimage.com

  Excited about these prizes? Then don't forget to pledge.

Click here to go back to the top of the page. 
   

Ingot Canopy Weight Set This new weight is so versatile we call it the "Swiss  Army" knife of canopy weights. Set of (4) 15 lb weights  from Larry Mitchell value $99.99 http://www.canopyweights.com

Vintage 2009 hard copy of the Art Fair SourceBook, Volume I   More than 400 pages of useful art fair information   "It was the last year that Greg published a hard copy and is still useful, in my opinion.  I stopped doing shows last year, but would still be using it if I hadn't."   a gift from artist CC Barton              Value: Priceless

Jury image or booth improvements or  art photography for jurying value $200 from Larry Berman, www.BermanGraphics.com

"Marketing Strategies for Artists" an e-course Successful artists inspire others to become collectors by using marketing methods that resonate emotionally with them. Grow your own art business by learning how you can do this, too.  value: $147 from our friend Carolyn Edlund of ArtsyShark.com

And even more at this link: https://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/pledgedrive.html

And if you've read this far, a surprise! We'll be drawing the first 5 names on Tuesday, May 28 at 5 pm ET. Get your pledge in early so your name will be in this first
"early bird" drawing.

Now here is the part where I stop begging, thank you for all your kind support and messages and make a genteel request from you a birthday gift to our websites. Easy and fast. Click here. Merci.

Here are two popular discussions from our archives:

Shannon Blosser wants to know about booth shots:

As a relative newcomer, I still have tons of questions about every little thing I might do. It occurred to me, after seeing this category, that it would have been a giant help to me to just see examples of working artists' booths in one place, instead of searching around for information. I'm starting the thread by showing mine, and I hope others will add theirs. It really could help someone.

I know my shot isn't perfect.  What is good about it definitely came from advice I found on AFI.  I can say that while it is imperfect, it got me into a great show.  I had to borrow the tent and walls from a friend because I still don't have my own tent (with only 30 days before the great show - yikes!), but I think it came out relatively well.

 See what she found out from our resident experts (over 35,000 views!!)

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/booth-shots-to-show-exa...

Jim Dalton started a thread, "What's the Worst Question You've Been Asked at an Art Fair" many years ago and it continues to receive answers, over 13 pages of them. You'll like this:

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/whats-the-worst-questio... over 33,000 views

Surely all this information is worth $2 a month. Will you please make a donation to our Pledge Drive? CLICK HERE or go click on that birthday cake over there.