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What a great article this is from 9News.com in Denver.

Did you know only 260 of the 2,138 artists who applied to the 2018 Cherry Creek Arts Festival were chosen to be a part of one of the most competitive juried art shows in the US? Did you think they were just picking on you! Or maybe you are one of "the chosen". 

Read the article: https://www.9news.com/article/news/outreach/community/how-260-artists-are-chosen-to-be-part-of-the-cherry-creek-arts-festival/73-570087956

Then get back to us with your comments ... 

October 27 & 28
Ocala, Florida
Presented By: Fine Arts For Ocala, FAFO
180 Artists
Deadline: July 15

Application Fee: $35    Booth Fee: $300

Voted 32nd out of 200 of the best arts festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine, FAFO's fall event, The Ocala Art Festival, brings outstanding artists, wonderful music, food trucks, beer and wine, artwork from students throughout Marion County and talented young people performing and some hands-on art activities to Downtown Ocala for a fantastic two-day event. Unlike a craft show, this event is a unique fine art show featuring talented fine artists. This is one of the most loved events in the community and it is coming to Ocala again this year.The festival will include 180 artists from around the country and admission, parking and children's art projects, as well as live entertainment, are all FREE!

The Ocala Arts Festival encompasses the entire Historical Downtown Ocala the weekend of October 27th, 2018. Over 25,000 people attend the 2-day Juried Arts Festival. 

Marketing: 
Billboards, Newspaper Campaign, Social Media Campaign, Adds in all our Local Magazines, Radio announcements, ads that Extend to surrounding areas, attend and promote at community events (booths, speaking engagements, etc.)

Contact: Maggie Weakley, fafoocala@gmail.com

This was my first time at Crosby. It was the most organized event I have ever been to! (except for one power hungry volunteer at the handicapped parking, there's always one)

When you checked in, they called a volunteer in your color area to say "booth 80 is here, is it clear?" If clear...they walked you to the area, if not they gave you a time frame or a slight alternative such as a booth or 2 away (hearing this in front of me). We weren't asked to move our vehicles unless someone else needed room, I moved my SUV back a few feet! My "yellow" section volunteers introduced themselves and said to let them know if I needed anything.

I was there alone and was treated wonderfully. I was offered help, shuttled back and forth when needed (asthmatic) without given the 3rd degree on why and I was even checked on. Volunteers came around in the morning with their clip boards to sign you up for a 15 minute break.

I must admit (as all other vendors I spoke to) that the vendor dinner on Friday night, had food that was terrible. I blame the caterer not Crosby. But it was nice to have our own area to go to. Friday night is for their major supporters since the tickets are very expensive. I was surprised at the sales I did and received an email from someone who wanted a special order from that night (you hear that a lot and don't usually hear back or if you do....not so fast!) 

We had to deal with drizzle, partly cloudy, rain, heavy sunshine that baked us at 350 degrees for 45 minutes before it rained again! BUT.....the crowd was still there! I did amazing!

Sunday was gorgeous out but not as crowded, go figure! I still did great unlike a few vendors around me but you just never know. I have had a few bad shows also, we all have.

Getting us all out was just as organized, including getting me to my SUV. They remembered to check that. WOW! My "yellow" leader even had water for me.  I was moving quite slowly because of being so tired and I was trying to breathe easy so not to put myself into an attack thinking I needed to rush.

This was my experience, I hope others had a good one as well.

So I look forward to being "invited" back again next year.....maybe I can get under more shade!

• An air-conditioned indoor art fair, no worry about the weather, tents or security plus free electricity 
• Cash awards totaling $4,500
• Booth sitters, 24-hour security. Rest easy knowing your booth is locked up safely at night.
• Excellent marketing campaign, expanded to television, newspaper, magazine and radio advertising, internet and e-mail promotion
• Promotional postcards, business cards and coupons provided free to exhibiting artists
• Live music throughout the art fair
• Wine tasting Friday & Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon

October 13 & 14

You'll find everything from exquisite jewelry to funky and functional pottery, abstract sculpture to glistening glass, hand-woven fashions to stunning photography, extraordinary paintings to wonderful wood carvings; this is an art fest you won't want to miss!

Stretching two city blocks, Pablo Avenue will become an extraordinary outdoor art gallery highlighting the true stars of the event; the artists. Each is available to discuss their work, share their stories and answer your questions. This is the perfect opportunity to explore a wonderful palette of diverse artwork. It is going to be a great event with something for everyone!

MEDIA/ADVERTISING
We are planning a very aggressive advertising and marketing campaign which will include; newspapers, magazines, signage, banners, radio, posters, fliers and social networking in the Jacksonville area, as well as all neighboring communities.

APPLY: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=6537

Contact: Lynn Wettach, lynn@holidayartshows.com    (904) 794-0084

This past weekend Trenton, New Jersey, hosted "Art All Night", intended to bring the community together. In the midst of it a gunfire broke out.

Organizers canceled the remainder of the event, billed as "24 hours of community, creativity and inspiration."

The festival typically draws more than 30,000 visitors to view work from more than 1,500 artists as well as exhibitions of glass blowing and woodwork, The Trentonian reported on its website. About 50 bands also play on three stages. 

Take care of yourselves out there.

Here is a thoughtful report from MSN.com: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gang-shootout-at-new-jersey-arts-festival-kills-1-injures-22/ar-AAyMDWH

Learn more: http://nj1015.com/murphy-says-more-fed-gun-control-needed-after-art-show-shooting/

When you got your  art fair news email from ArtfairInsiders.com on Monday morning it was FULL of ads. Our apologies to you.

A recent frauding of my credit card meant the service we use, Feedblitz.com, to send these emails, had incorrect information in the billing and it did not go through. Which means it reverted to the "free" service which is full of ads, not the "ad-free" service we purchase. 

Fixed now.

Connie, Tina & Meg

Thanks to everyone that has ever posted to this sight.  I have learned so much from this site.  If I didn't ask the question, then someone else did and my answer was right in front of me.  I have come a long way from crafting to artist.  I got my confidence right here, reading about everything one needed to know to move on and move up.  Thank you to those who donated and those who donated prizes.  I was a recipient of a beautiful piece of art.  Thank you Joel!  I may not post a lot but I do read a lot.  Thanks especially to Connie!  This is a fabulous site!

First time at this show. People were very engaged, enthusiastic and appreciative of the art and artists. They asked meaningful questions and showed a lot of interest. That interest translated into sales. Although some sales were out of the bin (they chose the largest of my matted pieces) many sales came off of the walls! It has been a long time since I was at a show that paid off as this one did.

It should be noted that for many years, there has been a "scab" show adjacent to this one. The Paseo Arts District distinguishes their artists from the other show by having the artists hang a green flag from their booths but honestly the difference in quality of the two shows does just as much to distinguish them. The quality of Paseo far exceeds "The Market" show.

The show brought a diverse group of patrons in all age groups. Weather didn't seem to phase the crowd even though it was extremely hot all weekend, 94+, with high humidity but no rain, I've been told it rains frequently during this show. Booths are set up back to back so there was little room for storage. Fortunately for me, the artist I backed up to suggested opening the back wall of my tent and I was able to get some much needed ventilation (many artists had fans!). One patron commented about my tent being the coolest one as many were very hot. It was not easy staying cool.

The show is held on Paseo St. which is a well know arts district, getting in to set up could have been worse if all artists had shown up at the same time but show management staggered arrival times based on location, even then artists themselves came in at staggered times making it easy to set up. Load out was fairly painless as some artists tend to get out quicker than others leaving room for the stragglers! There were plenty of booth sitters, snacks and water all weekend. Parking was located just behind and on the next street from Paseo.

The KIA art Fair was last weekend.  Artists setup early on Friday morn and the Fair is from 3pm-8pm that day.

Then on Saturday it runs from 9-5. No Sunday show.

It is setup in a beautiful downtown park, Bronson Park. Artists have plenty of room around and in the rear of their booths.

Setup and teardown are pretty mellow.  You do not have any militant show people harping at you, unlike too many shows in Florida, especially in Naples.

The Show has about 200 plus artists. There is a comfortable mix of newbies combined with old vets like me.

Their are lots of artists with cheap pop up tents, luckily there were no bad winds to damage them.

I have done this show off and on over 15 times and always come away with a nice profit, at least 5x my booth fee. THE show is only an hour away from my Saugatuck casa, and I just spend one night in a hotel.

the last two years I have made an easy 10x my booth, so I was licking my chops going there this year.  I had 20 new images and felt I would sell a goodly number of $150 framed ones.

Boy was I wrong.

Not only me.  A lot of fellow artists were disappointed.  The show did not click.

Both day’s we had mellow cooler weather and the crowds turned out big time.

Lots of young families with eager kids.  There was a nice mix of older “Good Shoes” people.

Trouble was, they all kept their hands in their pockets. I only saw about a dozen larger pieces of art go by my booth both days.

Sadly, I only sold one, $150 framed image.  Last year I sold 12.  Go figure.

Most of the crowd were just walking and talking and not really looking.

Frankly, I think I am going to have to give this show a break and go elsewhere next year.

If you are selling Lowend crafty, conservative art or crafts you might give it a try.

Kalamazoo has become a cool town, lots of good restaurants and bars to choose from and they are not pricey.

Oh well, I am on to Columbus next.  I see mucho dinero in my future.

I have been gathering all the supplies needed to complete my booth set up!  I have finally arrived !  Excited to set it up & take photos of it for submission. 

My question is.. You think it will be ok to set it up in the yard? Or my storage location where there is plenty of room?   Or is a must to have it set up at a actual show?   There are deadlines coming upper some Florida shows and I need to have this done soon.. 

What is the best practice?  Will it work against me if i just set it up at the house?   

Do they care?  any advice for success would be appreciated..   Chris

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A straight line storm last weekend in St. Louis, at the Schafly Bottleworks (Schafly's Art Outside Festival), closed down the art fair. If you are new to this business, please read and take heed. I attend festivals regularly and see tents with no weights. Granted, no weights could have prevented the damage at this event. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the artists who lost art and equipment.

Learn more here: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/storm-damage-forces-early-end-to-schlafly-s-art-outside/article_9d60ed2f-481c-550e-b850-a636af870893.html