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Reposting this for your edification ... and because I liked it, from member Jeff Owen:

Learn more & post a comment: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/some-thoughts-on-shows?xg_source=activity

THURSDAY, MAY 24 - 5 PM ET

In the beginning art fairs were created and artists and art buyers flocked to attend. You were one of them. Your mother and your friends thought your work was wonderful and maybe they were right, so off you went to the marketplace. How did it go? Was it a triumph or a humbling experience?

A panel of beginner and experienced artists from various media discuss their "first time." What you will learn:

• how they prepared
• where they were, big or small fairs
• how it impacted their lives
• their biggest disappointments and their biggest surprises
• learning from their own mistakes vs learning from other's mistakes
• what they wish they had known then and how they used that information
• the good, the bad and the really ugly
• how to do three shows in three days and other extreme adventures
• their #1 tip for a first time show

My guests: Ly Montels, Anita Feng, Haley Yurkow & Jerry Scavezze

Then your turn. CALL IN TO THE SHOW with your story: (805) 243-1338

Here's a quick recap from the tiny in size, but big-hearted Marion Arts Festival. It's a one-day show but that's all it needs to be!

It's a tiny show, 50 artists exactly. It is very tightly curated with exactly zero duplication of subject matter between artists. If you get in your work will stand out. They are superb at jurying and making sure each artist in the show is unlike any other. 

Zapp to apply. It took me three years to get in. Communication is plentiful and crystal clear as to what is expected of you. Deb Bailey is the director and I wish the industry would clone her. Honest to God, she's on top of every detail and writes the most entertaining emails you've ever read. 

This was my second year. Last year it was 48F and raining all day, but I still made booth and expenses. This year I made booth and expenses by 30 minutes after opening...but that's because people shop as SOON as any booths are open. Like, buying at 8:00 a.m. when it opens at 9. The patrons there love art and they really support the festival. 

Buying energy was big in the morning and then trailed off for me. Other artists did well, most of them. Most know that this show has a great reputation and most said it nearly always lives up to the hype. I made a dozen sales including some pieces off my wall, but it was mostly print bin for me. Caveat: I only do a few shows a year as I have a demanding day job, so Marion was my 14th show, ever, and 2018 is just my 5th year of doing art fairs. I am still learning and getting my footing. Regardless, even I can tell when a show is worth doing, and this one is.

Load in and out is MUCH easier if you have just one vehicle. It's harder for me as I have a small trailer. For those with a van, many times you can pull right up to your booth. And there are no bad booth spots by the way. 

Weather was coming in so we were allowed to tear down and pack at 4:00 p.m. We pulled out just as the rain hit. 

Overall, great show. Bring your A-game!

Booth pictures at Three Rivers, State College, Shadyside and Fair in the Park. Besides booth pictures I can also photograph some artwork in your booth. Please call me for more information 412-401-8100.

I'll be walking Three Rivers both periods, handing out cards and offering to shoot booth pictures. I usually walk the show on Friday and Sunday each week. If anyone is interested in a booth picture, please give me a call. When you come to Pittsburgh I can also schedule a time for you to come to my house to photograph your artwork. When I shoot booth pictures, I also make suggestions on improving placement of items in the booth.

Last year I walked State College on the first day and I'll try to do it again. If you doing State College and want a booth picture, please give me a call.

Same goes for Shadyside in August and Fair in the Park in September.

I also have a set of gray Pro Panels for rent for Pittsburgh events.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

Is this where we would post the equipment that we would like to give away and/or sell?

We are getting out of the casting business & consequently have a lot to sell - burn out furnace, wax injector, flasks and all relevant equipment.  Pick up in Chicago area.

We have PVC tent weights to give away - all in the Chicago area.

I am not Nels , but here goes. Friday 91 and late night rain. Saturday 94, Sunday 98, Hot and humid all weekend long., now for the good news. Sales were the best we have had in a long time and we had a great neighbor in the green thumbed  Teri Causey and her delightful husband Lou who had great golf stories about Nels. Would love to do this show again.  

December 1 & 2
Gainesville, Florida
37th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show
Presented by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
204 Artists
Deadline: May 17

Application fee: $34

Booth fee: $299.25 (competitive); $273.75 (non-competitive)

A signature event on the North Florida cultural calendar, the Downtown Festival and Art Show is one of the nation’s premier outdoor fine arts festivals.

Since 1996, the Downtown Festival & Art Show has ranked among the top festivals in the nation and has steadily climbed in rankings in recent years. The Downtown Festival & Art Show has consistently ranked among the top 100 fine arts festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine. A local favorite, the art show attracts 80,000 people to this beloved two-day event.

Learn more:

 www.gainesvilledowntownartfest.org

Apply: http://www.gainesville
downtownartfest.org/artist-application/

Any possible chance you have an opening on the weekend of September 8 & 9?

Here are two opportunities with low overhead:

1. Fort Wayne Arts Festival at Jefferson Pointe
   This will be year two at this popular upscale shopping center with many restaurants that is a community center for this affluent area of the city
   
   Easy hours: Saturday, 10-6 (followed by a concert that will bring in buyers for the evening), Sunday noon-5.  
   
   The fair is run by veteran show organizer Teri Marquart.Amenities include an ongoing exhibitor hospitality suite; boxed lunch [Saturday only]; booth sitters; assistance with loading/unloading; and private security. Marketing consists of postcards [digital files available to artists]; email blasts; social media; local TV and radio; event calendars; and on-site banners.
   
   Deadline: May 16. Application fee: $25; booth fee: $135
   
   Learn more & apply: https://www.jeffersonshopping.com/events/
   
   
2. West Central Home and Garden Tour and ArtsFest
   The ArtsFest is part of the highly anticipated home tour in a neighborhood that was placed on the National Historic Register in 1984, with leafy trees and an easy going vibe, where the neighbors show off their unique homes to old house lovers. 
   
   Easy set up, drive up to your booth. Short hours. Good food from food trucks. Cool place to spend the weekend. 
   
   No specific deadline: until full. Fee $50
   
   Apply: http://www.westcentralhomeandgardentour.org/?page_id=28
   
   Learn more about the neighborhood: http://www.westcentralhomeandgardentour.org/?page_id=9
   
   

I'm posting these here because of my personal interest in the events. I moved to Fort Wayne last fall and am a judge for the Fort Wayne Arts Festival and my new home is in the West Central neighborhood. If you do one of these shows I'd love the opportunity to meet you and will probably have a party on my front porch on Saturday night and you are invited. What do you think?

Wow! Just got the results from the Saint Louis Art Fair. In addition to the rejection notice I got you can see how the jury scored the show for all 4 rounds THEN you can compare the results with the images/submissions of the various artists! (they only use numbers to identify the applications) Very useful as an educational tool. It is also interesting to read the various artist statements to get a feel for how others introduce their work. I always struggle with that 100 or 200 word limit.

Some very good artists got rejected in round three so I don't feel so bad! Wish other shows were as forthcoming with this kind of information, it could only make shows better I think.

Try this link: http://www.saintlouisartfair.com/jury-results.html

This show was last weekend. Melbourne is by the Intercoastal on the Atlantic Ocean in Florida.

The Show has been going on a long time, and until two years ago, it was always held on the streets in downtown. Right by all the bars and restaurants. It drew big crowds and they bought.  They also had one of the largest Patron Purchase Awards system, over $100K pledged.

Then two years ago the show moved to a municipal park, northwest and miles away from downtown. I have done the show many times and always came home with a $3K-plus paycheck and a shitload of Patron ribbons.

This year was my first time doing it in the park.

Frankly, I think it sucks.

Did not even break $1K for the two days.  Never saw even one patron carrying a ribbon.

The Show layout is troublesome.

Basically, this is two different shows.

If your booth is on the left side of the lake (west) you get surging crowds who steadily walk between the rows of booths that face the paved walkway.  Customer parking is over here.

The live music is here. Consequently, this side did much better with sales.

Now, if you are on the right side of the lake(east) you do not have the same experience.

There is the same paved walkway as on the west side. But here is the catch.

on the one side of the walkway booths are at its edge with their front openings facing it.

But on the other side of the walkway, booths are setup almost sixty feet away.

So patrons have to make a serious detour and walk across shell and dirt to get to them.

I was in this area along with about 45 other booths.

Similiarly, further north of our area another 20 booths were set back like us. They died too.

We lost at least 50% of the crowd.

The Show needs to have all the booths equally set back from the paved path so everybody gets a good look.

Moving the show out of downtown has affected the quality of the crowd. When it was downtown we got the beach people, with money, to come and they bought.

In the park we have a different, cheap, low price point crowd. Some got pissed that I would dare to charge $30 for a 8x10 matted photo. Most would not even consider anything priced over $100. Sorry, but this show is attracting a bunch of tire-kickers with no taste.

I could go on, but it will just sound like sour grapes.

Stay away from this turkey until they figure out how to make it flow.

It is really sad to see a once great show sink to the depths of this one.