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We just returned home from an amazing week in South East Florida.  We attended the Zapp Conference in Deerfield Beach/Boca Raton and showed at Coconut Grove Art Festival. 

First the Zapp Conference.   Connie has already done a review, here is mine.   I could write a full review on each session but here is a condensed version. 

This was our second conference.  The first one we attended was in Houston.  This year they changed it up after getting  feedback from artists and administrators.  The Houston conference had two tracks,  one for artists and one for admins.  Many of us felt torn on which session to go to.  I know many directors learned a lot from the artist sessions and I know I learned a lot about the admin sessions I attended.  I wanted to be two places at once.  This year they had one track.  Everyone I talked to preferred  the one track.  It was great to have the admins and the artists together at each session.    We also had more time between sessions.  This was great because we could talk, meet, visit  other artists and admins and exchange thoughts about the session.  Each session has a ton of information and it was nice to get some thoughts together before the next one.   There was a session on Wednesday for new admins but the main event was Thursday and Friday.    The first day the sessions were much more artist based.  I asked every director I talked to how they felt about this.  They all had very positive things to say.  They learned a lot and enjoyed it.  The second day many artists had to go set up for the art shows for that coming weekend so the sessions were geared more towards admins.  We were not able to attend Friday, the second day, since we left to set up for Coconut Grove Art Festival (CGAF).    We were disappointed to miss the second day but fortunately NAIA was able to do a live feed on their Facebook group and we were able to watch the other sessions. 

The conference started off with the opening presenter, Communicationg the Value of Art by Amir Jackson.  He brought some fresh ideas on interacting with the community.  

Up next was Chris Dahlquist with Get Your Story Out.  What a powerful speaker and motivator.  She is a pretty decent artist as well J If I ever grow up or am reincarnated I want to be her.  I could go on and on about this session.  She blew everyone away.  The session was a very mini version of workshops she does for artists.  Michael and I have known we needed to get refocused on many things concerning our art and the business end and she was exactly what we needed.  We broke off into mini groups throughout the session.    The thrust of the session was differentiating two different questions, why do you make art vs how you make your art.  This is a very short description but  this session alone was well worth the time and expense to attend the conference. 

Next up was the Mock Jury.  I love this part.  Artists were able to send in an app for a panel to jury.  It was free, you didn’t have to be there and you could send in up to three apps.  The app was projected.  Many of us can see what a monitor app looks like but a projected app we cant.  We sent in three apps.  If we were going to spend money and time to be at the conference we were going all in.  Michael and I were separate artists first and now a collaborative team.  Collaberating on the art is not a problem but agreeing on what images to use for apps is.  A mock jury is perfect for us.  It’s a great chance to have direct feedback from set of jurors.  Plus we learn from each and every app they critiqued.  This session is a must for artists.  After the session we were able to continue talking to other directors who were at the session and get their feedback as well. 

Last session for the day  was Mystery Unmasked: An inside look at the Jury Process.  The panel consisted of four directors and an artist.  They talked about how they run their jury process, many other directors at the conference also shared what they did.  This session was a great example of the benefit of artists and admins being in the same room.  Artists could ask questions and not only the panel would answer questions but all the directors could as well.  The directors learned from each other and how they each ran their jurys.  Another amazing session and now we wrapped up the day.

Ending the day there was a cocktail Reception.  There was so much information to process we were all ready for a drink, or two.   This year the reception was held at the Hotel where the conference took place.  I loved this.  We were able to go right to the bar with everything fresh in our minds, relax some and have quality time with everyone.  I hated to see the day end but honestly I don’t think my mind could take anymore new information that day. 

If you have a chance you really should find a way to attend a zapp conference.  The Zapp team is really amazing.  Christina, Nancy, Joann, and Kate know there stuff and are available the entire time to answer any questions and receive all feedback.  They really do listen and implement what the admins and artists want.   The directors were extremely generous with any questions or concerns  the artists had.  Everyone was there to help each other.  It was so refreshing to see artists, directors and admins work together to better the art fair community.

We were sad the event was over for us but it was time to refocus and get ready for an art show. 

CGAF was next.  I have written two other reviews on this show.  http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/coconut-grove-art-festival-miami-fl

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/winter-2016-florida-part-3-cgaf-miami

For more info on logistics you can reference past reviews. 

There is no place I would rather be in February then Miami.  We love this city.  We were thrilled to be accepted again in to CGAF.  Hurricane Irma hit Coconut Grove, where the show is, pretty hard.   If you listened to Connies pod cast you heard the interview with Kat pretty soon after the storm.  I don’t know how they were able to do all they did with the short amount of  time after the hurricane but if you hadn’t been there before you wouldn’t have realized a major hurricane had hit the area.  Actually I spoke to at least 3 artists about the hurricane and it hitting The Grove and they asked me “what hurricane”  How soon we forget.    There were a lot of trees missing and some of the area had construction but over all it was all good. 

The weather  was great.  It was warm on Saturday and Sunday if you couldn’t find shade.  Monday morning we had some rain but it cleared and there was a nice breeze.  Saturday many artists were complaining that crowds were down and I agree they were but still many people.  Here is a pic of my street on Saturday around noon. 

Big enough crowd for me.  We had our best Saturday at CGAF.  If sales would have been over from Saturday we would have been happy.  Sales on Saturday were from customers not from the Miami area.  Everything we sold will need to be shipped.  It is nice to have an audience from not only around the country but around the world.  The boat show also is happening at this time and many of those people attend CGAF.  They buy.

Sunday it was packed.  Here is a pic of the same street on Sunday. 

I could barely get back to my booth after a bathroom break.     We had some good talks but no sales.  Our neighbor killed it on Sunday.  Monday started with rain but ended by 11.  Monday is traditionally slower and the bargain hunters come out.  There is something about Miami and last minute sales.  We have been doing shows in Miami for over 7 years.  I remember being told by other Miami artists that sales happen at the end of the show in Miami.  I know we hear this all the time but it really is true in Miami.  Every show we have done in 7+ years we sell in the last 5 minutes and often during break down.  It happened again.  5 minutes before close we had another big sale.  They didn’t even ask for a discount.  Don’t give up at the end and don’t be in a rush to get out when you are in Miami.  Attitude has a lot to do with this life. 

Sales were all over the place for artists.  One of my neighbors, a potter,  just made expenses and traveled far.  Her work was not a match for this show unfortunately.  Another neighbor, sculpture killed it.  A 2d artist friend of mine didn’t make booth.  This wasn’t our best CGAF but pretty darn close to it.  So there you have it, sounds like most art shows. 

Breakdown was pretty easy considering the size of this show.  It closed at 5pm.  We had our vehicle at the broken down booth (damn I wish more artists would break their booth down before coming in to a show) by 6 and out by 6:20.  Not bad considering Michael had to leave 5 minutes before break down to close the last sale in the condos behind out booth. 

Hope we are invited back next year. 

Feb. 15 & 16, 2018 - Deerfield Beach, FL

This year's theme:

Communication, Collaboration and Building a Better Future Together

Why does a person take their time and money to spend several days far from home at a conference? This year I wrestled with the decision to attend or not. It was not convenient. It was more costly than I wanted it to be, but in the end the lure of being with people who are working in the business I've been devoted to since the 1980's won out. I got on that plane and went to work. (Secretly I was hoping to get to get the beach. Didn't happen, the sessions kept me in my seat.)

The wins:

• meeting new artists and show directors
• spending extended hours with people who care about our business, artists and show personnel
• listening to speakers who authoritatively taught me new ways of looking at art, American culture, the importance of the arts in our communities, jury tips, selling art, connecting with audiences, etc.
• the "aha moment" when you realize how important it is psychologically and emotionally to break from routine (it always happens and catches me by surprise) and make an effort to step out of the everyday. You must know what I'm talking about.

In keeping with the theme of communicating, collaborating and building a future together here is what happened:

Preconference - Wednesday

1. A new show director workshop presented by Cindy Lerick (Sausalito Art Festival) who answered questions from this special audience of new directors. With over 30 years of experience in event management she presented seasoned answers. I was particularly impressed with some of her statistics that put the events in perspective. This was also an opportunity for new people to meet one another in preparation for the upcoming days of work.

Day One

2. Keynote presentation on Communicating the Value of Art by Amir Jackson, founder of the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation that helps empower youth while developing marketable creative skills. He is a TEDx fellow and sits on multiple arts boards. 

3. Photographer Chris Dahlquist's presentation: Get Your Story Out was a workshop on learning how a show, an artist, can develop and engage their audience delivering a method for communicating the meaning of your artwork and building a following. This was an amazing presentation, nearly stunning, in its insight and depth of knowledge. Learn more about Chris. Do not neglect clicking all the tabs on her website, worth your time. 

4. Jury Workshop - a public portfolio critique. Artists submitted their jury images to a seasoned panel of judges and they discussed the merits of the presentation: what worked, what didn't.  This is always part of the conference and is always an eye-opener for everyone. Moderated by Laura Miller (St. Louis Art Fair), the judges were artist Matthew Cornell, Mary Beth Harris (Boca Raton's Art in Mizner Park) and Jeanne Seehaver (ArtFest Fort Myers). 

5. Mystery Unmasked: An Inside Look at the Jury Process. More about jurying, how juries are selected, how the scoring is done, how important that booth shot is, artist statements. As we all know, no matter how good your art is, if you don't make it past the jury you are not in the art fair business. Moderater, Stephen King (Des Moines Arts Festival), artist Chris Dahlquist, Marguerite Esrock (St. James Court Art Show), Sharon McAllister (ArtFest Fort Myers) and Maureen Riley (Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original). Each of these events has a different type of jurying so you were presented with multiple perspectives.

End of day - time for the cocktail reception and dinner with friends old and new

DAY TWO

6. The Art of Savvy Marketing: A Digital Workshop presented by artist Benjamin Frey. Ben had so much information it had my head spinning. He presented in an hour and a half a full day's worth of information. Hope you know all about If This Then That and Sprout Social ... plus, how to build a website in 20 minutes. I'm going back to school to learn. BUT the gist was about how to do social media effectively and STILL make art. 

7. One of the things I enjoy the most at these conferences is the presenters who do not work in the art festival business, but do work in the arts. This was a fascinating presentation: A Festival Every Day, Programming Arts in an Urban Public Market, presented by David Dickinson, arts program manager at Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. Pike Place Market craftspeople continue the tradition of “Meet the Producer" by selling handmade products directly to the consumer. Each morning, after the ringing of the market bell and roll call, the North Arcade bustles with activity as craftspeople set up their displays. The crafts market is one of the largest showcases of locally made crafts in the country.

David Dickinson presenting the intricacies of the artstalls and community of artists who sell their work at Pike Place every day of the year.

7. Concurrently there was a meet and greet with the NAIA for artists, a nonprofit organization of artists and art shows that supports the art fair industry.

8. Organizational Strategies to Avoid Burnout, presented by Brenda Conway.

A helpful, point by point, workshop on helping artists and show organizers recognize burnout, one of the biggest threats to artist businesses and nonprofits. One of my favorite takeaways: When you are doing well and feeling good, pat yourself on the back, and don’t start worrying about what isn’t done. 

9. Artist Driven Data, presented by Robin Markowitz, Art-Linx. Robin presented statistics from recent nationwide surveys about the art fair business, comparing the results of a 2010 survey to a 2015. It covered tips for administrators and artists.

10. Every conference ends with a group discussion, usually moderated by Stephen King, "Connecting the Dots," where artists and administrators discuss trends and the future of the business and genuinely dialogue on topics of interest to each.

What I can't say enough about is the opportunity to meet and spend time with this community of people. Artists and show organizers have been the constant in my life. This is not just a job for most of us, it is a conscious lifestyle choice and we do not do a 40 hour week and then go away. We are interdependent. Meeting together and sharing one another's concerns strengthens each of us. 

I hope to meet some of you at the next conference. It was a pleasure to meet artists Anne Johnson, Bernadette Szajna, Dick Dahlstrom (a serious veteran artist, in and out of fairs, galleries, etc., but still wanting to know more), Kelsey Merkle, Wendy Merkle, Lou Montells, Melanie Rolfes, Michael Zavison, (Melanie and Michael got to have 3 bodies of images critiqued by the panel in the jury workshop), Michael Brown and Ronna Katz.

And not to be forgotten, the women behind all your inquiries at Zapp:

Left to right: Christina Villa, ZAPP Manager (sorry, Christina, about the quality of this photo, it has you glowing), Joann Liu, ZAPP Communications & Support Associate and Kate Kreutz, ZAPP Senior Program Associate. 

Were you there or do you have any questions or comments?