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I put this show among my top seven in the USA.
Only 130 booth spaces, with more than a thousand artists applying.
This was my third time in. It was also my best one there, although it started off scarey.

First, a little history.
In the eighties, when I started going away for five months to do shows in the Midwest, I always stopped in Greenvillle.
I had a solid glass artist buddy named Loren Marshall who lived there.
In those days I was lugging a 21-foot travel trailer behind me, my home and studio on wheels.
I would pull in and park the rig at the Huddle House restaurant, just next to Loren's house.
For the next three days we would kayak the Greene River and hike the mountains.
Back then downtown Greeneville was no-where's-vile. Nothing but shuttered factory buildings and maybe three restaurants which were not very good or exciting.

I remember us going to a Mexican restaurant there and ordering margaritas.
Back then SC had quirky liquor laws. All booze was sold in those one ounce nip bottles. Bars would have big slotted racks with nips piled on top of each other.
So that nite we were celebrating, I bought three rounds of Rita's for the four of us.
When I got the bill, I about shit in my pants. It totaled $148.
See, each Rita was made with three different bottles of booze, and each bottle cost $4--which made each Margie a $12 drink,
I kept visiting Loren over the years but I never ordered a round of Margies again.

Then in the early nineties Greeneville changed for the better. They got great retail and restaurants to come, high rise condos got built. BMW relocated a plant here, complete with high spending Europeans on their staff. They had expensive appetites and Greeneville stepped up to the plate. Then General Electric put up a big plant.
Pretty soon Greeneville became known as a community where pioneering automotive industries relocated to.

As the town grew and prospered, the local arts scene saw equal opportunities. Hence, Artisphere sprung to life. It was a winner from the get go.
They were smart. They kept the show small, they looked for real creative artists and crafts persons to fill the booths.
The patrons responded. This was their art show and they really supported it.

Last time I was in was four years ago.
I did real good. It was a $5K plus show for me and most others.
When I returned this year I was amazed by how many new restaurants had sprung up, and they were all filled.

I took my time getting there. It is a three day show and we all set up Friday morn and the show opens at noon.
So I made it to Fernadina Beach Wednesday and stayed at my buddy Aileen Moore's house.
Just a four hour ride from Tampa.
Thursday morn I headed to Greeneville, a six hour trip. Made it into town just in time for a late sushi lunch at Tsunami, on North Street.

That nite the show hosted a Gala for the artists and patrons at the downtown Embassy Suites hotel. All food and booze was catered by the Ruth's Chris restaurant there.
Everything was free.
They had Makers Mark, Titos and every top shelf liquor you could think of. They had killer red and white wines, even Champagne. All you wanted. I carefully paced myself. In three hours I had one Makers and two glasses of red. I was staying the night on the interstate at a Red Roof. About a twenty minute drive.
The food was was equally impressive.

Waiters had trays festooned with mushroom and beef Tartares. There was roasted brisket with good horseradish. There were trays of tuna tartare, tons of iced, fresh shrimp. There were at least ten other eating options. They even had oyster-vodka shooters, and of course there were amazing desserts.
The place was packed with patrons, most of them young and stylish, wearing amazing colors and jackets.
Thank God most of them showed up to buy at the show,

Oh yeah, there was an art show.
Wanna hear about it.

We thought you would never get to it. Just keep rambling about Makers and Titos.
On with the show.
I was worried about my space location. I was the third booth in at the beginning of the show.
This was very worrisome.
People tend to gallop right into a show. They do not want to commit right away. Too much art still to see.
Then, on the way back out, they are done, they want to get the hell out of dodge.
Bottom line, I figured at least 50 per cent of the patrons would never see my work.

Then let me tell you about my booth area.
The show gives everybody a 12x12 area, which means you have two feet for rear storage and room on the sides. Not bad,Main Steet Fort Worth, are you listening?
Most spaces had ample room behind them and artists used the spaces well.
Not me.

I had a solid ten foot construction fence behind me. Two feet for storage and a wall. Also the street was a hill. So my booth tilted downward right to left. Oh, we were also on a crown so the booth sloped downward fron front to rear.
When you get a spot like this you know you might be spending some serious time with a "chiro" afterwards.

I got set up in three hours and collapsed into my bed at the Marriot Courtyard right by the show.
I thought the show began at one, not noon, my bad.
I woke up at 12:30 and scurried frantically to the show. By that time there were five posts on Facebook wondering what happened to me since my booth was not open at noon.

Jeez! I remember the early days at shows where we sat in our vans, at the beginning of the show, and smoked big numbers. Then we get out, laughing and giggling, and got to
do biz. Now, Big Brother, social media, is on your ass if you are a minute late.
I guess it is nice to know people care, they are concerned for my wellfair, so God Bless, social media,anyway, I can withstand the storm.
After ten thousand piercing arrows in my back from the "Pufferfish affair at Pensacola", I can withstand anything.
Jeez Nels, screw the Pufferfish, tell us about the show.

Thought you would never ask.
Well, my goal for Friday was to do $2500. This was a realistic goal for a show like this. Do not forget I was only up against about ten other photographers, and I had a lock on the humor market, the rest of them did serious, arty work, and it was seriously good work. But it gave me niche to exploit.
Well I exploited, but I was not seriously anointed.
I barely did a grand. I was not a happy camper.
I ate very slim sushi that nite. Still had a great bottle of red.

Saturday, we awoke to crisp temps and an overcast sky with a slight chance for rain after noon.
A perfect day to make serious moola.
It only slightly happened.
I saw mostly small packages go by my booth, no really big ones.
I only sold four 16x20 frames, priced at $150, the whole day. The rest were precious prices of paper out of my browse bins.

The crowds were steady and well-dressed. Most carried no art in their hands. Lots of them had little cups of wine or big glasses of beer in their hands. They were exuberant, but not many sales came out of it.
I saw lots of serious eye candy all day long. The Carolina women are an eyeful.

That nite I ate slim fish for dinner. I felt like I was at least 50 per cent off my expected goal.
I always set a goal for a show. After doing this 42 years I have a pretty accurate gauge for what I will make, especially at a great show like this.
So I was under $5K and seriously worried.
I drank some more great red and went to bed.

Sunday dawned brightly.
I got the van out of the Marriot lot and got it parked in "position A" ready for tear down.
I found the Starbucks, grabbed a NY Times and scampered off to breakfest.
I was at the booth two hours before the show opened.
I made some quick sales and felt slightly emboldened. Like, maybe I will kick some serious ass today and make serious moola.
Between eleven and two I averaged $350 per hour. That was a good sign.
Still, I was only selling out of the bins.

Between one and four all hell broke loose.
I did $5K. Actually sold four big framed ones, ended up selling about 17 16x20 frames.
It was Mothers Day and everybody was well dressed and buying.
It was not just me.
My neighbor who sold custom made bird houses for $160 each, sold out.
The guys two booths away with homemade barbecue grills sold out.
I saw big framed pieces go by my booth all afternoon.

Guess what folks? This is a Sunday show.
I ended up pleasantly exhausted and very rich by six close. I was packed and out in one hour.
That nite I ate very serious fat sushi with copious cups of primo sake.
I awoke Monday morn and was home to Ybor in nine hours.
Got a big kiss from my sweet Ellen.

Life is very good.
This Sunday we leave for five months to live in Saugatuck. We got Columbus and Des Moines in the near future.
Oh in case somebody out there is thinking of robbing our Ybor house, I got news for you, my neighbor Joe watches it night and day, and he is just itching to use that shotgun.
Also our eight backyard feral cats are karate canine trained.
Saugatuck, here we come.

Before the show:

During the show:

After the show:

I would love to know your thoughts and tips !

November 17, 18 & 19 
Richmond, Virginia
Main Street Station
Presented By: Visual Arts Center of Richmond
120 Artists
Deadline: May 26

Application Fee: $45  
Booth Fee: 7x10 $900, 10x10 $1000, 14x10 $1100

Craft + Design, which always takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving, kicks off Richmond's holiday shopping season and brings out a crowd of over 3,000 art collectors and connoisseurs who are interested in museum-quality craft.

This year the show is moving to a new venue at Main Street Station. The Station's newly renovated train shed is a 100,000-square-foot space, built in 1901 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recently renovated as part of a $90 million effort to restore Main Street Station. Glass walls offer visitors panoramic views of Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom and downtown.

Even better: The venue, which sits squarely in the middle of the Shockoe Design District, is highly visible from Richmond's I-95 corridor and accessible via train. Amtrak passengers from Washington, D.C., and beyond will be able to debark and walk directly into Craft + Design.

As a result of the change in venue, VisArts plans to double the number of participating artists at this year's show. An average of 60 artists have participated in the show annually since its move to the Science Museum of Virginia in 2008; the new space will accom-modate 120 artists. Longtime exhibitors will remember when the show was held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and featured more than 200 artists. 

Organizers have said they feel like 120 exhibitors is about the right size for the show, and look forward to using the new space to expand the size of the booths and offer more food and beverage stations, educational programming and entertainment. Seventy-five percent of artists who exhibit at Craft + Design are from outside Virginia.

Marketing: Craft + Design is heavily promoted across a wide range of communications platforms. Highlights include outdoor advertising, a public radio partnership, extensive social media campaigns, print advertising and special promotions with corporate partners and luxury brands. Last year's featured artist was jewelry artist Ashley Buchanan.

More Information: visarts.org/events/craft-design-show/
Contact: Lizzie Oliver, lizzieoliver@visarts.org  (804) 353-0094 

It is almost six month into the 2017 calendar and this had been my experience so far. 

I choose at the start of the year cut my post on a different forum on Facebook and other outlets. I came to that conclusion that I recognize that art fair industry it is a spiral and should work in craft and sales techniques. I hope that last another 20 years but I do not know. My friends that been doing show longer than me are seeking for a safe way out.

I was doing postmates for the past years to supplement my income as I wait for art installation to pick up because I understand how art show business can be cruel.  I had been bless that my art installation service has taken off and I had been doing at 10 hours a week of art installation and doing less postmates. That is not a lot money but when your expenses are almost none and no show schedule for the week it is welcome income. I even went as far as telling an artist friend I will prefer doing 20 hours of installation than shows. He told me you should see it this way that will allow you to do the shows that you really want to do and skip shows that you feel on the fence.

What I want to you to understand is that we all have bills to paid every month and having other source of income other than the art fairs is very important because we are in different era. If you look at people that come to shows you will notice the lack of younger people. The younger people are purchasing edgy work and more SCFI or animation type of work. I will guess is because they want escape our reality and not remember a bad experience when they go home. Happier and more relaxing work appeals more people than well intellectual work (at least at the art fair) in my opinion. I personally see some younger people purchasing my work to my surprise which is very traditional. With that observation, my sales are ahead from last year or simple terms I doing better than last year. 

Why should I care you may ask? 

Two years ago I was doing whatever I can to stay at float and feel up beat. A set of artists make me feel like it was my fault that was falling behind. I find myself treat as an outsider and looser. Talking to veteran art fair friends had change my approach to every single show. Best advice do everything in my power to come prepare to sold out. Focus in correcting mistakes that you had done in the past. Keep yourself near to my booth and engage every person comes into my booth with out doing hard sales. Have a clean presentation. The most important thing, you need know that you did everything in my power to have a good show and if did not happen is not your market not your work or your crowd did not show this time if you had done well before at the event. You may feel sad but is not because a bad show is because your way home you wonder how to cover the bills. You should understand that is a problem that all artist have in common at least once a year. Those people that will make feel that is only you and only with that problem they are just b.s. you. The reality is that you do not want a set bad shows in row during starch of three months because that is the road to the poor street house. 

With that said, the other thing that keeps coming up: our gross sales comparison and we do not talk about our net sales. We envy the artist making big bucks but I believe we should worry about how much net I make at the show, my personal bills and my cogs can a lot less than other artist sales. You do not know the bills, struggles and needs that person had. That is why I always answer it was good or bad for me. 

At the end it a risk we engage and we should do everything we can to have good show and move on. Be happy that others are doing well because that is the hope that you seek. Enjoy the ride because we have a great life even we may not have a lot. Please have another source income or ways to move your work or use your art skills to create income other than shows.  Do not forget to have a savings account. 

Well not really a change in latitude but definitely a change in attitude at the Marshfield Art Fair held at the fairgrounds in Marshfield WI.  

It's always held on Mother's Day and this was the second time I had done the show. The weather was beautiful but it was not a buying crowd for many of us. In years past, it was held at the high school and fine arts/crafts were sold. This year the venue was changed to the fairgrounds and more crafters were in attendance and at least one buy/sell. (it's a juried show)  Many fellow artists felt it was a bad move. The vibe was not the same.  

I sold mostly my low price point items which was good because I didn't get skunked like the artist across from me.  He had beautiful colored pencil nature drawings on wood, reasonably priced too. Nada sales.  It was his 7th year doing the show, he won't be back if the venue stays the same.  I sold a third of what I did last year.

Guess I'll wait and see what happens next year with the venue.  Doubt I'll be back if it's at the fairgrounds again.

Has anyone done the Mount Dora show recently ?   All the reviews are from a few years ago.

I keep hearing it's the best, but not sure about recent.

Thank You

Nancy

I was wondering if anyone didn't get a Secret Santa and thought I would start a blog for them to plead for restitution.

I gave a lathed pen to someone which was received and appreciated (thanks for the picture and kind words).

I asked for a painting (esp. watercolor) or landscape photo and, despite Connie's best efforts, am still waiting. Anyone want a pen for an xmas gift? If so exotic hardwood or acrylic?

Apply: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=5410

Congratulations to one of the best show organizers in the country, Cindy Lerick. She has recently accepted a new position as Executive Director of the Sausalito Art Festival in Sausalito, CA. Cindy will be resigning her post as the Executive Director of Cultural Festivals (producers of the Saint Louis Art Fair) and will be joining the Sausalito Festival on May 15th.

You may have met Cindy at the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis, or at Main Street Fort Worth and for the last years running the highly successful art fair in Saint Louis. Yet, she has also served on the board of the International Festivals & Events Association, and was the IFEA World Board Chair in 2015. She also is the Program Coordinator for the IFEA’s Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) program.

Festivals come with all kinds of budgets and Sausalito has one of the big ones, meaning she is stepping up to a larger job. All of us who have been impacted by her professionalism know she well deserves this position.

What happens in Saint Louis? Will we have a round of musical chairs with another show director moving there? We'll find out soon. In the meantime, Laura Miller, Deputy Director, who has been with the event since its inception is very capable of maintaining its quality.

She has often joined us with comments and clarifications here on AFI. 

You might enjoy this podcast I did with Cindy and Stephen King several years ago: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2012/02/27/art-fair-directors-cindy-lerick-stephen-king

September 8, 9 and 10

We invite you to be a part of the weekend festival as we celebrate the finest in American hand-made craftsmanship.  Our jury committee is looking for quality artisans in a variety of mediums. In addition to traditional artists and crafters, we welcome applications from Indie crafters, DIY crafters, and emerging artists with a unique or unconventional sense of aesthetics.

• Cash Awards totaling $8,000 and Recognition Dinner
• Onsite, assigned Artist Parking during Fair hours
• Load and unload at booth site
• Security from 5 p.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday
• Coffee and donuts Saturday and Sunday morning
• Booth Sitters by Cedarhurst Volunteers

Application Fee: $35  
Booth Fee:  Arts Council Members $225; Non-Members  $250

THURSDAY - MAY 11, 6 PM ET

Veteran travelers (and cheapskates) share their secrets for traveling and scoring lodgings frugally. This podcast has useful information for all of us who travel a lot or whose goal is to be on the road. 

Artists Melanie Rolfes, jeweler Margaret Aden and photographer Evan Reinheimer tell how they really score. Learn their insider secrets of leveraging Air BnB, VRBO, Hilton Honors Points, KOA, couch surfing, Corporate Lodging cards, Ebates, loyalty rewards programs and so many more tips to save you money and have more fun on the road! 

There is a mother lode of information and places to get deals: Priceline.com, Trivago, Booking.com, kayak.com, HotelTonight, Hotwire -- getting kickbacks along the way to fund the next trip is one of the favorites. Click here to listen.

We'll do a Part 2 to this podcast about RV's and camping. I've found there is just too much to cover in this one program.

I know we've got lots of experts on this topic. What is one of your best tips?

August 5 & 6
Chesterton, Indiana
Presented by the Chesterton Art Center
100 Artists
Deadline: May 15

Application fee: $30
Booth fees: $200 Single/Member; $250 Single/Non-Member; $375 Double/Member; $475 Double/Non-Member

The long running Chesterton Art Fair made a big move in 2016 to Dogwood Park, in the town of Chesterton, less than a mile from I-80 and I-94, making it an easy trip for art patrons from nearby Chicago and Michigan. Artists were rewarded with better sales at this accessible location. 

 

What the artists had to say:

"LOVE the new location!" "Much better fair, plus convenient parking close by. Thank you" "Never sold so much art at one show...the people really came out!" "Much better food choices...thanks." "Great volunteers, so helpful."

 

(Major road construction projects on I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road, and locally Route 49 are finished! Should be smooth sailing ...)

 

In 2017 expect artist demon-strations, live music, a children's art experience booth, homemade food along with local restaurant fare and more. Proceeds from the fair support the Chesterton Art Center and art classes for all age groups.

Marketing: 

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The Magic City Art Connection (MCAC) was held in Linn Park in Birmingham, Alabama last weekend.  It is a local show for us and was our best grossing show last year.  We were looking forward to a repeat. It was not to be. The show is a three day event, Friday and Saturday from 10 - 6 and Sunday from 10 - 5. You have to dolly in from one of the streets bordering the park on a staggered schedule. Load in was non eventful.  There was plenty of room for our trailer.  We paid for a premium location this year which was in the dead center of the show which made the trip from the trailer a lot longer. It was very hot and humid so we were both spent when we were done setting up. There was an oversize vehicle lot (free) about six blocks away.  I noticed some artists camping there but there are no hook ups for an RV. 

Friday sales were slow.  Most of our friends said they covered booth which was our experience. Disappointing, since we killed it on Friday last year.  The buying energy just was not there for us. We had a great sales day on Saturday.  It was hot but we had a good crowd and made one big sale that nicely supplemented a lot of print bin action.  

The weather on Sunday was iffy at best.  Earlier in the week the forecast had been for thunderstorms to arrive at about 5pm.  When we looked at the radar Sunday morning it was evident that the bad weather would arrive much earlier although the weather guy was predicting 4pm.  When we arrive at the show we were told that they were constantly evaluating the weather and based on the 4pm prediction they were considering closing at 2pm to give everyone enough time to get out.  That seemed like a good plan to us if they weather cooperated that long.  We really wanted to get in as much of the day as possible.  After that we got a lot of conflicting information and no clear guidance on the show's plan.  At 12:30 we decided it was not worth the risk and started packing up.  I had parked the truck on the street as close as possible to the show but it was still a two block dolly up hill. We managed to get everything on the ground with the art work in the trailer when the rain hit.  It was torrential.  At one point I dropped a padlock from the trailer door and it got swept away in the current and down a drain before I could react.  

It is too bad that the show was rained out on Sunday because the people were showing up.  Usually folks around here are very weather aware but even as the storm was about to hit they were still paying the $5.00 at the gate and coming in.  We had good sales even as we were packing up.  I think we would have had a great day had the weather cooperated.  

We like this show and will apply again next year.  There is a lot of civic pride here and our local images sell well.  They provide a continental style breakfast in the morning with coffee that is actually pretty decent.  The art museum in across the street.  Their cafe will do take out.  It is expensive but good.  The food vendors at the show are what you typically find but our local BBQ Full Moon had a truck there which is always good.  There was an awards dinner Friday night with beer and wine.  We did have a couple of glasses of wine but did not stay for the dinner.  Bring you own water and plenty of it.  No one came around our area with drinks and it is hot and humid.  Our cooler was full each morning and empty by the end of the day. Downtown Birmingham is transforming. There are any number of great restaurants to pick from.  Our absolute favorite in El Barrio on 2nd Ave North. The bottom line is we had a good show despite the weather drama.  This was our eighth show this year and the first time we have been impacted by the weather.  It was also the first time, but I am sure not the last, that we have packed up in the rain.  It was a good learning experience but we could have gotten our feet wet with a light shower instead of a down pour.  

September 16 & 17

New this year: A new Emerging Artist program for 2017. Durham County artists who have not previously participated in CenterFest are eligible to apply to exhibit at a significantly discounted rate. We are excited to provide an opportunity for local Emerging Artists to participate in a major art event, with accompanying benefits of exposure, sales, and the chance to interact with other artists and potential patrons of their work. Selected Emerging Artists will be in a special section in the CenterFest footprint.