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Setup on Wednesday was the easiest I have ever had. Organization was excellent and a beautiful venue.  This was a 4 day show that should be a 2 or 3 day show.  Somewhere around 150 artists. Traffic on Thursday was fair but only artists that were making sales were for items under $100 with a few larger items.  Friday, made the first sale. Traffic fairly good but sales were slow from what I saw and my first sale was 1 hr prior to close.  Saturday traffic was very busy and some artists with large art work made sales, most with desert scenes.  No sales for me until near close, finally made a sale. Sunday slow until noon then traffic picked up but no buying energy.

This is a very nice show, great promoters, volunteers, nice amenities (daily coffee, snacks, fruit, donuts, raisins, dates, water.  Volunteers delivering water  and cookies all day. Organizers were the best, venue was the best I have ever been at. Quality of artists was very high, the number was around 150 which is about the perfect size IMO.  Promoter is the chamber and did heavy advertising on TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, billboards over a fairly long period of time. Ads were in some markets in drivable communities like San Diego, Los Angeles and also as far as Phoenix .  The booth fee and commission rate of 15% is very fair based on the quality of this art festival.

Setup on Friday was easy, able to pull up close to booth as I was by the sidewalk.  Had to setup in the rain as it rained most  of the day on Friday, glad we were on grass as the street gutter was several inch's in fast moving water like an AZ wash.  Promoter was on site all three days and was marking booth layout in the rain on Friday.  Venue was very nice, weather both days were excellent but sales very slow for everyone.  There was an International Film Festival ending that weekend and most of the crowd at the art festival was there for the festival and looking for something to do between shows.  All though a nice venue, easy setup, easy takedown and reasonable booth fee I don't think I will do it again due to poor sales. I don't know if sales were low due to time of year or most patrons being tourist.

July 1 & 2  
Ludington, Michigan
Rotary Park
120 Artists
Deadline:  February 28

Application Fee:  $35/$25 Early Bird
Booth Fees: $175/$350

Artist Amenities:

• On-site breakfast for artists provided on Saturday and Sunday
• Booth sitters
• Food will be sold on-site and information on local restaurants within walking distance will be made available
• Overnight park security will be provided Friday and Saturday nights
• Free overnight RV parking is available at Ludington High School or for $10 at the Mason County Fairgrounds
• Awards will be presented to the top three exhibiting artists. Winners will receive award ribbons and jury fee will be waived for the following year
• A program listing all artists with their media and booth locations will be available

Marketing: 

The West Shore Art Fair will be publicized and marketed throughout the region, statewide and beyond utilizing a variety of media and social media networks.

Testimonials:

"I want to thank you, and all of the staff and volunteers, for what has turned out to be not only my best, but my favorite art fair of the summer! I truly appreciate everyone's hard work."

 

"Thank YOU for all your efforts to make a thoroughly wonderful

and successful show! We were so pleased with the weekend and our friend who did the show for the first time said he would definitely return."

Apply:  www.zapplication.org

Learn more: http://www.ludingtonartscouncil.org/fairs/WSAF/WSAF_home

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/WestShoreArtFair 

Contact: Sheila Preston, wsaf@ludingtonartscenter.org, (231)845-2787

June 2, 3 & 4
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Presented by the Anton Art Center
75 Artists
Deadline: March 1

Application fee: $20; Booth fee: $125

New this year: 

Marketing:

September 2-4
Portland, Oregon

We are Portland's largest outdoor art fair, drawing over 100,000 people every Labor Day weekend to it's beautiful location under the canopy of trees in the historic North Park Blocks of the Pearl District. Known for its art galleries, upscale businesses and residences, the Pearl District is an affluent vibrant community that thrives on art and culture in NW Portland. 

In the winter us Michigan artists look for warm weather and a reasonable market for our art (that market is not here in the frozen North). Marcia and I have been heading south to Florida every winter for shows during February and March. We've had reasonable success at the shows and had the added benefit of getting in some beach time.

Next winter we're wondering if we can have the same success out west. My brother lives in Arizona and I haven't seen him in years. It might be fun to spend a month or two in Arizona and California. In February there are shows in Tubac, AZ, Scottsdale, AZ, Palm Springs, CA, and Fountain Hills, AZ. Art Fair Source Book ranks these shows 5, 8, 6 and 7 respectively.

In March there is the big one in La Quinta, CA, then Scottsdale, AZ, Carefree, AZ, Tucson, AZ and Tempe, AZ, with rankings of 10, 8, 7, 7 and 7 respectively.

In April, we have the option of heading home through Texas to hit Woodlands, Tx, Ft. Worth, and Southlake with rankings of 9, 9 and 8.

I know the Texas shows have a pretty good reputation among artists, but, with the exception of La Quinta, I haven't heard much about the Arizona shows in February and March.

Any Northern artists out there who have chosen the West for their winter schedule? And how did it go?  

May 6 & 7      

The show winds around a pond and runs adjacent to the historic log cabin.  Artists are encouraged to get out of the tent and create installations that enhance their work and interact with the natural beauty of the park.

• Limited to 80 artists
• Significant paid advertising and news coverage
• Easy drive up unloading
• Experienced artists friendly organization
• Free parking and RV parking

August 5 & 6

Detroit, Michigan

Sat. 10am-7pm; Sun. 11am-5pm

100 artists

Deadline: April 28

Application fee: $25; Booth fees start at $330
 

This show, in its 2nd year, is held on beautiful Belle Isle State Park.  Many artists reported record sales in our first year, some selling work priced at $4000 and up. The audience is a mix of suburbanites and city dwellers with the budget and appreciation to buy art.

 

Belle Isle is a beautiful island State Park in the Detroit River. Tens of thousands of people come out on summer weekends to enjoy the gardens, visit the aquarium, and the zoo. It's a location that feels inviting to city residents and suburbanites. The show is near the entry bridge across from the stunning Scott Fountain.  There is ample parking.

As with other art fairs by Integrity Shows, artists are juried on a three year basis. If you are accepted by the jury you are assured of acceptance annually and re-jury in the fourth year.  Of course you still need to apply on time and your work has to be relatively the same.  We believe that artists should be able to plan at least a part of their schedule.

Learn more: www.BelleIsleArtFair.com

Apply:  https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=5230

Presented by Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows, info@integrityshows.com 

Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows President, has been producing and consulting with events since 1982 in metro Detroit. Among the shows produced by Integrity Shows are Royal Oak Clay, Glass & Metal Show, Funky Ferndale Art Fair, Belle Isle Art Fair, Palmer Park Art Fair and Jazzin on Jefferson. 

June 10 and 11
Buffalo, New York
Presented by the Allentown Village Society
400 Artists
Deadline: February 24

	Jay & Toni Mann at Allentown

New this year: We always welcome new artists. We will be celebrating our 60th year with special events including a retrospective gallery showing and exhibits highlighting the works of some of our long time artists.

June 23-25

Columbus, Ohio
Easton Town Center
Presented by Huff-Burch Promotions
105 Artists
Deadline: March 1

Application fee: $25; Booth fee: $300

Take a virtual tour at www.eastontowncenter.com.

After freezing our tootsies at Images in New Smyrna Beach, Marcia and I headed for Fort Myers for our 2nd show of the winter. The weather forecast was for sun and temperatures in the 80s. YES!

We were one of about 50 booths that would be open on Friday evening so we got there early on Friday for our scheduled setup. We were escorted into the art fair in order of our booth numbers. Although we had to park on the street about 50 feet from our booth, load in was pretty easy. Just a short dolly to the space. We had a corner booth in a space that was already 12 feet wide, so we positioned the booth so that we had two side walls... lots of exhibit space. We had a leisurely setup and were allowed to move our van right opposite our booth and leave it there for the entire setup (I like that).

Our booth was in a great location. We were in the middle of the show, on the bridge going over a waterway with fountains. We set up on the sidewalk, which was very level with room plenty of room behind our booth for storage and in front of the booth for customers.

The forecast was accurate. Great weather. Friday night was busy but mostly with lookers and party goers. We took in just under $600, so, with the added exposure, I thought it was worth it. It seems that it takes people a while to decide on buying my work, so I look for the be-backs. Lots of the Friday night people would be back Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday brought lots of people. The crowds were consistent and sales went well all day, bringing in around $2200. Sunday was better with sales over $3000. We wound up with a gross of just under $6K, better than our average show for last year, but a bit below our gross from the Fort Myers show last year.

This is a well run show. One of the better ones in Florida. Big crowds. Descent sales.

Our next show in Florida will be Arti-Gras on February 18-19. When Marcia and I put together the schedule we debated on whether to spend the two weeks between shows in Florida, or go home to Michigan. We did the math and found that we could fly back home for 10 days for a lot less money than staying in Florida. We booked a room at a Comfort Inn near the airport and arranged to leave our van there for the duration. A free shuttle took us to the airport on Monday morning and we were home that afternoon.

Here's another brilliant arrangement that Marcia thought up. We have a Michigan friend who scheduled a vacation to Arizona, flying out of the Grand Rapids airport on the same day we were arriving from Fort Myers. We both live about 40 miles from the airport. Our friend left her car with the "valet" service at the airport when she arrived. We picked up her car and drove home. Our friend also scheduled her flight back from Arizona on the same day we were flying back to Fort Myers. So, we drop her car off with the valet, and our friend gets her car back when she lands. HA! Great arrangement.

One of my first Florida art fairs was Images. That was 30 years ago. I bombed at that show, but  was smitten by the "art fair" lifestyle and the opportunities art fairs present for actually making a living with art. My goal has always been to be a professional artist but that show, and a few others around the same time, convinced me that making art was not going to pay the bills and feed my family. 

At that time I was also working as a freelance media producer... a much more lucrative profession. While most of my income came from corporate clients, I went back to New Smyrna Beach the following year with a TV crew and shot a documentary called "Art Fair" (https://youtu.be/q16q5Ju_pBk). The video celebrates the independence and creative spirit of the art fair artist.

Over the years I dabbled with art fairs, but my main focus was on my media business... until about 15 years ago. Gradually, I phased out the "media" career, and phased in the "art" career. I've been doing art fairs fairly regularly for the past 15 years but this year I finally went back to New Smyrna Beach to give Images another try. And here's how it went...

I grossed about $2500, half of what my average art fair grossed last year. Not great, but, optimist that I am (all of us art fair artists are optimists), I enjoyed the show, and will probably give it another try next year. Here's why.

It was very cold (and a bit rainy) and not enough people braved the weather to come out for this show. Better weather will bring out more people. The committee was great. Very positive. This is a long running show and the committee knows how to do it. They don't micro manage the artists. Load in on Friday was easy, parking was convenient (100 feet away in the lot behind our booth), and load out was equally easy and convenient. Access to the artist lounge and "real" bathrooms was an added perk. Another major perk was where we stayed during the show.

Marcia (my wife) booked an airB&B in New Smyrna Beach. We had no real idea where the place was in relation to the show. We just knew it was somewhere in town. As we followed the GPS on Thursday evening, trying to find our lodging, it took us right into the middle of the art fair. I gave Marcia a confused look, convinced that she put the art fair coordinates into the GPS instead of the airB&B. But a few blocks later we arrived at the B&B... less than a mile from the art fair... walking distance. About the same distance from the artist parking lot. The place was a two bedroom apartment right on one of the many canals around there, complete with a fully equipped kitchen, for only $125/night. A terrific place! 

I may be in the minority about giving this show a positive review. Other artists I talked to sold less than we did and questioned the viability of exhibiting here again. The cold weather was a turnoff. But, hey, this was our first Florida show of the winter and we just came from the frozen North (Michigan), so we were happy to get away from the snow. We've got 5 more shows in Florida. We're hoping for better sales, but, you know what? There are no art fairs in the frozen North during the winter, so, Frorida is our best option for making a living in this crazy business.

I have been creating just about every day for the last ummm….too many years. As soon as my wee hands became acquainted with the world I needed to create. More than anything else I may be, I'm a sewer, writer and still “at my age” a dreamer.

There are a great many experiences during all this time….. People, animals, stories, music, gardens, homes and places, that I have loved and still love…..still miss.

Everything I make has always been an intercourse with these loves. A crazy passion compels me to respond to the mad, beautiful, terrible, funny world we live in by engaging with it and using everything that comes to hand or can be found….. to render my version of it, my story, perhaps…… or a way of saying hey, look at this, this is funny, this is precious, this is beautiful!

I've been lucky to find venues, humble, utilitarian and adventurous ones that people have responded to, enabling me to make a living out of chaos!

For years now, under the “Wicked Stitch of the West” banner….. it's been clothing of the epic variety that celebrates our bodies and how we move through our environment.

My nightmare, if I have one……is to suddenly realize, on my deathbed, that there were things I had, or had easy access to, that I didn't use up in this pursuit.

I have no patience, personally, with extremely unaffordable things. I want my clothing and frivolities to be accessible to the average person, without compromising quality.

I’d rather make (and own) a top for $85, than $850, $8,500 or $85,000. Owning an 85,000 dollar coat or gown would make me ill…..

So to those “Juries” who don’t invite me or stick me on a bloody “wait list” to your show…..well, I could make a list of colorful metaphors and make folks mad, but all I will say is…….

Your loss and leave it at that.

****** A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of texting and JAMESON....

I figured out my coffee limit: 6 in 2 hours….I can no longer
blink!

If more of us valued food, fellowship, cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world……

Slainte,

Lynn

March 25 & 26, 2017
Altamonte Springs/Orlando, Florida
Presented by: The Orlando Art & Living Expo, Inc.
Cranes Roost Park
150 artists
Deadline: Feb. 16

Application Fee:  $25/Booth Fee: $285

The festival offers artists a beautiful world class setting with easy access set-up, free adjacent parking, overnight security and cash awards/ribbons will be presented.

The UpTown Art Expo will be strongly promoted throughout Central Florida media including Magic 107.7, WMMO 98.8, WLOQ, WMFE 90.7, Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Magazine.  

The Orlando Art & Living Expo, Inc, is a non-profit whose mission to bring art & music together, and enhance the quality of life in Central Florida.