How was your weekend?

[donnaturns]

Had a good chat with a local promoter. She promotes the local Renaissance Fair (to be held in Nov). ...I'm getting lots of negative concerns from applicants (both food and artists) by phone and email. Nothing I can do about their concerns. We are going to fill our booths with vendors, any kind we can find. Got to...our yearly operating budget depends on this annual Renaissance Fair."

Hmm... vendors like 'Ye Olde Vinyl Siding and Gutters'?   

[Stephen]

The promoter who feels it's suddenly okay to fill the spaces with booths at all cost should consider what direction the show will take and what will happen once the election year is past and the economy recovers and the oil prices...well maybe that's too much to ask for...but the ruination of yet another show looms with those type of remarks, that type of thinking.

We are seeing many artisans who are cutting back...being skeptical doesn't cut it. We feel that we may have to begin taking two booths at events where we feel we'll do fairly well, or could use more exposure than just another opening in a line of vendors. Some events we do we get a corner or the space is wide open with way more room that 10' x 10'. Those we'll keep the same. The ones where we are cooped up, we'll open up. Exposure or the old saying; "Location Location, Location." will be the single most important feature we can work toward at well healed events.

We took a booth & a half at "Festa Italiana" this past weekend. Had we not done so, we would have starved to death. The extra space gave us a more visable presence at an event that had one of the worst shows of the 18 years we've been doing it. The weather and the weather reports did not coinside. Thursday they predicted heavy storms and tornados it was breezy and extremely hot and muggy. Friday they said it would clear up by 11am and be cooler. It rained all day. Saturday they again said careful, it's gonna be scary out there with high winds and threatening storms. 70's by the lake and beautiful with lake breezes all day. Sunday it was again going to be rainy until 11am and then 84 and muggy all day. Turned out to be lake breezes and 70's all day and sunny. How does anybody plan to enjoy a weekend with that kind of reporting. People just didn't come to the event. Those that did were K-Mart shoppers looking for the Blue Lights.

Next year we'll consider Kohler Art Fair in Sheboygan. Show selection is going tro become very important. A lot of little art fairs, no junk fairs, and no over priced festivals like the lakefront festivals in Milwaukee where we used to do well, but now with the economy, they are not getting the sponsorships and money they need to do it right and they are charging $12.00 to get into the event and a family of four is gonna pay $48.00 to get in $5.50 for a little orange juice cup of wine, and $4.50 for a 12 oz. cup of beer. I cannot tell you how much the food will cost all day for that family of four, but how much disposable income is left for the marketplace? That i can tell you...ZERO!

[Nature artist]

Amen, Stephen.  You hit the nail right on the head.   

I go to shows for fun just as I also go to them to sell.  Those that I go to, I investigate for applying in the future.   I am looking more at what the ticket prices are, food, parking, etc.  Then I look at who is attending and how many of them are carrying shopping bags, entering in booths, etc.  It is after that I check to see what type of art and crafts folks are selling - entering in booths touching and feeling to check the quality of work.  But if a show doesn't have all the right elements in place, it is onto the next one...  To me it seems indoor events are doing better than outdoor ones - and these are just the ones I am visiting.  I also see more high end purchases being made, but not one person claiming they've sold out either.  I also see all people from all walks of life buying too - young/old, gay/straight, families/couples, but it is all dependant on what is available.  More and more people are picky in what they want too.  But then, this is just what I am seeing on the East Coast (Mid-Atlantic area) - who knows what others are noticing too. 

Nature Artist
www.mdfourseasonsshows.moonfruit.com
www.grammyscc.moonfruit.com

[Nature artist]

This weekend is lasting 7 days for me - my last day is tomorrow, ha!

I am doing a 4-H fair promoting a show (a fine art and craft show).  To make a long story short, even though I am young - I have found my limit.  I won't do another 7 days straight of a craft show where I am there for 9+ hours outside in the heat.  Long hours, the return so far doesn't seem high, but won't really know until the show I promote occurs.  The point is to distribute our postcards (with $1 off admission), get a handful of our programs out to get some salivating to want to come, get some interest in folks placing ads in future programs, and develop our mailing list more too.  Regardless, sitting outside (baking) isn't not fun.  But have learned a bit from doing a 4-H show.  I am glad I am not selling art as I don't think it would sell - although there is interest in art, the majority do not  really care.  Its all about food and ribbons and cake auctions (fetching $3,000, I might add!).   I have noticed people will spend money if it is something they need - talking about commercial vendors.  It is also a great way to get noticed if the goal is to attract local support.  All in all, I am exhausted.  I am hoping tomorrow is a good one and will celebrate with a glass of wine when I get home!

Nature Artist

[martha]

Well, here it is Labor DAY - and our shop is open - traffic is slow, but so far we are on track for staying even.  It is hot, which is good for picnics and motorcycles.

Hope all have a great weekend - I have missed posting and reading for a bit due to some personal issues, but things are improving.

I always think of Labor Day and think of my father - who took us to the fireman's bar-b-que fundraiser in San Antonio every Labor Day (all eight children!)..  He always said, "It is Labor Day, so I have to work!" 

Phil & I always did a show around Labor Day, until we opened the shop - so we are not travelling this labor day, but we are working! 

And as craftsmen, we are in total solidarity with all those folks who work in the service industry, the medical industry, the police and fireman, the soldiers, the union workers, the artists and musicians and entertainers... I could go on, but suffice to say,

"happy Labor Day!"

[Stephen]

Doing shows on holiday weekends always seems to prove fruitless in an effort to capture some needed bucks from the patrons attending. It seems those with the money go on trips. Those without coem to craft shows to wile away the hours. However, we did an event yesterday that we try to always attend because we do pretty good. 28 tiems the booth fee of $45.00 for a one dayer where we can park within five feet behind our booth. Its about ten miles from home and while it was HOT it was a good little filler for us. We do not do other holiday events! No to Thanksgiving weekends, no to Christmas shows, and no to Easter too.

Being in Milwaukee this year on Labor Day Weekend, and I agree, if it's Labor Day, I'm workin'; the Harley Davidson's 105 Anniversary was held. It turned this town into Hog Heaven. 100,000 bikers or more? The Boss, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band played Saturday night down by the Lake Front Veterans Park for three and one half hours to ten encores...that guy is 59 and played for 3 1/2 hours...WOW!

Anyway, hope all are safe sound and well this working mans (and womans) holiday!

Next up this coming weekend is our Indian Summer Festival at the lake Front festival grounds...

[julie]

Hope all are having a great weekend!

I'm working, too, getting ready for the next three weekends here:   www.yankeepeddlerfestival.com

Tomorrow we erect our booth/structure, this year we are putting in a wooden floor.

I am ahead of last year in $$ sales.
I cannot explain why, except that the few shows that I do outside of my local area went really well this year.

Martha, glad you are still posting.

Julie