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[promoter]

(Note: We stayed away from this forum for the past two weeks because GOOGLE was reporting problems with the site. It seems to have cleared today. Not sure what that was all about. Probably SPAM or something.)

Regulation...Why and How:

1. Why?
     a. Many artists/crafts people who truly originate their wares want some way to distinguish themselves from the pack of BUY/SELL vendors.
     b. Too many BUY/SELL vendors masquerade as original artists.
     c. Show organizers want to make revenue first and foremost. They may not always be interested with the integrity and quality of the vendors or the show.

a. Many true artists and crafters do so with little trouble.

b. And it is up to the promoter to weed them out, not the government.

c. And it is up to us, the exhibitors, to decide which promoter is doing their job. And we vote with our feet.

2. How?
     a. All show organizers should be licensed or permitted by some governing body, i.e., City or State.
     b. Codes enforcement can be used to visit the shops of original artists/crafts people to verify that they make their wares.
     c. All those who qualify as original artists (Codes enforcement shop visits) will be awarded a badge/sign/sticker by the governing body that distinguishes them as an ORIGINAL maker of their wares.
     d. The Buy/Sell vendors will be awarded a badge/sign/sticker stating that they are a reseller of manufactured goods, not the original maker.

a. I have a problem with Government coming in and regulating private shows.

b. Who will make up the codes? And every state has a different set of standards, so when you do a show in New Jersey, it's always different than a show in Colorado.

I do shows all over New England as well as New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Trying to figure out their taxes is enough fun, with some states having different sales taxes for different counties/towns, and others having no sales taxes at all.

Can you imagine the nightmare involved doing shows in different states with different exhibitor codes???

c. & d. And WHO will decide who gets what 'sticker'? Some third floor bureaucrat who knows NOTHING about art?

What about those who do craft shows and purchase something from AC Moore and embellish it? What about Granny who just wants to make a few extra bucks at the local school? Should she be "regulated" so she can have her "sticker" at her table too?

And how are those stickers paid for??

Now if a local governing body wants to regulate a show they are promoting, they can do so.  And the exhibitors have a choice of doing the show or not. But I am against any government coming into a private show (and all promoter run shows are indeed private) and dictating to the promoter who can and cannot be in the show. That's not their job.

But I feel we have too much government as it is!  All of the above problems can be solved very easily. Do your homework! You "jury" the shows just like they jury you. Just because I pick a show and it's not what I expected, the last thing I want is for the government to get involved! It was I who made the mistake of not doing my homework, and I paid the price for doing so. 

You talk to fellow exhibitors whom you know and trust to give you straight talk about shows. You establish a circle of friends whom you do shows with and form a core group. I'm fortunate to be in such a group, and we do shows together. Sometimes we'll talk at dinner on Saturday night and discuss lots of shows... and promoters.

You do not travel halfway across the country because you read some glossy brochure put out by a promoter who's sole job is to fill spaces. If a promoter says they are in SA's 'Top 100" shows, you ask  "when?" You look for reviews. Even SA's 'Top 200' are based on sales numbers only, and not by who is or is not there. I have seen Country Folk Art in the top 25, and they're 75% buy sell! But that year I made $10,000 in 3 days with them right next to the B/S merchants.

So you must be the government. You look for the shows, you investigate the promoter, you weed out the good ones from the bad ones, you make the business decisions, and you either succeed or fail on your own.

We're grownups. We don't need a Nanny in our business.

Stephen,

It's good to see you in the forums again.

For us in New England, it's running hot and cold. We'll do one show and do quite well, and the following weekend we'll just make expenses.

The people are indeed frugal today. They are not spending their money unless they really like the work, or it's useful.

But they are also angry. They're angry at what's going on in Washington. They're not in a spending mood. I read reports where the people are not buying, but paying down their credit cards and bills instead.

And my friend, it's gonna get worse from September to November. It's gonna be a very tough fall season.

Chris in VT

Main Site:  http://www.shades-etc.com
Main Store: http://www.shadesetc.ecrater.com
Blog:  http://shadesetc.blogspot.com

Well, it seems I've been away for a looooong time. We're having a good year, but not because of the shows in Wisconsin this summer. We began with lots of new items after the first of the year. We did a lot of new events and the same old ones too. We were ahead of last years sales through July by the end of May.

Then the events took a turn for the worse. The weather has been awful on us. Not so much the rain, and we've had record amounts around Milwaukee this summer, but the heat and the humidity and dew points have been horrid. We normally get a few days here and there that could be considered stifling...but beginning the end of May and letting up today (yes, I said today, August 16th) we've had not dropped below the 80's with high dew points and humidity. Oh yeah, and the mosquitoes. Today it's breezy, probably 80 to 81 and very low dew points and humidity...a delightful day!

It also seems the customer here is extremely unsure of the economic situation that has befallen all of us. Scared to purchase? Too frugile? No disposable income whatsoever? I don't know...we've done events almost every weekend since Memorial Day Weekend and we've had two or three events we were happy with, including this past Saturday one day event in Hartford, WI. Oddly enough, it was overcast upon arrival at 7am. It stayed that way  until almost 3pm. It was 80, and very muggy, but no sunshine was a saving grace. Then it rained for about ten minutes. The show would be over normally at 4pm. People began packing when it began to rain, and we kinda pulled everything in and it looked like we were packing...and the sun came out and it got reaaly hot...and we got really busy since it seemed as though we might be leaving...who knew? It just seems that apathy is the new attitude...and that is not good!

We had a good show! We had to pack in the hot sun and muggy awful weather, but shen sales were good, it doesn't seem to hurt as much. Not great sales...good sales. better than the previous three years there at that event.

Next up Oconomowoc, WI. this weekend. Can you pronounce the name of that town...LOL? Weather, they say is going to be warm...it's August, but less humid. We'll see what the deal is when get there. Hopefully, since it's a good moneymaker, it doesn't rain us out.

By the way...New Mexico for us has never generated good sales. When we were traveling there prior to the economic downturn, we just never could get the dollars that would be worth the trip from Arizona. Ruth Gore ran such good shows, too many vendors, but good shows. Indoor or in the big white tent, we just couldn't afford to be there verses the show costs and the 400 mile each way drive. So when you discuss the quality of the merchandise, question the authenticity of the merchandise, and of course the price point is lower on Buy/Sell, you see the average customer in that area buying the lower price point out of necessity. They cannot afford the higher, better quality hand made items. Now especially with the economy, who can afford the items we all provide? We are in a business that is almost entirely made of items that nobody has to have to keep on going through life.

It just seems that apathy is the new attitude...and that is not good!

Hello,

I saw on the blog some mention of RLI Insurance Company. I am an agent for RLI and noticed that some of the memebers on this forum had some questions concering the Business Owners Policy (BOP). I am not trying to sell my product on this site, but wanted to give anyone the opportunity to ask me any questions about the policy and how it would cover them if they sold arts and crafts items at fairs or festivals.

Thanks

Christopher A. Alexander
Direct Sales Agent, Specialty Markets
RLI Insurance Company
Phone: 309 692 1000 ext: 5481
Toll Free: 866 741 6560
Fax: 309 689 2223
chris.alexander@rlicorp.com
www.rlicorp.com

I would like to help, but I haven't done any shows for the past 3 years due to my health. You would have thought that some one would have some infomation about shows in you area. I guess you will have to find out for yourself. Remember what it felt like when no one would share and share if you get a chance.

www.shadypinestudios.com