Fur In The Paint

SO here’s my booth at Thieves and yes it does pretty much look like last years and the year before that because I am blessed enough to get the same location every year since I’ve been doing the event since the dawn of time for like 10 years. This event is held in a lovely historic building which has all sorts of hallways and antichambers which they stick artists into. The event is small enough that most people see every single vendor but when you are in an off shoot room you and then walk into the main room there is a real patron density difference.

I paid my dues to get to the main room as I have been in the off rooms when I started, then during restoration and flooding I still did the event even when it was held in a mall downtown and then got to return to the Union Memorial. Frankly every time I think of NOT doing the event I fear giving up my primo booth spot as it is in the main room and one of the few corner locations.

But this year it was worth my trip. The weather was good. And by good I mean it didn’t blizzard and cover the world in 6 inches of frozen ice. It did however rain while unloading but all things considered I can live with that.

Sales were okay. Frankly the way the last few events went my expectations were way down so it was nice to be pleasantly surprised with actual sales that gave me a little pocket money when all was said and done.

What I Like About Thieves Market.
* With 100 artists it is large enough to draw a crowd but small enough that you don’t have a lot of competition in your genre.

* Indoor (Whoohoo!)

* Iowa City usually has a nice crowd for both of the art events I do there.

* Parking ramp next door for close artist parking.

* Iowa House Hotel offers discounted rates and so you can stay right in the same building as the event. The rooms are pretty much dorms so expect no luxury but most artists think a bed and a toilet is luxury enough.

What I Don’t Like
* The past two years there’s been no friday setup so you got to be there by 5-6am in order to get setup in time.

* Artist Parking for loading and unloading is extremely (shockingly, horrifyingly, stupendously) limited. And the cops hangout just waiting to give out the tickets. Yes I got one a few years ago and I know several artists who have garnered one or more parking tickets from trying to unload.

* Load in and out are horrendous. There is one ramp which you can cart your stuff for a fairly long distance or you tote it all up and down some stairs. I know a few artists that refuse to do this event just because the loading is such a bear.

* No food perks though this is not something I really care about. Most event offer coffee and doughnuts but there is nothing here. However there is a cafe and a snack shop within feet of the event so you won’t go hungry.

A big hug to everybody who stopped by and said Hi!

So I’m feeling all Whoohoo! and Ah Crap at the same time.

Today I leave for Theives Market in Iowa City, Iowa. For those who might be interested, it’s held in the Union Memorial on Sat. and Sun. This is a small holiday show but I have been doing it so long that I can’t seem to stop. Somehow my art fair season isn’t officially over until I do Theives. So I’ll see ya all on the back side.

Okay maybe it’s not the latest but it sure seems to be growing in popularity. Or perhaps it’s because most of the art fairs I do are held outdoors and so these kinds of things aren’t really necessary. But I tell ya … they sure look handy.

This last event I did this past weekend had dozens of the things. Hoveround type vehicles or electric wheelchairs. I’d seen as many as four wagons hitched together choo-choo train style running in and out of the building.

Not My Crowd.
So I’ll just cut to the chase and tell you I made expenses. Which of course sucks but at least I got my money back out. Had I not taken the event I would have wondered if I missed out on something.

Now the crowds were thick and the money was flowing they were just not there for fine art … or at least my art. There was perhaps a dozen artists (oddly enough nearly all the painters were critter artists … Either we think we can cross over … or we’re just more desperate.) who all did about the same sales-wise. With the exception of my potter friend of course. She kills wherever she goes.

No photos were allowed at this event so no pics of the booths.

The Crap People Buy

Disclaimer:
Okay I’m going to preemptively say no real offense intended to anybody who makes the crap craft listed below. It’s all in the eye of the beholder … you know … and I can totally understand why you might wonder what sort of insanity might make someone spend $200 on a framed print of a horse’s backside. (See I get it.)

Golf Ball Dogs Yup they are what they sound like. 6 golf balls glued together with google eyes and a tongue $8

Framed Wall Paper Border For real ya’ll? Seriously? Your choice of barnwood or oak. All I can say is … huh.

Laser Cut Corrugated Tin Anything made of tin cut into any shape. The rustier the better. (You know like you might need a tetanus shot just from looking at them) A simple Alphabet letter $5 up to $50 for 3 foot snowman shapes. Most are unpainted.

Stuff On A Stick It has long been a known fact that you weld a stick to anything and it will sell. Trust me …. anything.

Unnameable Indescribable Things I was chatting with a jeweler and she pointed to her neighbor saying quietly “aren’t those things just hideous.” I looked to see some sort of fused glass (or perhaps glued as some items were ceramic) objects stacked up on top of each other. I couldn’t make out what their purpose was. I made no comment because you just never know who’s listening. She said she’d been sitting there for days trying to figure out what they were for and was shocked at how ugly they were. At any rate she went over to find out what they were and …

At this point her husband interrupts “And she bought one!”

Yup now that’s the mark of a good salesman.

I got back last night from the Arts & Craft Show at Cedar Falls, Iowa and slept for like 11 hours. It went well enough though not well enough to do it again. I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how I felt the last time I did this event several years ago. (sometimes I can be a slow learner)

What’s odd is that the sales did not really go as expected.

I Expected: Lots of smaller sales like notecards and mini prints which are prematted 8×10 (which are not offered on my website)

What Actually Happened: My average sale was $40 and up with almost no (as in like 7) notecards selling.

What Did Work: I ran a small sales on my prematted 11×14 and 8×10 prints. Essentially but 2 get one free. Often people would just buy multiples or if they came up with one I’d mention they could get another for X$. Invariably they went back and got another.

Promoter Shows vs. Art Center Shows
Most art events I do are created and run by art centers and art groups. While they want to show a profit for all their hard work they are not run the same way as promoter shows. What’s interesting is my experience with promoter art shows vs. promoter craft shows makes them a unique experience. Now to be fair I’ve only done one particular craft fair promoter show so other craft promoters may be something else entirely.

The Craft Show most of the vendors are treated like a commodity. He gave off the feeling like we should be grateful and lucky for being there. There were various threats made over the loudspeakers about parking etc where he threatened to drop you from the event and never be allowed back in. There was no perks like even coffee and donuts in the morning.

My experience with Promoter Art Shows is equally limited to only one promoter Sue Stookey. The difference is night and day. She comes around and personally thanks you for being there. She addresses concerns personally. She provides a sumptuos breakfast each day. She emails regularly with updates and hotel discounts. You feel like you are respected and appreciated. Not just cattle being pushed through a shute.

Now there is another Art Promoter who does shows for his living who I have heard less than glowing reports from … and because of that I haven’t booked with him.

Anyone else have any experience with promoter shows they’d like to share?

So I was back around two hours from Riverssance on Monday and the gallery phone rings.

Caller: Hi this is Sue (name changed to protect the innocent) and I am from the Octagon Arts Center. Is this Mona?

Me: Yes.

Sue: We see that you did not apply for our art fair this year.

Me That is correct.

…………………..(very long silence)……………………………..

I’m not sure what she thought I might say to this but I had nothing more that I felt the need to share.

Sue: Um …. well we’ve had a cancellation and were wondering if perhaps you’d like to participate this year?

Me: Uh ……….. Where’s the booth located? (center of event)
Sunny side or shady side of street? (sunny)
Is there a game that day? (no) - this is a university town so a football game really does decrease the attendees substantially.
How many people do you have on your wait list? (none. the director said to call you to see if you’d want to do it.)
How long until I need to let you know? (uh … well … um.)
How much? Preapproved rate. (you know because I’ve been doing this event since caveman times)

I don’t think Sue was expecting quite the 3rd degree. While I was a little flattered that the director just pulled my name out of thin air there was a reason that I didn’t apply. The economy seems to hit the smaller shows the most. I mean I still have nightmares about the worst art fair ever. But as things stand now (feeling better after the past 3 events) I’m willing to take a gamble in the hopes of coming out ahead. And since it’s only one day and so far there is no threat of anything but sunny and 70 I going with the optimistic part of me.

So we leave for the Octagon Arts Center Festival today. If you’re in the area pop by and say Hiya!. I’m in booth 21 which is supposedly near the food and the music. Wish me luck … or better yet wealth.

The Old And The New
So I’ve returned wet but triumphant from Riverssance. The event was pretty good especially considering it rained “all” day Sunday.

We knew it was going to rain Sunday while we were packing up Saturday night and so I spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out whether to just do my overnight pack-up or pack-up for the entire event. The event staff said to take down all the art as no one knew what might be blowing in overnight. Also there was a rumor (artists are worse than coffee clutch old ladies when it comes to rumors abut weather … and yes I do jump around and spread the word to my friends when I hear the latest) that they’d call the show in the morning.

Sunday morning came dry (huh? Maybe that whole 80%-100% chance of rain was wrong) and we again spent much time debating whether to pack-up. The old me would have been all “I. Am. Outta here!” and down the road by the time the first sprinkle struck.

But the new me … you know the one who says things to herself like …. “The van needs new tires … and with winter around the corner I need corn for the corn burner at the gallery and propane at the farm … and then of course there’s income tax, and property tax and oh yeah sales tax.” Well, that me looked at the sky and thought” Hm… If if isn’t going to blow it may only rain for an hour or two and the day may not be a total loss.”

So okay … we stayed. We put up a second tent behind our booth for a rain shelter and took all the necessary precautions like not putting any original water susceptible artwork in the booth.

So just before the event opens I’m talking with Lori Biwer Stewart who’s just started her own blog and if you’re interested be sure to check it out. Because she’s totally awesome and her work … even more so.

Lori telling me the latest weather rumor: I heard that the weather is splitting in two and going around us.

Me: Maybe all the artist praying for good weather actually worked.

Lori: Wait! … Is that a sprinkle?

Now it’s a good thing I wasn’t talking with Bob “Makes It Rain” Brehmer or I would have most assuredly blamed him for this. But this weekend all we exchanged was a cheery wave so he’s in the clear … this time.

It rained all day from a light drizzle to a mildly heavy downpour and repeated this cycle all day. There was a small break at about 3:30 and since the event ended at 4 we started packing up. While we were not the first to bring in their vehicle to pack. We were the first for out neck of the event.

But … sales were pretty good. It takes some serious stalwart artsy folks to actually pay (there was a gate fee) to walk around the art fair in a downpour. But apparently these people are serious. We still managed to get half what we did Saturday on Sunday. So it was all worth it. Even when the rains resumed before we were done packing up. Yeah … umm … still worth it.

Tents drying out in the gallery garage. Yet another reason I hate packing up wet.

NOTE: I want to clarify that the only reason beside finances that I stayed was because there was supposed to be no wind and no lightening. This event is held on a bluff overlooking a river and nothing says lightening rod more than a 10 x 10 metal tent with a pointy roof.

So Rockbrook turned out to be a pretty good. It had moments that were reminiscent of events from years back where I the epiphany of Oh that’s right … this is what art fairs are supposed to be like.”

You know like when people walk up with a handful of prints or point at the walls and say “I want that one … and that one …. and that one.”

Now much of the event was the usual selling of a card or small print here or there but occasionally there were those bright moments. My dear potter friend of course raked it in but it was a mixed event. Two of my dear friends who are in the same genre’ as myself one does African Wildlife and the other does watercolor birds both did horrible and don’t plan on returning. I am lucky and blessed that my event in the end was, if not the best one so far this year (I’ve yet to do the numbers) … is in the top 2. That being said this would have been a very mediocre event even just 3 years ago.

I took no photos because I just wasn’t motivated at all to do so. Feeling just a tad lackluster (and by that I mean dead on my feet) so didn’t pull the camera out and though would have had the opportunity to do the Henry Doorly Zoo, I passed.

So I’m home for the next 3 days and then off again to my last one for this month. I’m feeling pretty good today despite this work marathon I’m on. I’m guessing that has something to do with earning some money and the Diet Coke IV drip that I’m on.

Well I am content with how Artsplash went this year … all things considering.

All things considering like a city impacted by flooding all year which only just receded a few days back, as well as the show being put in a totally new location on the other end of the city. It also rained for the first few hours on Saturday which meant the crowds dispersed and didn’t really pick up much steam again until after 3.

The buying of my products was limited to shrink wrapped prints and notecards. No major art or even framed prints sold. I didn’t take home an award this year (dang!) but I did get my picture on the front page of the Sunday Sioux City journal. (umm yeah … I totally didn’t have time to grab a copy and see it though. Was told about it by many of the patrons followed by “I should have clipped it out for you.”)

The new location was nice although inconvenient for set up and the tear down was a nightmare, though most artists were very considerate and patient. The spaces were tight and small (See Below Photo) and allowed no room in the back of the booth because of a 45% to 60% hill behind the tent where we parked the van. (See Above Photo: Taken part way up Mount Artsplash.I tried taking one from the top but the tree tops completely blocked the view. Yeah okay, it doesn’t look so bad but trust it was tall and steep. ) So after running up and down that hill 20-30 gazillion times a day I now have thighs-o-steel.

On the plus side of the new location was that the bandshell was free which was why they could pass on charging a gate fee, which was normally $5 a head. Also all the musical entertainment played for free which is kinda wonderful of them.

As always the staff and volunteers were awesome. There was a trolly filled with coffee, water, cookies, muffins, granola bars, fruit snacks and actual fruit rolling by every 20 minutes or so. They also provided a free lunch of sandwich and chips each day as well as a wonderful artist dinner on Saturday night with Tai food and Mexican from several featured restaurants of Sioux Cities finest. Artsplash is one of those events who really works hard to keep the artists happy unlike new weeks venue where a doughnut for breakfast is the most you can expect. Ah well … it’s all about the sales and usually Rockbrook earns me more money than Artsplash, so we’ll see.

I’ve been doing this event long enough now that everyone knows me by name and sight. Apparently i am one of only a handful that has been with them for over 10 years. Kinda a nice feeling to be welcomed by name when I pull in. Kinda makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Rant Warning
While technically this isn’t a rant because I’m not in any way angry, it does lean a bit on the vulgar side.

You have been warned!

Umm, yeah. So the event didn’t quite go as planned. It rained while we were setting up and then the sun came out and stayed out all day. It got hot.

Really hot.

The high heat coupled with sales so infinitesimal as to be non existent makes for seriously cranky 2-d artists. I say this because the jeweler next to me killed as did of course my beloved potter friend. I had a good friend (and fellow critter painter) as a neighbor which i enjoyed because I usually do only one event a year with him. He does awesome and delicate bird watercolors, though frankly his landscapes are stunning and my personal favorite. He doesn’t have a website so no link.

Why The Low Sales?
The Lakes Art Center event was larger this year than before and because like most art events looking to make a buck, when they discovered artists will pay more for a corner spot they created all these little island of booths and scattered them around the park. On the plus side this makes the event look huge but it also makes it more challenging to navigate and to return to any particular artist.

We (myself and the 2 other 2d artists in my booth island) were on the far end (as well as back side) of the fair layout. This is never a good location. A couple other painter friends of mine both had a moderate to good event and both were located closer to the heart. But who knows why. I’ve been doing this long enough that I don’t get bent out of shape. Though my neighbor swore he would never return.

I’m not sure why but I found it all lightly amusing. Usually earning next to nothing while I sweat off 20 pounds of water weight does not get this kind of response. Perhaps I’ve been doing this so long there are no surprises left. Or perhaps I’ve had much bigger trials in my life lately which make a bad show seem completely inconsequential. Whatever the reason I’m back in the gallery and itching to start a new piece of art. (read that as, I “want” to start something but I’ve spent most of my day ambling aimlessly and drawing cartoons for this post)

Sadly though I was so distracted with trying to remain conscious in the heat that I didn’t take any pictures. So I drew a before and after picture of myself to illustrate the trauma that was this event.

Buy Something Or Get The Hell Out!
I can’t tell you how many people asked for a business card because it was “too hot to shop and decide on exactly which print they wanted.” This is frustrating because most of the time they never follow through and order online. Most likely they will buy the following year instead, which is okay but I’m pretty sure I won’t be back at least for a couple of years.

The heat and lack of sales did make me less than perky. Not cranky mind. Just not my bubbly effervescent self. I have been in worse moods (though doubtful any worse events) because I remained pleasant and when startled out of my haze by a passerby felt no need to glower at them. And when things go really downhill I get to feeling kinda of stabby and do not suffer fools well.

I’m all “No, you can’t charge that $2 greeting card,” and “Yes that original painting is $1200.00 and not a $12.00 typo” or when some comedic genius makes the oh so moronic “Horse’s Ass” comment (that I’ve heard for the millionth time,) I start fishing around for something pointy in which to end them with. A sure sign I’ve hit rock bottom is when it takes all my strength not to scream “Buy something or get the hell out!”

At one event several years ago my brother was at an event with me and he’s like “So you just sit here and watch the turds float by.” I’m like “Yeah, pretty much.” That is as good an explanation of what this event was like for me as any.

So this event was a while back but I thought I’d do a quick update anyhow since anyone out there doing art fairs find this sort of info really handy.

The event was pretty good and sales exceeded expectations, though to be fair my expectations have been dramatically lowered. None the less I was happy with the take and hope it bodes well for the remaining events of the season.

This is the event that is held during the Des Moines Summer Art Festival but is located at the fairgrounds. It has the bad wrap of most people thinking the artists here are of a lesser quality than the ones downtown. I can’t tell you how many people said to me how surprised they were to find the quality equal among the events.

For a breakdown of the art fair event’s perks visit this post.

The other thing I heard a lot was “I went to the other show to look but I came to this one to buy.” The reasoning behind this is that the downtown event is an originals only show and so much of the work carried a hefty price tag. Since the indoor event allows prints it also made it more affordable to a wider audience.

I really like Sur Stookey the promoter. I truly believe she works hard to make a really quality event and takes the artist into consideration. We aren’t just a commodity like so often events tend to treat us like.

The Ugly Duck ling
This was my demo piece at this event. It’s seriously ugly I know and the only reason it still exists in this world (meaning not sent to a firey grave) was to show you. I love the concept of this little brown duck painting and will try it again sometime in the future.

Mona’s Lesson Tip for today.
Begin your demo piece at home and then work at it during the event. Don’t try to start it there. For me at least I need the relative quiet of studio to start a new piece.