Thieves Market - The Last Event Of The Season
Post #689
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!







The Ugly Duck 



