Friday, February 19, 2010

ArtFest Fort Myers update

I learned a good lesson at ArtFest Fort Myers recently. Waiting on the morning of the show to see if there are cancellations that they will fill with a wait-listed artist is NOT for me. There were a bunch of us all hanging around, waiting until they had checked the entire show so we could find out if they had a spot for us. It had kind of a desperate feel to it that I just didn't like. I am happy to report that I didn't get into the show.

Why so happy? I had a fantastic weekend at the show! I walked around and saw all the beautiful work, chatted with my friends, made new friends and booth sat for new and old friends. It was so much fun! The true "bus man's holiday". The weather was beautiful but windy but since I wasn't set up, I didn't have to worry about the wind blowing things over. I was FREE!!!

Sales seemed up and down with no one saying it was a great show. Didn't see a lot of packages walking around either. People should have been shopping that show hard because there was beautiful work there waiting to be purchased! It's hard to see a show with such nice quality not have great sales...

I am wait-listed for another show next month. I hope to NOT be standing there the first morning looking desperate...

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Being on a waiting list

As an "art fair artist" there are times you just don't get into all the shows you apply to. Okay, I never get into everything I apply for but overall my track record is pretty good. This winter I'm wait listed for 2 shows and I really want to get in!

ArtFest Fort Myers is this weekend and I've made the commitment to be there, even if I don't get in off the wait list. So what I'm hoping is that a bunch of jewelers had fantastic shows last weekend and don't have enough work left to do the show so they have to cancel! I may be dreaming but I'm hoping to get lucky and actually get in.

As the co-director of an art fair myself, the Garage Sale Art Fair, I'm getting calls and e-mails from our artists on the waiting list wanting to know if there have been any cancellations. It's hard on both sides of this. It's hard to tell people that really want to do the show that there isn't a space yet. But darn it - it's much harder to be the one waiting!!!